Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Author Thank Yous for 2013

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You!





It’s a wonderful time of “togetherness” with family and friends; and, a time of reflection on the past year … and think forward. Next week is, gulp, the beginning of 2014.

On the Author U Group on LinkedIn (have you joined–it’s an open Forum with a variety of live
discussions throughout the day)–I posted a question today: What are you going to do the same; keep doing–yet change a bit; or add new to your authoring/publishing mix?

The same goes for you …

What are you going to do the same; keep doing–yet change a bit; or add new to your authoring/publishing mix?

  • What’s worked this year?  Why?  Are you going to continue to do the same or change it up a bit?
  • What’s not worked? Why? Are you going to keep it in the mix? Or change it up a bit?
  • What would you like to add? Why?

All of us within the Author U Team want you to know how much you are appreciated. We have plenty in store for you:

  • Three programs in Colorado in January.
  • The Publishing at Sea Cruise that is sold out as well.
  • Author Mentoring Mondays for all of our members out of State–the call in number is posted in the Monday at Author U and on the Home page of the website.
  • Both Hangouts that will be for Members Only and Hangouts on Air for the general public.

Don’t forget–you want to be at the Extravaganza slated for May 1-3. Lots to stay connected.

It has been a pleasure serving and working with all of you this past year. Merry Christmas, Love and
Prosperity for 2014!

To Your Awesome Success and Growth,

Judith Briles, Your Chief Visionary Officer

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy Author New Year to You!

                                             Can You Hear What I Hear?




It’s a wonderful time of “togetherness” with family and friends; and, a time of reflection on the past year … and think forward. Next week is, gulp, the       beginning of 2014. And I hear AUTHOR SUCCESS!

As you spend time with those you are close to, it’s a natural to noodle a bit. They all know you have a book … or are writing a book. Are they encouragers or stompers? Do they celebrate each step or shake their heads thinking it’s a folly? And how about you … where … exactly are you in the process? During this final week of the year, this is the time to look back and look forward. What worked? What didn't? And if something, just didn't work, what are your plans. Scrap it? Morph it? See if it will right itself? What?

SO… your big questions are:

What are you going to do the same; keep doing–yet change a bit; or add new to your 
authoring/publishing mix?


  • What’s worked this year?  Why?  Are you going to continue to do the same or change it up a bit?
  • What’s not worked? Why? Are you going to keep it in the mix? Or change it up a bit?
  • What would you like to add? Why?
I would love to have you to make comments… let’s compile a list to share.

All of us within The Book Shepherd team want you to know how much you are appreciated.  So many of our authors have won national book awards again this year–we celebrate their amazing journeys and
success. I’m looking forward to  the Publishing at Sea cruise departing Tampa, FL on January 18th–an
amazing intense 5 days at sea (of course there is time for play)–but so much will be happening. The next  Judith Briles two-day intensive is slated

for August 1-2–I loved those who attended the first one–it will only get better. Info is already up 
here–sign up to get a discount through January 31st.

Don’t forget–you want to be at the Author U Extravaganza slated for May 1-3. The website is
www.AuthorU.org  Get signed up.

It has been a pleasure serving and working with all of you this past year. Watch for more changes on
the site. We are adding a newsletter that will feature many of the awesome authors I've had the
pleasure to work with in the creation of their books.

Here’s to a Merry Christmas, Much Love and Prosperity to You for 2014!

To Your Awesome Success and Growth,

Judith Briles, Your Book Shepherd

Thursday, December 19, 2013

#Amazon Takes the Machete to #Book Reviews Again

Help … my Book Review has fallen and it can’t get up!


A recent phone conversation from an author revealed that several of her 5 star reviews were given the 
ax via Amazon. All were legit; all had read the book to her knowledge … I know that I had and I 
went into some detail with my review.

Two years ago, there was grumbling in the author community that book reviews  on Amazon were 
mysteriously going astray. A year ago, the grumbles resurfaced, this time from a different set of 
authors and book reviewers.

Most complained there was no reason, no notification, that they were as mystified as the person (if they knew who he or she was who posted) were, and–it seemed it was the 5-star reviews who were taking a hike. No real satisfaction was obtained, it seemed like Amazon was passing the buck–and almost with a universal nod of our cyber-heads, we all knew that it must be the secret algorithm designed to keep us distant that could be the culprit.

Are the Book Review Gremlins back, lurking in our midst? Who, or what robots are the clickers, the
demigods of cyber-land that could have a dramatic impact on book sales within a nano-second? We
authors know that book reviews do count.

Let’s face it, Amazon is powerful. Many of us have suspicions, ideas, and voice our opinions.  When authors have contacted Amazon to find out, “What’s up?” some have gotten back not so nice emails literally saying that authors can’t review other books. .. and if there are any more complaints … a threat. Immediate removal from Amazon-land in giving reviews and more than a slap on the hand directed toward the author of the book.

Jeeze. Wait a sec … authors read lots of books, it’s one of the key ways to become a better writer.
We can’t post reviews because we do? Isn't that a tad discriminatory? So where does this leave us?
Let’s start with its guidelines from the Amazon
website:

“General Review Creation Guidelines” direct from the Amazon website …

Amazon wants your opinions to be heard
We want customers to get the information they need to make smart buying choices, and we’d love to have your help doing that.  As an Amazon customer, you can submit written or video reviews for items listed on Amazon.com. We encourage you to share your opinions, both favorable and unfavorable.

Who can create customer reviews?Anyone who has purchased items from Amazon.com. All
we ask is that you follow a few simple rules (see “What’s not allowed” below).

Tips on writing a great review

Include the “why”: The best reviews include not only whether you liked or disliked a product, but
also why. Feel free to talk about related products and how this item compares to them.

Be specific: Your review should focus on specific features of the product and your experience with
it. For video reviews, we recommend that you write a brief introduction.

Not too short, not too long: Written reviews must be at least 20 words and are limited to 5,000
words. The ideal length is 75 to 500 words. Video reviews have a 10-minute limit, but we recommend 2 to 5 minutes to keep your audience engaged.

Be sincere: We welcome your honest opinion about the product–positive or negative. We do not remove
reviews because they are critical. We believe all helpful information can inform our customers’ buying decisions.

Full disclosure: If you received a free product in exchange for your review, please clearly and
conspicuously disclose that that you received the product free of charge. Reviews from the
Amazon Vine™ program are already labeled, so additional disclosure is not necessary.

What’s not allowed;

Amazon is pleased to provide this forum for you to share your opinions on products.  While we
appreciate your time and comments, we limit customer participation to one review per product and reserve the right to remove reviews that include any of the following:

Objectionable material:
• Obscene or distasteful content
• Profanity or spiteful remarks
• Promotion of illegal or immoral conduct

Promotional content:
• Advertisements, promotional material or repeated posts that make the same point excessively
• Sentiments by or on behalf of a person or company with a financial interest in the product or a
directly competing product (including reviews by publishers, manufacturers, or third-party merchants
selling the product)
• Reviews written for any form of compensation other than a free copy of the product. This
includes reviews that are a part of a paid publicity package
• Solicitations for helpful votes
• For more information on what we consider promotional content, please see our
Frequently Asked Questions.

Inappropriate content:
• Other people’s material (this includes excessive quoting)
• Phone numbers, postal mailing addresses, and URLs external to Amazon.com
• Videos with watermarks
• Comments on other reviews visible on the page (because page visibility is subject to change without notice)
• Foreign language content (unless there is a clear connection to the product)

Customer reviews should be relevant to the product in question. If you have questions about the
product or opinions that do not fit the review format, please feel free to use the Customer
Discussions feature on the product page. Learn more about Customer Discussions.

If you have a question or you’d like to tell us about a specific problem with Customer Reviews,
please contact us.”Source: http://www.amazon.com/gp/community-help/customer-reviews-guidelines

Here’s what I would do:

1  Don’t stop reviewing.

2  Don’t let the Amazon Gremlins get you down.

3  Create a file on your computer and copy every review that is posted into it (that’s why you check
every few days). If they go missing, you've got them. And, get them posted on your website as well.
And do the same for Goodreads.

4  Appeal to Amazon … here’s the magic email address:  review-appeals@amazon.com 

We don’t know why some book reviews are removed and others left alone. Encourage everyone you meet or know of who has your book to post a review.








Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd, the Author and Publishing expert and the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Author U, a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. She’s the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating Your Book and Author Platforms that has won multiple “best” in the writing/publishing categories in book award competitions. Her next book is Snappy Sassy Salty … Wise Words for Authors and Publishers has just been released.  Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet network at: http://togi.us/authoru

Monday, December 9, 2013

7 Tips to Get Book Endorsements

Endorsements … Should You or Shouldn't You and How Do   You Get Them?



One of the most common questions authors ask is: should I get endorsements for my book? The answer is 
yes. The real question is: where should I put them?

Ahhh, that opens up another window. Maybe on the cover. Maybe on the back cover. Maybe on a flap or
dust jacket if your book has that type of cover. Maybe in the opening pages of your book. Maybe …


Lots of maybes. You need to ask what you want the endorsement to do. Is they desired to sell books? Say
you are a rock star? Add credibility? Fill space?What?

Your book cover is about marketing. The only endorsements that should go on a cover / back cover
are ones that will absolutely connect with your reader. It’s not your friend, your mother, your cronies in your club. Unless they are rock stars and publicly known.

My personal preference is “less is more.” If you have a stellar endorsement that is well known within your
field or genre –most likely I would put it on the back cover and in a call out type of format so it will
pop. If it is from a key review source, such as Publishers Weekly, Foreword, Kirkus, or Library Journal, I would do a “sprinkle” and have the cover designer drop the line(s) so that they do a pop. If any are long endorsements, pull a few of the key sentences out as an excerpt and put the entire endorsement within the opening pages of the book along with others that aren't used on the cover real estate–these are placed in the first few pages of the book, before the Title page.

It’s time to take a trip to your favorite brick and mortar store—OK, I confess, I love a bookstore—the
colors, the shapes, the sizes, it’s a great way to spend a few hours to see “what’s out there.”

1.  Look at the most current books. How are they using cover and interior endorsements? What types of names are citing books (business, celebs, other authors)? How long are they? Where are they placed? These are usually generated from advanced reader copies or galleys.  In nonfiction, you will a variety of names
and types. In fiction, it’s usually from other authors and typically within the same genre.

2.  Finding endorsers. If you had your choice, who would you want? What’s your Wish List? Do you know them? Then ask. If you don’t, do you know someone who does? What are social media groups—are they within any that you are a member of? This is a time of who do you know who … it’s networking time. If you are looking for celebs, works leaders, etc., The Celebrity Black Book has all the contacts. Your library might have it or pick up a used edition on Amazon. There’s always Google, but it will most likely not be the
source here.

3.  Create a cover letter that grabs them and is compelling. Such as:  “If you love to cook … within these pages are the best 200 recipes using Paprika from Hungary.” “If you love mysteries, imagine
Sherlock Holmes having High Tea with the Queen while James Bond is seducing his latest female colleague
while Jessica Fletcher is tripping over bodies in Cabot Cove and he gets a call for help.”

4.  Share something on the inside—as in key insights that were revealed as you created your masterpiece. From the “…if I knew 20 years ago what I know now …” or “…I’ll be requiring this for every client I work with (class I teach, patient I see, and workshop I give …). Was there anything that was shocking or left you shaking your head in disbelief or sheer wonder? Share it.

5.  When seeking blurbage, ask what format the reader would like—printed manuscript sent to you, PDF via email, a few chapters … what and how? Reveal your drop dead deadline for having them back. You could even include some ideal samples” of blurbs. Many will take those and tweak them. Make it easy.

6.  Is a particular bent or focus you want? Let them know what you are looking for.

7.  Ask for the way you want his or her name included after the endorsement. If they are published, which book they would like to include under their name.

8.  When you have published book in hand, send a copy to your endorser. Always with a glowing, happy dance thank you note.



Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd, the Author and Publishing expert and the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Author U, a membership organization created for the author who wants to be
seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. She’s the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating Your Book and Author Platforms that has won
multiple “best” in the writing/publishing categories in book award competitions. Her next book is Snappy, Sassy, Salty … Wise Words for Authors and Publishers has just been released.  Join Judith live on
Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U Your Guide to
Book Publishing on the Toginet network at http://togi.us/authoru

Monday, December 2, 2013

Is Your #Blog Stuck? Unstick It … Starting Now!

Are you having one of those days? Can’t think of a thing … not a single thing …to blog about? Ideas just don’t gel. The words are stuck. Your creativity spark is on dim. Your fingers can’t move. Are you thinking:

                        Help! My Blog Has Fallen and It Can’t Get Up!

Is that your problem dear author? Would you like 52 plus blog ideas … one for each week for the next year 
… and maybe, a few extras? Ideas that will get you and your blog a new life?


Okay … let’s noodle a bit. Look around. Look inside. Look on your shelves. Scan the headlines. Google something, anything. Add the words “weird” “unbelievable” “rip-off” “fun” etc. in front of your key word(s) and see what surfaces.

Get ready to move from pause to play. Here are 52 other ideas to get the creative juices flowing (plus 
a bonus):

1    Whatever the next phrase/sentence that comes out of your mouth and is thought … insert “what if” in front of it … write it down: tweak it and see what evolves and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

2    Reveal your biggest aha … write it/them down: where did it come from and what happened and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

3    Divulge an epiphany … write it/them down: who, what, when, where, why and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

4     Expose a fear or two … write it/them down: what seeded it and how do you deal with it and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

5     What happened when the GOYA Factor entered your live … the get off your ass goose; write it/them down and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

6     Any embarrassing incidents that you can share publicly? … write it/them down: what happened, what was the outcome and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

7    Any belly laugh times out there? … write it/them down: what happened and sync with a theme in 
your book or subject expertise.

8     Any failures you can share publicly? … people connect with overcoming disasters. Write it/them 
down, comment and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

9     Problems make the world go round … make a laundry list of common problems you identify in your 
book, and one by one. Write them down; create a blog on each one, syncing with a theme in your book or 
subject expertise—that’s got be worth at least 10 blog ideas!

10   Turn on the news … what’s the lead? Write it/them down and make a comment and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

11   Watch your favorite TV show(s) … what’s the theme? Write it/them down, comment and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

12   TV again and your show(s) … whose the favorite character and why; write it/them down, comment and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

13   And TV once again … what show can’t you stand or have you abandoned? Write it/them down, comment and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

14   Back to the news … what celebrity is the jerk of the day/week? Write it/them down, comment and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

15   YouTube is a terrific resource … what is on the Home page? Write it/them down, comment and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

16   Check out Twitter, what is the leading hashtag trending … read a few of them. Write it/them down, 
comment and sync with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

17   Pull a few books off your shelves and read the dust jackets or back cover copy … what motivated you to buy them? Write down your immediate reaction and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

18   Create a Cheat Sheet of tips … add a quick story of why you created the Cheat Sheet and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

19   Fess up to something … reveal your snafu(s) and “oh-oh” moments. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

20   How-tos are always helpful … go through each chapter in your book and create a list of
one-sentence statements. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject 
expertise—that too, has got to be worth at least 10 blog ideas.

21  There’s some type of holiday/celebration every month … some months have multiple … what is it/are they? Pull a memory from the past; write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or 
subject expertise.

22   Holidays again … what don’t you like—a memory, commercialism, bad date night, what? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

23   What delightful, unexpected event has happened in the past? … tell it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

24   What not so delightful, unexpected event happened in the past? … reveal it and synch with a 
theme in your book or subject expertise.

25   Vacations count … they create events and memories. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

26   Vacations again … what was the worst one ever and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

27   Embarrassing incidents … who hasn't had one, a few, maybe too many? Write it/them down, what
happened, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

28   OPB-other people’s blogs are loaded with material and fair game (and oh so public!) … any that 
you thought rocked? Start writing, comment, link to the source blog and synch with a theme in your book 
or subject expertise.

29   More OPB … any that you thought gave awful info? Fair game, too! Start writing, counter it, link to 
the source blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

30   Go to the movies … what did you see? Share, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

31   What TV talking head pushes your buttons … what and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

32   Think of something silly … what amuses you and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

33   Back to YouTube.com, put in the search box: “fun” and your topic … whatever pops up—watch a few videos (“fun” delivers both fun and funny themes). Write title and immediate reactions down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

34   Fantasy time … a combo of “what if” and pure “oh my” and let your fingers move into the creation mode. Write it/them all down, add comments and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

35   Weird holidays are a great leaping point … Google the month and day with “weird holiday” after 
it. Read the background, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.


36   Awards are for anything and everything … what have you won (or longed to win), comment and synch
with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

37   Create your own Top 10 list … if it works for Letterman, it will work for you. Write it/them down,
comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

38   What are common myths in your industry or field? … debunk them, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (if there are lots, this idea alone could be worth 10 blogs).

39   Do a Q & A with yourself … all those questions you want people to ask/ items you want them to know about your book and topic. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or
subject expertise.

40   What is the #1 question(s) you wished people would ask and they don’t? … ID, write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

41   Do a review of a book, theater production, movie, concert or any event … what worked, what
didn't? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

42   Do a Q & A with another expert in your field … Tie in their expertise with yours. Write it/them
down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

43   Never under-rate sex, sin, birth and death … there’s always something in the news or in the buzz
that has one or the other tied to it. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

44   Pick up a copy of the National Enquirer and just read the headlines …what tickles your fancy, is
appalling or just makes you think “You've got to be freak ‘in kidding …” Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.My all-time favorite was:  I gave birth in a snake
infested tree! My immediate thoughts were: Whoa … really? How did she get up that tree with her big belly? What were all those snakes doing in it? Why was she in the tree in the first place? What happened? Etc., etc., etc. Great headlines stir up questions.

45   Use a major event (personal or historical) … Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

46   What’s taboo? … agree, disagree, hedge whatever it is. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

47   Become the source, excerpt your own book … Copy/paste key phrase, paragraph, small section.
Comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

48   Invite guest bloggers to sub in … do an Intro and Final comment that sandwiches the guest blog and
synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (if there are lots, this idea alone could be worth 10
more blogs).

49   Mentors—do you have any? … create a blog around the three most important lessons ingrained, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

50   Questions beg for answers … create a list of provocative ones and let your subscribers supply the
answers. You comment back with each one, always synched with a theme in your book or subject expertise (guaranteed, the answers will breed another 10 blogs).

51   Fads and trends in your field yield a viable starting point … what are then? Write it/them down,
comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

52   Get out your magic wand and make some predictions … perfect for the year end, comment and
synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

53   Bonus: Pick me, choose me! Look at the variety of Blogs that’ I've posted on the sites at
AuthorU.org and TheBookShepherd.com. Feel free to re-post any of my blog post links and share them with others.

Take #33: Back to YouTube.com, search for “fun” and your topic … whatever pops up—watch a few, then comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (“fun” delivers and fun and funny). I discovered a short video that revealed 10,000 iPhones lined up in a domino snake-type wall.

Three things hit me: where did all those phones come from; how long did it take to set up; and the two
minute video was awesome. And guess what, YouTube has a video on how they made it!

Did I know that I was going to write a blog on creativity that am? No, I had no idea what I was going to write. Seeing the iPhone video changed that. I was diverted from the “What am I going to write about?” to escaping for less than two minutes to the video—in 15 minutes, I had written a blog on Nonsense or Creativity Starter?  http://thebookshepherd.com/nonsense-or-creativity-starter.html

For me, it was YouTube to the rescue that early AM.

The final touch on your blog is your headline. Does yours create a response or is it ho-hum? Here’s a
trick: check out the “emotional” value of your headline at the Advanced Marketing Institute. Tweak
your headline until you have one that pulls in the crowd. http://www.aminstitute.com/headline/

You've got plenty of ideas to pull you out of the rut in my list above. Use them all or create your own.
Have some fun in the process. Happy blogging!


Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd, the Author and Publishing expert and the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Author U, a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. She’s the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating Your Book and Author Platform that has won four multiple “best” in the writing/publishing categories in book award competitions in 2013. Snappy 
Sassy Salty … Wise Words for Authors and Writers is her latest.



Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the
Toginet network at: http://togi.us/authoru. You can subscribe on the show’s Home page to get weekly
updates of the latest show when the podcast is available for downloading. Connect on Google+ and become a Peep on Twitter at @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd.

Books, Tea and the Perfect Book Marketing / Sales Pitch

Last week, I celebrated my Annual Authors’ Fall Tea … a dozen authors were featured, authors who I've worked with in the past year and had books published. One of their gifts from me was a type of graduation with the opportunity to Pitch their books … to a gathering of my friends and friends they brought as well.


The theme was a High Tea with a table laden with sweets, sandwiches, crab cabs and other tidbits. Six 
different teas were offered, a sherbet punch and cranmosas over a three hour period. In the midst was 
the kitchen inland, cleared of all the normal kitchen stuff. Substituted were stacks of books–their 
beautiful books–perfect for Holiday shopping and gifting. 

Was the Tea a success?Absolutely. Seventy-five attendees schmoozed, ate, sipped, listened and bought books. Some bought one; others a few; one woman bought over a dozen herself. She brought her Christmas shopping list–it was fun watching her mark off name after name as she selected a book for her recipient.

Each author was given 90 seconds to Pitch their book to the crowd of potential buyers. Some did quite well … throwing out a tease to hook the interest; others rambled, causing a few eyes to glaze over as they 
crossed over the 90 second mark to four minutes. An “oh-so-common snafu”  that most authors make.


TMF–too much information–was revealed by a few. Authors tend to want to share everything and anything 
about their books. After all, they've been immersed in the creation for months, maybe years. Surely 
others want to know all the who, what, where, when and why … yes?  In truth, the answer is no. Some of the attendees got lost; they didn't get hooked right away. The Pitch became a ramble. For the listener, it becomes something they have to endure, to get through … until the next Pitch.

Quick … when someone asks you what your book is about … do you stumble finding the words to describe it? You are not alone–most authors fail miserably in delivering the “hook” that gets the listeners attention and buy-in. They don’t get that they have to be a little different, well, maybe a lot different, to get the attention of the book buyer. To say, “You Who … I've got something to say, worth sharing….”

Did you know that most movie scripts are pitched within a 15 second time frame today? Sometimes in 15 
words or less? Ruthless editing for words … your words, words that are awesome, yet you may be 
bubbling over with too, too many words. And you lose your audience. Too, too soon.

Think short, to the point, a little pithy, to catch the attention of any buyer. Think like a one-line description that TV Guide might use to describe a show or movie of the week. Think like the movie script pitch. You want your buyer to think/say “say what …” “tell me more…”  Than your dialogue can open up when he or she starts probing.

Pitches that connect have several elements: they use 1 -Alliteration, 2 rhymes, 3-create a visual for the 
listener, 4-have something that is familiar or a familiar ring to it; 5-snappy and succinct; 6-a sense 
of fun or aha.

Take the Harry Potter series. Loved by millions around the world.

If the unknown J. K. Rowling had pitched her boy wizard as:

“A nerdy kid who was orphaned as an infant and was taken in by relatives who couldn't stand him. 
Eventually, he was finally rescued by a group of other misfits and found his true self.”

Or … “Harry Potter is a fantasy series about a young wizard and his two friends who fight the forces of 
Evil and the corrupt Lord Voldemort while they were students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and 
Wizardry.”

Which asks, “Tell me more”? Which gets your attention?Snappy, Sassy, Sometimes Salty…Your Book Pitch Must Be! And … you will sell more books … I guarantee it!




Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd, the Author and Publishing expert and the Judith Briles is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Author U, a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since
the 80s. She’s the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating Your Book and Author Platform that has won four multiple “best” in the writing/publishing categories in book award competitions in 2013. Her latest book is Snappy, Sassy, Salty … Wise Words for Authors and Writers has just been released.

Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet network at: http://togi.us/authoru (you can subscribe on the show’s Home page to get weekly updates of the latest show). Connect on Google+ and become a Peep on Twitter at @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Snappy, Sassy, Sometimes Salty…Your #Book Pitch Must Be!

Quick … when someone asks you what your book is about … do you stumble finding the words to describe it? You are not alone–most authors fail miserably in delivering the “hook” that is gets the listeners attention and buy-in. They don’t get that they have to be a little different, well, may a lot different, to get the attention of the book buyer. To say, “You Who … I've got something to say, worth sharing….”



Did you know that most movie scripts are pitched within a 15 second time frame? Sometimes in 15 words or less? Ruthless editing for words … your words, I know that are awesome, yet you may  be bubbling over with too, too many words. And you lose your audience. Too, too soon.


Think short, to the point, a little pithy, to catch the attention. Think like a one-line description that TV Guide might use to describe a show or movie of the week. You want your buyer to think/say “say what …” “tell me more…”  Than your dialogue can open up when he or she starts probing.


Pitches that connect have several elements:  they use 1 -Alliteration, 2 rhymes, 3-create a visual for the listener, 4-have something that is familiar or a familiar ring to it; 5-snappy and succinct; 6-a sense of fun or aha.Take the Harry Potter series. Loved by millions around the world. 

 If the author had pitched her boy wizard as A nerdy kid who was orphaned as an infant and was taken in by relatives who couldn't stand him. Eventually, he was finally rescued by a group of other misfits and found his true self.
Or … Harry Potter is a fantasy series about a young wizard and his two friends as they fight the forces of Evil and the corrupt Lord Voldemort while students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Which asks, “Tell me more”? Which gets your attention?

Snappy, Sassy, Sometimes Salty…Your Book Pitch Must Be!


Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd, the Author and Publishing 
expert and the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Author U, a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. She’s the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating Your Book and Author Platform that has won four multiple “best” in the writing/publishing categories in book award competitions in 2013. Her latest book is Snappy, Sassy, Salty … Wise Words for Authors and Publishers has just been released.
Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet network at: http://togi.us/authoru (you can subscribe on the show’s Home page to get weekly updates of the latest show). Connect on Google+ and become a Peep on Twitter at @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Author Smarts: What to Do When You Win a Book Award

What’s next …  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. You need strategies–below are 10 that will add life to your book award … it’s all part of book marketing. Start by creating a shout out for yourself. And doing a happy dance!

Book Awards are a badge of honor ... they set you out and above thousands or other books. With hundreds of thousands of books published each year–a few hundred win awards create clout (hmm…let’s say Klout!) in their midst. Book awards and book marketing go hand-in-hand.

For several of the Author U members and my personal Book Shepherding clients, their email boxes were filled with happy news recently from USA Books News—they were Winners in 12 categories! In fact, 12 emails were sent for each win–two were double winners.


Standing ovations to the Winners and Finalists—many of the books they were competing against were published by major publishers—almost 2,000 entries in 40 plus categories.    

Rhondda Hartman- Natural Childbirth Exercises for the Best Birth Ever

Rabbi Joseph Schultz (a double winner)- The Kabbalistic Journey: From Religion to Spirituality to Mysticism and In Search of Higher Wisdom: Conversations About Religion, Spirituality and Mysticism  

Barbara Sternberg- Anne Evans: A Pioneer in Colorado's Cultural History, The Things That Last When Gold is Gone

Barbara Stratton (a double winner)- Your Child: It's Up To You! Respect Principles Applied Toddler to Teen

Debbie Wilde- The Sustainable Nonprofit: 10 Strategies to Grow a Successful and Exceptional Organization

Lynn Hellerstein- 50 Tips To Improve Your Sports Performance, Mara Purl- Where the Heart Lives

Dianne Maroney- The Imagine Project: Stories of Courage, Hope & Love

A J White- The Bloomers: Wise Women Creating a New World

Judith Briles- Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms                        

It’s time for you to start bragging … and formally announce you and your books kudos to the world. Here are 10 strategies to starting noodling with  … Get your computer open and begin your shout outs with:

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. Create and send a 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 next issue of The Author 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, Goodread  pages and any other pages you have out there.

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!







Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd, the Author and Publishing expert and the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Author U, a membership organization created for the author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. She’s the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating Your Book and Author Platform that has won four multiple “best” in the writing/publishing categories in book award competitions in 2013. Her latest book is Snappy, Sassy, Salty … Wise Words for Authors and Publishers has just been released.  
Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Author U Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet network at: http://togi.us/authoru (you can subscribe on the show’s Home page to get weekly updates of the latest show). Connect on Google+ and become a Peep on Twitter at @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Authors All a Twitter with Twitter … here’s your top 10 Tweets for Nov 7th

Wahoo… today is National Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day. If you are a chocolate lover … it’s a happy dance … add a few almonds … and you become the star on the dance floor!


Chocolate is a vegetable, made from cocoa beans. Almonds are good for you, as they help to improve your 
Cholesterol levels. So, bittersweet chocolate with almonds is really, really good for you, right!?

Don’t forget … if you are in Colorado … The BookCamp is next week … we will have chocolate! Don’t miss this, Terry Brock and Gina Carr and a tour de force in social media, positioning, gadgets and gizmos to make your authoring world rock—get registered on the website. 

Today, Your Guide to Book Publishing will focus on deep sales that return big book bucks for Authors. Judith Briles will host Amy Collins as her guest—it’s all about pitching to libraries… If your have a children’s book—don’t miss it. 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 at http://togi.us/authoru. You can also go to the Home page of Author U scroll down and click on any of the 
past shows—just click and you are instantly there! 

“Are you living your book dream … or are you living in stuckyville because you can’t stop tweaking, perfecting … procrastinating?”  Judith Briles


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

#Author … #Speaker? Read this! How to Pitch Yourself as an Expert to the Media http://t.co/zkQ77Se5kK  

#author alert: NEW litagent: Sarah Joy Freese of Wordserve Literary http://t.co/NyylpWorzm Seeks F & NF #books, including Christian works

How #authors can boost your #Klout score when it goes limp-hot info for #books on #authoru. Listen to podcast with #authoru http://ow.ly/q9p9x

Wow-#authors and #books: watch 4 #free webinars from the #Publishing Chicks at Sea. Don’t miss the Trends for 2014! http://ow.ly/q9GCy

Writing

The top 20 most retweetable words on #Twitter for #authors and #writers. #authoru Please Retweet 


Social Media and Marketing Strategies

@MariSmith on why #socialmedia is like running a 5K … good reminder for #authors. http://ow.ly/q8akd

#authors-stuck on ways to promote your #book on #blog? @Heidi Cohen has 23 great ways to kickstart yours. http://ow.ly/q7Zam

#author smarts: How to Create a Stellar Online #Book Tour – http://t.co/8S1HUx1ayn

#author alert: Ten Reasons Your #Book Should Be an E-Book, Too – http://t.co/eaUKv867Nh


Cool and Sometimes Goofy or Unbelievable!

#author treat! How Pumpkin Pies Are Really Made – Have a Happy #Halloween #books http://t.co/pDTn9GK28o





Bonus:  Last week’s Your Guide to Book Publishing with Judith Briles deep- dove into creating an event thatgot people coming and talking about you and your book!—Listen in. http://togi.us/authoru  or you can download directly from the AuthorU.org website.


Don’t forget to fill out “About” on your FB page. It’s what people see! Add your URL there. Connect with us on Google+ and join the Author U group on LinkedIn.

Not following Author U on Twitter? Change that and follow: @AuthorU


Join the Author U LinkedIn Group. Join the Author U Community on Google+

Monday, November 4, 2013

How to Sell More Books on Amazon With This Simple Trick

What author doesn’t want to sell more books on Amazon (or anywhere for that matter)? Book marketing expert and Author U Advisory Board member Penny Sansevieri shares this simple trick to Author U followers so that they can shine above the book crowd:



If you have worked on your Amazon book page, you
know you can add photos. But have you considered posting more than just your book cover? You can upload additional photos related to your book’s content, too. It’s a great method to help your book stand out and captivate readers/buyers. See the examples below for both fiction and nonfiction. It’s easy to do, just click on “add images” and upload your photos. Why not get more out of Amazon?




Here is an example of a fiction tittle: http://www.amazon.com/Shelf-Life-Publicist-Book-ebook/dp/B00FA5EB4Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-2&qid=1379446200http://www.amazon.com/Shelf-Life-Publicist-Book-ebook/dp/B00FA5EB4Q/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-2&qid=1379446200








About the author: Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. She is the author of five books, including Book to Bestseller, which has been called the “road map to publishing success.” AME is the first marketing and publicity firm to use Internet promotion to its full impact through The Virtual Author Tour™, which strategically works with social networking sites, blogs, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedin, YouTube, and relevant sites to push an authors message into the virtual community and connect with sites related to the book’s topic, positioning the author in his or her market. In the past 24 months their creative marketing strategies have helped land 11 books on the New York Times Bestseller list. To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, you can visit her website at http://www.amarketingexpert.com.