Monday, December 31, 2012

Publishing Rip-offs, Scams and Predators


Have you ever been around someone; read something; or seen something … and you want to get in a shower or a hot bath and soak the slime off?

That’s exactly how I feel when I read about the gobbling up that involves the granddaddy of all Vanity Presses—Author Solutions as the mother ship to Booktango, Inkubook, iUniverse, Trafford, Xlibris, Wordclay, AuthorHive, Pallbrio and Hollywood Pitch. Did you know that Author Solutions and its various companies derive over two-thirds of its income from selling services and books to authors … not to the readers of authors’ books?

The kingpin of vanity presses (as Smashwords’ founder Mark Coker states in his blog that Author Solutions makes more money from selling services to authors than selling authors’ books, “Author Solutions is one of the companies that put the ‘V’ in vanity. Author Solutions earns two-thirds or more of their income selling services and books to authors, not selling authors’ books to readers …”

The shocker is that truly legit publishers have gotten into bed with the predators … one recent pitch from an Author House/Solutions rep to a would member of the Author U community, “If you sign with us … your book will get in front of (fill in the blank) … at Penguin.”

With the partnering, both stealth and visible, Author Solutions has gotten into bed with Hay House (Balboa Press), Thomas Nelson (Westbow Press), Simon & Schuster (Archway Publishing packages start at $1599 and can go up to $24,999), Guide Post/Writers Digest (Abbott Press) and others. With Penguin recently acquiring Author Solutions, who knows what Penguin will turn over from their slush/pass piles to Author House to “follow up” on.

Author House/Solutions is a boiler house operation. Pitch, pitch, pitch. The deals put together with them … mean squat—there is absolutely NO GUARANTEE that a book will get in front of the acquisition team with the publishing house that is now diving into the self-publishing/vanity press arena.
You are still dealing with a pay-to-publish operation; a vanity type of press—they type that has excelled in total sales average of 100 copies of a book and selling books to the author at a very inflated cost. What it wants to do is SELL you more stuff.

Some of these companies have tarnished records with a lot of unhappy customers. Several authors have complained to the Better Business Bureau and some companies have been sued.

When people are victims of scams, they often report the incidents on the Internet.
Before doing business with POD publishers, a pay-to-publisher operation or any other person or company that wants your money, make a Google search for:


(That company name) + Scam
(That company name) + Problem
(That company name) + Complaint
(That company name) + Fraud
(That company name) + Rip-off
(That company name) + “Better Business Bureau”


Read the reports and be advised. Unfortunately, too many walk away woven with shame that they got sucked in the first place and/or so ticked that they got taken, they just want to take the shower and get as far away as possible.

As a side note, one of the members of the Author U LinkedIn group, posted that she had just got he had been sucked into the Balboa Press operation, sure that Hay House, and of course Louise Hay, would personally be watching over her book. The pitch she got from her Author Solutions rep—which is what Balboa Press is—she needed, she should get the marketing package, and it was only $18,000!
The boiler rooms are in full gear. Outside of the Author Solution predators, another crop is popping up offering “self-publishing services” to authors and small/indie publishers. They employ “boiler rooms” of sales people making relentless calls. The goal: to wear the author on the other end of the phone down. In many cases, they are hard to resist.

Let’s face it. The major publishers are doing some bleeding. The self and indie author moves faster and in many cases, is willing to commit money—often more that what a traditional publisher would commit to in the support of a newbie author’s book. Don’t be seduced. Check them out.

 My advice …. Do not; do not; do not go down this rabbit hole. Stop this predator insanity. Stop the wrong author package. Author beware, be very beware.






Dr. Judith Briles 
The Book Shepherd - The Author and Publishing Expert

Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.
Chief Visionary Officer: AuthorU.org

Friday, December 28, 2012

10 Things To Do When You Win a Book Award


What To Do When You Win a Book Award?


Book award contests are everywhere. What do you do when you win a book award? The savvy author tells others about it. Don’t count on your publisher to do it if you are published by someone other than your own company.For several of my Book Shepherding clients received good news recently from USA Books News.  Brian Gast, Doug Krug, Gene Morton, Bob Vanourek, Phil Varley, Sharon and Gary Worrell, Roger Frame, Mara Purl and Luci Berardi were Winners or Finalists–manyof the books they were competing against were published by major publishers. It’s time for you to start bragging … and formally announce you and your books kudos to the world. Get your computer open and:

  1. Create the publicity to now support your book and drive up book sales. Write a media release that includes who awarded you, in what topic area. Make sure you include your book title (I've actually seen this forgotten), you as the author, publisher and where the book is available. For example, I live in Colorado—the top book store in Denver is the Tattered Cover—include that the book is available (and make sure it is). If you have a judge’s comment and appropriate, include it.
  2. Tell the media world. Send the media release to your local newspapers, TV, radio or any organizations you belong to.
  3. Think social media. Let your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus, Pinterest, YouTube and any other Fans know … add the link to Amazon’s page for your book. You can create a video and post on YouTube. When I hear about AuthorU members or Book Shepherding clients, it is immediately posted on our Facebook Fan pages, the next It’s Monday at Author U and announced in The Resource ezine that includes the cover of the book.
  4. Have a photo with you, your book, award … post it, post it, post it … on all social media sites. If appropriate, link to them as well.
  5. Blog it … blog about it on your blog; and if there are other blogs you’ve been following or are appropriate to connect with …announce to their world as well.
  6. Add that you are an Award-Winning Author to your signature line for all emails.
  7. Don’t forget your website. Get it on the Home page—include a photo of you and your award and book. Add it to your Media page … if you don’t have one, create it—use the logo of the group that honored you … once you win one award, that seem to start multiplying. Add to the page as they come in.
  8. Get it on your Amazon and B&N pages.
  9. If you are speaking on your book, or pitching your speaking skills to a group, make sure you let them know with a quick email or note of your award. You never know—it could be just the thing to push the program committee to select you.
  10. Bravo … it’s celebration time—share it with your friends—have a party!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

It's Thursday at Author U ...




You know that had to be one ... yep, today is National Fruitcake Day! It's a good thing that there is only one ...





Save $$$$ and get your seat! Early, Early Bird ends TODAY for the January BookCamp. Learn the 6 Must-Focus-On Areas to Build Readership, Increase Book Sales and Gain Exposure as an Author for 2013! If that's your goal, sign up and get ye to the BookCamp.

Here's what we are covering in a jam-packed day:

 1.    Social Media: What social networks to be on, what to say, how to get more likes and shares, website integration and more!

2.    Branding and Message: What to brand, how most mess it up, what to consider, plus an exercise to gain brand and message clarity

3.    List-Building: Should you build an email list (yes); what are the easiest ways to do it; how do you get more book sales out of your list; which is best for you?- Constant Contact /iContact /MailChimp - which to choose and what you didn't know about email marketing.

4.    Product Development: Walk away with a plan for building your product empire and growing your business to a 6-figure success.

5.    Website Breakdown and Planning: Does your website work ... or does it suck? Get the critical components that generates results, plenty of examples with a focus on planning what can be updated in your own online presence

6.    Content and Blogging: Create a plan for content so you are no longer overwhelmed and confused, but excited and soaring past your competition

YOU are invited to this special January edition of BookCamp slated for Saturday, January 19th from 8:30am to 4:00pm

Location:Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center

Cost:  Members $99 early bird through 12/27, Non-Members $129 early bird


Today, Your Guide to Book Publishing will focus on will focus on social media and website strategies with guru Georgia McCabe. 

Tune in at 6 Eastern, 5 Central, 4 Mountain, 3 Pacific and for our out-of-the-country members and followers ... you are going to have to do the clock crunching for your time zone. 

Remember-you can go to the AuthorU.org website, scroll down on the Home page and see the last five shows-just click and you are instantly there!


Here's your Top Ten Tweets for the past week-

Tweets are faster than a speeding bird ... below are Author U's Top Ten Tweets from the past week that you may have missed ... 

Success & Resources  

Got a smartphone? Get the DataVault app is a time and memory saver. It stores all passwords and you only have to remember one. You are welcome.
  
WOW--ebook named to best book of the year list--here's to the author indie publishing movement!http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001JEBELWzzO0ktfOGD7XIxgFGVNiI1Bcx2cTtOd4EKxSM9XCadijelAmUnVXSeRD8Vo2_tOoeM6wfv5R2mPyCYuG6k-TvmK-rO2wI67zK3qeo=



Social Media and Marketing Strategies  


   
Ugh- Facebook Set to Change Your Timeline Again: Ready for some more design tweaks to your Timeline? http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001JEBELWzzO0nLgbD_wqTveISbd9TWvWos3rUwTBRhhUv7GCbnnk799hy5NOXNhvKm-_RJG8YXO-vii12dj5w_4I3Ysju-yMkyc2zdpSo7NGA= 

HOT! Amy Collins from NSD shares Tips /Tricks for authors on selling books in their own backyard w/ Judith Briles. Podcast  

10 Important Reasons for authors to Learn Video Marketing Now! http://t.co/VQelBTLT 


This Is Cool 








Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Book Shepherd





Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.


The Next, Next Thing In Publishing

The Book Shepherding concept is simple: The publishing world is changing %u2026 and so must you.





You need an experienced Shepherd and Guide to partner with you as you create, strategize, develop, publish and achieve your publishing goals.

You can't do it alone without paying the price %u2026 you can spend your money creating a book that turns out to be so-so; or you can create a book that looks and feels classy, builds your brand and is a financial success. A best-seller. It's your choice, you choose.



If you want to Develop and Create a successful book

Publishing is riddled with obstacles. Sometimes nightmares for the author. You don't need problems %u2026 you want solutions. Dr. Judith Briles will shepherd you through the maze and chaos. At times, she has had to step in and "rescue" a book-a book that has been sabotaged by a publisher, by a publishing service provider, and sometimes, even by the author.

If you don't get the right advice and support at the right time, here's what the most common publishing blunders entail %u2026 none of which are cheap:

Choosing the wrong printer
Choosing the wrong cover designer
Choosing the wrong interior designer
Choosing the wrong editor
Choosing the wrong ghostwriter
Choosing the wrong publisher
Using the wrong paper
Not terminating consultants and publishing service providers when they are the wrong fit
Publishing too soon
Publishing in the wrong format
Focusing on the wrong thing, i.e.-big-time media vs. creating a big-time book
Not understanding Internet marketing and presence
Not creating a niche market
Having the wrong website
Not trusting your gut
Not having a plan
Being penny-wise and dollar foolish

Judith Briles is the Book Shepherd. Get started today by calling her at 303-885-2207.

Welcome to The Book Shepherd - Learn about Dr. Judith Briles Services     

In this video Dr. Judith Briles talks about promoting your goals and your book.   

The Book Shephered - Dr. Judith Briles

Judith Briles is The Book Shepherd--working with authors to create books they never regret. Over-seeing the creation of hundreds of authors--from the beginning of an idea to printer; from book marketing strategies to the best ways to publish. With 30 books to her own credit, Judith walks the publishing talk ... and talks the publishing walk.







Dr. Judith Briles
The Book Shepherd - The Author and Publishing Expert

Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.
 
Chief Visionary Officer: AuthorU.org