Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / are you ready to make your book an Amazon bestseller?

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

I create books authors never have to apologize for …

In this Issue

1. Discover … and Use Talk Walker

2. Meet Author Help … Friendly Friday Coaching

3. Amazon Bestseller time … Starts next week-register

4. June AuthorU Program … Digital Marketing Strategies-date change

5. May Webinar Replay … Copyright in the Age of AI

6. Hot podcasts for May … Add to your calendar and listen

7. Author Salons … JUNE and JULY posted-get registered

8. Question of the week … Should I sell my book to a traditional publisher?

9. Smile time … 15 Minutes of Robin Williams—a hoot

Plus, new table runners created for bookstore events when I’m solo and not with a group.

I’m looking forward to this Friday’s Celebrating an Author Tea at my home. It’s the graduation season and Hilary Afshary’s Dorm to Doorstep is the perfect gift to new graduates that I wanted to share with a few of my friends.

Saturday, May 31 will find me at the Southlands Barnes & Noble with Joseph Caldara. If you have middle school boys in your life, Joseph’s books are a perfict fit.

Do you want Amazon success? My Amazon Bestseller Workshop will be on four consecutive Wednesday afternoons starting next week: June 4, 11, 18, 25. Details are here if you want a bestseller—if you don’t skip it: https://thebookshepherd.com/create-an-amazon-bestseller/

I’ve had to move the June Digital Marketing from Saturday to Friday, June 6. We will start at 9 am with Jules Marie—she’s created a “flip book” plus a handout for all. Get registered pronto. Info below.

1. May 29 Podcast Essential Author DOs and DON'Ts with Rebecca's Finkel

2. May 30 Tea at Judith's for Dorm to Doorstep Book Celebration

3. May 31 Judith at BN Southlands with Joseph Caldara

4. June 4, 11, 18, 25 Amazon bestseller workshop

5. June 5 Podcast How to Create the Author Book Concept Game Plan

6. June 6 AuthorU Monthly program – Strategic Digital Marketing

7. June 11 Author Talk – with Jeanne Abrams

8. June 12 Podcast How to Create the Author Book Publishing Game Plan

9. June 14 Author Salons – online and in-person

10. June 20 Ask Judith on Zoom

11. June 26 Podcast How to Create the Author Speaking Game Plan

Get Coaching from The Book Shepherd every Friday morning for one hour via Zoom, bright and early at 7:00 am MT. Seats are limited in number. Starting with a new tool or a “to do” to engage in with author success, it’s a fast hour—great way to start your Friday and lead into the weekend. Then ask for help on your questions. Zoom in with your questions ready. Author Friendly Friday is like having your own Author Advisory group.
Subscription Minimum is 3 Months.

Info here: https://thebookshepherd.com/author-friendly-fridays/

There are 23 steps in your journey … a journey where you could pay someone to travel and implement for you … or one where you can roll up your sleeves and learn how to create, implement, and execute. As in DIY.

The Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign for Your eBook Online course is the later. I will take you through each step during the four weeks. When you complete #17, you are ready to execute.

My goal is for you to have all components for your campaign DONE before your implementation/execution day. All social media tease pushouts done and scheduled before the big day starts.

Requirements …

· 1 ½ hours of your time online each week via Zoom with Judith Briles. Late Wednesday afternoon will be our start time.

· Social media presence. Thousands would be good but not crucial. You will learn tips and tricks during each session that will have new adds every week.

· An “I want to be #1 and I can do this attitude” and commitment to do the work during each session and post-work each work.

· A computer. A free account on either Canva and BookBrush.

Dates: Wednesdays, June 4, 11, 18, 25

Times: 4.00 P.M. to 5.30 P.M. MT

Register: https://thebookshepherd.com/create-an-amazon-bestseller/

Get ready for plenty of tips on creating digital marketing for your author success, starting with the your website.

Your take aways include:

• Aha-digital marketing includes anything that uses technology.

• Why the author website is the most important part of a marketing strategy.

• Use Yast and Pho to post metadata.

• How to create a planning calendar.

• How SEO can improve awareness of your brand.

• Why authors need to attach keywords to every page of their website.

• When to use ads.

• Why authors should create and update Google Business Page on an ongoig basis.

• Don't do Google ads-too expensive.

• What updates authors should do now on their websites.

• And, of course, much more.

This is FREE to AuthorU members.

The Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence webinar is 90 minutes …You will see all of Dan Miller’s slides with the details on each within. Dan is a fast talker … so you may want to pause at times to take in the material on the slides.

REPLAY: https://vimeo.com/1086839459

In a world increasingly shaped by AI-driven innovation, how do you navigate the complexities of copyright law?

You will get strategies for creators, businesses, and policymakers to adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape, fostering a fair and innovative future for all.

Also note—although pursuing a predator who violates your copyright can be time, energy and money consuming, know that there is a “small claims” avenue that can award up to $30,000 in a claim. If this had been available to me when McGraw-Hill took one of my books and resold it in the foreign rights area without my permission—I would have used this avenue.

Answer: Probably not. The odds of getting picked up—over two million books were published last year from all sources. Only 10,000 came from New York connected publishers. Be realistic as to why you would want to go with NY. Then determine what you need to do to get there—you need a solid Book Proposal and an Agent. You need a plan. And you need to build your marketing skills. How much time will you dedicate to it happening? For book proposals, Jody Rein and Michael Larsen’s How to Create a Book Proposal, 5th edition is recommended.

This is how each call starts: I share a few strategies, tips, and tools that attendees can immediately start to use. All share … and ask plenty of questions. They get answers. Definitely an excellent way to start a Friday. Those of you who aren’t participating, you are making a mistake. I love the variety of books and authors who have chosen to participate. What’s also fun, is the energy that can be felt with what everyone is working on. Love it!

Here’s the link to take advantage of it and subscribe: https://thebookshepherd.com/author-friendly-fridays/

About Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd ™

Book Publishing expert Judith Briles, aka The Book Shepherd, has shepherded more than 1,000 authors and created 500 best-sellers and award-winning books. She knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent sides. Judith is an advocate for authors within her blogs, podcasts and speaking engagements. What’s her pet peeve? Two words: publishing predators.

She hosts the podcast AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing which generates over 250,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.