AuthorU

Monday, July 13, 2015

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

PhotoELF Edits: 2013:05:30 --- Batch Resized Created with GIMP

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?

Monday, May 25, 2015

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.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

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. Logo Global Fund for Women

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.

Friday, April 10, 2015

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/

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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.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

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.

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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.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Author, Writing and Publishing Tips & Ahas | AuthorU

Are you Blogging?

Here’s a HOT TIP for pushing your Blogs via LinkedIn.

It’s a huge traffic possibility—key word searching drives it. What does that mean? Simply this: make sure you use one or two of your key words in the title … then repeat them, of course, in the body of the blog.

That’s Social Media 101.

All you do is write your lead HEADLINE, click on the paperclip image and add the full link to your post.

Here’s why it’s hot, hot, hot:

If you have linked with more than 500 people, they will be notified that you have created a new post (Sure beats the nutsyness of Facebook deciding how many people are going to see what you post—with LinkedIn—your 500+ all get notified that you have a new article that has been posted—so much better!). Make that title snappy, sassy, salty and key word rich.
Another idea is to get readers to your Blog on your website (assuming that you have multiple posts that give it some “legs”) and hopefully, subscribe to it. Do this by posting your snappy, sassy, salty head line; include a couple of tease paragraphs. Add a Call-to-Action to scope out the rest of the article, including a “read more” phrase with the link to your website where your Blog resides.And it’s a TaDah and a great way to kick off 2015 via LinkedIn.

As a reminder … if you aren’t on the Author U group on LinkedIn –join it. There are over 7,600 voices with participants from a variety of countries who share info; a question-board is at your fingertips that gets immediate responses from other members; and I love the global voice that it brings.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Is Your #Blog Stuck? Unstick It … Starting Now!

Are you having one of those days? Can’t think of a thing … not a single thing … to blog about? Ideas just don’t gel. The words are stuck. Your creativity spark is on dim. Your fingers can’t move. Are you thinking:

Help! My Blog Has Fallen and It Can’t Get Up!

Is that your problem dear author? Would you like 52 plus blog ideas … one for each week for the next year … and maybe, a few extras? Ideas that will get you and your blog a new life?

Okay … let’s noodle a bit. Look around. Look inside. Look on your shelves. Scan the headlines. Google something, anything. Add the words “weird” “unbelievable” “rip-off” “fun” etc. in front of your key word(s) and see what surfaces.

Get ready to move from pause to play. Here are 52 other ideas to get the creative juices flowing (plus a bonus):

1 Whatever the next phrase/sentence that comes out of your mouth and is thought … insert “what if” in front of it … write it down: tweak it and see what evolves and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

2 Reveal your biggest aha … write it/them down: where did it come from and what happened and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

3 Divulge an epiphany … write it/them down: who, what, when, where, why and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

4 Expose a fear or two … write it/them down: what seeded it and how do you deal with it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

5 What happened when the GOYA Factor entered your live … the get off your ass goose; write it/them down and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

6 Any embarrassing incidents that you can share publicly? … write it/them down: what happened, what was the outcome and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

7 Any belly laugh times out there? … write it/them down: what happened and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

8 Any failures you can share publicly? … people connect with overcoming disasters. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

9 Problems make the world go round … make a laundry list of common problems you identify in your book, and one by one. Write them down; create a blog on each one, synching with a theme in your book or subject expertise—that’s got be worth at least 10 blog ideas!

10 Turn on the news … what’s the lead? Write it/them down and make a comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

11 Watch your favorite TV show(s) … what’s the theme? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

12 TV again and your show(s) … whose the favorite character and why; write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

13 And TV once again … what show can’t you stand or have you abandoned? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

14 Back to the news … what celebrity is the jerk of the day/week? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

15 YouTube is a terrific resource … what is on the Home page? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

16 Check out Twitter, what is the leading hashtag trending … read a few of them. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

17 Pull a few books off your shelves and read the dust jackets or back cover copy … what motivated you to buy them? Write down your immediate reaction and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

18 Create a Cheat Sheet of tips … add a quick story of why you created the Cheat Sheet and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

19 Fess up to something … reveal your snafu(s) and “oh-oh” moments. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

20 How-tos are always helpful … go through each chapter in your book and create a list of one-sentence statements. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise—that too, has got to be worth at least 10 blog ideas.

21 There’s some type of holiday/celebration every month … some months have multiple … what is it/are they? Pull a memory from the past; write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

22 Holidays again … what don’t you like—a memory, commercialism, bad date night, what? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

23 What delightful, unexpected event has happened in the past? … tell it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

24 What not so delightful, unexpected event happened in the past? … reveal it and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

25 Vacations count … they create events and memories. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

26 Vacations again … what was the worst one ever and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

27 Embarrassing incidents … who hasn't had one, a few, maybe too many? Write it/them down, what happened, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

28 OPB-other people’s blogs are loaded with material and fair game (and oh so public!) … any that you thought rocked? Start writing, comment, link to the source blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

29 More OPB … any that you thought gave awful info? Fair game, too! Start writing, counter it, link to the source blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

30 Go to the movies … what did you see? Share, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

31 What TV talking head pushes your buttons … what and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

32 Think of something silly … what amuses you and why? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

33 Back to YouTube.com, put in the search box: “fun” and your topic … whatever pops up—watch a few videos (“fun” delivers both fun and funny themes). Write title and immediate reactions down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

34 Fantasy time … a combo of “what if” and pure “oh my” and let your fingers move into the creation mode. Write it/them all down, add comments and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

35 Weird holidays are a great leaping point … Google the month and day with “weird holiday” after it. Read the background, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

36 Awards are for anything and everything … what have you won (or longed to win), comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

37 Create your own Top 10 list … if it works for Letterman, it will work for you. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

38 What are common myths in your industry or field? … debunk them, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (if there are lots, this idea alone could be worth 10 blogs).

39 Do a Q & A with yourself … all those questions you want people to ask/ items you want them to know about your book and topic. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

40 What is the #1 question(s) you wished people would ask and they don’t? … ID, write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

41 Do a review of a book, theater production, movie, concert or any event … what worked, what didn't? Write

it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

42 Do a Q & A with another expert in your field … Tie in their expertise with yours. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

43 Never under-rate sex, sin, birth and death … there’s always something in the news or in the buzz that has one or the other tied to it. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

44 Pick up a copy of the National Enquirer and just read the headlines … what tickles your fancy, is appalling or just makes you think “You’ve got to be freak ‘in kidding …” Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise. My all-time favorite was: I gave birth in a snake infested tree! My immediate thoughts were: Whoa … really? How did she get up that tree with her big belly? What were all those snakes doing in it? Why was she in the tree in the first place? What happened? Etc., etc., etc. Great headlines stir up questions.

45 Use a major event (personal or historical) … Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

46 What’s taboo? … agree, disagree, hedge whatever it is. Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

47 Become the source, excerpt your own book … Copy/paste key phrase, paragraph, small section. Comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

48 Invite guest bloggers to sub in … do an Intro and Final comment that sandwiches the guest blog and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (if there are lots, this idea alone could be worth 10 more blogs).

49 Mentors—do you have any? … create a blog around the three most important lessons ingrained, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

50 Questions beg for answers … create a list of provocative ones and let your subscribers supply the answers. You comment back with each one, always synched with a theme in your book or subject expertise (guaranteed, the answers will breed another 10 blogs).

51 Fads and trends in your field yield a viable starting point … what are then? Write it/them down, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

52 Get out your magic wand and make some predictions … perfect for the year end, comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise.

53 Bonus: Pick me, choose me! Look at the variety of Blogs that’ I've posted on the sites at AuthorU.org and TheBookShepherd.com. Feel free to re-post any of my blog post links and share them with others.

Take #33: Back to YouTube.com, search for “fun” and your topic … whatever pops up—watch a few, then comment and synch with a theme in your book or subject expertise (“fun” delivers and fun and funny). I discovered a short video that revealed 10,000 iPhones lined up in a domino snake-type wall.

Three things hit me: where did all those phones come from; how long did it take to set up; and the two minute video was awesome. And guess what, YouTube has a video on how they made it!

The final touch on your blog is your headline.

Does yours create a response or is it ho-hum? Here’s a trick: check out the “emotional” value of your headline at the Advanced Marketing Institute. Tweak your headline until you have one that pulls in the crowd. http://www.aminstitute.com/headline/

You've got plenty of ideas to pull you out of the rut in my list above. Use them all or create your own. Have some fun in the process. Happy blogging!