The Author Resource
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Vol. 4, No. 6
Contents
www.AuthorU.org
The Lazy Days of Summer ... From the Author’s POV Judith Briles, Author U Founder
Mark Your Calendar Page 3
Summer is here and the authoring may be easy or hiccupping. Lots of books have birthed from spring, and book awards have been announced by Indie Excellence, International Book Awards, IPPY, Ben Franklins, etc. If you won an award, what’s your game plan for them?
Author U Events Page 4-7 Judith Briles UnPlugged Page 9 Leveraging Book Awards Page 11 Coffee is Bad for Your Writing Page 12
Technology & Tips Page 18
Have you created a media release? Have you added your kudos to your signature on your email? Did you create a blog? Did you announce it to your followers? Did you get it up on Amazon? Did you tell your distributor? In other words, you’ve got it—now what did you do and are you planning to do?
Best Time to Blog Page 19
Your Book Game Plan
In the Blink of an Eye - Horror! Page 14 Successful Book Launch Parties Page 15
Book Smarts Page 20 Change is a Verb Page 21 Promotional Panorama Page 22 New Members Page 23 Member News Page 24 TIPS Page 26 2013 Extravaganza Videos Page 29 2014 Extravaganza Pre-Reg Page 30 Code of Ethics Page 31
Why not get a Game Plan together … and that’s what Author U is doing at the Tattered Cover, LoDo, on the afternoon of July 20th. It’s a freebie and you, and anyone you know who wants to publish, should be there. I’m going to do a session on creating the Book Game Plan … then audience members get to pitch the Author Shark Tank with their game plan, using the strategies I demonstrate. What’s in it for you? Smarts, for one. And two, the possibility of winning a free slot at the two-day event I’m doing September 6th-7th, valued at $500. Best Game Plan per the Sharks is for the winner. Will it be you? Be at the Tattered Cover in LoDo from 1-4 on Saturday, the 20th and find out. Sign up for it on the Author U website. The EBM and You Within the recent interview with John Zeck, Director of Tattered Cover Press, he revealed not only his enthusiasm for all things Author U, but amazing insider tips for the EBM—the Espresso Book Machine. I’m convinced that we all should have our books uploaded into the BooksOnDemand.com system... you can get your book, as a book,
Continued on page 2 ....
The Author Resource
2 Post Extravaganza ... Continued from page 1 ....
globally in minutes. A terrific backup anywhere, anytime ... and you can pop out a book to get in someone’s hands the same day. How cool is that? Definitely worth your listen. Here’s the link: http://ow.ly/ mf3Wy if you haven’t already heard it.
Savvy Authors Who Want Their Books to Soar Think ...
Mentoring Mondays is Hot and Free! To continue to bring in our members out of state, Mentoring Mondays was birthed in June. The dialogue is great, and it’s a place where you can come, just listen, or participate. If you have questions on the kick-off topic that Amy Collins and I start with, ask them. If you have any other questions relating to authoring and publishing, ask them. We don’t do pet and love advice, but authoring and publishing, oh yes! In one session, Michele DeFilippo was on the call. She’s a terrific designer and heads up 1106 Design in Phoenix, adding great info and insight. Every Monday at noon Eastern, 9 Pacific. Put it on your calendar—here’s the number you call: Call in to: 646-307-1300 and use access code: 8508894. Join Me in September So looking forward to spending two amazing days with authors on September 6th and 7hth—not only for newbies, but the advanced as well. I’ve limited space so that I can do customized and one-on one. Come play and learn. It’s deep-dive time, well-worth your time and investment. All info is here: http://ow.ly/mAFir .
Author U stretches members to a higher level. Some will be publishers, some will not, but ALL will learn and grow. Author U shows YOU, the author, how to be the best you think you can be . . . and then how to to be even more than you thought you could be. Learn the ropes to become a publisher yourself. Heading to NY? Receive strategies that will hook both publisher and agent. Continue to learn and meet terrific people and achieve success. Author U is waiting for you. Success comes from hard work, careful planning, learning your craft, and being in the right place at the right time ... Author U shows
www.AuthorU.org
The Author Promotional Panorama This will be a very HOT session with the awesome Stephanie Barko, voted the top Literary Publicist by Preditors and Editors. The date is September 21st, and there is a Bonus add-on for up to 20 participants. Get signed up! Annual BBQ See all of you in Colorado on Saturday, August 3rd … it’s another freebie, bring a side dish, AU does the BBQ, dessert, and beverage— schmoozing, networking, enjoying the summer, just being great authors. Nice! This is a combined July-August Edition … we will be back in September.
Judith
FOUNDER: Judith Briles ADVISORY BOARD: Daniel Hall/ Dan Poynter Greg Godek / Rick Frishman Brian Jud / John Kremer Penny Sansevieri / Marcella Smith Susan RoAne / Peggy McColl BOARD: Brian Jud / Bruce Hellerstein John Maling / AJ White Mara Purl / Steve Replin Georgia McCabe / Daniel Hall
NEWSLETTER: Linda Lane, Editor Shannon Parish, Layout, www.IllustratingYou.com
The Author Resource
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Mark Your 2013 Calendars ... Save the Dates! Visit our online Calendar on Author U - go to: http://tinyurl.com/AUdates July
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Mentoring Mondays deliver a full hour to ask questions, or just listen. It’s the “pick the brains” of Book Marketing Expert Amy Collins and Book Shepherd Judith Briles (and sometimes an amazing guest). All you will need is a phone. Each Mentoring Monday will begin with a current strategy in publishing/marketing, an “aha” that one of us has uncovered to set a theme for the call opening, and then it’s up to you. Have your questions ready— the hour will go fast. Times are: 12-Eastern, 11-Central, 10-Mountain, 9-Pacific. A call in number will be on each Monday Mornings at Author U eblast—your cost is only the phone call and your time. July dates are the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th . August dates are the 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th . See and hear you online!
Take Flight Thursday’s will rolls out on Thursday, June 6th at 3 p.m. Eastern, 2 p.m. Central, 1 p.m. Mountain, 12 noon Pacific. Specifically created for those who pre-signed up for Extravaganza 2014, 40 authors will soar into the book stratosphere with Mary Agnes Antonopolous and Judith Briles via webinar or teleseminar.
We will be starting our Google Hangout Air program this summer, Author U On the Air. Judith Briles will be the primary host, reaching out to our amazing Author U community, including the excellent speakers and exhibitors from the Extravaganza. On the Air will stream immediately through YouTube, and you can watch live or later.
REMEMBER: Visit www.AuthorU.org often and check out the Members Area — Benefits, Special Events, and Information are updated often!
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July 2013: The Technology and Tips Toolbox
Resources to Add to Your Tech Toolbox By Kelly Johnson
Several clients and colleagues shared with me recently that they are ready to make some technology changes in their business, and the first “out with the old, in with the new” item is going to be a computer. Now I know we could have a very lively debate on if the new computer should be a PC or a Mac, but the resource I am sharing offers programs for both Mac and PC. While you are excited about having a new computer, you may be feeling some dread at having to install your favorite free programs again, such as iTunes, Firefox, Safari, Adobe Reader, etc. This task can be very time-consuming because you need to visit each site, locate the download link, and then install each program individually. This task is no longer a drain on your time because you can now install the most popular free software programs from this site: Ninite (http://ninite.com/) Some of the programs include iTunes, Google Chrome, Skype, Safari, Audacity, Adobe Reader, Thunderbird, Java, Firefox, Dropbox, and Picasa. Based on the software programs you select from the Ninite menu, Ninite installs your choices quickly with default settings and says “no” to browser toolbars. Ninite also checks your computer to install the latest version of each program. There is no Ninite software to install, and all it does is automatically download and install the programs you select. Ninite (for personal use) is free of charge. They also offer a Pro version that has a $20/month fee. One item to note: the Ninite site does not provide an explanation of each software program, so if you do not recognize the name or are not familiar with the program, you will need to conduct some research online to learn about it. Now that you have a resource to save you time on installing your favorite free software programs, you will be up and running on your new computer in no time. (Don’t forget to send me an e-mail letting me know how you are enjoying your new computer and sharing which programs you installed from Ninite!) To your success,
Kelly Johnson works with authors to manage technical, creative, and administrative projects for their businesses and books. She’s an article-writing coach, does blog and website maintenance, knows how to implement an online shopping cart strategy, and is the principal of Cornerstone Virtual Assistance. She can be reached at kjohnson@cornerstoneva.com site is www.cornerstoneva.com.
If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write. ~Stephen King
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Author U at the Tattered Cover in July Introducing Author YOU and the Author Shark Tank™ One of the popular new features at the Extravaganza in 2013 was the Author Shark Tank. On Saturday, July 20th, Author U will partner with the Tattered Cover for a combo program. Celebrating Author U’s Chief Visionary Officer Judith Briles’ newest and best-selling, award-winning book, Author YOU: Creating and Building the Author and Book Platforms, a special edition of the Author Shark Tank will presented to the public. In a two-part program, you will learn and experience the following: 1. The Basics of Platform Building, something every successful author and book has. 2. The Author Shark Tank—pitch your book and concept to the Sharks. Get Judith’s book at the Tattered Cover, and she will give you a coupon to download $2600 worth of author/ publishing-related gifts specially designed for your authoring journey and success. If you already have her book, bring it so she can sign it and give you a coupon to access the gifts. Pitch your book concept to the Author Sharks, and one lucky author will win a spot at the 2014 Author U Extravaganza held in Denver May 1-3, valued at over $400. Date and Time: Location: Cost:
Saturday, July 20, 2013, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tattered Cover, LoDo-1628 16th St., Denver, CO 80202 FREE Judith Briles Unplugged, two full days of author and publishing wisdom that will be intimate and designed to soar you and your book. This is truly a limited-space event that is held in Denver September 6-7 and valued at over $400. Meet many of the Colorado publishing experts who can bring your words and your book to life.
Space is limited, so reserve your spot here to listen and possibly be in the Author Shark Tank: http://bit.ly/10DnXP6
Want to be considered for the Author Shark Tank? E-mail Author U now (put Author Shark Tank in the subject line) … up to 10 names will be randomly selected for the experience—e-mail yours in for the drawing: Judith@AuthorU.org.
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It's Author U's Annual Member BBQ For members and their family/guests only. Author U Members love to eat and schmooze. Come join in—the day will be warm ... perfect for a BBQ. Author U supplies the BBQ fixings, beverage, and dessert ... you get to bring the sides and munchies. Who: Members and Family When: Saturday afternoon, August 3rd Time: 5:00 p.m. Cost: FREE Bring: a side dish for 8 (NO desserts please)
http://bit.ly/13gFsmT
RSVP!
Free Guide: BookBaby’s How-To Guide for Writers ]
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The Author Resource
Get Ready for TWO Author-Changing Days... September 6-7, 2013 will change your authoring life! Experience two full days of Judith every September ... no guest speakers, no pitches, just Judith Briles Unplugged, delivering an amazing depth of publishing, authoring, and marketing information that she has derived from her 30-plus years in the publishing field and as The Book Shepherd. • If you are just starting down the authoring and publishing path, you will come away with a personalized strategy to create and develop your book. • If your book is ready to birth, you will come away with amazing steps and ah-has on how to soar its official launch and develop your next steps. • If your book, and you, want to create a book launch that sells books and gets you noticed, you will learn how. • If you want to make serious money as an author, you will come away with strategies that are doable and how to do them. • If your book is currently available, no matter how old, your current marketing concepts and strategies will be turned upside down. • If you want to look at crowdfunding, you will learn the ins and outs of a campaign. • If you want to create a speech that uses the key elements of your book and expertise, you will learn insider tips on how to—and how to niche yourself into "your" market. • If want to know tricks of the social media marketing whirlwind, you will learn which platforms work best for which books and how to drill down into them. • If you are still noodling on what a Platform is, you will not only get it, but you will drill down into yours. • If you haven't done a GamePlan for your book, no matter what stage it’s at, you will ... and discover amazing "ah-has" along the way about both You and Your Book.
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Judith Briles Unplugged is not just another publishing conference where you sit in your seat and take notes—expect extraordinary, high interaction, plenty of “to-do” activities—you will not only listen and hear The Book Shepherd, you will immediately implement what she says. Judith believes in feeding your brain and your belly. It is your next, next step to authoring and book success. Be there. You and Your Book can't afford not to be. Contact Judith to determine if this is the "right fit" for you and your book now. Call 303-885-2207 or e-mail Judith@Briles.com. Don't delay. www.TheBookShepherd.com Call the hotel and stay there—303-337-2800 and ask for the “Neighborhood rate”—it’s $84.
In other words, your life as an author will be morphed. Judith Briles Unplugged delivers extraordinary, high interaction, plenty of “to-do” activities and Hot Seats—you will not only listen and hear The Book Shepherd, you will immediately implement what she says.
It is your next, next step to authoring and book success. If that's your goal, be there. You and Your Book can't afford not to.
Save these two days in 2013: September 6th and 7th ... they will change your publishing life. Who better to captain your journey than Author and Publishing Expert, Dr. Judith Briles?
Location:
Denver, Colorado ... our Falls are spectacular.
Cost:
$497 for Early, Early Bird signups now that ends on July 25th. You will get an immediate savings of $100 at checkout. Continental breakfast is included each day, along with a Friday night reception.
Site:
Doubletree Hotel SE, 13596 E Iliff Place, Aurora, CO 80014.
Room Rates:
$84. Call 303-337-2800
Neighborhood rate
http://bit.ly/1aWJBn3
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Leveraging Book Awards Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist
Note: Stephanie will be presenting a “special” Author U Brunch & Learn on September 21st. You do not want to miss this. I don’t care if your book has been out there or is getting ready to birth, there are always publicity angles you can tap into. A special Bonus session will be presented in a MasterMind type of format limited to Author U members only immediately following the Brunch & Learn. Who best to attend it: anyone that has a book that will launch within 12 months. If your book is out, there, of course, will be plenty of tips to recharge your baby.
Book awards are one of the most effective and affordable means of gaining recognition for independent publishers and authors. Entering competitions and having your title win an award instantly labels you an award-winning author. Whether the award increases book sales or not, it conveys a higher level of credibility for small presses and authors and differentiates their title among others. Here are some tips for leveraging book awards that you have won: • Buy and affix award stickers to your book’s cover. • Upload the stickered version of the cover to Amazon, publisher’s catalogs, your website, blog, and social media presences. • Announce the win in the trades, like Publishers Weekly, especially when a bulk buy could result. • Distribute keyworded press releases to consumer markets and journalists. • Display your award when exhibiting at book festivals and trade shows. • Hang a poster with your award on it where your book is on display, like at Book Expo. • Include award stickers on book flyers sent to bookstores. Let retailers know when media is being done in their area and when the author will be touring there. • Prepare for attention from wholesalers and distributors who track award winning titles. • Mention the award to interest book clubs in previewing and selecting the title. • Use quotes from award judges in press materials, brochures, sell sheets, bookmarks, and covers.
In the end, it may be difficult to evaluate what an award has done for you and your book, but that may be because it is hard to measure the value of an enhanced reputation. Good luck completing your award applications; and when you win, remember to leverage your award. Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist was voted Best Book Promotion Service in Preditors & Editors’ Readers Poll. In addition to her blog, she currently writes a book marketing column for San Francisco Book Review (http://bit.ly/12p5PVA). Award winning clients include both traditional and independent nonfiction and historical fiction publishers and authors. For more information, visit www.stephaniebarko.com or follow Stephanie’s Tweets @steffercat.
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THE 2013 USA BEST BOOK AWARDS FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES—August 31st deadline! Sponsored by USA Book News, based in Los Angeles, California … Now Celebrating Their 10th Year of Honoring Mainstream and Independent Titles! • Enter One of the Largest Mainstream Award Competitions in the United States! • Nine-Year History of Incredible Media & Sales Results for Winners & Finalists! • Open to all 2010-2012 Published Books and E-books. • Author U Special! $10 off entry fee (HURRY! BONUS Special Expires August 31th) • Full-Color, 5-Month Listing for Every Entry on USABookNews.com! Major Publicity and Marketing Campaign will announce results in November 2013. Enter Today and Get Your Book the Attention It Deserves! Register here and save $10: http://usabooknews.com/authoru.html
“Author U is the premier authoring resource in the country, creating community, education, guidance, vision, and success for the serious author.”
The Author Resource
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Coffee is Bad for Your Writing By Robert Davis
Today’s techie tidbit is this: coffee is bad for your writing. Not that the blast of caffeine is not good to get your creative juices flowing—it’s that liquids and laptops don’t mix. I recently had someone bring me a laptop not even a month old. The person had spilled coffee all over it and, although she pulled the battery and power and turned it upside down, she also knew she was in trouble. The worst thing to do if this happens to you is to wait. The quick action of pulling the cord and the battery saved the unit. Did she lose her day’s work? ... YES! Did she lose the entire laptop? ... NO! She contacted me directly, and I told her to put the laptop in a garbage bag (the small, eight gallon one) and put in as much DRY RICE (Please, not DRY ICE!) as they had, seal the entire mess and bring it to me. > I should point out now that ALL the next steps must be done CAREFULLY and BY SOMEONE WITH TRAINING! When the unit reached me, it still reeked of ozone and coffee. Why coffee? That should be obvious, dear reader. But why ozone? When high voltages are involved in an electrical system such as a computer and electrical shorts due to moisture occur, some of the air molecules in the unit can be transformed to ozone to some small extent. (Even if there are no electrical shorts, if the voltages are high enough, ozone can still be created.) My assessment? Surprise: the unit would need a thorough cleaning, so I removed the keyboard, and, using rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs, cleaned out all the coffee. I also discovered that this person likes her coffee way too sweet and blonde ... but that’s for someone else to fix. It was professionally beyond my pay scale. After a couple of hours, I returned the unit to the bag of rice and left it in the sun. It took almost 16 hours, but when I fired it up— voila!—it worked like a charm. While this repair option does exist, and this happy outcome is somewhat atypical, there is a very simple way to avoid this: BE CAREFUL around your tools (i.e. Laptops & Computers) Keep GOOD backups! You never know when coffee or an earthquake or any other number of natural disasters are going to smash up your system. Having data backed up certainly helps lessen this problem. IF you break both Rule Number 1 and Number 2, don’t try to fix it yourself unless you are absolutely SURE of what you are doing. The only repair harder than cleaning up a machine that was “dunked” is doing Continued on page 13...
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Coffee: continued from page 12 ...
it after someone else has already tried. Be honest with yourself. If you slammed your car into a telephone pole, would you really want to try to fix the body damage before going to a repair shop? Simply put: are you qualified? Treat your laptop like your car—get professional help when it goes south because of your or someone else’s foolishness! Robert Davis is an experienced computer geek who works on computers for individuals and corporations. His extensive knowledge and understanding of this world is invaluable to those whose livelihoods are contained on their hard drives. You can join Robert on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/robert.davis.7399. Message him in his inbox if you need your own personal Computer Geek who understands your writing world at your fingertips.
Mistakes are the portals of discovery. ~James Joyce July Tech Tool Box Create Your Own Blog Talk Radio on Tuesday, July 23rd. Having your own radio show is within your reach from free to a small fee, depending on what bells and whistles you want! Showcase your expertise through your own radio show on Blog Talk Radio. This will also give you an opportunity to invite guest speakers to your show to reinforce your niche area. Don’t miss this intensive workshop on setting up an account on Blog Talk Radio, features in your radio show account, and strategies for scheduling and planning your show and show topics. Time: 3 – 6 p.m. Cost: $60 Location: Judith’s Offices Register: Time: 3 – 6 p.m. Cost: $60 – or both June and July Tech Tool Boxes for $100 Location: Judith’s Offices Register: http://ow.ly/kWmys
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In The Blink of an Eye ... Horror! By Shannon Parish
Ah yes ... you have to love those moments. Here’s my post from July 3rd on Facebook, I’m reposting it here, because there’s a lesson that all of us can use a reminder of ... EEEEEEEK!! Never thought it would happen to me, but it did this morning. I even had a travel mug with the lid on ... but horror of horrors, I accidentally knocked my travel mug over and coffee spilled into my BRAND NEW laptop keyboard! Here’s a tip from my computer guru dude ... Flip it over immediately and take off the battery. Unplug EVERYTHING! Dry off everything that you can see and keep the board upside down. Get a medium-size plastic trash bag and dump a bunch of rice into it. Put your laptop on top of the rice like an inverted V and seal the bag shut. Then get your laptop to your computer guy asap. (I placed my plastic-coated laptop inside a box to keep everything level.) Then get it to a computer guy asap! Mine is with him now ... time is standing still ... fingers crossed. Horror of horrors! tick tock .... tick tock .... tick tock ...
Naturally, I couldn’t resist posting some cartoons I’d done to dramatize this horrific event! Even though I’ve never had this happen before, one split second changed everything, and the illustrations set the mood—comments were many and this post was shared by others. (Lesson learned! Always use illustrations when you want to be read, and ... the obvious.) And yes ... I like cream in my coffee. Shannon Parish has more than 30 years’ experience working with speakers, authors, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. To learn more about Shannon and her creative services, go to: www.ShannonParish.com, and be sure to subscribe to her newsletter to hear about online and offline collaborations, brainstorming sessions, news, tips, discounts, freebies, and more! Subscribe at: http://shannonparish.com/iytntsubscribe.html
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12 Tips For Successful Book Launch Parties By Joel Friedlander
We don’t often talk about one very important part of self-publishing: it can be a lot of fun! Maybe it doesn’t feel that way when you’re trying to figure out which ISBN option to choose … or how to hire a cover designer … or which font would really be the best for your book. But if you like the book creation process, you might also enjoy all those little decisions and the many chances to be creative it opens to you. One of the more institutionalized ways to have a good time in book publishing is with a book-launch party. Sometimes authors plan parties because they want to celebrate, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But a book-launch party can be a great way to give your marketing a push, too. After all, a lot of books take years to write and months to edit, design, lay out, proofread, and set up for publication. When your book is finally published, it’s the end of a long, sometimes arduous journey. Do you need a book launch party? It’s difficult to say you really need one. Although it can be a great promotional activity, a big party can put your budget into a hole so deep it will never recover. However, there are ways to host launch parties on a budget. So if you’re thinking about a book launch party, here are some tips that will help you decide whether or not to go ahead with one and, if you do, some things to look out for. But First, A Decision Before you can start planning your book-launch party, you’ll need to decide whether you’re throwing this party to congratulate yourself and share your joy with friends and family, or whether it’s mostly intended to be a chance to promote your book. There’s nothing wrong with throwing yourself a party. Hey, knock yourself out; invite the neighbors and anyone else you like. A book-launch party also can be a great way to say “thank you” to people who have played a significant role in getting your book to market. But if the party is part of your overall book-launch strategy, you’ll want to focus mostly on what’s going to help get news about your book out to the people you really want to reach. The tips that follow are aimed at these sorts of parties meant to promote books. Tips for Authors Thinking About Book Launch Parties 1. Make a budget. How much are you willing to “invest” in this one promotional event? Expenses for live events can easily get out of hand as unexpected wrinkles arise. Compare what you’re willing to spend to other possibilities. For instance, to hire someone to write a professional press release
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and have it electronically delivered costs about $200-300. Will that accomplish more with the resources you have than throwing a launch party? 2. Find a venue. Hold your party in a retail environment if at all possible. Bookstores and other retailers will be happy if you can bring in a lot of people to their store, and they usually will handle the sales. They will probably sell your books on consignment (no payment unless books sell) and will require a minimum 40% discount from the retail price. Another good strategy is to locate a retailer with some connection to your book. For instance, for the launch of a book about moving to Spain, an author had her launch party at a Spanish tapas bar with authentic foods and beverages mentioned in her book. For a hiking, bicycling, or trailwalking book, try the local recreational equipment store. And you don’t have to be limited to retail spaces, either. A book launch that’s more of a celebration can be hosted at a private home. And some people have taken their launch parties outdoors; with a permit from the local authorities and some good weather, you could have your launch party at a park. 3. Plan your space. If your party is in a store, you will probably be supplied with a table but don’t count on anything else. You’ll need to provide some appropriate decorations and don’t forget bookmarks or other “freebies.” If you’re having your party at a retailer that’s not a bookstore, you may have to help the store with planning for tables to sign books and other details. 4. Get the word out. If you’re working with a retailer for your launch, ask about promotion. For instance, they may be able to include you in mailings or e-mail newsletters about in-store events. Or they might allow you to put a flyer up in the store a couple of weeks before the event. 5. Keep people entertained. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble and expense to set up your party and get people there. What are you going to do next? Instead of planning one long reading, why not create a shorter event you can repeat over the course of 3 or 4 hours? If you can, include appropriate music and visuals for entertainment. A slide show or book trailer running on a laptop can capture the attention of browsers who will want to know more about your book. 6. Make sure you have books. Yes, there’s nothing worse than planning a party, then realizing you can’t get printed books in time. Work backwards from your party date and plan to have the physical books on hand at least a week beforehand, just to be safe. 7. Use the media. Let local media know about your book launch-party and invite them to come around to join the festivities. At larger media outlets, look for writers or editors whose subject specialties correspond to your book topic and notify them. 8. Build your crowd. Don’t forget to invite your friends, family, co-workers, writing group, and social media contacts. More people equals more excitement, and that’s what a party is all about. 9. Take pictures. Ask a friend to take pictures and make sure to get some shots of you signing books, talking to readers, and speaking. If you have any “notables” attending, get a shot of the two of you together. These will come in handy for your promotional efforts. 10. How to sign. If you’ve never autographed books before, spend some time thinking about what Continued on page 17...
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you’ll write. Many authors use a few stock phrases which can be helpful when the autographing line is long. Many people like their name included, too, so make sure to ask for the correct spelling. I’ve often used the phrase, “Good luck on your publishing journey,” which fits with the subject of my books. 11. Prizes and giveaways. Who doesn’t like them? Having a drawing for a free book or a prize themed to your subject will be popular. And if you repeat your reading a couple of times, go ahead and have a couple of drawings to keep people interested. 12. Gather addresses. Here’s my last tip, and it’s one of the most important. You want to stay in touch with people you spend time with at your launch party. Make sure you have a way to capture each attendee’s e-mail address, whether it’s a sign-up sheet, a bowl for business cards, or a laptop or tablet where people can opt into your mailing list on the spot. Planning and executing a book-launch party is quite a bit of work, but it can pay off. You’ll establish good relations with the venue, with media contacts, and with attendees. You’ll make sales and add to your e-mail list, too. And listen, you worked long and hard to get to this point. Throwing yourself a party—and getting all the benefits—is a great way to celebrate. Joel Friedlander is a self-published author, an awardwinning book designer, and an accomplished blogger. He's the founder of the Self-Publishing Roadmap training course and a frequent speaker at industry events where he talks to writers about how the new tools of publishing can help them reach and inspire their readers. Subscribe to his newsletter via RSS (http://feeds.feedburner.com/ MarinBookworks) and get his free 24-page e-book on the top 10 things you need to know about self-publishing.
Did you miss a show? Go to: http://bit.ly/tTUpGH and catch up!
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Wise Words from the Author U Blog
So, You Want to Be an Author? Every book has a starting point for its journey. Along the way, the author sharpens ideas and gathers the tools to be successful. Start with: #1 Be smart from the get-go! Savvy authors learn quickly that books are a business. Creating cobwebs in your garage or basement shouldn’t be an option. Knowing what your book cost (really cost, not an estimate—that means you crunch the numbers so you have a true unit/book cost), knowing who your reader and buyer is (it is not everybody—get off that soap box), knowing how to drill down in your market to become the whale in the pond (much better than the sardine in the ocean), and learning how to position yourself outside and beyond the traditional book sales path (the bookstore) assure that you will move books. #2 Get the right people on your team … the sooner, the better. Creating and selling a book is not a solo operation. Whether it’s assistance in the creation, the layout, the design, editing, the marketing, the electronic world, foreign rights, or any of the other publishing avenues you find yourself in, don’t go it alone. Learn from other’s mistakes. Don’t be afraid to ask other authors—Who have you worked with and would you want to work with them again on another book? Did they create stress … or de-stress the process? #3 Get the wrong people off your team immediately … today.
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If a consultant, supplier vendor, representative, or seller isn’t working, dump that person. Books usually don’t get second chances; neither do authors. If someone is the wrong fit, open the door and move him out. Don’t let loyalty to someone because you like him or her (or were referred) create a hazard. If it isn’t working, it isn’t working. Get off the bus.
Judith Briles is known as The Book Shepherd (www.TheBookShepherd.com) and the Founder of Author U(niversity (www.AuthorU.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. She’s the author of 28 books including Show Me About Book Publishing, co-written with John Kremer and Rick Frishman, and a speaker at publishing conferences. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com.
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Best Times for Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest … Oh My! By Judith Briles
For social media and social media posting, the key question is: What is the best time to post to social media? The answer: know your target audience and know your time zones. Adjust accordingly. While the optimal time to update your Twitter or Google+ is included per a variety of resources, your audience may have a different optimal time. It means you need to know— one of the Author U members has a huge LinkedIn and Twitter following and they are active late evening. Note: all times below are all based on Eastern time. Facebook … Traffic is highest between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Best time: Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesdays are hot. Avoid time: 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Twitter … Peak time is Monday –Thursday; peters out after 3 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. Best time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Avoid time: 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. Google+ … Think weekday and a.m. – best time is 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., during business hours – traffic fades after 5 p.m. and weekends. Best time: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Avoid time: 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Pinterest … During the week, from noon to 5 p.m. Best time is Saturday morning to post. Primary pinners are women—avoid family demand times. Best time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Avoid time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. LinkedIn … Do your posting before or after business hours and avoid Mondays and Fridays. Best time: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. or 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Avoid time: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The resources used to compile data included Mashable.com, Infographics/pic, elainefogel.net, smallbusiness.chron.com, blog.bily.com. Always keep in mind that social media morphs often— ideal times this month could be different in three months.
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BookSmarts
Publish Like the Pros by Michele DeFilippo
In just 78 pages, Michele DeFilippo packs a lot of important self-publishing information. This little book is one of those gems that deliver a kick-butt reality check as to WHY every newbie, and oldie, author needs to step to the publishing plate and create non-cheesy, well-designed, and well-written books. DeFilippo is an insider. She receives a lot of nonprofessionally designed material in her studio; when the books exit, a total makeover has been accomplished. As the CEO of 1106 Design in Phoenix, Arizona, she knows books. Her goal is to keep her clients out of the publishing trash heap visually by designing professional covers and interior layouts. Issues addressed include common misspellings, grammar hiccups, and overdone clichés that newbie authors too often use. The organizational mess of many of the books is also eliminated. When it comes to designing the book itself, she offers her six-step process to create a quality book: Step 1: Cover Design Step 2: Manuscript Editing Step 3: Interior Layout Step 4: Proofreading Step 5: Corrections and Final Review Step 6: Digital File Prep Publish Like the Pros also includes information about distribution, pricing, and marketing. This section is more of a quick glimpse, but it’s a glimpse you need to be tuned into. As she reminds the reader, “You pay now, or pay later …” Author U has seen too many books that should have avoided the RTP—Rush to Publish—Syndrome. Slow down, get it right, and get it done well. Then, you, too, can publish like the pros.
If you don’t know how it works, find out. If you’re not sure if it will work, try it. If it doesn’t make sense, play with it until it does. If it’s not broken, break it. If it might not be true, find out. ~Seth Godin
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Change is a Verb By Richard Oppenheim What is today like for you? Have you tried to write, lost an assignment, looked for a publisher? Are you suffering from not getting pages done, fatigued from celebration, or enduring some combination of many things? Change is word that can stand for many things: • • • • •
Putting on different clothes Writing in a different genre Deciding that you like something new Changing software or hardware What you get when you pay cash with paper money and the amount includes cents
However you want to use the word “change,” some action is required. You cannot change writing style or change your opinion without making a conscious effort. Do you help others when they want to change something? Do you ask others to help you with change? We all need to get accustomed to the concepts and issues surrounding change. Too often, we are afraid of what is on the other side of any change. We fear what we do not know. On the other hand, change is coming for all of us, and we need to accept it. We should also be willing to embrace it. Even better is to pursue change when we know it has to be accomplished. Life for almost everyone on the planet is not about a two-week, four-week, or one-year job. We have lives that require real participation with real people, real events, and very real issues. Even when writing is part-time, it requires commitment and participation in change. That means doing something now and continuing the action tomorrow. Way too many writers spend months and years trying to finish a book, believing that inspiration and lots of readers will appear whenever requested. Examples include • • •
Beginning authors who lose the passion. One-book writers who refuse any further commitment. Writers who believe they are the only ones with the right answer.
Professional wrestling is entertainment and not a contest. When we support or encourage people who believe that their writing does not require addressing change, both they and we should be kicked to the curb. We all need to refresh ideas, consider collaboration, and have the willingness to change–even when the ideas change content. Writing of every kind requires the ability to reject change when it does not make sense to us AND to adopt change when it creates something better. Comments and conversation encouraged. Richard Oppenheim Richard@transitionprofessor.com www.transitionprofessor.com 303.601.4800
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Saturday, September 21st
10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. with Bonus Mastermind Session from 2 - 4
The Promotional Panorama for Authors Are you ready to promote your new book? Perhaps you don’t know what questions to ask or what promotional options are available to you. Author U and expert Literary Publicist Stephanie Barko have answers for you. When it comes to promotion and publicity for authors and books, it’s easy to get lost and confused. Three questions usually pop up with authors around promotion and publicity. 1 What works and what doesn’t work for today’s author? 2 What works best for you and your book? 3 What will it cost? This workshop surveys book promotion from the 50-foot level, exposing the author to a wide panorama of promotional elements. You will learn the how and why of these elements in book promotion. • • • • •
Blogging Social Networking Media Kits Interviews Trailers
• • • • •
Press Releases Features Live Events Virtual Tours Timelines
Writers will get a feel for what they might want to do themselves and what might best be delegated by listening to examples from real campaigns and comparing cost to benefit. Visit with Stephanie at Participants will walk away with a general understanding of http://www.StephanieBarko.com. modern book promotion and a broad sense of direction for their specific project. Cost: $35 for members $55 for nonmembers BONUS Session: Stephanie is flying in from Austin, Texas, to Time: 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. present this amazing workshop and will facilitate a deep-dive Location: Doubletree SE, Aurora MasterMind for a limited number of attendees after brunch. Register: http://bit.ly/13K5SS8 Think of it as personalized laser coaching. Limited to 15. Bonus Session-Author U members Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist, was voted Preditors & Editors only: #1 Best Book Promotion Services in 2011. Her award-winning Cost: $30 clients include traditional publishers and their authors, small Time: 2 – 4:30 pm presses, and independently published writers. Location: Doubletree SE, Aurora
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New Members Janice Hoffman was personally trained by Dr. John Gray, best-selling author of the Mars Venus books in 1996. She facilitated Mars Venus Workshops and trained over 500 Mars Venus Facilitators worldwide. Writing, training, and speaking on relationships and gender intelligence became and continues to be Janice’s passion. She took all she learned and wrote awardwinning, Relationship Rules, 12 Strategies For Creating A Love That Lasts, endorsed by Dr. John Gray, Neale Donald Walsh, Dr. Jerry Jampolsky, and Dannion Brinkley. For the past 17 years, high school teens have benefited from Janice’s Get Smart Dating. Created just for high school students, Get Smart Dating, has been featured on TV, radio, and in the news media. Teens can’t get enough when it comes to learning about the opposite sex. Her website is www.RelationshipRules.com.
Tony Oliver is a procrastinator extraordinaire. He claims he’s a poorly educated, well-traveled bumpkin, achieving the titles of master craftsman, world-class artist, inventor, and shameless liar. Days are spent loving life, cherishing family, and relishing the creative process. His writing reveals the strange and wonderful perspectives that only come through a lifetime of reflection over questionable choices, shaky judgment, and years of working with toxic vapors in poorly ventilated spaces. A child of the sixties, he came of age in the seventies and married his teenage sweetheart. After 30+ years of marriage, she has finally quit fighting the restraints. They have two surprisingly normal children and two fabulous grandchildren. He writes about the amazing journey of life and his fascination with the notion of growing up someday.
Frank M. Victoria was born and raised in Chicago and now lives with his wife in Oak Lawn, a suburb of that city. He served in the Marine Corps, graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BA in Journalism, and was a professional magazine writer and editor for more than twenty years. In 1990, he made a career change into education and spent sixteen years teaching American history and government in the Chicago Public Schools. He retired in 2007. This is his first novel, but he’s currently working on two more, two screenplays, and a non-fiction book about what ails American education.
Caity Henderson is a voracious reader and prolific writer. In her free time, she dances, acts, sings, runs, and manages a charitable organization called Kids for Kenya. She is currently working on the third draft of her first novel, The Calculus of Havoc, an epic journey taking place in America after the devastating effects of climate change. She is fourteen years old and will be a freshman in high school next year.
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Member News Member News is provide by Author U members. If you have news to share about your writing, your book and events you are involved in, share it with the Author U community.
Merrie Wycoff’s debut fiction book, Shadow of the Sun, was a Finalist with Foreword magazine’s annual book awards in two categories–Adult Fantasy Fiction and Multicultural. Foreword is a huge kudo for any author, well respected, and focuses only on the independent publishing market.
Courtney Miller has his debut novel, The First Raven Mocker, in layout with Ronnie Moore of WESType Publishing. Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics created the cover, and Judith Briles was The Book Shepherd.
Sid Grosevnor has just received his first copies of How to Have a Caviar Lifestyle on a Tuna Fish Pension from the Printers at Thomson Shore. Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics did the cover and interior, Judith Briles was the Book Shepherd, and Dave Raymond at Thomson Shore handled the printing.
Barb Goldberg will receive her copies of The Evil Stepmother in July. Interior was created by Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics, Judith Briles was The Book Shepherd, and Phil Knight at Color House Graphics rounded the team with the printing.
Larry Kesslin and Chris Winter sent their business book, BreakPoints, to Dave Raymond at Thomson Shore. Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics created the cover and interior, John Maling did the editing, and Judith Briles was the Book Shepherd.
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Member News Lynn Hellerstein will formally launch 50 Tips to Improve Your Sports Performance with a massive Internet launch this summer. 50 Tips is a spin-off of her award-winning See It. Say It. Do It! that is in its third printing.
Chuck Fisher is at print for his first book, Beyond Infinity, with Phil Knight and Color House Graphics. Nick Zelinger created the cover and interior, John Maling did the editing, and Judith Briles was the Book Shepherd. Beyond Infinity is a mathematical thriller/fantasy for the YA reader.
Gail Mencini is just completing layout via Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics for To Tuscany with Love, her debut novel in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fiction. Charlie Tlapa with Total Printing Systems is printing the ARCs to begin the publicity campaign.
John Czingula, along with Judi and Bill Monsour, has sent For the Love of Paprika to print via Mike Daniels and the Four Colour Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;over 300 awesome recipes await the reader/user. Nick Zelinger created the cover, Rebecca Finkle of F + P Design the interior, and Judith Briles was the Book Shepherd.
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Tips Are you traveling this summer? Get inside hotel tips from the author of Heads in the Bed. Hot tip... don’t use the glasses in your room (and you thought it was lemon)! Jacob Tomsky worked on the front lines of hotels for more than a decade. He’s listed 10 hospitality secrets in: “10 Hotel Secrets from Behind the Front Desk.” http://ow.ly/lqKEz
Discover a quick resource to Search over 550 popular social networks, over 150 domain names, and the entire USPTO Trademark Database to instantly secure your brand on the Internet. You’ll find that it’s a good place to turn to often. www.Knowem.com
A portal that will allow you to publish to the largest online library for the world to see. You can sell or give away content. Scribd claims to get you more readers and distribution than any other site. You’ve got your words … this is an excellent channel to spread them. www.Scribd.com
You too can create a slick looking “magazine” that is available to all. Author U uploads each issue of The Author Resource to create its page-turning magazine format … along with lots of other mainstream and not-so-mainstream publications. It’s easy to create an account and start uploading. Issuu has mega-thousands of visitors daily. www.issuu.com Whatever you are writing with your blogs, submit as an article with a good signature line for you. Submit. EzineArticles wants high-quality and original for first shot. There’s plenty of exposure, and traffic can be created back to your site. www.EzineArticles.com
A nice alternative to Google Alerts … Create a free account quickly, add your key search words, and in seconds, it scans the cyberworld for news, articles, info that is very, very current. Once you discover this gem, you’ll use it often for fresh ideas for articles, blogs, Twitter, Google+ … you know what’s going on in your topic. www.ScoopIt.com
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Tips An amazing tip came from member John Zeck, Director of the Tattered Cover Press, during a recent Your Guide to Book Publishing radio show that focused on the Espresso Book Machine. There are less than 90 EBMs in the world—the majority are in the U.S. Do you know that you can upload your book to the EBM network via OnDemandBooks.com and get a copy in any of the global locations? Think about it … you need a book in a producer’s hands in NY TODAY … you can have one printed in NY and delivered within hours. The website IDs the location of all these nifty machines—very cool. www.OnDemandBooks.com
Tips on using Google+ Hangouts On Air to reach 1000s of (potentially new) buyers of your books and increase your web influence for FREE. Author U's board member Daniel Hall has put together a video—Insider tips: How to Use Google+ Hangouts on Air. Avoid the hassles and hiccups—FREE for a very short time. Less than 30 minutes. http://ow.ly/mii8N
Looking for endorsements and interviews with celebrities? Here’s the book you need for up-to-date contact info. This link is to Amazon’s site—issued annually, it retails for $100 plus… suggest you get used version of previous year and save at least two-thirds. http://ow.ly/mij5J
The Next, Next Thing In Publishing The Book Shepherding concept is simple: The publishing world is changing … and so must you. You need an experienced Shepherd and Guide to partner with you as you create, strategize, develop, publish and achieve your publishing goals. You can’t do it alone without paying the price … you can spend your money creating a book that turns out to be so-so; or you can create a book that looks and feels classy, builds your brand and is a financial success. A best-seller. It’s your choice, you choose.
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2013 Extravaganza on Video & Audio
ON-LINE ORDER PROCESS Order CDs or DVDs from the 2013 Extravaganza. Purchasing is made easy through the online shopping cart. You may also call your order in to National Conference Recording Service at 303-807-1404. Please allow two weeks for processing and delivery. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are welcome, as well as Personal Checks. Click here for the Friday and Saturday sessions: 2013 Conference http://bit.ly/137Kmmd
Your satisfaction is important to us. If you have any questions or concerns or have any problems navigating through this site, please call us at 303-807-1404 or e-mail us info@ncrsusa.com.
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Author U Extravaganza Pre-Sign Up Special May 1–3, 2014 3 jam-packed days starting at NOON on May 1st. You will be working with amazing book marketing strategists, publicists, Internet gurus … all done in an intense workshop environment … The Deep Dive Dinner workshop will feature Penny Sansevieri, known as the BookGal, a top Internet Book Marketing Strategist, popular book columnist with the Huffington Post, and author of Red Hot Internet Publicity. Mark Coker, President of Smashwords, will be the opening keynote on Friday. Eagles (advanced) and Eaglet (newbies) workshops will begin Thursday noon and end just before Penny’s session, Deep Dive Dinner Workshop. On Saturday, the social media and marketing visionary Joel Comm will keynote the morning. Block the dates on your calendar for 3 days that will unravel the secrets to the Author Matrix. Author U feeds the “belly” and the “brain.” Most meals included. The Full Agenda with times will be posted this fall on the website. BONUS: You may register family members or co-workers at a discounted fee** if they are not already Author U members. $100 reserves each spot. It is non-refundable and is due NOW. You may register additional friends, colleagues, or family members for a reduced fee if they are not already Author U members at a $100 deposit per person. Most meals are included. You will be invoiced, and then your credit card charged for the balance, split in two payments in November and February. Count me in for the Author U Extravaganza 2014! If you want to print out and mail in: I’m registering for the Extravaganza plus the Deep-Dive session w/ Penny Sansevieri on May 1-3 __________ @ $375 (AU Member) * or ________@ $485 (Non-Member)* __________ @ $225 (AU Member) ** or ________@ $275 (Non-Member)** (discounted) *first registration **each additional family ***Author U membership is $89 per year I’m also registering for the Pre-Extravaganza Eaglet and Eagle Workshop on May 1st from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ____ @ $55 (AU Member) ____@ $75 (Non-Member) Eaglet and/or Eagle (Circle choice) Total Extravaganza 2014 Registrations: _____ Please add me as a new member for $89 _____ Name(s)__________________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________Zip _______________________ eMail ___________________________________________________________________________________ Cell Phone _____________________________________Day Phone _______________________________ Credit Card # _______________________________________________ Exp ____________ CVV _________ How to Register for Extravaganza 2014 – online http://ow.ly/kWLjJ; phone (303-885-2207); fax (303-627-9184); or mail (Author U c/o Judith Briles ~ 14160 E Bellewood Dr. ~ Aurora CO 80015 As Dr Lynn Hellerstein says: See It. Say It. Do It! … and put it on your calendar now.
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Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a good idea to review some of Author Uâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original fabric. If you are a member, please take a few minutes and read over part of our core guidelines about how the business and behavior of the authoring/publishing community should treat others.
Code of Ethics The Board of Directors of Author U(niversity) states that establishing and maintaining public confidence in the integrity of authoring and publishing by and through the organization are fundamental to the success and viability of the organization and its membership. In furtherance of its mission to create and sustain the highest levels of public and private integrity of Author U(niversity), the Board of Directors adopts this Code of Ethics. Accepting this Code of Ethics shall be a condition of membership, and fulfilling the terms and conditions and spirit of this Code of Ethics shall be a condition for maintaining membership in Author U(niversity). Actions deemed contrary to any article of this Code by any Author U(niversity) member shall be judged by the Board of Directors in accordance with the policies and procedures stated in the Bylaws of Author U(niversity). Any action deemed a violation of this Code of Ethics may result in disciplinary action, including terminating membership. Such disciplinary action shall be instituted by the Board of Directors. The findings and decisions of the Board of Directors shall be final and binding upon such member or members. No member shall have recourse against Author U(niversity), its directors, officers, members, or employees. The results of any disciplinary action will be formally announced to Author U(niversity) members in The Resource, Author U(niversity)â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e-Magazine. The Board of Directors has the right to decline membership in Author U(niversity) to any applicant if it has knowledge, direct or indirect, of behavior, including speech, of such applicant which would constitute a violation of any provision of the Code of Ethics. By applying for membership to Author U(niversity) and by signing this Code of Ethics, applicant agrees to the following: Article 1: Author U(niversity) members shall treat other members with courtesy, dignity, and respect. Members will respect the personal and business confidentiality of other members. Article 2: Author U(niversity) members shall conduct their business on the highest professional level and not bring discredit to Author U(niversity), its members, or to the publishing profession. Article 3: Author U(niversity) members shall avoid using materials, titles, or thematic creations originated by others, either orally, graphically, or otherwise, unless the use has been approved by the originator. Article 4: Author U(niversity) members shall protect the public and other members against fraud and unfair practices, and shall use his/her best efforts to eliminate any practice that may bring discredit to the publishing profession, to Author U(niversity), or to its members. Article 5: Author U(niversity) members will not engage in any action or practice or agreement that will or will likely unfairly limit or restrain access to the marketplace by any other Author U(niversity) member based upon economic factors, race, creed, color, sex, age, disability, or country of national origin. Article 6: Author U(niversity) members will not engage in any action or practice that takes advantage of or exploits the comparative lack of knowledge or lack of expertise or the financial status of any Author U(niversity) member or member of the public.
Your joining Author U(niversity) and acceptance of membership signifies that you agree to the above.
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Author U is Us … Have you explored www.AuthorU.org? Author U is for the serious author and independent publisher. Its programs and BootCamps are all designed to create, promote, and turn you and your book(s) into the success you want.
For only $89 … here’s why you should be a member: •
The Resource Newsletter, published online 9 times a year
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All programs designed for the committed and serious author
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Reduced attendance costs for monthly programs, BookCamps and Extravaganza in May
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Attendance at Member-only events: Holiday, Annual BBQ, Tech Toolboxes, and Salons
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Book Printing discounts and perks: Sheridan Books, Four Colour Print Group, Thomson-Shore, Color House Graphics, King Printing, MiniBuk
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Legal assistance for authors and publishers: Replin, Rhodes, LLC; Legal Shield
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Interior Designs for books discounts: WESType Publishing, NZ Graphics, F+P Design
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eBooks, Audio book discounts: NZ Graphics, Book Baby, Author Fulfillment Services
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National Book Distribution discounts: Pathway Book Service, New Shelves
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Graphics and Book Cover design discounts: NZ Graphics, F+P Design
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Editing services discounts: Editing by John Maling, Patti Thorn
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Web site design and implementation discounts: IllustratingYou, NGNG
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Virtual office assistance discounts: Cornerstone Virtual Assistant, 123Employee
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Book and Publishing coaching discounts: The Book Shepherd, Get Published Coach, Robin Colluci
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Discounts for professional book reviews: BlueInk Reviews
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Book Publicity: Stephanie Barko, New Shelves
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Book Fulfillment and Distribution: Author Fulfillment Services, Pathway Book Service, New Shelves
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Webinar and Teleseminars
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Credit Card Services: The Free Terminal, Total Merchant Services
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The list continues to grow!
New Benefits are going to be announced in September! Plus, at renewal, you will receive a Bonus via a PDF of Judith’s entire Resource section (37 pages of contacts, websites, and detailed book and publishing info) from her book, co-written with John Kremer and Rick Frishman, Show Me About Book Publishing. All of us at Author U look forward to the expansion of our community. Tell your friends … $89 is a very small amount to invest for your success.
Join or Renew now at www.AuthorU.org È
Author U is a proud Member of
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