New NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / Extravaganza coming

Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #78 July 3, 2019

Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1. Author Tools … Get Human Voices

2. AuthorYOU … Member benefit feature – Meet Mara Purl

3. Publishing 101 of Newbies … July and August … Extravaganza … Unplugged programs … wowsa!

4. BBQ time … just for AuthorYOU

5. Webinars … Replay of 30 + Sizzling Hot Tips, AuthorYOU VIP

6. Hot podcasts for JULY… 4 to put on your calendar (always archived)

7. Question of the Week … Why do I need stories in a nonfiction book?

8. Book Shepherd "Fun" of the Week … catered to pooch

Hello and Good Publishing Day to YOU.

So hot one day … torrential rain the following afternoon – at least that’s what the weather has been in my neck of the woods. Hmmm … often like publishing and marketing, yes?

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. Enjoy with family and friends … and never forget that it’s "freedom" that allows your gift of words and writing to flow.

The power of the "in-person" connecting with other authors is stratospheric The support. The insights. The ahas that can just pop up and out. With the exception of August and December, AuthorYOU and The BookShepherd have monthly events. Sometimes multiple. In person and online. The author who desires to be seriously successful dials in and shows up. Do you?

Throughout the summer, we have the monthly second Saturday gatherings in my home—AuthorYOU Salons. Our BBQ is this weekend. In September, Joan Stewart presents an all-day publicity Extravaganza; in October, Heather Delaccio delves into the delights and insights and how-to of Pinterest and in November, Mara Purl delivers "pearls" and the craft of writing. December is our annual Holiday schmooze and in January—that’s January of 2020 … it’s Publishing at Sea. Yup, we have authors and their success on our mind!

This Saturday is our annual BBQ. Are you coming? If you are in Colorado … you should be here. If so, get registered pronto. The schmooze factor is the icing on the cake. I’m getting all the fixings next week.

After spending too many minutes going through the "menu hell" in trying to reach a company, I through in the towel. I needed Get Human … and most likely, so do you.

What: GetHuman helps people to find customer service/company numbers when you need to talk to a live person at a company. Last year, roughly 1 in 8 Americans used GetHuman to save time or money on a customer service problem.

Example: https://gethuman.com/phone-number

Dump the robots and find a live voice! https://GetHuman.com/

MaraPurl@aol.com

HavenBooks.net & MaraPurl.com

Author: Best-selling, multiple-award-winning author of the fiction series The Milford-Haven Novels & Stories; co-author of the best-selling trade book Act Right: A Manual for the On-Camera Actor. Publisher: Founder of Haven Books; former president of Colorado Independent Publishers Association; former Vice President of Women Writing the West; former Board Friend to IBPA, Independent Book Publishing Association; current Board Member of AuthorYOU.

Services for Authors;

Writing:
Specific author coaching including story structure, narrative voice, dialogue, story arcs, and character development; genre research and protocols; editing

Publishing & Marketing:
Branding & Author Platform, website core concepts, cover concepts, blog structure & outlining, blog tour design, newsletter design, Pinterest concepts, Facebook pages, Twitter campaigns.

At Haven Books, we do "synergy publishing"—pulling together a team to fully realize your marketing plan whether you are indie-published, or traditionally published. We don’t use the term "self" publishing, because you hire an expert you have gone beyond "self." We do not offer any "off the rack" publishing-packages. Instead, think of us as a contour boutique who listens carefully to your goals, then creates a tailored plan to help you fulfill your author dream.
For Nonfiction authors — I specialize in Creative Non-Fiction, which includes Memoire. And I specialize in theme-based manuals and textbooks for theatre & media arts.

For Fiction authors — I love working with authors of all fiction genres.

Programs available for download include:

· Fiction Factors: Build Your Book and Soar into the Publishing Skyline (a 6-part/ 5-hour webinar, recorded live at Author U Book Camp

· Ten Keys to Creativity — a 10-part interactive workbook program developed for the Colorado Women’s Foundation

· World Building: Constructing a Fictional World — a seminar created for the San Luis Obispo NightWriters

· Text & Sub-Text — a seminar given at Author U, Colorado Springs Conservatory, & SLO NightWriters

Over 80% of Americans think they want to write a book. Is that you? Do you know the "why" of why your book should be available to others? And, do you need to learn the basics of publishing, what it takes to turn your vision, your words, into a print book?

Designed in an all-day workshop guided by Judith, Publishing 101 Workshop for Newbies is for those who think they want to write a book; who want to write a book; are currently working on a book; and want to discover the publishing options that are viable today. It’s the first step … a baby step, but a huge one. This is not my Unplugged event.

The Publishing 101 Workshop for Newbies has been created for you if these questions are in your space and you are feeling lost in the forest of authoring and publishing: Should I publish? How do I get started? What do I do? Which way should I go? Help!
It’s time to get found.

Come network with other authors to be and get direction and guidance from The Book Shepherd to start your publishing journey.

There are three available sessions this summer: July 20th, and August 24th. Each session will be from 9:00-4:00, and lunch and snacks will be included.

Space availability: limited to 10
Cost: $77
Location: Casa Quatar: Judith’s Salon, Deck, and Yard in Aurora, Colorado

Is the Publishing Plunge for you?

Details and registration:
https://thebookshepherd.com/summer-time-newbie-publishing

Create a Killer Press Release
&
How to Create the Ultimate BOOK Hook

Saturday, September 7

How to Write Killer Press Releases That Sell Books

Nine out of 10 author press releases belong in the trash bin. The Publicity Hound will show you how to write a killer press release for your fiction or nonfiction launch and give you ideas galore for other types of releases you can write throughout your publishing career. You will learn:

· The 9 elements of the perfect launch press release.

· Samples of press releases for fiction and nonfiction.

· The best free and paid press release distribution services.

· Key elements to include in your releases so you sell books in bulk, get invitations to speak and invite the media to call on you when they need sources and interviews.

· Easy ways to come up with your own press release ideas by helping other authors on the hot seat.

Book Hooks: Fun, Timely, Compelling Angles for Pitching Your Book

If you can’t think of at least a half dozen juicy angles to pitch to the media so they cover you and your book, help is on the way. The Publicity Hound will give you more than a dozen hooks you can use to promote your expertise, your topic, and your book. You will learn:

· The difference between a press release and a pitch, and why they work hand in hand.

· The easiest place to start your publicity campaign.

· Unusual angles for fiction authors, including ways to promote your expertise.

· Fun hooks that most other authors would never think of using.

· Easy ways to come up with your own ideas for book hooks and angles by helping other authors on the hot seat.

Let’s send off The Publicity Hound in style!

Register: https://authoru.org/event/mini-authoryou-extravanganza?instance_id=1498

Question: When should authors start marketing their books?
Answer: The day they start writing it.

Okay … so must authors don’t get a "pass" on this question. So, let’s reframe the question:

Question: When should authors start marketing their books?

Answer: The day they start writing it.

Okay … so must authors don’t get a "pass" on this question. So, let’s reframe the question:

Question: When should authors start marketing their books?
Answer: NOW.

√ When your car begins to make an awful noise and just stops, you know you have a problem … right?

√ When your basement is flooded; when you noticed that there are watermarks on your ceiling; or that water is seeping through yo,r window edges, you have a problem … right?

√ When your computer goes blank and doesn’t respond, you know you have a problem … right?

BUT … what about marketing your book? Do you have a problem? YOU DO, if you have ANY of these symptoms:

· There are people who would benefit from your book, and you aren’t connecting with them.

· There are people who are interested in your topic or your genre and you haven’t reached out via social media to connect.

· There are people within social media that are interested in your topic and who aren’t engaging with you.

· There is a change you are focusing on that relates to the premise of your book … and others "don’t get it."

· You are having difficulty persuading book buyers or your target market to buy your book.

· Your ideal/target market doesn’t connect with your reasoning, rationale, solutions, or storyline within your book.

· Your social media and email contacts are less than 1,000.

· You have engaged the "BB" gun approach to marketing—just aim anywhere; push it out to anyone at any time.

Do any of the above sounds like you? If yes, you have a marketing problem.

If that is you, then how much time are you spending working on a marketing solution? What are you investing in your time, energy and money to learn and create a plan that works? Savvy authors have learned that you cannot solve your marketing problem the next day by simply repeating what you did yesterday, last week, last month … or certainly, last year.

Solution: Attend and participate in the first annual The Book Shepherd’s Book Marketing Unplugged.

Successful authors have learned and practice: if my book marketing success is to be … it’s up to me. Join Judith Briles for Book Marketing Unplugged this fall. It’s a two-day intensive with just Judith. And YES, there will be hot seats for each participant.

Date: October 18-19

Site: HILTON DENVER INVERNESS – 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO 80112

REGISTER NOW: https://thebookshepherd.com/book-marketing-unplugged

It’s yummers and schmoozing time … ready for our annual BBQ. The date is Saturday, July 6th.

It’s our annual BBQ gathering … NO AGENDA … just good eating … excellent conversations … catching up. Bring you and yours to Casa Quatar (aka Judith’s home) where all the women are amazing, all the men are awesome, and all the authors sell more books than the average author.

The grill will be fired up. There’s plenty of yummy food options—don’t bring any please-we to have it all covered. Adult beverages included. JUST SHOW UP … but do tell us you are coming. Don’t forget — there are s’mores around the fire pit!

Park on the street if there is room in the driveway, use it!

Time: 4:30pm to 8:30???

Place: Judith’s Deck and Yard: 8122 S. Quatar Circle, Aurora aka Casa Quatar! This is a gated community (Heritage Eagle Bend)–you will be sent directions and the gate code the week prior to the BBQ via email.

Single: $15
Couple: $20

Tell me you are coming: https://authoru.org/event/its-the-annual-author-bbq

REPLAY … 30 PLUS Sizzling HOT Publishing, Marketing and Author Success TIPS

Here is the link for the replay: https://vimeo.com/344219843

The Bonus: a free spot at Book Publishing Unplugged. Open until June 30th.

On MONDAY, June 24 (7 ET, 6 CT, 5 MT, 4 PT) … 30 awesome and Hot Publishing Ahas and Tips from six amazing publishing pros: Sandy Lawrence, Judith Briles, Daniel Hall, Rebecca Finkel, Kelly Johnson, Mara Purl and Ashlee Bratton. Plus, we always throw in a few more that you won't want to miss!

What author and writer doesn't want savvy insider tips and ahas on publishing, publicity, book marketing, book design, making money on your book and the latest awesome gizmos and gadgets authors can use?

Don't bother to pop the popcorn--you won't have time to eat it--you will be taking notes like crazy!

AND ... Make sure you register even if you can't attend the LIVE presentation ... you will automatically get the replay the next day.

Here’s the replay … it’s 90 Minutes and the clock is ticking … ends on June 30th. https://vimeo.com/344219843

Question: : I write nonfiction. Why do I need stories in my book?

Answer: Listen my author, and you will hear. If I had only one word to use, it would be engagement.

Too many nonfiction authors slip into a world of factoids and telling. All good, but at times, downright boring. Storytelling takes your reader "there"—whatever/wherever there is. It connects them with where you are leading them to. Opening a chapter with a "setup" of someone/something that your reader can immediately connect with via an event they did or experienced or someone that they know who did, opens a wavelength of truthiness.

Sometimes the story setup is light; sometimes heavy; sometimes even on OMG moment. Many times, when I’m working with an author for the first time and they’ve presented a book that is a "tell" or a "fix it" book, I’ll say, "Tell me about a time that you’ve experienced or known someone who has experienced about what you are trying to solve …" It changes the "feel" of the book. It makes it more personable.

The reader connects with you. You are writing about them. About what they need and want. When it’s more personable, you sell more copies.

This is how each call starts: I share a few strategies, tips and tools that attendees can immediately start to use. All share … and ask plenty of questions. They get answers. Definitely an excellent way to start a Friday. Those of you who aren’t participating, you are making a mistake. I love the variety of books and authors who have chosen to participate. What’s also fun, is the energy that can be felt with what everyone is working on. Love it!

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

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.

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