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Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #19
May 16, 2018
Publisher: Judith Briles


Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1.   Wahoo—my new book is available this week …
2.   Get into the eBook Cat’s Seat …
3.   Hot podcasts for the month coming …
4.   Webinars slated for May and June …
5.   Question of the Week …
        6. Book Shepherd "Fun" of the Week …

This Week Under The Book Shepherd’s Roof:

Hello and Good Day to all of you. With a smattering of rain, my garden burst with 50 shades of green, not to mention the kaleidoscope of colors welcoming summer. My big outdoor project is the building of a brick flower bed across the front of my two porches—I can only take so much concrete.

Saturday found me doing a variety of household jobs, then heading to the video Book Camp that Author You created. Fun, fun, fun. It’s amazing what two terrific guides (Susie Scott and Kelly Johnson) delivered to eager attendees. The "show and watch" was a kick, with the variety of inside the book ideas that were created during our short afternoon together. Participant Bobby Crew writes in the horror genre.

Here’s his first pass:
https://animoto.com/play/wTapK43MS1spUrCqu7VACw

On Sunday, I was up before the sun’s rays fully illuminated the skies and was cut back all the dead branches on roses (the best way to deal with the bush in the arches in the back garden is with gloves that go up to my elbows—they are the best!) and inventory what "holes" I needed to fill in. Sunday afternoon, I watched a fun movie, A Dog’s Purpose and then found homes for two beautiful roses that my daughters brought me along with a delightful Mother’s Day brunch.

My latest book, How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech arrived on my doorstep—many boxes of them. I love it! And here’s what I set up on Amazon. When you order the print book, you can go to your "orders" page and get the eBook for free via its Matchbook program. That’s worth $9.99 in your pocket. And if you aren’t doing Matchbook, you should—info below.

My Hatchling watch continues … three weeks ago, there were finch eggs nestled at the top of the wreath at my front door. Family and friends were told to come through the garage door—not to disturb the nervous mama finch. Then, hatching starting—bald with a few fuzzies. I would slip my phone above the next and take a quick photo. Daily, a change happened. This weekend, feathers appeared under the white fuzz that is disappear. No chirping sounds yet … but poop is multiply.

It’s a kick to watch the fast development and before we know it—the nest will be empty.


3 weeks ago: Eggs the size of jelly beans in a tiny nest on top of the wreath by my front door. We had visitors come through the garage so mama bird would not be bothered during her nesting duties.  

2 weeks ago: Here we come in all our baldness and a little bit of fuzz.

1 week ago: we sleep lots and when mama bird shows up, mouths open—this nest is a tad tight, don’t you think?

Four days ago: It’s time for the fuzz to leave and get birdie feathers.

Sunday: Yes, we are birds and we have feathers and we poo lots!

 
Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged …
—will one of them be yours? The early bird pricing special ended on Monday with 6 weeks to go before my 3-day event begins. Looking forward to working with awesome authors from IL, MI, TX, AZ, OH, FL, NV and of course, CO. Join me: http://bit.ly/JBUnplugged2018

You can pick my brain … minimum time is 30 minutes.

If you need one-on-one-time with me, I’m always open for a few minutes to give you some quick input. But, and it’s a BIG BUT, many call and expect far more than a few minutes. This is called a "consult" and I would be delighted to schedule time with you for "just you and your many questions" that need answers. You can book time with me it at:
https://thebookshepherd.com/pick-judiths-brain

Author Friendly Friday this week …
9 Eastern time and again at 2 pm ET. It’s a full hour when you can ask questions—any question. Starting now, it’s for paid subscribers ONLY and we do it on Skype. I loved the comment last week when one of my participants said that she really liked doing it this way—when I see others at events—the Extravaganza—we are already friends. I like it too!

Here’s the link to take advantage of it and subscribe: https://thebookshepherd.com/product/author-friendly-fridays-subscription

And, what, there’s more. We have all new webinars set up through June. Details below.

AND … How’s your week going?

 
1
I’m tickled to share that the book I wrote in January and February 2018 is available this week!

Yup, the sheepie guys and gals are back; color throughout; in the 5 x 7 print format; and bursting with insights, ahas, how-tos all things that I used over three decades to create millions of dollars in speaking fees. And here’s the good news … so can you! Print and eBook editions available, Audio in the works.

Bonus: Order your print copy today on Amazon. Then, go to your "order" page and then check the box that says you want the FREE eBook version as well. Saves $10.
http://bit.ly/1000000Speech

2
This is hot and it puts Indie Authors in the catbird seat …
Amazon came up with a program last month that pushes print books … the bonus is that your book buyers (of print edition) get the eBook at a deep discount.

What Matchbook does is bundle the print book with the eBook.  The customer they get a deeply discounted or free Kindle version of the same book.

Traditional publishers are doing something that sounds like, but isn’t.  Many are offering "enhanced hardcovers"—they bundle the more expensive hardcover books with an e-book, for a 25 percent greater charge. So, if you purchased a new hardcover release for $29 (that’s what new editions of the hardback bestsellers are popping for), you could choose to pay an additional $6.25 to receive the e-book as well. If you purchase the much cheaper paperback, all you get is the paperback. Big deal—you can do better with a discount at Costco or Sam’s Club and get the eBook on a separate purchase.
With Amazon’s Matchbook program, if you purchase the book, you can have the eBook included, for any price-point between $0 to $2.99, depending on what price you choose to offer it at.

Here’s a bonus… you don’t have to be exclusive with Amazon in order to enroll in the Matchbook program. And for any Indie Author who only creates eBooks, Amazon’s Matchbook program is the perfect incentive to get print versions of their books up and running. In fact, on KDP, it asks if you want to create the print edition—Amazon will do it. Granted, the layout won’t be like one that a book designer would create—but, it does get you into "play".

Hello POD for those who don’t want to run a full run.  Take advantage of this!

 
3
   Hot podcasts slated for         May
Tomorrow, Judith Briles will be focusing on identifying what is HOT in both a Pitch and TED talk. Tune in to keep your learning curve enriched.

· How to Speak Like TED with Sam Horn
· How Create a Speech and Get Booked on Your Book with Judith Briles
· Website Delight and Ins & Outs for Today’s Author with Michele Renee
· The Business of Being an Author with Jane Friedman


And, if you have listened, support our podcast and post a review. Thank you!


4
More Webinars are coming … more Webinars are coming



IN MAY...
May 17th  4 PT, 5 MT, 6 CT, 7 ET 
All Roads for Author Success Start with the Platform - How's Yours Doing?

Authors with platforms sell books. It's that simple, and yet, many authors are clueless what a platform is all about; how to build one; and how to sustain it.

Quality platforms take time and personal investment. For the newbie, it’s important to get your platform started now. For already published authors, this is the perfect time to assess what yours is; refine where necessary, or do a makeover.

Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3033015310093761026

Get ready to clarify why you are an author; why you sell books and align yourself with those that care about your work--those who are your buyers.
how to market and promote my work, build community engagement and develop a presence online. Over time, I came to the following conclusions:

-The way you promote, market and sell have changed. You no longer need to push a book. What you need to do "is attract."

-A writing ‘career’ requires both the creative and the business mind.

-Don’t hoard creativity; sharing increases both its flow and value.

-Don’t fight technology, it has teeth. Trying to avoid it only encourages it to bite!

Your guide is Kimberley Grabas who launched YourWriterPlatform.com in 2013, where she helps a growing international community of thousands of rising "authorpreneurs" build their platforms, engage their fans and sell more books.

This webinar will be recorded and all that are registered with get the replay within 18 hours. You will also be added to our preferred mailing list.


After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. AND YES, it will be recorded. Register and get the replay the following day.


IN JUNE...


JUNE 12, 2018 4 PT, 5 MT, 6 CT, 7 ET  
Authordom and LinkedIn Are a Dynamic Duo - Essential Tips for Authors on How to Use LinkedIn for Positioning, Expertise, Marketing

Register here:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/215678392109249795

It's time to take the "mystery" out of LinkedIn!

For many authors, LinkedIn may be the ideal place to position you as an expert, resource, marketer.

· Have you created a "company page" on your LinkedIn profile? --Did you know that it’s a way to push out what you are doing and carries additional clout, especially for business and professional services related authors?

· Would you like to learn how you can narrow your ideal connecting and marketing targets?

Don’t miss this in-depth "how-to" and "what to do now" podcast featuring LinkedIn expert Mike O’Neil, CEO of Integrated Alliances. The session will be recorded a copy sent to all who are registered the next day.


 
5
Questions of the Week:


Question: I got a degree in marketing 20 years ago. Why do I have to learn anything about book marketing?


My answer: Oh boy – I’ve heard this one so many times, that I need to borrow others’ fingers and toes to count. A degree in marketing 20 years ago … even 10 years ago can easily create a big yawn when it comes to marketing today. Buyer’s attention spans aren’t what they used to be. The internet has altered the marketing world. Get this: Book marketing isn’t for Sissies. All of us need constant refreshers; reaching out and connecting with authors who are actually marketing in the here and now; connecting with authors of the same genre; taking online classes of book marketing pros; and of course, face-to-face.

Which is why anyone who has marketing questions should be at the Extravaganza this August. A special Book Marketing Intensive with John Kremer, Kathy Meis and myself will be held on the afternoon of the 23rd. It will be work … and it will be fun … and you will learn lots.

Details here:
www.AuthorYouExtravaganza.org


6
Book Shepherd "Fun" of the Week …
Love it when I find a fun shorty—a quick smile, a laugh out loud, a sip of tea … and back to work—perfect. The growing season is here—this is a wild gadget solution to mowing everything!


That’s my author and publishing news for today … what’s yours?


About Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd

Book Publishing expert Judith Briles, aka The Book Shepherd
has shepherded more than 1,000 authors and created 500 best-sellers and award-winning books. She knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent sides. Judith is an advocate for authors within her blogs, podcasts and speaking engagements. What’s her pet peeve? Two words: publishing predators.

She hosts the podcast AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing that generates over 100,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.

The Book Shepherd
 
 
 
 


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