New NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / Discover TalkWalker for tracking YOU

Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #172 – April 21, 2021

Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1. Author Tools ... Discover TalkWalker for clipping

2. AuthorYOU VIP Member Benefit … Meet Michelle Renee - Websites

3. AuthorYOU First Saturday … Blogging Power for Authors in May

4. Dr. Judith Briles’ Unplugged Experiences … Speaking Unplugged in June … Live and in Person!

5. Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign in May is open for registration

6. AuthorYOU Salons … Register for April and May

7. Hot podcasts for April … Add to your calendar and listen

8. Question of the Week … Should I attempt to sell my book to a traditional publisher?

9. Book Shepherd “Fun” of the Week … Sibling, hissing kitties

I’ve been shouting this out for over two decades now: traditional publishing is not the route to take UNLESS you are a major player in an industry; a buzzed about news figure; or a celebrity. Today, traditional publishing is for the ego-driven. Is that you? Think again, please before your waste years of fantasizing you are going to hit it big and that a New York publisher is the magic door to go through.

On Monday, the New York Times revealed that 98% of traditionally published new books in 2020 sold LESS than 5,000 copies (here’s the link to the article- http://ow.ly/Wtsk50ErYwB) –that means a royalty payment of less than $.72 per book to author of a book retailing for under $20. You might wonder how I got to the $.72 amount … it starts with the retail price of a book. I said $20—most perfect bound paper books sell for less than $20—but I’ll use easy math here. Royalty paid authors for paper books typically get paid via their contract 8% of the net (usually 45% of retail price). This would mean 20 x .45 = 9; 9 x .08 = .72). What does that mean? SEVENTY-TWO CENTS for each book sold via a bookstore. And it means getting less than $3,600 for your years of work and belief that NY would be the magic bullet to skyrocket author success.

DEFINITELY … as an author, if you aren’t stepping to the plate … learning the basics of publishing yourself PLUS book marketing; avoiding the “prince” and “princess” author syndrome—no one is going to rescue you and do all the work—you are the single best marketeer for your book; and starting to set up speaking engagements—virtually and in-person—it’s where you will sell lots of books and get paid immediately. My two bits—unless you are a true celeb, your publishing success will happen as an independent / self-publishing author. Wear it with pride: DIY, it’s time for the Publishing Game of Thrones!

Speaking of speaking, the early bird registration is “live” for my IN PERSON Speaking Unplugged slated for June 25-26 here in the beautiful city of Denver. No snow. Sunshine. Learning to sell and pitching your book without traditional in your face pitching. Making money. Having fun. Who will be joining me?

Come blog with me and soar the success of your blog as well. Many have asked me how I developed my blog; where do I get my ideas; should they blog; how often; what do they do once they write a blog; and much more. Soooooo ... next month, the AuthorYOU First Saturday (May 1) will be all about blogging. Details below. Get registered.

Ace Author Photographer Ashley Bratton will be in the Metro Denver area the week of May 7. Reach out to her at Info@Ashography.com to book your time. Special rates for AuthorYOU members.

Totally jazzed to create and deliver a deep-dive into the power and pop of what the Instagram platform can do for building your influence and selling books in May (11, 18, 25). Over a three-week, 90 minute period, Julies Marie will light the fire to master Instagram. This will be posted this week on the websites.

This week, AuthorYOU members Connie David and Claudia West put on their bestseller campaign hats on to achieve the coveted status tomorrow, Thursday through Saturday. Claudia’s delightful children’s book, Zoo of the Sea is perfect for kiddos of all ages. If you loved the fun and rhythm of Dr. Suess combined with rich illustrations, get in line to grab your free eBook (suggest you also get the print copy—it’s one the kid’s will want). Here’s the link to grab your free eBook copy: http://bit.ly/ZooOnTheSea. Connie’s inspirational memoir is a page turner and an amazing life. Meet the doctor who was on the team that irradicated small pox in India: Risking Is Better Than Regretting: Live Without Regrets: http://bit.ly/RiskingIsBetter .

That’s my week … how’s yours?

Last week, Social Media pro Jules Marie joined me for a whirl through Instagram, Part I. This week, she joins me for Part II of using Instagram for book marketing and building influence.

You can select which podcast is for you from over 350 shows and 6,000,000 total downloads since the show started … the latest will always be posted on top of the show page: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast--it goes directly to the Show Page, where you can view all podcasts at once—just scroll … you’ve got a lot to pick from to expand your learning and how to curve.

1. April 22 – Podcast, BookBuzz Marketing

2. April 27 – Podcast, Making Money Online

3. May 1st - AuthorYOU Program - Blogging Power

4. May 5,12,19,26 - Create an Amazon Bestseller

5. May 8th – AuthorYOU Salons – online for AuthorYOU members only

6. May 11 – Podcast, Instagram Strategies, Part I

7. May 18 – Podcast, Instagram Strategies, Part II

8. May 25 – Podcast, Instagram Strategies, Part III

9. June 5th – First Saturday AuthorYOU program

10. June 12th – AuthorYOU Salons – online for AuthorYOU members only

11. June 25-26 - Speaking Unplugged IN PERSON … Denver

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To blog … or not to blog … it’s a question many authors ask. Judith’s truthiness: blogging is not critical for every author and you don’t have to do it. But, should you avoid creating one? Maybe. Maybe not. This month’s First Saturday AuthorYOU program presents the questions … and provides answers. It’s Blogging Power for Authors time.

Bloggers have their own style of creativity and writing and can serve as a marketing whammy when in play.

· Strategic blogging for authors

· Best practices takeaways.

· What model works for you?

· What blogging can accomplish (and what it doesn’t).

· Embrace cornerstone blogging content to build readership.

· Social media strategies for spreading your word.

· Marketing strategies, including your title.

· Tips to avoid blogging failure.

· Why everyone shouldn’t blog.

· How to get readers for your blog.

· Tips for year-round blogging.

You will come away with the Anatomy of a Successful Blog—how to create one; how to market it; how to use it to build your influence. Your guide will be Judith Briles, who has been blogging for 15 years, a minimum of 52 blogs every year.

HERE: https://authoru.org/events.html

WHEN: Saturday, May 1

TIME: 9 am Mountain

WHERE: Your computer via Zoom

COST: $15 members, $25 nonmembers. Princes increase $10 on Tuesday, April 27

Would you like to know-how powerful you, your book, and experiences are and how they can influence and change others one word at a time? Would you like to turn your book, your ideas, your mouth into a business that creates a lifestyle woven with travel, fun, global friends, and financial success?

You can with the smart and savvy strategies, you will reveal in this interactive and fun intensive workshop. With over 35 years of speaking on the platform, Dr. Judith Briles will show you how to become a successful professional speaker … a speaker that will soar your book sales. Since the 80s, speaking has been her #1 way to sell books … over 1,000,000 of them!

Would you like to turn the book you have or are creating into a money machine that cements your expertise and authoring success?

Would you be willing to trade just TWO days to get all the how-to and strategies from someone who spent over 35 years on the speaking platform … someone who generated more than $5,000,000 in combined speaking fees and book sales that will be generated directly from speaking gigs? You can …

June 25-26 will change your authoring life in Denver, CO

Are you ready to create the speech that will get you booked and re-booked … get the answers to the questions you have … all of them? Judith is the master book publishing coach and guide.

Reserve Your Spot NOW
for 2 Colorful Brain-Jammed Days, including meals.

Details on TheBookShepherd.com site under “Experiences”

https://thebookshepherd.com/calendar.html

If you want a FUN, INFORMATIVE, HOW TO 90 minutes on one-on-one time during each session for book marketing and best seller position, this is what you want to do.

There are 23 steps in your journey … a journey where you could pay someone to travel and implement for you … or one where you can roll up your sleeves and learn how to create, implement, and execute. As in DIY.

The Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign for Your eBook Online course is the latest. I will take you through each step during the four weeks. When you complete #17, you are ready to execute.

My goal is for you to have all components for your campaign DONE before your implementation/execution day. All social media tease pushouts done and scheduled before the big day starts—and I help you write each one of them!

Dates: WEDNESDAYs at 4 pm MT for each 90-minute session: :
May 2021: 5, 12, 19, 26

Register: hepherd.com/create-an-amazon-bestseller-campaign-for-your-ebook-online-course-in-4-weeks.html

You can always listen in via our websites: www.AuthorYOU.org (click on the On the Air image on the Home page—wait for it to upload. Or
www.TheBookShepherd.com (click on the Resources tab).

April 1 - Publishing Trends for Authors – Judith Briles

April 8 - Instagram Strategies, Part I – Jules Marie

April 15 - Instagram Strategies, Part II – Jules Marie

April 22 - BookBuzz Marketing – Brian Feinblum

April 27 - Making Money Online – Lois Creamer

Listen in at: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast

Question: Should I attempt to sell my book to a traditional publisher?

Answer: Probably not. Reread the opening paragraph above in this ezine about what authors are making in royalties today. The odds of getting picked up—over 1.6 million books were published last year from all sources. Only 10,000 came from New York connected publishers. Be realistic as to why you would want to go with NY; then determine what you need to do to get there—you need a solid Book Proposal and an Agent. How much time will you dedicate to it happening? For book proposals, Jody Rein and Michael Larsen’s How to Create a Book Proposal, 5th edition is recommended.

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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