YES ... you can write a nonfiction book in 4 weeks!

WOWIE ... Our first onsite class has finished and I'm deep in the heart of the first ONLINE class this month ... Write a NonFiction Book in 4 Weeks!

Each class is kept small (never over 18 members) so that I can know each author, what his or her book is about and focus on their individual goals. What a pleasure to be in that position and what fun to watch as one by one, magic happens. The evolving Story Board tells are, creating a fantastic roadmap so that the book has guideposts for completion.

Boy-oh-boy, the first session is intense ... so much to get out, capped with the Kick-Butt Title Exercise. By the time session two pops up, the goove hits and believe it or not (better believe it), all titles are in place. Mission accomplished, it's gathering and plotting the rest of the book time.

 

Anita and Dennis Lunt are on their mission for their book, 10,000 Steps Straight Up. They plan to have it available for the AuthorU Holiday Christmas sale in November.

As the leader and creator of the How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 4 Weeks, I loved the comments from several of the participants:

  "Yes! Yes! Yes! I already see myself as an author--I can even feel and hold a copy of my first   book. I see it hitting the market by storm."

  "I enjoyed learning about how to really publish a book and about marketing."

  "The reviewing and repeating of the processes as we added new steps each week was so helpful. It broke it down into manageable bites."

"I got more done in a month than I got done over an entire year."

  "I really learned a lot from the first week's homework and hardcore evaluation of everyone's titles."

  "Working with the story boarding, creative writing drills along with the styles of publish, marketing and all the social media strategies was invaluable."

Did anyone walk out with their book completed, edited, layed out, ready to print? No. Did anyone finish their first drafts? Yes, several did and all are working away with the tools they need to have a book in hand. Call me a happy Book Coach.

Both the onsite classes in Denver will be in September 8, 15, 22, 29 and online classes in October 6, 13, 20, 27--they will be repeated throughout the year. If you are just beginning, there is a place for you. If you have published, there is a place for you. Come join in. All information is on the website here. 

ONLINE: Write Your Non-Fiction Book in Only 4 Weeks! 

Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author.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. Judith is the author of 33 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. The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers was published in June 2015.
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. Join Judith live on several shows on AuthorsRadio.fm: Authors on Fire (one-on-one interviews with authors and their books with Judith asking the questions on Tuesdays at 1 EST), Author YOU (the journey begins, retstarts or ignites to set the author on the road to success on Fridays at 1 EST) and AuthorU - Your Guide to Book Publishing (book publishing today - over all strategies to your marketing and publishing success on Wednesdays at 1 EST).
You can also hear her 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.

 

Summer Reads to Enjoy, Learn and Grow With ...

Summer is  grand reading time …

Print sales continue to improve in the book market. It’s summertime, and a common “to do” on many lists is to read a good book. Here are several suggested reads before the summer ends:

In Childrens’ and the Chapter book offerings, I love the pure fun and delight (and fabulous illustrations) in Julie Griffin’s Cristina Gradina-The Girl with Ten Busy Toes  and Bella the Baker Street Baker . If you have kids ages 5 to 8 (especially girls) in your life, they will love these books. Julie has Jack and the Bean Chair popping this fall—a chapter book perfect for boys 8-10. Get them all.

 

As kids read more, Chapter books start popping in their hands--my grandkids jump on them. Both Robert Martin and Cheryl Carpinello integrate their extensive personal travels as additional "characters" in their books. Robert Martin's  debut, The Case of the Missing Crown Jewels  is a perfect chapter to get into the hands of kids who are beginning their solo reading journey. I love the interaction of Papa and Keira as they sleuth trough this young who-done-it. If you were a Nancy Drew reader, think of this as a beginning of a young Nancy--ideal for girls 7-10.

Author Cheryl Carpinello delivers a series of adventures that land the young reader in lands and legends of old. A lot of fun and history is at their fingertips. Share Sons of the Sphinx, Tutankhamen Speaks and The King's Ransom are her latest books.

What if numbers came alive? In Charles Fischer's Beyond Infinity, they do when Matthew Forsythe discovers a weird computer and a secret door in the boy's bathroom at school that leads to a series of events that he and his friends solve using mathematical puzzles. Great read for kids 12 and up.

ANY of Dom Testa's YA series--The Comet's Curse, The Web of Titan, The Cassini Code, The Darth Zone, The Galahad Legacy, The Cosmic Storm --get them all. I you asked Dom what his books are about, he sums in up in one word, "Relationships." Dom's The Comet's Curse was selected as the "book to read " in CO in 2015. How cool is that!

      

For adults, if Mystery and Suspense is your thing (it’s mine—and I get tired of the repetition I find in so many of the formulas of the big names), Mark Stevens' Trapline is getting lots of kudos and is on my hit list for this weekend:

This summer, a sometimes OMG #suspense and #thriller reading is just what I’m looking for. Harry MacLean's latest, The Joy of Killing, has arrived in book stores. A few years ago, I had Harry on my radio show, AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing. You can listen in here to what he shared. I loved the way he tracked down his stories, even putting himself at jeopardy at times to "get the rest of story." The Joy of Killing is his latest and it awaits my eyes.

   

For the History or Military buff, Steve Synder's  Shot Down! The True Story of the Captain Howard Snyder and the crew of the B17 Susan Ruth. A true American Hero—for the first time, the delivery of the full and complete story of the B-17 Flying Fortress in unbelievable detail pulled from crew members’ personal letters and journals and letters from the villagers who hid and supported them in Belgium.

Women’s fiction is always fun—the perfect beach or mountain read. Mara Purl’s What the Heart Knows and Where the Heart Lives should be purchased at the same time—they are intertwined with plots and inpatient readers are going to want to know what happens with Miranda.

Author Gail Mencini debuted her first novel,  To Tuscany with Love to much acclaim—who doesn’t like the ideal of a Tuscany escape, coupled with a little romance and getting your life in order? 

 

 
If you want some Action and Adventure, The Bootlegger ’40 Ford by Charles  Clark will fill the bill. The Ford Standard coupe is the main character and star, each time selling/reselling for $500 (all true) and landing in a variety of adventures including the famous race with a high performance Mercedes on the Autobahn (all true). Six wonderful stories—it’s a great “guy” read … and yes, Charles does take a few liberties with “the truth”—great fun. Great car illustrations.

And if star and Moon Gazing is your idea of a great summer evening, get What's Hot on the Moon Tonight? by Andrew Planck. This is the ultimate guide to lunar observing—a combo workbook to record observations and a day-to-day what to look for and see each day of the lunar cycle (who knew that days 6 and 7 were the best to see all detail on the moon?). This book is hot off the printing press—I’m giving to my daughter, a sky-voyeur, for Christmas.

 

In the feel better (or I want to) area, I loved Roxanne Hawn’s Heart Dog: Surviving the Loss of Your Canine Soul Mate which is hot off the press. If you are a #dog lover, you will too. It's wonderful--you will want to have a few extra copies to give to friends who have lost a much-loved dog.

My other favorite book of this type is The Legacy of Beezer and Boomer by Doug Koktavy. Since it's publication, it's picked up 14 book awards include the top prize from Writers Digest.

 

Author Dr. Laurie Weiss is creating a series of short gems. In the Secrets of Happy Relationships series, she’s just delivered STOP (These Common Beliefs from) Poisoning Your Marriage  and in the Speak Your Mind series, Doesn’t Anyone Else See This? will get you thinking.

 

For inspiration and Motivation, look no farther than Lesia Cartelli's book, Heart of Fire. Playing at her grandmother’s home at 9, Lesia was standing by the furnace in the basement when the house exploded—severally burned… she’s gone on touch the lives of millions and received accolades from Dr. Phil, Barbara Walters, the Mary Kay Foundation and countless others throughout the country. My “cold eye” editor said it was her favorite book of the year. It just might be yours as well.

Add Ashlee Bratton's Life Before the Lottery to your list as well. The most successful people have failed—bombed—multiple times. Ashlee’s theme is that there is an amazing life before winning a lottery ticket (and we all know the odds of doing that!)—this is a fun book, tons of photos of what the she did before she hit the magic 30 mark—her question: what’s holding you back? Create your bucket list now—whether you are 20 or 70 plus. Live, Love and Laugh and have a great time and oh yes, stretch yourself. This is a book just off the press a great “gooser” and fun read.

If you know anyone dealing with autism in their family ... Living Autism ay by Day by Pamela Bryson Weaver is the new best friend. Welcome to the un-perfect world of autism … a world that has grown explosively over the past decade. As Temple Grandin said in her endorsement, “Living Autism Day-by-Day will help parents to persevere and meet the challenges of raising a child with severe autism.” And, I might add, anywhere on the autism spectrum. Beautifully done, four-color throughout, it’s a combo daily journal, inspiration thoughts and ideas, and like having a hot cup of tea on a cold day. Ideal for any parent who has an autistic child in their midst.

If you have lost a loved one, Disa Van Orman's beautiful Your Loved One Shines On is filled with words that will touch your heart and soul--words that came to her as she was writing the Eulogy for her 6-year-old grandson. The photos that accompany each of the lines are wonderful and taken by the author from her backyard to Africa.

If you have a love of the Mountains, John Maling's Have You Ever Held a Mountain is the perfect companion. A multi-award winning book, it’s a 32-line poem that flows through each page that includes a gorgeous photograph by also award-winning photographer Grant Collier. Have you ever held a mountain-cupped it gently in your hand-felt the texture of its ridges-sifted slow its granite sand-brushed its trees and touched its meadows-heard its glaciers grinding down-felt wet and rock muscle-under flesh of green and brown? Get this book for you and for others pronto.

If you love a great story with the wit of a Southern, you want Apron Strings by Mary Morony. Deep in the South, families attitudes and beliefs are challenged. It's Ethel, the black maid, who brings life and bridging to reality for the family and one special little girl.

If you are an author and writer, you need "juice" ... juice that inspires, motivates and is kickback fun. Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers by Judith Briles is a gem that supplies a pick-me-up, inspiration goose, even a little silliness. It’s 250 plus of my favorite quotes that I created over the

    

 

   

  

 You get some fun, some fantasy, some whoa, and some heart. 

~Happy reading.~

Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and is the Founder of Author.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. Judith is the author of 33 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. The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers was published in June 2015.

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. Join Judith live on several shows on AuthorsRadio.fm: Authors on Fire (one-on-one interviews with authors and their books with Judith asking the questions on Tuesdays at 1 EST), Author YOU (the journey begins, retstarts or ignites to set the author on the road to success on Fridays at 1 EST) and AuthorU - Your Guide to Book Publishing (book publishing today - over all strategies to your marketing and publishing success on Wednesdays at 1 EST).
You can also hear her 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?

Take the Extravaganza Hot Topics Home & Implement Them

Recapping Highlights of the Extravaganza and How to Implement Them through the Summer Months and Beyond

For those who were at there, you know that there were so many stellar sessions at the AuthorU Extravaganza in May that it’s impossible to share them all--get a variety of tips to move you forward at the next AuthorU monthly meeting.

For those of you who weren’t, here’s your chance to learn from AuthorU veterans Nick Zelinger, Kelly Johnson, Susie Scott and Judith Briles. They will identify the top rated sessions with key points and action steps to take. Deep-diving will be take you into Super Readers - Super Fans (how to find them and what to do); Podcasting (why you should start now and what steps to take); and IngramSpark (hot partnership for AuthorU members—you want this).

• The secret sauce in goosing Amazon sales.
• How to identify and claim your expertise.
• What IngramSpark can do for you.
• What Super Readers are and why you should care.
• Why discovering your Super Fans will explode your book sales.
• Why you need to move into podcasting now and what it takes to make an impact.

Don’t miss this eye-opening last meeting of Spring ... Summer is here -- monthly meetings take a break until September 9th. There will be a few Tech Tool Boxes and an Evening Salon PLUS our annual Member & Friends BBQ.

Time: Start gathering at 8 a.m. for networking and a complete breakfast. Our program starts  promptly at 9 a.m. and will end at noon.
Where: Garcia’s Restaurant DTC
When: Saturday, June 6^th
Cost: $20 for Members and $35 for Nonmembers until May 30^th. Increases $10 on June 1^stRegister: AuthorU.org on the Events tab.

Authors Helping Nepal Earthquake Survivors

This past weekend was devastating to thousands, maybe millions across Nepal. It was devastating to families in other countries who had friends and family members who were hurt or killed in the massive earthquake and aftershocks.

Over the past five years, I've had the opportunity to co-host a TEWA Tea during the summer months, that benefitted the Dhaka weavers from Nepal--amazing women who create beautiful tapestries, clothes, scarves--you name it. Elegant, vibrant and exquisite work. Knowing that 100 percent of the moneys raised went directly back to the women left my friends ML Hanson, Susanne Jalbert and myself thrilled that we could support women and families so far away.

On Sunday, I learned that the weavers within the community are safe--around them their homes and lives are shattered ... conditions are extremely difficult. Women and children are always disproportionately affect when disasters hit. All of those who have met women within the Dhaka community (either through the summer TEWA Teas ML, Susanne and I did or even personal treks to Nepal) wanted to help and have learned that the Women Entrepreneurs of Nepal and the Nepal Association of University Women will ensure that women's and children's needs are met.

We can help too. Sunday, I contributed to a special fund created at the Global Fund for Women to support distance friends and families and their friends and families over the weekend. If you choose, you can too ... I encourage you to do so here.

 

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 33 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 #32 will be published this spring: The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors and Writers.

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 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 http://tinyurl.com/AuthorURoadio. 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.

Authoring, Writing and Book Publishing Tips

 

 

 

 Tired of Talking to Voice Robots? … Find Humans to Help You!

If you’ve been stuck in voice mail hell, here’s some bypass codes. Also are two sites that can assist you in identifying direct dial phone numbers: Get Human and Dial a Human.

http://gethuman.com/      
http://www.dialahuman.com/

Get everyone to see your Twitter replies when using #Hashtag as FIRST word.

If you want others in your Twitter stream to see your replies, place the DOT before the # as: .#  ... if your replies begins with a word without the #hashtag,  it’s not necessary to add the dot in front of the opening word.

Let’s just say, for this example, that you creating a Tweet or ReTweet and you want EVERYONE on your stream to see it, put the DOT right before the # (i.e., like this: .#) at the beginning of the RT or the original creation.

 .#Speaking on your #book expands your expertise--key tips on creating a #TEDtalk or short talk. Listen to podcast: ow.ly/L94q8

If you write the Tweet and then add #speaking in the middle of the Tweet, the .# isn’t needed. Like this:

WOW ... creating a #TEDtalk or short talk will skyrocket your #speaking gigs. Listen to podcast: ow.ly/L94q8

I know it seems a tad confusing. Before the .#, only the intended recipient hashtag group has the opportunity to see it--no one else in your stream unless they too check in with the # used. When you add the dot before the # at the beginning of a Tweet or RT, then everyone who follows you will see it. If you are in a Twitter chat, this is a must to remember.

 

No-cost photos reminder

If you are creating marketing material; need to add website visual gooses; writing blogs that could use images (they all do); or creating slides for a presentation and DO NOT  to pay for photos, here are sites to nab from—Some do require attribution, so please read the fine print. http://www.designskilz.com/free-photos/

 ~~~

 

 

 

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.

Meet Inkling ... One of the New Kids on the Block in eBooks Creation

We authors are always on the prowl for platforms to connect with readers. eBooks are approximately 20 percent of the buyer user/preference. Have you discovered Inkling yet?

Inkling is a cloud publishing platform where you can create beautiful, interactive content and share it securely with customers, employees, or partners, across all devices, anywhere in the world.

It's got the ability to create collaborative with others; manage it all within your computer  a la "the cloud", templates to select from for your eBook presentation and allows for interactivity for the reader.

I put my latest book up with the total assistance of graphic artist and book/cover designer Rebecca Finkel of F&P Graphics, Snappy Sassy Salty. Take a look here:

 

 

Yes, I could have done this myself ... but I've got to remind myself to constantly have the come to book meeting--this is not what I do best. Rebecca Finkel came to me and suggested we try it ... and my response was, "Make it so." Decide where your time is best used. If you have too much on your plate, or something isn't in your skill set, get help.

I'm not an eBook reader by choice ... print is my preference. That doesn't mean I ignore offering my books in the "e" format. You can get them on Kindle, Smashwords, Kobo, Nook, etc. Author YOU: Creating Your Author and Book Platforms is available via iBooks because of its layout. And now, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers is available on Inkling. Next, it will be up on audio. So goes the author's life.

 

~~~~

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.

 

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. Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Unplugged, a two and 1/2 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 http://tinyurl.com/AuthorURoadio. 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.