Book Covers Should Never Be Blah and Boring ... Never!

Why, oh why, do self-published authors insist on creating mediocre book covers? At a recent publishing conference, I talked with a gaggle of newly published authors. As proud as a new Dad or Mom, they put their treasure in my hands. Too many times, the cover was poorly designed, didn’t relate to the book topic and was third-rate at best. Blah and Boring. And you are the winner of the worst cover ever award.

Earlier this month in another blog, the question was asked: Is your cover and spine a Tesla or a trike? Did you read it? How did yours rate? The two critical tips given to do a quickly and accurate test as to whether your cover was a keeper or a loser were given. Go back and make sure you read and use what was recommended ... the floor test and the front of the store test could easily be the deal breaker-for success or failure with your book sales.

Covers are your personal barker …
“Look at me.” 
“I have the answer to your question.” 
“Here’s the solution to your problem.” 
“Wahoo … pick me, I’m a terrific read.” 

Etc. Etc. Etc. Covers are a critical investment in the presentation of your book … not just the front, but the back. Where the front is designed to say what the book is about and convey, “Pick me up now, I’m the one;” it’s the back cover that should get them to fall in. Deeply.

Your buyers spend more time on the back—does it have a bold “grab them” headline so they fall in? How about three to five bullet points that are designed to hook the reader with “That’s me; that’s me; the author has written this just for me” as they read through them. It's a happy dance for the book visitor who turns into the book buyer.

A paragraph or two about the book and they should be sold. Don’t get stuck on a bunch of endorsements—unless they are knock your socks off with a name that is the guru in the genre your are writing in or the industry you are writing for. The truth is, most endorsements are fillers and used when the copy in the body doesn’t sing—you probably don’t need them.

With covers—the back, the front and flaps or a dust jackets—always think benefit to the reader. Your book shouldn’t look like it was “self-published.” Ever.

 Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  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. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author's Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Is Your Book Your Passion or Is It Your Poison?

Authoring is overwhelming. For some, if it's missing one ingredient, it can be a curse, even a poison. All they can think about is how to get away from the promotion, the book, the time and money drain. The ones with the missing ingredient don't even venture near that path. Why? They have the Passion Factor.  Though  a bit overwhelmed with the process, they continue with enthusiasm—and passion about their book, their writing, what they are doing.

It’s their passion that fuels their engines, enables them to work one more hour, take one more step to get their “baby” written, laid-out, designed, and to the printer. It’s their passion that allows them to roll up their sleeves and create a marketing and promo plan and even speak publicly about it.

If you want to write a book, you’ve got to love the topic/cause. If it’s just something to do, I ask you, “Why do it?”

Not everyone should write a book, attempt to create a small press, or become an independent publisher. Someone may have said you should, but should you? Does a deep internal drive tell you, “Yes, your thoughts, your words need to be read, seen, or heard”? If so, go for it. Embrace it.

I wrote and published primarily in the business genre with an emphasis on professional development in the workplace. Health case was my expertise.  It was a niche I had a passion for, one that was acquired almost by accident!

What topics/areas do you know about—by schooling, life experiences, the school of hard knocks? Do you gyrate toward a subject? Do others tell you that you are a wiz at something? Is there a deep, burning desire to advocate a cause or reach out to help others? Does passion comes into play?

Guaranteed: it’s the passion factor that will drive your work to completion and success.

 Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  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. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author's Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Authors, Books and Webinars Go Together

One of the challenges that every Webinar seems to encounter is the talking head syndrome. In TV land, this is typical of your news shows. Your Webinar needs even more energy and when your attendees can’t see you.

Your challenge is to create action in their eyes with your words, your phrases, your pausing, your illustrations, your speaking style, your examples, your stories, your segways, your everything … it’s your show and whether the attendee comes back for another Webinar will be based on whether you can connect with your audience or not.

Why in the world would someone want to sit through 15 minutes, or 120 minutes, of a Webinar? The answer is the same if they were attending a live presentation—to get information and to find solutions that can be implemented without spending a ton of time and money doing it.

The Webinar presenter is the expert. She or he has the answers. That’s you. Know who your audience is—you can do this at the initial registration and/or via a poll given during the Webinar. Don’t tease them with a bait and switch approach, trying to get them to sign up for another program to get “the rest of the story.” Give them what you promised up front in your initial benefit statements that they received prior to registration; tell them, and show when you can, how your concepts work and how they are best implemented; and make sure that you doing a “summing” up at the end of your Webinar—remember, it’s likely that you will have latecomers who will miss some of your key points.

Let’s assume that you’ve wowed your audience with a great presentation – they loved what you had to say and they really like you. You have them where you want them. Now what do you do? Here’s where you can blow it! You just say thanks for coming and good bye. Not good. You didn’t give the attendees a Call to Action. There is No Challenge to your audience, No Special offers, No Next Steps or To-Do List.

Why a “Call to Action”? Remember – they wanted to attend your webinar and they want to do something now. So give them the next possible steps. Make sure they take action of some kind.

 Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  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. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author's Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Holding Your Author Rhythm in Writing and Publishing

by IJustD0ntKn0

Oh my, Dancing with the Stars is back on the air ... and without one of my favorite orchestra leaders Harold Wheeler ... you know the orchestra leader, the one that kicks off the routine with the perfect beat and rhythm for the couple on the floor.  As an author and book coach, why should I care?

Once, I get a kick out of the show and was disappointed when the buzz started that Wheeler was getting the boot; and two, rhythm is critical to an author's success. One of the key areas to focus on in dance is holding your rhythm despite what your partner may be doing. Keep going. Ditto in writing ... and in creating your publishing team ... and in handling everything once you have book in hand.

Holding your rhythm in publishing and writing is also keeping your voice. Too often, authors, especially newbie authors, experience publishing their books from the eyes of experts; they lead them through their expertise, which is what they are hired for. Whether it’s a graphic artist, editor or printer, they show the author the twists and turns to make words sing off the page and a title stand out among the competition. What the author has to be alert to, though, is this: if he or she isn't careful, the book can become the editor/export/advisor’s book not his or hers.

If authors don't hold their rhythm, if they don't know what their rhythm is, they lose their voice.

Your personal keeper should be: Hold your rhythm and  keep your voice. It’s your book, not someone else’s.

 Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  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. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author's Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Traditional Publishing, Self or Independent Publishing: Which to Choose and Why...Advice from the Book Coach / Book Shepherd

Ahhh, times have changed—which publishing road does an author take today? With the Internet and today’s technology, traditional publishers are being turned on their heads, self and independent publishers have morphed into new critters—ranging from “Wow—look at these books, they are amazing” to “Wow—these like they were done with Elmer’s Glue at the kitchen table.”

The publishing road answer: it depends. Authors are choosing to bypass the traditional method that had been so coveted by the majority of authors just a few years ago. The five key factors that have moved authors to seek other avenues are: rejection, timing, control, quality and money.

Rejection that a traditional publisher(s) has said, “No,” have led authors down the do it themselves path. Some choose the vanity format such as LuLu or iUniverse (please don't--and avoid Author Soutions, Author House, Xlibris, Balboa Press, etc.); others explore POD; pay to publish; eBooks; or create their own publishing house.

Timing—if your manuscript is completed, you can have it edited, cover and interiors designed, printed and in your hands within four months. With traditional publishing, you can have your manuscript completed and it will most likely be in your hands in 18 months.

Control—if you get a group of authors together who have traditionally published, one of the most common grumblings you will hear is that they don’t like the way their book looks—covers and interiors and they really have been in a fog when it comes to book sales.

Quality—in 2009, a close friend had her 5th book published by the same NY publisher that did my second book in the mid-nineties. Over 20 years between our respective publications. The book she proudly gave me was a month old and a trade paper. The interior paper was thinner than mine when we took it off my book shelf to compare; my trade paper cover was still flat—hers was already curling up. Hers, of course, was twice the price of mine.

Money—is an important thing to look at. Most traditional publishers are pushing for “net” royalty deals. If your book is $20 retail, the net for sales to wholesalers and distributors will be less than $10 per book—meaning that the royalty is based on the less than $10 amount. The last two years have been brutal to the “average” author—non-fiction sales are in the 4,000-5,000 area. That means $4,000 to $5,000 in royalties—those lovelies that are paid twice a year, with a deferral of three months after each closing period; and usually with a hefty percentage holdback for reserves—meaning books get turned back and the publisher wants to cover its tush and not overpay you (and come knocking on your door to now pay them). In other words, this isn’t going to seed your retirement—don’t quit the day job!

As a savvy self and independent publisher—when you create a platform to reach out to your crowd, your sales will not only be greater, the financial reward will be significantly greater. For me, I know that I can sell 3,000 copies of a book and net $40,000 to $50,000 higher than my traditional publishing contracts that I used to live with.

It’s your choice … but do the math always. Measure your time, investment and potential return.

 Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  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. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author's Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Author Spice: add your voice to your blog postings now!

At the Author U Tech Tool Box in March in my offices in CO with ace digger upper of cool apps, Kelly Johnson, we all made audio clips using AudioBoo.com.

I made 5 different boards within my new profile with a descriptor on the "May the inspiration muse be with you." Board ...  then added a little something for social media posting: All #authors need a muse and #inspiration along the #getpublished path from The Book Shepherd and #book #publishing coach ...

 Here's my voice ... me reading less than 70 seconds from my newest book (it's  free up to a 3 minute audio clip), Snappy Sassy Salty ...

 It's a cool, quickly learned tool.  Just how fast is it?  Within one hour ... from beginning to end of hearing, playing a bit with it, setting up 5 Boards for ideas for the Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers book and then opening my mouth and reading two pages of quotes in groups of approximately 6 quotes I created for it ... I created 18 audio clips from their start to finish. All in one hour.

You can easily find Audioboo with a click on the name or if you want to type it in: http://audioboo.fm . It works with your iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry 10. You can also directly speaking into your computer and record that way.

Audioboo is FREE if your audio clips (or boos) are less than 3 minutes. For longer, you need to sign up for a payment plan.  You can upload unlimited numbers of boos, build your own Board playlists and share everywhere.

Here's what I'm going to do with them:  Sprinkle throughout my social media channels--Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, use in blogs to share something with my voice as well as written words ...  I love sharing tips, and this is going to be a great resource for getting that across. The question is ... what will you do?

Think ...

• Recordings for your website, blog, other social media platforms.
• Add a little music.
• For fiction authors, create voices for your characters.
• Create a slew of tips to share daily, weekly, whatever.
• For book group followers--read something from your book and toss out a question to them--then set up a chat on line.
• Share/broadcasts events, including happenings and book signings.
• Share any updates about your writing, new book, your business.
• Use your imagination ...

I know we are all OD'd and overwhelmed. This was a tool that I quickly saw the use, grabbed it and in my over-achiever mode, dove in instantly. And oh, my, I even wrote a blog on it. Yes it took another 30 minutes of my time ... but great tips are worth getting out there. Love it!

 Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U,  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. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers  and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author's Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Bookstore Sales Slow to a Mere Drip … is the Flushing Over?

Think about it … sometimes “bad news” can be good news … as in a blessing in disguise.

Back in 2007, the ”good old days,” bookstores were the hot place for an author to be. Over all sales were just shy of 18 billion … that’s BILLION dollars. Things starting going to hell in a hand basket the next year. The economy nose-dived, Borders hadn’t gone belly up (but the buzz was in the air that it was in trouble) and the evolution that Amazon’s Kindle roared in was a mere gleam in the eye.

Sales dropped like crazy, and continued to fall. When Borders officially tossed in the towel and shut its doors, the worst decline hit in 2011. But … this past year, 2013, the plunge has turned to a drip. Overall sales, as measured by bookstore sales dollars, declined by 1.6 percent from a year ago. This is the smallest, as in tiniest, decline in the past five years.

So, just what are bookstore sales? Cumulatively, sales are down 17.2% since In 2008, when over $16 billion came through actual bookstores, the number is now at $13.19 billion as of the end of 2013. No one likes down, but the true questions are:

Are bookstores dead?
Are printed books dead?

And my response is, and always has been … absolutely not.

$13.19 billion is a lot of moola. Books being sold in the brick and mortar arena are not to be ignored. I’m amused when so many. Personally, I’m a huge, huge fan of independent book stores. I love it that the staff knows books and the books in inventory, loves books, and treats the book buyer like royalty. I’m lucky to live in Colorado where we have many independents. A happy day finds me wandering through the aisles of the Tattered Cover surrounded by thousands of books. Bliss–and I confess, there isn’t a bookstore that I walk in that I don’t walk out with a new find (or many) to salivate over.

And another confession, If I have one addiction, it’s books. I’m doing my share!

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U ,  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. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Is Your 30 Second Book Elevator Pitch … Perfect?

One of the critical marketing elements that every author needs is a 30 SECOND ELEVATOR PITCH … yet few do. Stumbling and bumbling along, authors ignore that the creation of who/what the book is about in a quick few sentences can make, and certainly break, a book sale.

At the Author U Extravaganza May 1-3 in Denver, CO, multi-award winning author Mary Jo Fay will walk authors step-by-step through the process of creation. In just 50 minutes, authors too will be able to describe books, and themselves in a short, succinct and catchy way!

In today’s guest blog, she asks six questions that are beginning the creation of the 30 Second Elevator Pitch.

• Who are you?

• What is your book about?

• What do you want people to do about your book?

• Do you want people to buy your book?

• Do you want people to hire you to speak or consult?

• What?

Whether you wrote your book as a means to be an expert in your field, you have a dream of penning a best seller, or maybe you envision your novel becoming a movie on the big screen, EVERY AUTHOR NEEDS A 30 SECOND ELEVATOR PITCH!

Why? Because regrettably, “If you build it, they will come,” is simply NOT gonna happen by itself! And if you think that the actual writing of your book was the hard part – think again. It’s kinda like birthing a baby – those 9 months of a baby developing in the womb doesn’t even come close to the 18+ years of work thereafter.

The marketing part will always include pitching you and your book to any variety of book buyers, news people, radio show hosts, and a bevy of others.

So what exactly is a 30 second elevator pitch?

It’s a way to clearly convey your author and book info into one or two very brief sentences.

The best way to describe it is to find your TV Guide and read those amazing one sentence description of the show. In the movie business they’re called “log lines,” and it should grab you instantly at the same time that it gives you a clear visual of what to expect.

For example: A man who is bitten by a genetically-altered spider soon discovers that he has unusual powers and the strength and agility of a spider. Hello Spiderman.

As writers who put thousands of words between two covers, this is sometimes our hardest task! But it’s crucial to our business! Your book business … your book success. And it’s hard!

But … If you literally can’t condense you and your book into a 30 second, passionate elevator ride then you’re losing valuable opportunities and you’re certainly not ready to be on radio or TV where sound bites and “quickie” interviews demand being succinct, accurate, and entertaining!

So join us at the Extravaganza where we’ll help you create your own amazing pitch! And bring the answers to those questions with you that are asked above.

Mary Jo Fay is the author of 5 books, founder of 3 Meetup groups, regular guest on Huffington Post Live and other radio and TV shows, and speaker of many years, Mary Jo Fay, will give you the tools to create the most important 30 second speech in your arsenal!

TOP 10 TWITTER TWEETS OF MARCH 13, 2014

Tick, Tick, Tick … All info is up—check out the website under Events for the Extravaganza at a Glance.  

Today, Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing will focus on crowdfunding for authors. Judith Briles will focus on creating and delivering the perfect pitch for you and your book. Joining her is Mary Jo Fay—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 http://www.AuthorU.org, scroll down and click on any of the past shows—just click and you are instantly there!   

Sometimes a one-word sentence, a one-word paragraph is perfect.
   ~ Judith Briles from Snappy Sassy Salty

                 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

Hot #author tip-add interior color to #book design to make it pop-how to do without going overseas-listen to podcast. http://ow.ly/umN9r

Hot!  Find Your Old Tweets: How to See Your First (Worst?) Tweet | WordStream http://t.co/xZR9POmdJR  

How to Create a Business Card That's Actually Useful bit.ly/1f8xMM8 #sm #marketing

10 Tricks to Create Top 10 Lists [Research] http://ow.ly/ulHFh   #blogging #marketing #authoru #Author tip: Indie-friendly #Book Reviewers http://t.co/ErTQXW3BfZ  

Writing 

Things Nobody Tells You About Ebook Formatting via @GuyKawasaki bit.ly/1exButu

Social Media and Marketing Strategies

Peeps--you want this #free book on all things #keywords and #SEO strategies @backlinko. It's an awesome gift. http://ow.ly/umTYH

#Author smarts: Using a call to action in social media: dos & don’ts http://t.co/lGYSkLG5Vb

Cool and Sometimes Goofy or Unbelievable!   

Oh my! Pee Wee Herman’s bike up for auction on eBay! Is it for you? is.gd/FcPqYt

What were they thinking in first place? It's thankfully illegal once again to take upskirt photos in Massachusetts http://t.co/58z0BCZAmI  

Last Week, Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing focused on crwodfunding strategies with Robin Cutler, the manager IngramSpark—lots of insight to this new tool for a combo POD creation and print run and distribution via Ingram. You can listen in from the AuthorU.org Home at http://www.AuthorU.org, scroll down and click on any of the past shows—just click and you are instantly there! Or you, can go to the radio show’s home page and do the same: http://togi.us/authoru.     

Is There a Book Award in You? Deadlines this Month …

Book Awards … add to your professional credibility and are an excellent marketing tool. oscar_book-trophyThey can be used as part of your branding, on your business cards, on your website, on your individual book pages on the website, within your email signatures. Think book. Think visual. Think marketing. Think how this one item can nudge you a bit and beyond many other authors in the mix.

Here’s what’s open right now and merit you and your book’s attention–what’s open and should get your attention, the deadline date and the website to go to and submit your book.

eGlobal Book Awards for eBooks (April 30th deadline):   

http://globalebookawards.com/

IPPY Awards  (Marcy 15th deadline): 

http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/ipawards.php

Writer’s Digest Self Published Awards (early bird ends April 1):

http://www.writersdigest.com/competitions/selfpublished/

USA Book News Awards (March 31):

http://usabooknews.com/2014usabestbookawards.html

International Book Awards (March 31):

http://www.internationalbookawards.com/2014callforentries.html

Indie Excellence Book Awards (March 31): http://indieexcellence.com/

Some have more categories than others. Some just take the copyright date for last year; others cover a few years. And, good luck! Let a book award be in your midst!

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing coach and the Founder of Author U  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 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author's Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Is Your Book Spine and Cover a Tesla or a Trike?

It’s always wise to “get” which book covers are hot, which are cold, and which just drip and limp along.You have an assignment to get your tush to your favorite brick and mortar book store. If you don’t have one, adopt one immediately. It will be good for you and your book. You are going to do an onsite test for your cover. Wouldn't you want to have the Tesla’s of book covers or would you prefer training wheels on your trike? Get ready for some ahas to pop.

Front Cover Red Flag: Never, ever use the word “by” before your author name. There is no greater red flag that a book is NOT written, edited or designed professionally to the highest standards. Using a ”by” screams that your book is a DYI project. Delete it pronto.

Genre Front Cover Floor Test: OK, go to the primary section your book would be located in a brick and mortar store. Take out all the books that are “like” yours. Put them face up on the floor. If you have a mockup of yours, add it. Step back. It’s critical eye time. Does yours really stand out? Really s-t-a-n-d  out? Not the fonts, the colors, the images. What pulls your eye. Now, at this point, you may have other book buyers in your midst. Fantastic! Ask them what they think. Be quiet, let them say their opinion and listen closely.

Book cover size: Make sure that the size of your book is the right size for your book’s genre. Where the norm was usually 6 x 9 for most nonfiction and fiction just a few years ago outside of specialty books, the new norm is 5.5 x 8.5 or 5 x 8.  As book design Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics states, “Check if there are specific or popular sizes that permeate the genre your book is in.

Front of the Store Cover Test: Back to the front of the store, the place that the big boys in publishing buy table space to place their latest offerings. All are in a face-up position. Circle the table several times. Not the images, colors, fonts, etc. What pops, what doesn’t. Others will most likely be looking and handling books. Don’t be shy–ask them what covers pop out to them. Listen, listen, listen.

Book Spines Are Important! Don’t forget using an image or a “flow” from the cover to your book spine … on the sea of shelves at a book store where yours would rest … how does it stand out?  You may not be the best judge … this is where other eyes are critical. Take yours to a book store … do a quasi-focus test with browsing customers and say:

 I’m doing a test for an author’s group about book spines.

Would you take 15 seconds of your time and tell me which spines pop on these three shelves …

Step back and don’t say a word.  Listen to what they say. Promise me you will.

Now, before you leave, you must BUY a book from the store. I’m not kidding. You have just saved thousands of dollars in mistakes. You are welcome.

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U , 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. Judith is the author of 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Book Awards for You to Consider NOW!

Book Awards … add to your professional credibility and are an excellent marketing tool. oscar_book-trophyThey can be used as part of your branding, on your business cards, on your website, on your individual book pages on the website, within your email signatures. Think book. Think visual. Think marketing. Think how this one item can nudge you a bit and beyond many other authors in the mix.

Here’s what’s open right now and merit you and your book’s attention–what’s open and should get your attention, the deadline date and the website to go to and submit your book.

eGlobal Book Awards for eBooks (April 30th deadline):   

http://globalebookawards.com/

IPPY Awards  (Marcy 15th deadline): 

http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/ipawards.php

Writer’s Digest Self Published Awards (early bird ends April 1):

http://www.writersdigest.com/competitions/selfpublished/

USA Book News Awards (March 31):

http://usabooknews.com/2014usabestbookawards.html

International Book Awards (March 31):

http://www.internationalbookawards.com/2014callforentries.html

Indie Excellence Book Awards (March 31): http://indieexcellence.com/

Some have more categories than others. Some just take the copyright date for last year; others cover a few years. And, good luck! Let a book award be in your midst!

Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd a book publishing coach and the Founder of Author U  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 31 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author's Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. 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. 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 Judith at Judith@Briles.com.