Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Authors, Judgment and Publishing Predators

What do you do when you’ve been “had” in the publishing game/maze? Who’s the book-buster you call in?


  • Do you moan and groan that you’ve been screwed?
  • Do you spend countless hours in phone and email hell trying to get to someone who’s going to fix whatever needs fixing on your book?
  • Do you cave in, with book tail between your heart and soul and just slink away
  • Do you make a variety of excuses as to why you are in the mess you are?
  • Do you ignore that you’ve been treated like a piece of yesterday’s trash?
  • Do you …


How about: let's kick in "your better judgment" “Do you …” and get the heck out of dodge. Stop working with the people and group that have zapped you.  Just stop. Lick your wounds; you made a mistake that is costing you time, energy and money. I know, it’s the money thing that keeps people in the book and author abuse cycle.

If you don't, it will suck the passion out of your book and you. Tell everyone you know who they are, what exactly has been the pits and engage with someone who knows what they are doing. And listen to them; dump your ego, not your vision.

There is too, too much information out there available with a few clicks to weed the publishing predators out. Google the names; add "scams", "problems", "cons", "complaints" after their names—read every one of them. Predators & Editors should always be checked out. Ask, Ask, Ask. I had someone who called me last week who admitted after I asked him why he signed with Xlibris--he was sick of being hounded by all the phone calls and just wanted them to stop. He signed a contract, gave them money … because he wanted them to stop calling him!

Authors—the boiler room operations of Author House, Author Solutions, Xlibris, iUniverse, etc., have hundreds of people "hounding" naïve authors-to-be around the clock—it's their "job"—they are author hounders, lurking in the shadows, ready to root into your creative juices, and yes, your personal vanity, to get your wallet and book. 

And Amazon, with all its bucks, needs to kick up its quality control. The results are hit and miss on printing and layout quality for its CreateSpace program.  CreateSpace is a pay to publish method, let’s call it what it is. The choice for cover presentation—gloss or gloss—is dismal. Lightning Source is leap years ahead of it. Certainly OK for a "galley" and ARC strategy or to “test” the grounds for a book ... but to sell in physical quantity/quality—to compete what books that authors and publishers of any size are putting thought and money into—not so hot. If you don’t care what the physical presentation of your book is, then it doesn’t.

When I look at the finished results of the vanity, pay-to-publish, subsidy crowd, and hear the author tell me in writing or in person that they are OK/happy with the results ... just what are the results being comparing to? If he or she doesn't know better ... well ... is that really OK? Your choice, you choose … and look in the mirror when you do. I would choose to get out of dodge and start over. Yes, you are out some money and time. And yes, you will get your book and author life back. The book-buster is in the mirror. Your choice, you choose.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), 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. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on thewww.RockStarRadioNetwork.comFollow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com

Monday, April 29, 2013

Creating Author and Book Promo Alerts

 Author Headlines: Be Smart … or Be Square

How many times have you noodled your lead or headline to trash it, over and over? It could be for a blog, an article, a speech … and gulp, your book. Don’t you wish the headline gods would drop in, give you your zinger, so you can write or finish what you are working on?

Or, have you gone blank and you just can’t get the promo piece together? Or, how about trying to come up with something that can tie into an event, happening, or even newsy type of item that you think would be a hook for your community?

For the annual Author U Extravaganza, One of Author U’s Premier Partners Dave Raymond and Thomson Shore created an email that was sent to his lists:


The entire ad isn't included, just the ... Be there ... or be square

Using the cityscape that is recognized as Denver (the other, of course, being the Rocky Mountains), it’s different, catchy and will get the attention of his email list. It includes all his, and Thomson Shore’s contact info along with all the key services that Thomson Shore provides. It advises his clients to meet him in Denver — clever one, that Dave!

The point? Ideas are everywhere, whatever your location is. Everywhere. Take advantage of them to promote yourself, your book, your everything. Draw your crowd to you; to an event that you are appearing at; your amazing book; anything! And Dave and Thomson Shore are right …
Be there ...or be square!
The Extravaganza is awaiting you. 

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), 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. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.comFollow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Book Publishing ... Is This Your Year?


You like 80 percent of the population? Is there a book in you? Something that will establish your expertise, your credibility? Have you being gathering amazing stories during your years in nursing? In Management? As an executive? Have you thought about publishing “something” that would get your foot in the door as the “go to” person? What about a reposition within the industry or a transitional leap? Have you just finished a Masters or Doctorate that your thesis or dissertation just might be the genesis for a book?
Starting a book is a major event. Continuing the journey deserves a tap dance or two. Launching it is a firework celebration.
As The Book Shepherd to many, the author of 30 books myself, my goal is always for the author to create a book that she or he doesn’t regret. The cover, the insides, the content, the editing, the time spent creating it, the ____.
One of the most important things that an author—new or old—must keep at the forefront is the voice—is it his or hers? Or, has it been so morphed by others in the process that it has gotten lost ... not to be found. This is the year that your voice is heard above the noise—the noise of millions of other books that are out there.
  • Let this be your year that you are not lost; that you are found in the present and the future.
  • Let this be the year that you will seek and find the answers to every question you have ... and ones that you didn’t know were circling, just waiting for you to ask.
  • Let this be the year that you invest in both your work and yourself to get it grounded and launched.
  • Let this be the year that your Author and Book Platforms rock and roll!
  • Let this be the year that you build on your crowd—or as Seth Godin says: the tribe.
  • Let this be the year that your crowd—your readers—find you.
  • Let this be the year that you, and your book, are truly findable across the Internet.
  • Let this be the year that no one looks at you with a glaze in their eyes as you share that you are publishing your book with your own imprint.
  • Let this be the year that you say, “I can do that. I can be a bestseller.”
It’s an exciting time to be an author; it’s an awesome time to be a publisher. The typical author, especially the author that views his path aligned with a traditional publisher, wants the details to be taken care by others—to in some ways, be taken care of. The independent author/publisher knows that “if it is going to happen,” he needs to be intricately involved in the process. He must continue his education; keep updated on marketing strategies and tools; and stay connected with others in the authoring/publishing community.

That’s because you want to educate yourself, you want to find out what’s happening in indie publishing, you want to learn about book construction, or you want to find out the cool new ways people are marketing their books. No longer does an author write a book, get it published and wait. Wait for success or wait for the end, meaning sales have dwindled to zilch and the ride is other. Today’s savvy author knows that his book can have a never-ending life—with marketing smarts, vision, passion, commitment and the tribe.

Welcome to my world ... the world of publishing that I embraced in 2000 when a client said, “We would like to buy 1,000 copies of your book that you will be speaking about in the spring ... and do you think you could arrange a discount with the publisher.” Of course I said, “Yes,” knowing that I had just taken the rights back from the traditional publisher and to the best of my knowledge, only 60 copies existed. I jumped in; started to learn the insider’s world of publishing; the dollars and sense of publishing; and how to find people to create the book that I committed to deliver on my promise. I was an already an author of 18 published books; now I was to become a publisher. Heady stuff.

What I’m thankful for is that I did come from the traditional publishing side. My visual model. My books were edited and professionally designed on the interior and exterior. When I created my own imprint, it never dawned on me to do it half-assed ... I expected that my first book would be of quality—that’s what I grew up with as a beginning author in 1981. The vanity press/publishing model? Never an option—not even in my sights.

The growth of quality independent publishing is phenomenal and will only continue to escalate; the “e” world has become a pearl for many authors who would have never had a chance; and the separation of the vanities and publishing predators from true independents is comparable to buying a cheap 50 cent toy that breaks when it is picked up versus one that is designed to last.

Indeed, here’s to you and the book that is within you … just waiting to come out.

PS—my latest book, Author YOU: Creating and Building the Author and Book Platforms is perfect for anyone who is interested in authoring and publishing. 


Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), a book publishing coach and the Founder Chief Visionary Officer of Author U (niversity (www.AuthorU.org), 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. Judith is the author of 30 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms has just been published.

Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book Publishing on www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.




Monday, April 22, 2013

Nonsense … or Creativity Starter? … That, Dear Author/Watson, Is the Question!

When is nonsense "nonsense" and when is it the perfect kick start to get you, the author, out of a writing rut, book marketing rut or just see something from a different perspective? 

Recently, I posted a video on several of my social media sites that contained a video of 10,000 iPhones doing the domino dance. First thoughts when I viewed it: Who has time to do this? Who even thought it up? When and where in the heck did they gather up 10,000 iPhones (Apple headquarters)? How much time did this take? How many misfires were there? Etc.

After viewing, it left me with a smile and an "OK, it's a long day ahead, I need to do some final re-writes on the For the Love of Paprika cookbook that I’m working on for/with a client; get two handouts done for speeches I’m giving in the next two weeks; get … you get the picture.  This is a fun way to start it ...." and who knows what creative things are going to pop. And let’s face it—we all need a mental break during our days … even when in the depths of a project. Any project.

Here's the video: http://ow.ly/kbmak

Take less than two minutes to watch and then ask yourself, “What goofy, nonsense thing has opened up paths for me?” Hey, it sparked the idea to write this short blog … an idea that I didn’t have when I opened my laptop at 5 am that popped when I thought and asked, “Who has the time to do this?”

Now, back to the other work …


Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), 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. Judith is the author of 30 books. Her latest, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms is just out. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com

Friday, April 19, 2013

Three Cheers for the Library!


This week celebrates National Library Week. For authors, libraries can be your best friend. With over 100,000 throughout the country, their budgets still purchase approximately $2,000,000,000 in books each year—two billion dollars! That’s what the American Library Association and the Book Industry Study Group report.
So … the question is … are you getting your share?
  • Befriend your local library and librarian. Let them know about your book.
  • Offer to do a program—especially if you are a children’s author. Many libraries have author programs and are enthusiastic in working and featuring authors—stick your neck out. And if you get invited, make sure you encourage others to come. Bodies count!
  • Ask for testimonials and endorsements.
  • Make sure you share reviews and any media clippings with your librarian … the one you befriended!
  • Donate a book to the library—it just may be the thing that generates a purchase order.
  • Encourage your followers to contact their libraries to request your book and tell them tell their friends to check it out as well as them.
  • Librarians pay attention to reviews. The Library Journal is a key one—usually requires a four month lead before official publication date.
  • The read the Library Journal thoroughly—depending on your marketing budget, you might want to consider an ad in one.
  • Libraries buy from distributors—key ones are Quality Books, Unique Books and Baker & Taylor. Make sure you have representation with at least one of them.
  • Make sure you have a media release/flyer about your book (include a cover picture on it. Include the price of the book and your ISBN as well as who distributes your book. Send it directly to libraries or participate in a coop mailing, such as the one that IBPA does to both academic and public libraries each year.
  • Get online and/or make phone calls and determine who the Collection Development Librarian is (make sure you spell the name correctly. Send them your flyer.
  • Consider making a collage of reviews that you received and creating a flyer as an attached to anything that you send out.
  • If you have the opportunity to attend of exhibit at a Library trade show, do it. There may be a signing you participate in (that means you give books away (make sure there is a flyer in each for additional ordering information).
  • If your book has won any awards, make sure you include them within your flyer. If the honor comes to you and your book after your initial contact, it becomes an excellent opportunity to follow up.
  • Don’t forget to let your librarian know that you have an ebook or an audio book.
When libraries order a book, they pay for it promptly. It good thing for the author. Yes, celebrate your library … it, they, do lots for you and your book … not to mention the community.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), a book publishing coach and the Founder Chief Visionary Officer of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), 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. Judith is the author of 30 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms has just been published. 

Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book Publishing on www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Book Publishing: Book Editors and Book Publishing Are Like Peanut Butter and Jelly


Book Editors and Book Publishing Are Like Peanut Butter and Jelly
Why so many authors think that their friend who teaches literature at the local college, or their sister who
loves everything they write and do is the perfect editor for their work is beyond me. Your editor can make or break your work—she can shape and shore it up … or, put in some commas and check your spelling. There are now more self and independent published books than those produced by the traditional NY
houses—and too, too many have minimal, if any, editing. Think “ruthless editing.” Cut and shape, hire a pro—and, when in doubt, cut it out.
Look for an editor who “gets” your topic … it will save you hours in their education. Let them know if there are quirky or unusual phrases or words in the beginning. If all the editor is doing is copy–the grammar and punctuation–he won’t be thinking about what sub-heads and layout should be. Somewhere along the line, authors began to think that editors worked at minimum wage … wrong. You will pay from $25 an hour and up–most are going to come in the $50 an hour range. The cleaner the copy you give them, the less you are going to spend.
Book publishing and editors are like peanut butter and jelly–finding the right combo will enhance your book from the get-go.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com) and the Founder of Author U (niversity (www.AuthorU.org), a membership organization created for the serious 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 28 books including Show Me About Book Publishing, co-written with John Kremer and Rick Frishman and a speaker at publishing conferences. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do “Like” AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Book Publishing: Is There a Product After Your Book?



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!

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd, a book publishing coach and the Founder of Author U (niversity) , a membership organization created for the serious 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 28 books including Show Me About Book Publishing, co-written with John Kremer and Rick Frishman and a speaker at publishing conferences. Her next audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform will be available in the Spring of 2012. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book Publishing on the RockStarRadioNetwork. Follow @AuthorU and@MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU andTheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com

Monday, April 15, 2013

Author Marketing Tip: It’s National Library Week … Are You Getting Your Share?

 This week celebrates National Library Week. For authors, libraries can be your best friend. With over 100,000 throughout the country, their budgets still purchase approximately $2,000,000,000 in books each year—two billion dollars! That’s what the American Library Association and the Book Industry Study Group report.




So … the question is … are you getting your share?
  • Say hello to your local library and librarian. Let them know about your book.
  • Offer to do a program—especially if you are a children’s author. Many libraries have author programs and are enthusiastic in working and featuring authors—stick your neck out. And if you get invited, make sure you encourage others to come. Bodies count!
  • Ask for testimonials and endorsements.
  • Make sure you share reviews and any media clippings with your librarian … the one you befriended!
  • Donate a book to the library—it just may be the thing that generates a purchase order.
  • Encourage your followers to contact their libraries to request your book and tell them tell their friends to check it out as well as them.
  • Librarians pay attention to reviews. The Library Journal is a key one—usually requires a four month lead before official publication date.
  • The read the Library Journal thoroughly—depending on your marketing budget, you might want to consider an ad in one.
  • Libraries buy from distributors—key ones are Quality Books, Unique Books and Baker & Taylor. Make sure you have representation with at least one of them.
  • Make sure you have a media release/flyer about your book (include a cover picture on it. Include the price of the book and your ISBN as well as who distributes your book. Send it directly to libraries or participate in a coop mailing, such as the one that IBPA does to both academic and public libraries each year.
  • Get online and/or make phone calls and determine who the Collection Development Librarian is (make sure you spell the name correctly. Send them your flyer.
  • Consider making a collage of reviews that you received and creating a flyer as an attached to anything that you send out.
  • If you have the opportunity to attend of exhibit at a Library trade show, do it. There may be a signing you participate in (that means you give books away (make sure there is a flyer in each for additional ordering information).
  • If your book has won any awards, make sure you include them within your flyer. If the honor comes to you and your book after your initial contact, it becomes an excellent opportunity to follow up.
  • Don’t forget to let your librarian know that you have an ebook or an audio book. When libraries order a book, they pay for it promptly. It good thing for the author.
Yes, celebrate your library … it, they, do lots for you and your book … not to mention the community.

(C) 2013 Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), 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. Judith is the author of 30 books including her latest, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com.
 Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com


Friday, April 12, 2013

Should You Be Using Webinars to Sell Your Books? Advice from the Book Coach / Book Shepherd


Should You Be Using and Offering Webinars? Webinars are one of the many ways authors can reach out to present followers, as well as future. Here are a few uses of webinars to consider:

• Building relationships with your audience.
• Raising your image as Thought Leader or Expert.
• Finding Prospects – whether you want to connect with a reader, a customer or a client, you want a continuous flow of interested people – your “Audience” – coming to you.
• Selling and/or Order Taking — informing your Audience of features and benefits with the intent to close a sale or transaction.
• Demonstrating — showing and explaining how something works or is done.
• Teaching and Informing – presenting information to your audience that increases their knowledge and understanding.
Depending upon which type of webinar format you use—merely presentation or one that is more interactive, Webinars can be a valuable tool in your authoring kit.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com), an author and book publishing expert and the Founder of Author U (www.AuthorU.org), 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. Judith is the author of 30 books including her latest, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms.
Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST for Your Guide to Book publishing on the www.RockStarRadioNetwork.com.
 Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook.  If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com