Get Ready for Write Your Book in 4 Week

Next month, I start up my “How to Write a Book in 4 Weeks” in person course  … if you want to participate … get registered pronto on TheBookShepherd.com website.  Online is April 5, 12, 19, 26 and in-person May 3, 10, 17, 24. All info is posted on the The Book Shepherd site under Events.

Keep two things as a driving factor: Short is the new black … what you will produce is not designed to be the ultimate guide, a mothership or a tome—it’s a read that can be done on an airplane trip (and I’m not talking about from Hong Kong to Denver); and Don’t do well what you have no business doing … it’s easy to get sucked into things that don’t move you forward. Your new book will do that.

I love that Rhondda Hartman, Richard Rieman, Jill Christensen and Philippa Burgess all have books in hand and are selling them to exactly the audiences they envisioned in our first session.

I believe in practicing what I preach. I did the same process and exercises throughout the four weeks that my “students” did. Originally, I planned on doing 50 snafus that authors get themselves into … it grew as the process developed and ended up being a bigger book than I had originally planned. After all, we authors need some flexibility in our DNA. The title morphed as well. Knowing what my topic was, I had my illustrator do the cover art as a vision for me to keep in sight. As I write this, the finishing touches are in place, the book is out for endorsements and I will be making my first presentation on it in Austin, Texas at the Texas Authors annual conference. How cool is that? This is my Ta-dah!

 The first session will be all about GETTING READY and GO … 

To Do Before You Start My Intensive (and very fun!) Course:

Start noodling …

• ID your topic
• ID  “the pain” that your reader is experiencing … I want you to start thinking the 4 components of your book
  1. Problem
  2. Cause
  3. Effect
  4. Solution
• ID a working title – we will have a Title Exercise before the first session is done to cheer you on or refocus the effort.
• Do a Google search on your topic (is there anything late breaking?) … do the copy / paste / download into a folder on your laptop – one that you can easily access and won’t forget.
• If it makes sense to print out, do so. Highlight, put into slotted folders and bring.
• Bring anything that you have written in articles, blogs, etc., on topic.

Get ready to get your book DONE … if that sounds like something you want to do before summer starts, get signed up NOW. AND here's a bonus-- the first FIVE that register will get a $100 refund from me. Questions? Call me … 303-885-2207 

Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and 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 34 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #34 was published this summer: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers. Get your copy.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th.  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 bit.ly/PublishingShow .

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.

Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.

 If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching ... call in to Judith's Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 ... have your questions ready--there's a full hour to ask and listen

2016 Tech Toolboxes: Blogs, Pinterest, Media Pages, Technology

Kick off your planning for this NEW YEAR by participating in AuthorU's unique Tech Toolboxes.

As a GOLD or BESTSELLER member of AuthorU, you have the ability to attend the monthly Tech Toolboxes. Designed for in-person or remote participation, they are limited in size to 8 participants so that each AuthorU member experiences one-on-one coachingthroughout the three-hour session. Both Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles are your guides.

The first four months of this year will focus on some of the Basics of author success and then take you “beyond” what you can do to position your Pinterest Boards, your Blog visibility and marketing strategies for it, the fine tuning that Technology requires for author ease, and using your Media possibilities.

If you attend in-person, you will meet at the offices of Judith Briles: 14160 E Bellewood Dr., Aurora CO  80015. Beverage and snacks are always included.

All sessions are held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain Time. A few days prior to the Tech Toolbox, you will get a reminder email of what to do pre and what to bring or have available to use as the workshop progresses during the three hours.

You must register under the Events tab on the AuthorU.org website. Cost is $59 per session or $199 for all four sessions.

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Resolving Questions and How to Implement Ideas with Technology

We’re ready to hit the ground running and start off a new year with a bang!

Let’s make sure you have a plan in place to get – and keep – your momentum going.

Bring your laptop and questions regarding various aspects of technology:
(ex: MailChimp, WordPress, Hootsuite, blogs, 1ShoppingCart, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, to name a few).

We’ll work to help answer questions and discuss how to implement your plans for programs and products technically.
This is also an opportunity to review how to use the tools that have been taught in past Tech Toolbox topics.

Bring the log in details for your accounts.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Shine the Spotlight on your Media Page

Authors – when was the last time you shined the spotlight on the media page on your website?
Interested in speaking engagements and media exposure?
The marketing of your book and business should include a media page on your site.

Join us for this Tech Toolbox to learn must-have items for your media page, bios (yes, plural!) to have posted, and review author one sheets. After this workshop, the spotlight will be so bright on your media page, you’ll have to wear shades!

Bring the log in details for your website, your headshots, book cover images, and a copy of your book.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

 

Renew, Review, Revamp and Repair Your Blog

Blogs give authors a great outlet for expressing their thoughts, expanding on ideas in their books, and generating discussions. To help ensure that your thoughts and ideas are “getting out there” to your target audience, you need to review and implement best practices when writing and posting your blogs.

In this Tech Toolbox, we will have participants log into their blog dashboards to review techniques on best methods for posting images & content, look at blogging tools, getting ideas for posts, best practices for comments/commenting and more - give your blog some TLC!

Bring the log in details to access the dashboard of your blog.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Power of Pinterest

Are You Stuck on Pinning … or just getting started?
Pinterest is a huge resource for building traffic to your site and book sales.

Learn how to build a powerful presence on Pinterest, discover Pinterest apps
and gain some new ideas for promoting your expertise and marketing your programs and books.

If you haven’t got a Pinterest account yet, please create it before the Tech ToolBox begins. Bring the log in details for your Pinterest account.

Tech Toolboxes are one of AuthorU’s unique benefits to members. They are fast, in-depth and fun. There is always a take-away handout to support all teaching/coaching points. It’s laptop intense—power yours up and be ready “to go” to levels and places you didn’t think you could. 

AND ... a Huge PS ... tomorrow is the last day to register at a discount for the Denver program Saturday   Mornings gathering of How to Launch (or Relaunch) Your Book. Info here.

Get registered now under the Events tab on the AuthorU.org website.

Judith Briles is book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and 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 34 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #34 was published this summer: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers. Get your copy.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th.  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 bit.ly/PublishingShow .

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.

Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.

 If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching ... call in to Judith's Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 ... have your questions ready--there's a full hour to ask and listen.

Author Writing, Book Marketing, Publishing Tips October 30

There are always grumbles about Amazon … it takes too much … it controls everything … I don’t like Amazon. My response: get over it. When it comes to eBooks, Amazon is the eBook God for sales in North America. Stats always flow about eBook sales. Don’t forget to do the MatchBook combo for both print and “e” sales. Here’s what’s popping for you to noodle on this week:

• Amazon makes up a higher percentage of the total US ebook market than the oft-cited 65% figure: when indie books without ISBNs are included in the statistics, Amazon accounts for 74% of all US ebook purchases and 71% of all US consumer dollars spent on ebooks.
  
• Outside of Amazon.com, 4 other major online retailers comprise nearly the entirety of the remaing 26% of the US ebook market: the Apple iBookstore, the Barnes & Noble Nook store, the Kobo US bookstore, and GooglePlay Books.
  
• At those 4 other stores, self-published indie ebooks make up 22% of all ebooks purchases and take in 32% of all author income generated by ebook sales.
  
• Between 14% and 25% of all ebooks sold at Apple, Nook, and Kobo store lack Bowker-issued International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs).
  
•  In total, more than 33% of all ebooks sold in the US each year have no ISBN.
  
• Across the entire US ebook market, ebooks without ISBNs now command a greater share of consumer ebook purchases, reading time, and author earnings than all of the AAP’s 1,200 publishers put together, including the Big Five Publishers.
  
• The true US ebook market, which includes non-ISBN sales, is at least 50% larger than ISBN-limited market statistics from Nielsen and Bowker are estimating.

Source: AuthorEarnings.com

Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and 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 34 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #34 was published this summer: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers. Get your copy.

Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2015, the dates are August 27-29th.  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 bit.ly/PublishingShow .

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.

Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.

 If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching ... call in to Judith's Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 ... have your questions ready--there's a full hour to ask and listen

Book Launch Day is Approaching ... Are You Ready?

Plenty of authors have winter and spring books that are now at printers. AuthorU's question is: what are you going to do to launch your book?

 

In fact, there are more questions. What did you do before you sent it to the printer? What was your prep work for your book day? Are you planning an all out blitz to the world? Or are you doing one with mini-steps? Or, is it possible that you haven't really thought about it.

Ideally, in the months before your book launches, you were up to your eyeballs with marketing related tasks. Creating mass social media contacts; figuring out what technology you would be using; who would be part of your marketing/shout out team; who in your circle of friends and colleagues would be in your camp to eblast their worlds that your book was HOT and that they should get a copy on your big day/week; contacts for guest blog posts; even pitching media and journalists.  

At the AuthorU Extravaganza in 2015, Bill Van Orsdel of BookFuel.com gave an excellent presentation on Super Readers and Super Fans. You want them--in fact, in marketing your books, they are your secret sauce. The prepping for the book launch includes finding, cultivating and keeping them.  You can order Bill VanOrsdel's CD # E8 from his presentation here.

Why? Simply this: Super Readers devour anything in the genre that

they love; Super Fans are authorcentric ... whatever has your name on it, it's inhaled. At one of the Extravaganzas, best-selling author and entrepreneur Guy Kawasakai was the opening speaker. His books were gobbled up by all as they became Super Fans.

This is the army you want to build--Super Fans and Super Readers ... and you start building it as early as possible. With Blogs, Tweets, Postings, Author Chats, Podcasts, Blog Tours, Book Clubs, Book Signings and Events ... anywhere you can create the hook and following for you and your book.

In other words, they are in so many places--visible and buried. The Internet is your town hall ... where you get to stand on your soap box and announce the birth. When you do all the set up pre-book, you have supplied our building army with great ahas, content, resources, ideas ... they will be ready to follow and support you. If you haven't said hello to Goodreads and Amazon's Author Central, it's a must do. Add Facebook, Twitter,  LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram on to this list. If you are writing for the YA crowd, then SnapChat and Tumblr is important.

And a website is a must have--one that is visitor friendly and easily collects emails by offering a great take-away. Some FREE. Once you have emails, you have gold. You can regularly stay connected with them. They have become Fans ... you great content provided as you communicate will turn them into Super Fans.

Author overwhelm can set in as book day approaches. Finding Super Fans to celebrate your book launch and fuel your book marketing is key to its success.

Your book launch day is approaching ... are you ready?