NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week /get ready to create massive impact

Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

Newsletter Issue #215 – January 26, 2022

Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1. Author Tools ... Discover HARO

2. AuthorYOU VIP Member Benefit … Meet Author Friendly Fridays

3. Webinar … It’s Speakertunity Time

4. February Program … The Power of Editing

5. Amazon Bestseller … Next class starts in March-4 spots left

6. AuthorYOU Extravaganza … Moved to April-get registered
7. AuthorYOU Salons … posted through June 2022 on site

8. Hot podcasts for January … Add to your calendar and listen

9. Question of the Week … Where do I start publishing my book?

10. Book Shepherd “Fun” of the Week … It’s a surfing cat!

I’ve posted info under #6 below on the April AuthorYOU Extravaganza that was planned many months ago. Sign up for it … if the COVID mandates kick in again, it will be moved, but it should be on your radar and calendar. Never, ever, underestimate the power and presence of IN-PERSON meetings.

My podcast guest this week is me … get ready to grab tips and marketing strategies for book marketing forward.

That’s my week … how’s yours? lots of happenings below. I continue with my year of “Re”.

1. February 1 - Webinar – Speakertunity for Positioning

2. February 5 – 1st Saturday AuthorYOU program ONLINE -
The Power of Editing

3. February 13 – AuthorYOU Salons – In-PERSON & ONLINE - AuthorYOU members only

4. February 26 - March 6 – Publishing at Sea Conference

5. March 5– 1st Saturday AuthorYOU program – In-PERSON or Online-TBD

6. March 8 - Webinar – Audiobook Marketing

7. March 12 - AuthorYOU Salons – In-PERSON & ONLINE - AuthorYOU members only

8. March 9,16,23,30 - The Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign

9. March 12 – AuthorYOU Salons – In-PERSON & ONLINE - AuthorYOU members only

10. April 7-9 – AuthorYOU Extravaganza – be there in Colorado!

11. May 7 – 1st Saturday AuthorYOU program – In-PERSON or Online-TBD

12. May 14 – AuthorYOU Salons – In-PERSON & ONLINE - AuthorYOU members only

HARO … Help a Reporter Out … connects YOU with journalists seeking expertise to include in their content. Think articles, blogs, TV, podcasts, even radio. And you can do a flip … become the searcher to sources to support something you are seeking for a book or project. HARO sends out queries two to three times a day, broken into segments—in minutes, you can scan and determine if there’s a request that could be a fit for your expertise. Then reach out and let the requestor know who you are and what your expertise is. Typical breakdown of categories includes Travel, Lifestyle & Fitness, Public Policy and Government, BioTech & Healthcare, Business & Finance, High Tech, Education, General. It’s free … this could be a media portal to add to your mix. https://www.helpareporter.com/

Join Author Friendly Fridays: a fun, sharing, and dynamic closed group. It’s a full hour when you can ask questions—any question. And I always include a few strategies to get your authoring life ahead of the competition. It’s for paid subscribers ONLY and we do it on Zoom.

This is how each session starts: I share a few strategies, tips, and tools that attendees can immediately start to use. IMMEDIATELY! All share … and ask plenty of questions. They get answers. For authors, it’s the perfect 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 is the link to register:
https://thebookshepherd.com/author-friendly-fridays/

For AuthorYOU members $37 a month: for Nonmembers $75

The Path to Total Visibility & Massive Impact

Do you want to get on more states and platform faster and easier? That should be a YES!

There are millions of stages out there just waiting for you—on a vast number of platforms—live and virtual stages, podcasts, radio shows, videocasts, virtual summits, TEDx events and more . If you aren’t taking advantage of them, your business or your book are likely underperforming! Access them as a speaker and you will see an instant turn-around!

But finding and getting on these stages can be daunting and intimidating. Do you have the time to do this research?

Get registered for The Path to Total Visibility & Massive Impact and hear booking expert Jackie Lapin on all the shortcuts available to you to help you get booked on all of these platforms! Whether you plan to do the booking yourself, or outsource the outreach, she’ll give you answers to all the roadblocks that have stifled your speaking—and sales--in the past!

You will learn:

· How do you identify the right podcasts and get booked on them.

· Where to start when it comes to live and virtual speaking.

· How to identify the right TEDx event to make your mark.

· How to get featured on a Virtual summits.

· The power of speaker, author, book and podcast one-sheets.

· How to write the pitch or proposal letters that get you booked.

· Other options if you are not a DIYer.

This live webinar will be recorded. All who are registered will get a copy within 24 hours of presentation.

Date and Time: Tuesday, February 1 at NOON MT.
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6766084915537003534

It’s the First Saturday session of AuthorYOU. Every
Barb Wilson, owner and CEO of EditPartner.com, has over 30 years of experience as a professional editor and has been a part of the AuthorYOU Associates team for several years, transition authors so-so to impressive writers and authors!

This is a don’t-miss gathering for authors and wanna-be authors. Basically, anyone who is writing. Think book, blogs, proposals, what?

· Learn how to negotiate the editing maze.

· Do I need an editor?

· What to look for when hiring an editor.

· How to work with an editors.

· Is there more than one kind of editing?

· What kind of editing does my book need?

· RED FLAGS to watch out for - helpful websites.

· What does editing cost?

· Should I sign a contract?

Plenty of time for Q&A – don’t save them all to the end. Ask via the chat box and we will take breathers throughout.

AuthorYOU Members: $15
NonMembers: $45

Register here: https://authoru.org/events.html
You will be sent the handout and Zoom link on Friday, the day before.

Yes … yes, it can.
next workshops are March 9,16,23,30

Only 4 Spots left!

Create an AmazonBestseller Campaign for Your eBook Online Course in 4 weeks!

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 latter. I will take you through each step during the four weeks. When you complete #17, you are ready to execute.
Judith’s goal is for you to have all components for your campaign DONE before your implementation/execution day. All social media tease pushouts are done and scheduled before the big day starts.

Requirements;

90 minutes of your time online each week via Zoom with Judith Briles. Late Monday afternoon will be our start time. This is not a webinar, it’s live, online coaching.
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 or BookBrush.

Dates: March 9,16,23,30
Times: 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm MT

Judith’s next Amazon Bestseller class is slated for March. Four Wednesday afternoons. and are always limited in size. Info here to get registered: https://bit.ly/JanAMZ

April 2022

Did you know that over 80% of the public thinks there is a book in them? Are you part of the 80%? Want to learn what your options are in getting yours from your head; from all those loose notes that have piled up over the years; want to add “published author” behind your name this year?

Is this your COME BACK Year? Is 2022 the year that makes the difference for you? Are you ready to:

· Jump into your publishing dreams, turning them into reality?

· Create a new book or repurpose an old one?

· Do a refresher on what’s happening in publishing today?

· Or do you need to just hang out … to mingle with other writers and authors?

Part of AuthorYOU’s mission is to educate emerging authors on how to write, publish and market their books. Part is two takes achieving authors to a higher level of success. And part is to create a support community of networking and information streams. AuthorYOU is for the author who wants to be seriously successful.

Today’s publishing is a journey loaded with twists, turns, and potholes. AuthorYOU will prep, guide, and demonstrate:

· The latest in marketing strategies that will create your tipping point.

· Essential information about editing your book that will turn your head.

· Master the “art” of story writing for both fiction and nonfiction that creates “the opening grab.”

· Ideas to spin you, your book, and your expertise to the viral sphere.

· How to create a hero, not a zero, when it comes to book cover design.

· Website designs with a twist.

· How to propel yourself and rise above the publishing marketplace with social media and metadata.

· Tips on avoiding the mistakes most authors make.

· The ABCs of eBooks.

· How to say “Bye-Bye to BORING” presentations and trainings.

· Write and publish a book that grabs your reader.

· What to expect when you are expecting—the dollars, cents, and sense of publishing is today.

+++ TWO special ticketed items. Barb Wilson will deliver an “early arrival” workshop Thursday afternoon fueled by the stellar results 9 Pillars of Writing program she delivered at the Breckenridge Extravaganza in 2018. For those who want to join in for dinner Friday evening—there will be a special dessert: humor entertainment.

You can, and it’s happening when October kicks off. Get registered NOW to grab your seat. Space will be limited.

WHEN: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 7th to April 9th

FRIDAY April 8th 8 am – 5 pm … General Session Workshops
The Author Gong Show at Noon

SATURDAY April 9th 7 am to Noon … General Session Workshops
Sunrise Workshop at Bonus EVENTS

Register: https://authoru.org/october-author-and-book-publishing-fest.html

Register for the next few months – there is a session for ONLINE authors and a separate for IN-PERSON- FORWARD … Salons are a Free benefit for VIP AuthorYOU members only.

RULES …
1. You must register for this.
2. If less than 5 people are registered by Noon on the Friday before, event will be canceled.

If you have book marketing, writing, publishing questions, get answers. Or, you just want to schmooze a bit, It’s ONLINE and IN-PERSON on the second Saturday of each month. You MUST be a paid member of AuthorYOU.org to participate. ONLINE starts at 7 am to 8.30 am MT – IN-PERSON at 9 am MT. Here’s the link to register and getting notices/reminders forward:

Register here: https://www.meetup.com/AuthorYOUSalons/

Question: I’m getting ready to publish. Where do I start?

Answer: Start with your comparables. Get to Amazon and start the searches. Who are the authors in your genre that are doing well? What do their covers look like? What kind of copy do they use in their descriptions? What key words and key phrases do they use in their descriptors? What are their reviews like? What do the 2-star reviews say that are missing in the book? You must understand your marketplace. That’s where you start.

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/product/author-friendly-fridays-subscription

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 that generates over 100,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.