Thursday, February 28, 2013

Top Author Tweets for Week of February 28th



Oh boy, today is your day to snooze in full view. And, today is the day to do it—it’s National Public Sleeping Day.  A bench in the mall, a slab in the park, a catnap the job, 40 winks in the car (not while driving!), in the sun—take a few winks and enjoy.
 sleeping
Today,Your Guide to Book Publishingwill focus on creating audio tapes and how to avoid some of the most common, and costly errors. Judith’s guest is Bret Ridgway. 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://rsrn.us/youpublish.  You can also go to the Home page of http://www.AuthorU.org, scroll down and click on any of the past five show—just click and you are instantly there!
A well-written life is almost as rare as a well-spent one.– Thomas Carlyle
Here’s your Top Ten Tweets for the past week  
AuthorUTweet2 
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 and ebook alert: Nook’s death spiral and Kindle’s triumph http://t.co/2Ny484yL
How to Make a Book Trailer: 6 Tips http://t.co/Ym9riVBU
“Think Gutenberg, not Zuckerberg”: #Authors-Why ready access to #books is just as important as superfast broadband. http://t.co/6iRXubp1

Writing
What happened to reading, writing and arithmetic? 23% of America is illiterate [infographic] http://t.co/GSlTir8H

Social Media and Marketing Strategies
Authors: Have you Vined yet (6 second video for Twitter)? What’s new: Vine Analytics Already? Tis Free. http://t.co/1bMmq7Nt
Authors and blogs belong together: 7 Tips for Falling in Love with Your Blog All Over Again … http://t.co/jsviaPpV
Author Smarts: Why And How To Use Multimedia To Enhance Your eBooks  http://t.co/O2JJRo1l
Common sense tips for Book and Author Marketing: 25 Ways to Increase Blog Traffic http://ow.ly/hJt53
Authors tips for book promotion and marketing via YouTube http://ow.ly/hKgV7

Cool and Sometimes Goofy
A kick: Ye olde helpdesk for the new thing called a book http://t.co/il8U4slU

Bonus:  Last week’sYour Guide to Book Publishingwas with Georgia McCabe was a wealth of information on creating everything in social media for book launches. Listen in. http://rsrn.us/youpublish  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.
Not following Author U on Twitter? Change that and follow: @AuthorU
Not in Author U LinkedIn Group? Join on LinkedIn today.

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

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


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Book Publishing: Is There a Product After Your Book?


Book Spin-offs and Products
Book Publishing: Is There a Product After Your Book?
If you are an author, you have a product that can be morphed to other products. Books have covers. How would it look on a mug? a Tee-shirt? What about a canvas bag or a nifty pin? Illustrations can become products that you sell … are there any in your book? Can they be made into a sellable product that is low price and an add-on to a sale of a book or stand alone? To do this, you need to get permission of the illustrator or have it arranged up front that you own all rights for anything and everything. How about a bookmark that becomes a “tool” vs. just a placeholder?
Some will require payment—either a lump sum or royalty arrangement–it will depend if you create it yourself with your own product/material that your own outright or one that you have to make an arrangement with the holder of the copyright if it isn't you.
I turned one of the critters in my book Stabotage!™ How to Deal with the Pit Bulls, Snakes, Skunks, Scorpions & Slugs in the Health Care Workplace book into a 2 x 3 pin that cost 60 cents that sells for $5—markets my books whenever it is displayed or worn. We've got one of our logos on a mug that sells and created a tee-shirt with one of the “Keepers” from a book that has sold thousands. Taking a key tool from the Stabotage!book, a bookmark with created with a tassel that sells for $5–an easy add to each sale of a book. Then we lumped 10 of them together, tied a purple ribbon around them and sold those at a discount for $40–we’ve sold thousands of those. Michelle Marchildon, author of Finding More on the Mat, has created tee-shirt with an outrageous saying on back and front .. her audiences and readers are wild about them–selling out within days when she launched the first one. Sure, they are a bit salty–but if you know Michelle, so is she!
Don’t just stop at the book. There may be gold between the covers, on top of them and outside of them. Create products that will continue with your brand. Books have amazing lives–you never know what path they will take you on … if you will let them!

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

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

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Book Publishing and ISBNs … Do You Need Them?


ISBN and book publishingBook Publishing and ISBNs … Do You Need Them?
Do authors need ISBNs? If you plan on selling your book, the answer is yes. If you are creating something that is not for re-sale—from the family history to your high school reunion … most likely not. How many should you have … just the one for your book or do you need others? What about eBooks and other book formats? Below are answers to the top three questions that I frequently get:
Should you eBook have an ISBN?
Most will respond, “It depends.” If you plan to have your eBook available for iPad readers, than you must have an ISBN. Remember, your ISBN is the ID that the rest of the book retail world sees. It’s mandatory if your book is available in bookstores as well as with distributors and wholesalers. Amazon doesn't require one—you get assigned the Amazon ASIN number–which stands for Amazon Standard Book Number. If you already have an ISBN, then you will enter that number during the publishing process with them–just click on the upload image tab. Others, such as B&N’s new PubIt doesn't require it … they will assigned you a number
“It depends,” is technically correct … but if there’s just one format that requires it … the answer is YES. My advice: just do it and if you have a print edition, put both ISBNs on the © page stating which is which.
Can you use the same ISBN for print and eBook formats?
In a nutshell—no. Each is a unique edition and requires an identity. Think of the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) as your book’s Social Security number. It’s the magic number that keeps track of what is selling. Beware, Beware, Beware of publishers who lump books together and register all their books with a master ISBN for sales to outlets such as Amazon. What are they? Crooks. This has been a practice with some of the vanity presses.
The International ISBN Agency recommends that publishers assign ISBNs to each format. That means print, eBook, audio, video and anything else that comes along.
How many ISBNs should you get?
Start with 10 (it’s cheaper to buy them this way). Go straight to www.Bowker.com and purchase them for $275 (includes process fee). It identifies your “publishing house” and gives you enough to cover the current edition, as well as any revised. Keep in mind: you need a different number for each format—hardback; paperback; audio; video; eBook, etc. If your book goes from hardback to paper, it’s another number. If you revise your book or create a new edition, it’s a new number.

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

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

Monday, February 25, 2013

4th Annual Author U Extravaganza … Will You Be There?


Author U will hold its 4th Annual Extravaganza May 2-4 at the Renaissance Denver Hotel. With 25 author and publishing experts speaking at workshops and 30 national Exhibitors, the Author U Extravaganza attendees will feast in information to expand their marketing, social media and publishing efforts. The question is: willYOU be there?
 Do You Have the Edge? Every Author Needs One!
Over THREE amazing days, you will be working with amazing book marketing strategists, publicists, Internet gurus, mobile marketing geniuses, audio and video pioneers … all done in an intense workshop environment … Block the dates on your calendar and register now for THREE days that will turn you and your book into creating the edge that you both need. Keynotes are Guy Kawasaki (APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur), Joel Friedlander (The Book Designer) and Penny Sansevieri (Red Hot Internet Publicity)
Exhibit space is already SOLD OUT.  The speakers are going to share a variety of insider tips based on the years of experience. Such as Greg Godek, author of 1001 Ways to be Romantic, who has sold over 3,000,000 books all by his wits and incredible creativity–including:
  • Do NOT buy a 36-foot RV and travel America for 2 years to conduct your book signing tour.
  • Try reverse-shoplifting in a bookstore. But watch out for surveillance cameras. 
  • It’s easy to run circles around Random House. Creativity-expressed beats money-spent 8 out of 10 times. 
They will discover their inner APE with Guy Kawasaki, author of APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur ; learn the latest Internet publicity strategies with Penny Sansevieri, author of Red Hot Internet Publicity; deep dive into how to really create a great Blog and gathered a huge following with Joel Friedlander; discover hidden treasures of book review possibilities with Joan Stewart and so much more. All attendees get a copy of Guy Kawasaki’s APE.

The full Agenda with speakers, topics and times can be found at the Author U website.
At Author U, authors and publishers get their minds and bellies fed. All meals are included. Register now for this three day event that will change your authoring and publishing life:  www.AuthorU.org
Do You Have the Edge? Every author needs one! Are you author enough to claim yours and success?
Don’t wait another day. Get yourself registered today at the Author U websitewww.AuthorU.org.

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

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




Friday, February 22, 2013

Please, Please … Ban Book Pollution


Several times a month, I get calls or emails from aspiring or just-ready-to-give-birth authors. Or so they think. Maybe they are ready for the book birth—but too many times, it’s a false labor, or should be. This past month, after an SOS from a book designer I work with, I literally pulled two books out of the “line” where the authors had jumped the gun and submitted theirs too soon and directly to him, bypassing my final round of input to save a few bucks. The authors didn't see what the problem was … until they came into my offices to look at their books one more time. One had over 200 additional tweaks that I had recommended to get it to the final polish. If the book hadn't been pulled … the result would be a trashy book, one that most readers would have thought, “poorly publishing, not edited, etc., etc.”
With the almost 3,000,000 books from all formats published last year, we’ve entered an era of book pollution. Don’t add to it. There are two things authors do that consistently get them, and their books, into trouble:
1 They rush to publish.
2 They fail to support the book after it is born.
What does rushing to publish entail? Plenty. Start with content—polishing hasn't happened; the content can be sucky–let’s face it, not all authors can writer–they need writers to shape their words and thoughts; and editing … “editing” consists of a few friends, or maybe a relative or two, reading it vs. someone who is ready and able to yield the red pen and do slashing, burning and rebuilding when necessary. The editor–one who does it for a living.
The surest way to ID a self-published/vanity book is three-fold: obvious lack of editing, a mediocre cover, sloppy layout. Why an author would think he has the talent to create the cover that beckons to a potential buyer—
          I’m here, come to me …
          I have the answers …
          I can solve your problem …
          Buy me—

is a wonder. And not a good one. This is not an area that you go to Fivrr.com for—get it done right. Graphics, colors, fonts and layout are the icing on your cake. Interiors need to be crisp and clean and presented so that the reader falls in. Hyphen mania, paragraph perpetuity, widows, orphans, and just too, too much text without an eye break in sight is a guarantee that the book will be quickly shut and forgotten.
At Author U, several of our Associate members create book covers that are professional and reasonably priced. Several Associate members are interior designers—bringing a book to visual life. Editors are your friends, bringing another set of eyes that every author needs. It takes a village to create a book that doesn't add to the pollution factor.
In two months, the Extravaganza occurs. This brings me to point two: failure to support the book once it’s born. Over two-and-a-half days, amazing content will be provided by seasoned pros in multiple aspects of publishing. This year promises a heavy emphasis on marketing—in just about any format an author can imagine. Because of the morphing book-selling world, if the author doesn't support his new offspring, it’s over. Period. If he doesn’t commit to the marketing aspect of his book, the take-away is zip—nothing—it’s over. An obituary will be the next step. As mega-author Stephen King wrote:
          “If a book is not alive in the writer’s mind, it is as dead as year-old horse shit.”
Marketing will vary according to genre and format—fiction, nonfiction, eBook, aBook, pBook. It’s a different game today. And for those of you who have made a commitment to support your book, you won’t miss it or miss out. These gurus of publishing, along with a variety of Exhibitors, will show you that It Takes a Village to Create and Market Your Book. The Village is coming to Denver May 3-5. The skies will be clear—no book pollution in sight. You, and your Book, can’t afford to miss the Extravaganza. And you definitely can’t afford being cast as a book polluter!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Where Do Your Book Sales Come From? Are You Findable?


Book Publishing Savvy Today:

Do You Know Where Your Book Sales Come From?
       Do You Know Where Your Clients Come From?
              Do You Know Where Your ____ Comes From?
Having a marketing and sales background, it was drilled in that I had to follow my leads, track my leads and know where my business came from. Maybe. Maybe not … at least today. The Internet has changed a lot of the rules of yesterday … yesteryear. It’s fast forward time…
If you have a product—a book, consulting services or any other product—today, it’s all about being “out there”—exposed, talked about, findable.
Maybe it’s time to stop asking the question, Do you know where your business is coming from? Because there isn’t a definable answer. Maybe the answer is in the response zone of “… just because.”
The more that you are “out there,” the more difficult it is to track where your sales and business comes from. It’s a “just because” … you are visible, you are finable … and best of all, you are reachable.
I can’t tell you the number of people who have engaged me to speak to a group because a friend of a friend heard me speak at a conference; or that someone said that they should get my book; or that they needed an expert in my topic and found my name or my website; or that they found one of my books and eventually contacted me directly (because that information was included in the book); or that they need a book shepherd. I’m on the Internet via personal websites, posted articles and easily found via Google. Are you? Your company? Your expertise? Your services?
And, to the surprise of many … I answer the phone when I’m in my office. With cell phones … the office is anywhere … anytime.  One of my latest clients found me at 7 in the evening Colorado time when I answered the phone—it wasn’t evening or afternoon where he was—he was in China and found me via the Internet—it was 10 in the morning, next day for him. We connected; I understood his book; and we are moving to layout in days.
It amuses me when the caller expresses surprise that I answer my own phone. Why shouldn’t I? Why shouldn’t you?
It’s the pinball effect—people jump around until they find the fit for them. Findable. Trackable from their side … more difficult to track from yours. And you just don’t know which pinball hole it will drop into.
The reality is that most people buy—they buy anything—based on emotions. When they are seeking help, services are a product … they are most likely in the “buy” mode. Are you visible? Are you reachable? Can you verbally connect with them and “hear” their needs? Can you be found with a few key words and a computer? Are you working under today’s model or still stuck in tracking the numbers?


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

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

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Your Book Success Is Up to You … and ONLY You!


Your Book Success Is Up to You … and ONLY You!
This week, I send three emails to three separate authors that I had shephered and agreed to co-publish their books about the lack of sales. Publishers don’t love the term, “lack of sales.” None of these authors should have got the “Wake up and smell the book roses … possible death toll bell” from me.
I hated writing them … I hated sending them.
And, I had to do it. As the publisher, because it’s business. As The Book Shepherd, because they chose to ignore the hours of brainstorming about strategies to market, position and sell their books. As the publisher, I got the books into national distribution at all major channels—even Barnes and Noble ordered them.
And they failed. Two of them have done zip in marketing support. ZIP. The third did an announcement on her Facebook page and has created a few speaking engagements. Granted, those sold books on site, which is a great strategy and was part of the game plan. But, that’s it.
The Ego Factor
Authors have got to deal with their egos–they are always part of the formula. Do they want their books available in book stores, or at least available, so that a book store can easily order it? So buyers can buy the book? So that they can tell their friends that it’s at the book store? So that they can actively tell people to buy the book at a book store, or at least Amazon to buy the book? Or, is it a stroke to their ego–a badge of an honor to have their book in the store that they can brag about?
If so, they MUST understand the game … and the game is … drive buyers to book stores if the publisher arranges for that option. Why should a book store carry a book or make it available if people aren’t encouraged to buy the book through them? If the book doesn’t sell, any future books may carry “baggage” with them … as is, “Why should we carry this book?–all of the author’s previous book were returned.”
If authors are not going to drive book buyers to book stores … they don’t need a distributor. Distributors make money when books are sold throug book stores and libraries. If authors aren’t going to encourage buyers to go to stores, to Amazon, to B&N, to libraries (yes, if libraries get demand, they buy books for inventory), they is no need for representation via a distributor.
Were the books good? Did they solve pain or provide a solution to something that a viable audience was in search of? Did they contain stories and humor to support their themes and key concepts? Yes, Yes and Yes. Oh yes. I loved them all … and so did the authors. I believed in every one of them—they were well-written; beautifully designed on the interior; and each had an excellent cover.
Authors Can’t Be Too Pooped to Market!
Most authors are pooped by the time they have book in hand. I get that—it’s quite a journey getting there. When the book is finally a book, available to the public, is when the author’s support/energy/creativity/WORK really must go into high gear.
The support for the book—whether it’s eBook, pBook, aBook, vBook—is HUGE at this point. Five percent of the author’s time went into creation of the masterpiece—the remaining 95 percent will go into marketing and support of it over a period of time.
Your book, and the support of it, is a long-term investment. It will take your time, your energy, your creativity, your commitment … and yes, some money. Sometimes lots of money, depending on your marketing game plan; sometimes minimal moneys but lots of time, again, depending on your marketing game plan.
Can those three authors change the limp direction of their book—even when it’s been out for some time? Absolutely! It will take some time. It will need a marketing re-direct. It will take a commitment. Will they do it? Only time will tell.
Author U Extravaganza May 3-5, 2012 in Colorado
Author U Extravaganza May 3-5, 2012
Author Uwill present its annual Extravaganza May 3-5 in Colorado. The theme this year is It Takes a Village to Create and Market Your Book. All the top marketing and publishing gurus will be presenting hands-on workshops over the three days. For an investment of a few hundred dollars, the Village will deliver a variety of strategies and techniques for all types of books—the emphasis is marketing, marketing, marketing. If you want to be seriously successful, you will be there. I will—I have a new book birthing this year—I want to support it, as well as other books that I have that are available.
The success of your book is up to you. If you want it, commit to it. Implement it. Rejoice in it. My lecture is done.

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

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

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The Magic, No … the Wonder of Perseverance

 The Magic, No … the Wonder of Perseverance
Sometimes it’s not easy being an author … there’s rejection—sometimes in a cascading abundance; sometimes we authors feel that everything attempted is a massive flop;  sometimes we think we should be committed for spending the time and money in creating our books; sometimes we think there’s no freakin way we can sell any; and sometimes we just think …
But then, a nudge comes into play. You love your topic. The cover makes you happy. You remember the unbelievable sense of pride when you held that first book in your hand. A kind word, email, or note comes your way that you’ve made a difference, solved a problem or just provided a new fan with a terrific story.
Authoring … what a journey.  Highs and lows. Hopes and fears. Tears and joy. And a journey that requires perseverance. Webster’s defines perseverance as continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.
Isn’t that what we authors face—sometimes on a daily basis? Are you thrilled with your book sales? Would you like to increase them? Book sales don’t come from luck … they come from marketing work. And perseverance.
Your book is like an iceberg—5 percent is the writing; the other 95 percent is below the surface … everything that you do to kick start sales, your marketing, and your on-going plan. The continuation of your Book and Author Platforms. Everything.
For sure, authoring isn’t for sissies.  Successful authors have more rejections than Hogan’s got goats. Successful authors have it the wall of dismal sales more times than they care to count. Successful authors have received more negative reviews than their walls have room to post them on. Successful authors have had days, sometimes weeks, months, even years when they have wondered, “What was I thinking …”
Yes, authoring is hard work … what separates the successful author from the non-successful one? One word: perseverance.
That’s what this year’s Extravaganza is all about. Why put all that time and money into creating your book if you aren’t going to market it? In an ongoing basis and strategy? If your book sells for $20, the cost of the Extravaganza is equal to selling 20 books … plus you get fed from morning until night. What are you waiting for? Don’t miss out. Your book deserves the information you will learn. You and it deserve the success that will come your way when you implement it. Register atAuthor U (niversity) .
Author U is bringing the publishing and marketing village to you. Will you invite them in? Or will you close the success door to both you and your book? The choice is yours.

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

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

Monday, February 18, 2013

Calling ALL AUTHORS …


Do you want to be successful! How about seriously successful?
celebration8

 
Where will it happen: Denver, CO, Renaissance Denver Hotel
 
  • Are you ready to invest in yourself and your book with an amazing array of talent that will take you and your book to the next, next level? 
  • Do you want to achieve the book and author success you envisioned?
  • Do you want to learn a stream of insider author and publishing success tips that will elevate your expertise and visibility?
  • Do you want to expand your possibilities?
  • Do you know what you want to do?
  • Will you be there?
The Book Shepherd - The Author and Publishing Expert
Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.

The Dates it will happen:  May 2-4
What will make it happen: the 4th Annual Author U Extravaganza
 Have you signed up for the Author U Extravaganza yet? Why not? Guy Kawasaki will be there; Penny Sansevieri will be there; Cevin Bryerman will be there; Georgia McCabe will be there; Daniel Hall will be there; Judith Briles will be there; Joan Stewart will be there; Joel Friedlander will be there; Greg Godek will be there; Brian  Jud will be there; Peggy McColl will be there; Dan Janal will be there;  Matthew Bennett will be there; Mary Agnes Antonopoulos will be there … and so many more to speak, to brainstorm, to mentor; 30 national publishing Exhibitors will be there–over 50 amazing publishing and author experts will be in Denver, Colorado May 2-4, 2013. The Who’s Who of publishing is coming to Colorado … and so should you. That is, if you want to be seriously successful.  The full Agenda is on the AuthorU.org website. The question is: Will you be there?  http://ow.ly/hM8aZ
Register NOW for the Author U 4th Annual Extravaganza … rates will start increasing in March. Author U feeds the belly and the brain—most meals included with registration. GO-GO-GO http://ow.ly/hM8aZ

 
Dr. Judith Briles 
Chief Visionary Officer: AuthorU.org