Top Ten Twitter Tweets of July 31

It’s Thursday at 

...

Do you want endorsements and blurbs for your book? There’s a special webinar at 6 pm Eastern TODAY … Register and listen or to listen later when the down load is read: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/704851870

Today

Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing will focus on a variety fo common hiccups that new authors get into. Her guest is D’vorah Lanksky, who will set up the strategies for a virtual blog tour for book marketing. Last week, Judith and ISBN and Bowker / MyIdentifiers.com product manager Laura Dawson deep dove into the the latest in set up strategies for authors and publishers. 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 are instantly there!

Here’s your Top Ten Tweets for the past week

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

Success & Resources

• #author alert: Amazon enters the e-book subscription market. http://t.co/5eofnE6cWj

• Is there a movie or TV show from your book? Tips on the latest #AuthorU-Your Guide to #Book #Publishing podcast: http://ow.ly/zArk6

• What is http://t.co/xbaiYtnquy for #authors and #publishers? Listen to podcast: http://ow.ly/zxLTH

Social Media and Marketing Strategies

• #Author savvy: your own hashtag and get a page of your own at http://t.co/uoumh8kNkq. #authoru

• Free PR for your #books-Don't be afraid of Twitter. Get strategies for... http://t.co/RJ5T5RFQ2X

Writers

• Are You Trying to Create an "Impossible" #Book? http://t.co/ILl3N66puh  #authors #authoru

• Five Secrets To Achieving Your #Writing Goals http://t.co/a1tR7DGr4v  #authors

• #Writer alert: The 7 Essential Elements of a Bestselling #Novel http://t.co/VfuleDoyHo  #authoru

Cool and Sometimes Goofy or Downright Unbelievable!

• Via @businessinsider Leaked iPhone 6 Parts Suggest A Much Bigger iPhone Is Coming http://t.co/r7k7eAjU0S #biz #marketing

• 23 genius ways to upcycle plastic bottles http://t.co/H8rkLF44Lp

Remember …

You can listen to over 130 programs that Author U Founder Judith Briles has created for your book and authoring success: 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.

Book Publishing Savvy--Tracking Leads--Do You Care?

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...

Do You Know Where Your Book Sales Come From?

       Do You Know Where Your Clients Come From?

              Do You Know Where Your ____ Comes From?

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.”

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?

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?

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.

How to Get Your ISBN

One of the most common questions the about to publish author asks is, “Where do I get my ISBN?”
Excellent question—start here:

The International Standard Book Number is known to all in the book world as an ISBN.   It costs $125 for one and $250 for a block of ten.  It’s highly recommend that you purchase a block of 10 because the author usually has at least another book on the “back burner.” And, it’s recommended that your own them outright in your publishing company name.

And these days, the hard cover will be followed by the soft-cover version, requiring another ISBN, and one or more e-books.  And of course, a revised edition (30% or more) could follow eventually, particularly if your first edition is well received.  Bowker is the mothership for ISBNs. Here’s there website that will take you directly there: www.MyIdentifiers.com 

Beware:  The websites are occasionally updated—changed—so these instructions may also require updating.

How to Send for Your ISBN(s)

• Go to www.MyIdentifiers.com.
• Click on bullet in blue below question, “Are you a new publisher applying for a block of ISBNs?  The bullet reads: “Continue your application process on our secure server.
• Click on “Create an Account.”
• Click on “I Am a New Bowker Customer.”
• Fill out the two column form for “My Profile” and “Company Profile.”
• Fill out the two boxes at bottom, “Username and Password” (“User name” can be your name, your e-mail address, your publishing company, or … whatever.)
• Click on the box at the bottom, “I accept – Create my Account”
• Click on the “10 ISBN” “BUY” button and fill out the required information. (As suggested above, the 10 ISBNs is the better way to go in today’s one-author-multibooks-published publishing world.)

The process can take 24 hours at most; most authors get a response within a few hours.  The Application will also ask if youwant a Bar Code, which costs extra (but not much).  Take a pass. You don’t ordinarily need that as the author, so ignore that box. There are plenty of resources that you can go to for a FREE and all book designers have the service to create it when they are designing the back cover—it’s necessary for the back cover of your book.

ALERT ... I just did a radio show with Laura Dawson, product manager for My Identifiers. It was an excellent interview ... Make sure you listen in on the Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing radio show.

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 (ForeWord Indie/Fab Book of the Year), 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 Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Top Ten Twitter Tweets of July 24

It’s Thursday at …

...

Wow… looking forward to the member and family BBQ this weekend… it’s a freebie! If you are in CO, make sure you come! We are debuting the twice monthly FREE webinar series for members only next month…watch for the entire schedule to be posted on the website through December soon. 

Today

Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing will focus on a variety of common hiccups that new authors get into. Her guest is Laura Dawson, a  product manager with MyIdentifiers.com (think your ISBNs and beyond). Last week, Judith and ebook expert Nick Taylor deep dove into the the latest in ebook strategies. 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 are instantly there!

Here’s your Top Ten Tweets for the past week

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

Success & Resources

•  #author alert: Kindle Unlimited, new blog at #authoru .. make sure your read #Smashwords update-insightful. http://ow.ly/zrRn4
• Coin canisters: The low-tech fundraiser that can make you rich. ow.ly/zx82b #fundraising

• The 10 Biggest Mistakes New Authors Make | Huff Post pwne.ws/1nDY6TJ

• 10 Things You Didn't Know You Agreed to via Terms of Service: The terms of service, also known as the document... on.mash.to/1rx8qgn

• See CNN’s list of the World’s Coolest Bookstores pwne.ws/1sWT

Social Media and Marketing Strategies

#Facebook Calculates What Appears In Your News Feed + 12 Tips To Increase Reach http://t.co/LJcBPgCBvA RT @MariSmith #smm

Writers

• Helping You Write Great Content for Real People bit.ly/1pKYjBB #sm #marketing

• 8 Things Every Blogging Writer Should Know tinyurl.com/ar2ewge

• How to Deal With Writing Critiques & Revision Notes tinyurl.com/aer4amc

Cool and Sometimes Goofy or Downright Unbelievable!

• The 25 most amazing sights in the world is.gd/gf1Rn4

• “Billie Jean” played entirely on bottles is.gd/mlFp6g

Remember

You can listen to over 130 programs that Author U Founder Judith Briles has created for your book and authoring success: 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.

FREE Gifts with Snappy Sassy Salty ... Official Book Launch is this Week!

 Snappy Sassy Salty ... 

Official Book Launch!

July 21-24th

                                        It’s summer ... It’s hot ...

Could you use a pick-me-up?

A bit of inspiration or silliness?

How about something to chew on or get you unstuck?

How about your friends who are writing or already published?

In Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers, you will find all that and more. It’s book #31 for me …  my favorite advice over the years to thousands of authors is included … think and write snappy, sassy and salty and surround yourself with cheerleading for your vision, not  distractors who suck your energy.

Now you get some of my sage words—and yes, they are definitely Snappy, Sassy and Salty. AND THIS WEEK ONLY, if you get a copy, there are over $700 in awesome gifts for the author and writer ... PLUS ... wait, wait, there's more! Three of the buyers will get an added bonus ranging in value from $250 (author photography session with Ashlee Bratton; $295 (book marketing and strategy session with Amy Collins; $597 (full registration for Judith Briles Unplugged).

Your buy time is THIS WEEK ONLY via Amazon. Claim your book at http://SnappySassySalty.com  along with select gifts designed just for the author and writer.

GO ... GO ... GO NOW and get your book (if you have one, get another for a gift--you want the goodies that are free with the purchase):  http://SnappySassySalty.com  

Move Over Netflix … Here Comes Bookflix

The Buzz Arrives … Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited Lands!

Amazon has a new offering … the dust hasn't settled but the buzz is flowing. You have heard of Netflix. This is Bookflix.

If you at think about using this program, here's a HUGE caution: 

Indies would do well to avoid Kindle Unlimited for one simple reason:  it requires KDP Select exclusivity. For me, doing an exclusive means that there has to be a tremendous bonus, usually financial with it. With that said ... read on ...

If you are on KDP Select, you might have got this notice from The Kindle Direct Publishing Team via email:

Today we are excited to introduce Kindle Unlimited--a new subscription service for readers in the U.S. and a new revenue opportunity for authors enrolled in KDP Select. With Kindle Unlimited, customers will be able to read as many book as they want from a library of over 600,000 titles. KDP authors and publishers who enroll their books with U.S. rights in KDP Select are automatically enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. Inclusion in Kindle Unlimited can help drive discovery of your book, and when your book is accessed and read past 10% you will earn a share of the KDP Select global fund. For the month of July we have added $800,000 to the KDP Select global fund bringing the total to $2 million.

KDP Select is an optional program that makes your book exclusive to Kindle and eligible for the following benefits:

• Reach more readers – With each 90-day enrollment period, your book will appear in Kindle Unlimited in the U.S. and the Kindle Owners' Lending Library (KOLL) in the U.S, U.K., Germany, France, and Japan which can help readers discover your book.
• Earn more money – When your book is selected and read past 10% from Kindle Unlimited or borrowed from KOLL, you'll earn your share of the monthly KDP Select Global Fund. You can also earn a 70% royalty for sales to customers in Japan, Brazil, India, and Mexico.
• Maximize your sales potential – Choose from two promotional tools including: Kindle Countdown Deals, time-bound promotional discounts for your book, available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, while earning royalties; or Free Book Promotion, where readers can get your book free for a limited time.

Learn more about KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited. Visit your Bookshelf to enroll your titles in KDP Select, and click on "Manage Benefits" to get started.

Check to see if your book is included already. Suggest you log out of your Amazon account, or access Amazon from a browser you rarely use and search the book. if you’ve bought the book or browsed it a lot (as in checking for reviews, status, from your account as the author, it won’t show up.

To see other titles that are included, check out Kindle Unlimited at: http://amzn.to/1ra0UYH

Per Amazon, if you want your title selected, here’s what they said:

To enroll your other books in Kindle Unlimited, you’ll need to meet the KDP Select eligibility requirements: http://bit.ly/1syW1KJ

Money is always important, here’s what Amazon says about how you get paid:

The (KDP Select Global) fund amount is variable and announced on a monthly basis. We constantly monitor all factors that impact the KDP Select fund in order to set the fund amount for our KDP Select authors. You can earn your share of the KDP Select Global Fund amount when readers chose and read more than 10% of your book from Kindle Unlimited, or borrow your book from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.

In other words, readers must read 10% of your book in order for you to get paid from this fund. Don’t expect it to be the same, it most likely will vary from month to month.

 Does this affect sales rank on Amazon? Per Amazon, the answer is yes. How it affects it is still unclear.

  

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 (ForeWord Indie/Fab Book of the Year), 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 Judith Briles - TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Book Marketing--Why Authors Must Wake Up and Smell the Roses

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

Last year, I sent three emails to three separate authors that I had shepherded 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 brainstorm 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 had 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 authors are not going to drive book buyers to book stores ... they don't need a distributor. Distributors make money when books are sold through 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), there is no need for representation via a distributor.

Were their 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. And,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.

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.

If you are tired and overwhelmed; if your book is limping along; if you are just in the process of writing yours; if you are getting ready to publish; or if you have a book out, it's doing OK, you want to ... no,  you need to be at Judith Briles Unplugged on August 1-2, 2014.

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 (ForeWord Indie/Fab Book of the Year), 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 Judith Briles - TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

8 Author Goals Tips for Book Success

What does author and book success have in common? Good question … the answer is: a goal with a plan to reach it.

When I completed Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers, it was woven with quotations to kick-start and propel you forward. If you are going to succeed in this writing, authoring, publishing arena, you need to be kick-started and refueled to propel your forward.

Most of us have resolutions at this time of the year, loaded with good intentions. By mid-January, they begin to dwindle. By summer … you might begin to even ask yourself–what goals … or even, what was I thinking?

Let’s not do that. First, start with realism. Not pie-in-the-sky … reaching to stuff that is more fantasy and fiction vs. “yes, this can happen” approach. Becoming a Kindle best-seller is totally possible; being a best-seller on Amazon is totally possible; getting in front of media is totally possible; having an awesome book event is totally possible; speaking at an event and selling lots of books is totally possible. Is being on the New Times bestseller list possible? Maybe … probable … hmm, not so sure. Necessary…no.

   If you don’t know where you are going, you've chosen to go nowhere.  Any road will do.
- Snappy Sassy Salty

Being realistic is critical to tying in with success for you and your book. It’s goal setting time …

To set you and your book into a positive book strategy mindset for 2014, here are a few tips.

1    Be realistic. You might want your book to sell 20,000 copies … do      you have a Game Plan in place to initiate and support it. Do you have the  time to support it? Do you have the energy? Do you have the network?  If not, perhaps it’s not a realistic goal  for you right now.

Stop living your fears … live your dreams. If you believe your book will be successful, it’s the first step. – Snappy Sassy Salty

2    Determine if your Goals are  measurable and make them so they are. Don’t be vague or up in the air. Put numbers, facts by them. Don’t say “Get on TV” or “Sell more  books.” State what TV show you will get on … how many books you will sell      (a special amount of percentage increase).
   
3    Get a Goal Pal…someone  you connect with once a week…a someone who will help hold you accountable  and be an encourager as well.

4    Create a visual Goal Board.  Write yours down and keep it in front of you.
   
 5    Create an Action Plan for you  and your book. Once you get these in writing, “ahas” happen. It is  also a crucial and realistic checkpoint.
   
6    Review as the year flows.   Tweak here and there. If they have become unrealistic, move them off your Goal Board and let your Goal Pal know. Stay on track.
   
7    Revisit your Goals.   Record your accomplishments as the year progresses. It keeps you “goosed”  and IDs what’s working … and what is not.
   
8    Celebrate when you achieve a Goal.   And here’s the fun part… you design the celebration around what you want  to do.

Ta Dah! Here’s to reaching all of your personal and book marketing goals in 2014 and beyond!

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 (ForeWord Indie/Fab Book of the Year), 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 Judith Briles - TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

Book Publishing Persistence, Perseverance and Passion … That’s the Ticket

Two publishing scenarios …do you choose self-publishing/independent or traditional? … that’s the question.

Here’s an astonishing fact: Books published via small presses, independent presses, and gulf, even “self-publishing” are hitting multiple bestseller lists. Fantastic news for authors!

Self-publishing is increasing exponentially. It has moved into the ranks of the honorable—authors who felt that … and publishers who believed—that New York was the only true way to publish are quickly becoming the dinosaurs of the literary world.

Publishing your own books isn't easy. You still have to write a good book and sell it largely on your own. You have to work your tush off … no exceptions. But it’s faster, you have more control over it, and you get a bigger share of the profits.

Amazing … how this world of publishing has changed. The rapid speed with which self and independent books have risen in acceptance and success is something traditional publishers never anticipated. And probably didn't want to dream about.

Another author chose to go the New York route. When Kathryn Stockett submitted her manuscript, The Help, she was almost giddy when her first few rejections came in from agents—remarks like, “It didn't sustain my interest,” to “There is no market for this kind of tiring writing,” were the norm. She just kept tweaking her manuscript believing a publisher would fall in love with her manuscript. Those first few rejections were a badge of honor.

At rejection 15, she was feeling less giddy; at 40, she felt that the past year and one-half of rejections was getting old—she began to lie to her friends about what she did on the weekends … as she continued to tweak her manuscript. When she hit rejection #45, neurosis hit—all she could think about was getting an agent, revising the book, and getting it published. Even the advanced labor contractions of her daughter’s pending arrival couldn’t pull her away from the rewrites—to make her book better, more compelling, readable.

After five years of writing and three and one-half years of rejections, she hit pay dirt shortly after the arrival of rejection #60. Number 61 wanted her book. It was a good thing for all of us, as millions have enjoyed the sassy spirit of The Help.

What if Kathryn Stockett had given up after the first rejection … or the 15th … the 30th … the 45th … or the 60th? The answer is that she wouldn't have sold her book, much less found it in the movie theaters. What about the self and independent author? Can she or he make it to the big screen or a major best-seller list? Yes—but in either case, it’s going to be about persistence, perseverance and passion—all elements of the Author’s Platform.

Most New York published authors now sell less than 3,000 books during the life of their book—surely a number that many, many self and independent published author can run circles around. Why?—because they know that they have to do the work to move their book where the New York author truly believes that their publisher will do the work. In their dreams …

Have you signed up for Judith Briles Unplugged  August 1-2 in Denver, CO? Two intense days with Judith, all in workshop format with lots of hot seats and one-on-one strategy. Don’t miss it. Register under “events” on the website NOW.

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 (ForeWord Indie/Fab Book of the Year), 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 Judith Briles - TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.