The Author Resource Vol. 5 Issue 3
March 2014
What’s Inside … Nail Your Brand 3 Writing Gaffes Fiction Timelines Authors Never Retire 7 Tips for Author Blogs What You Should Expect to Pay Growing Your YouTube Following It’s All in The Nuggets for Newbies How a Manuscript Becomes a Book Math Lessons for Today’s Book Industry
DON’T MISS THE “BRUNCH & LEARN” SAT. MAR. 15 101 Awesome Author, Book & Publishing Ideas in 140 Minutes! DETAILS INSIDE
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Mark Your 2014 Calendars ... Save the Dates! Visit our online Calendar on Author U - go to: http://tinyurl.com/AUdates March 1 3
Author YOU Circles from 9 to noon #15 Author Mentoring Monday Call 10 a.m. Mountain, noon Eastern: 605-475-5920; access code … 3252604 #
Brunch & Learn - Author U 101 Hot Tips Panel 10 a.m. Tech Toolbox - Audio Boo Monday Evening Salon … Creating Your Marketing Platform with Key Messages Every Thursday and Friday Author U Your Guide to Book Publishing radio
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April 1 7
Author YOU Circles from 9 to noon Author Mentoring Monday Call 10 a.m. Mountain, noon Eastern: 605-475-5920; access code … 3252604 #
15 Tech Toolbox - Demos of Cool Tools-Which Are for You? 21 Monday Evening Salon … Every Thursday and Friday Author U Your Guide to Book Publishing radio
May 1-3
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Extravaganza, Hyatt Hotel-Denver Tech Center – Colorado … Free Parking and Wi-Fi in all guest hotel rooms. Book your room now at the rate of $119 (regular rate is $169) Author Mentoring Monday Call 10 a.m. Mountain, noon Eastern: 605-475-5920; access code … 3252604 #
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Author YOU Circles from 9 to noon Dinner & a Program - Post the Extravaganza … a Hands on Recap of the Highlights Every Thursday and Friday Author U Your Guide to Book Publishing radio
“Author U is the premier authoring resource in the country, creating community, education, guidance, vision, and success for the serious author.”
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Mark Your 2014 Calendars ... Save the Dates! Visit our online Calendar on Author U - go to: http://tinyurl.com/AUdates June 2
Author Mentoring Monday Call 10 a.m. Mountain, noon Eastern: 605-475-5920; access code ‌ 3252604 #
14 Author YOU Circles from 9 to noon 19 Dinner & a Program Every Thursday and Friday Author U Your Guide to Book Publishing radio
July 26 Member BBQ, 4 p.m. August 1-2 Judith Briles Unplugged December 6 Holiday Party, 6:30 p.m.
taking you
FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY
CREATE | PRINT | MARKET
CHG
Color House Graphics | 800.454.1916 | www.colorhousegraphics.com
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Brunch & Learn 101 Awesome Ideas
It’s All in the Nuggets for Newbies
New Members
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Tech Toolbox Audioboo
How a Manuscript Becomes a Book
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Monday Evening Salon
What You Should Expect to Pay
Creating Killer Marketing
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Growing Your YouTube Following
Author YOU and You Creating Killer Marketing
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Math Lessons for Today’s Book Industry
Extravaganza Pull-Out
Speakers, Topics, Agenda
31 Is Your Blog a Ferrari…or a Tricycle? - 7 Tips for Author Blogs
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45 TIPS
48 Member Perks
49 Code of Ethics
Fiction Timelines
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Contact Author U
Authors Never Retire
38 Nail Your Brand
39 3 Writing Gaffes
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Savvy Authors Who Want Their Books to Soar Think ...
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.
Visit us online at http://AuthorU.org
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
FOUNDER: Judith Briles
Contact Author U Phone: Judith Briles’ CEO, Skype: Twitter: Facebook: Google+ : LinkedIn: Pinterest: Office address:
(303) 885-2207 Judith.Briles @AuthorU http://Facebook.com/AuthorU Join the Community, Author U Join the Author U group http://pinterest.com/authoru Author U (niversity) PO Box 460880, Aurora, CO 80046
ADVISORY BOARD: Dan Poynter / Greg Godek Rick Frishman / Brian Jud John Kremer / Penny Sansevieri / Marcella Smith / Susan RoAne Peggy McColl BOARD: Amy Collins / Bruce Hellerstein John Maling / AJ White Mara Purl / Steve Replin Georgia McCabe / Daniel Hall Tom Campbell
NEWSLETTER: Nick Zelinger, Cover www.NZGraphics.com Linda Lane, Editor www.denvereditor.com Shannon Parish, Layout, www.CreativeVirtualOffice.com
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It’s All in the Nuggets for Newbies Judith Briles, Author U Founder
Extravaganza fury is in the air. Do you go? Do you stay home? Do you keep doing what you have been doing this past year? These questions always surface from anyone who is on the fence as the Extravaganza approaches: •
What and why do I need more authoring, publishing, and how-to information? — I mean, I’m on overload and overwhelm now.
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Why would I want to spend money and time for three days? — I mean, I’m a busy person…am I really going to use all that I hear and follow up with people I meet?
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Why should I come? — I didn’t implement much from the last time.
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Is there anything really new to hear?
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Why does it cost so much?
Let’s start with these and then I’ll add mine… What and why do I need more authoring, publishing, and how-to information—I mean, I’m on overload and overwhelm now? You don’t—unless you are at the top of the author and publishing game; book buyers are hounding you for more copies; you are considered a top influencer; you can do social media blindfolded; you have more than enough cash flow coming in every month; or you are the go-to person in monetizing, repurposing, and expertise in your field. Otherwise, the answer is simply this: it’s changing almost daily. New ideas come along — ideas you might have heard, that whooshed by you, and all of a sudden they create the “aha” that sticks — ideas and concepts you weren’t ready to absorb or implement. Why would I want to spend money and time for three days—I mean, I’m a busy person…am I really going to use all that I hear and follow up with people I meet? Nope, you won’t use all the ideas you hear about. Or work with the many people that you meet. But now, they have dropped into your awareness zone—a very important place to be. Authoring and running a business can sometimes be a lonely place — just being around others who are on the same path can do wonders for an energy boost. Some are just starting out, others of us are old-timers. There isn’t one conference, one meeting that I attend, that I don’t come away with ideas that are workable and I can use. I’m always on the prowl for the nuggets. Why should I come? I didn’t implement much from the last time? The bad news: you didn’t implement. The good news: much has come along, especially in the social media worlds, that has added new dimensions or flat-out changed. For that reason alone, you need to stay up-to-date and make a new commitment: I’m going to take away at least two items from every session I sit in on. Continued on page 6 ...
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The Extravaganza ... Continued from page 5 ....
Is there anything, really, new to hear? Does it get cold in North Dakota, Alaska, or Canada in January? C’mon, let’s be real. If you didn’t implement something last year and all of a sudden you get how the concept or product will work for you and your book, it’s new. If you get the new strategies for e-books, it’s new. If you come away with the understanding that blogging is truly critical to your positioning as the expert, it’s new. If you come away with the insider’s tips on how every bookstore makes a decision on bringing a book in, it’s new. If you come away with how to create and successfully end a crowdfunding campaign by the company that does them, it’s new. If you come away with the how-tos to immediately elevate your 30-second pitch, it’s new. If you come away with a few ways to turn a limping book into a marathon runner, it’s new. Why does it cost so much? Let’s break down costs by starting with a few questions back at you—do you really know what it costs to create the Extravaganza, or any event? Do you think that a site is free? Do you think that AV expenses are complimentary? Is having help with website a freebie? Do you think that hotel food and services and taxes are run by the Dollar Store? Do you think there is no cost in getting experts to be available to you? Have you thought about what you would personally have to pay for their time if they weren’t onsite and the meter was running? Do you think the support staff that run the registration and the event do it for free? What do you think? The truth is, the cost of the Extravaganza is a bargain when the numbers are broken down. Food alone runs $250 a person. Space and AV is thousands a day. Bags, badges, notebooks don’t just appear from a replicator a la Star Trek. The Extravaganza is one of the very few publishing events that feeds your brain and your belly— most conferences are either positioned in a downtown area (hello $20+ a day parking) or in a hotel that attendees are on their own to scramble up food. All hotel guests get free parking and wi-fi in their rooms at $119 per night. What do other conferences cost? Copyblogger has its annual conference that exceeds $1,200 per registrant for two days in Denver this year (you do get free wi-fi in your guest room and pay a $189 hotel room rate); Author University 101 in Los Angeles is $397 plus $109 for hotel—no food, there is water—you can add $297 for a VIP upgrade which adds two free drinks and preferred seating. Author U is at $445 for members plus you can bring a non-Author U guest for $275. If you had registered just a few months ago, the cost would have been $375—it’s the early bird thing. The marketing for authors and books keep changing. New gizmos and gadgets are in play. Amazon is reworking authoring strategies. Audio development is becoming a must have. High quality of videos and trailers are easily obtainable and affordable.
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Today’s publishing is truly a new frontier. Filled with eye-candy to delight, complicated and sometimes time-sucking strategies and wormholes that open new dimensions. What you believe was the way, the only way, to become successful in publishing, think again. What you believe about marketing and social media, think again. Whatever you think you know, think again. If there ever was a time to schmooze and learn with other authors who desire success and are committed to achieving it, the Extravaganza is where you should be. Some of the single best “ahas” will come between sessions—from the 35 exhibitors already committed, from attendees you meet for the first time. Granted, I attend the Extravaganza because, well, I have to. If I didn’t head up Author U, would I? Absolutely—you see, I’m on a publishing marathon, not a sprint. As much as I know about publishing, I know that what was viable ten years ago isn’t today; what was viable and hot three years ago, is now passé; what was the shiny light last year already has a new twist. And it’s an investment. In me. In my books. In my publishing business. If you want to be seriously successful, I’ll see you at the Extravaganza. It’s your choice…you choose.
Judith
101 Awesome Author, Book & Publishing Ideas in 140 Minutes March 15, 2014 It’s a PANEL of Author U’s Best and the Brightest in Members and Service Providers who have a jammed-packed session for you. Get ready for a swirl of ideas, concepts, how-tos coming your way. Think of this session as the warm-up to the EXTRAVAGANZA coming in May. Have you registered yet? Join Nick Zelinger, Rebecca Finkel, Steve Replin, Casey Demchak, Kelly Johnson, Amber Ludwig, and Judith Briles for enough ideas to fill a book. Bring your laptops all juiced up ... there will be plenty of time for give and take. Location: Cost: Register:
Doubletree Southeast, Aurora $30 for paid up members, $45 for non-members Prices will increase $10 on March 11th. http://authoru.org/calendar.html
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All Tech Tool Boxes are for Author U paid-up members only and limited to 8 participants to allow for in-depth work with each. They are led by Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles.
Audioboo March 18th Audioboo is a tool to record, upload and share audio. A boo consists of any clip of audio, a picture, a location, a title, and a description. The free account has a 3 minute limit, but you can upgrade for more. Your audios can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms; you can embed playlists on your sites and use the mobile apps and widgets as “listen again” players. You can also submit your audios to iTunes as a podcast. Join us for this Tech ToolBox workshop and start recording today! April 15: Demos of Cool Tools…Which Are for You? This workshop will take you through demos of programs that will teach you simple-to-use business tools, such as ShortKeys, Wufoo, and others—you’ll be clicking away and using new tech tools in no time! Believe us … new tools are added; old tools morph often. The ones that were your old standbys may have undergone a total makeover as well. Time: 3 to 6 p.m. Cost: $60 each or 2 for $100 Register Online: http://authoru.org/calendar.html Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora (you will get directions the day before and what to bring for each session)
The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools. - Confucius
Cartoon by www.ShannonParish.com
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(for Members Only) Designed to be a very hands-on experience, each Monday Evening Salon is a two to three hour mini-workshop that is delivered in the intimacy of the home or the presenter’s place of choice.
Key Message Copy Platforms: The Secret Weapon to Creating Killer Marketing Materials for Your Book March 25th Selling books is all about spreading the word. And to spread the word, you need a series of dynamic digital and traditional marketing materials that have a persistent and consistent voice and message (repetition builds reputation!). But you don’t want to knock out your marketing materials on a “one-at-a-time-make-it-up-as-you-go basis.” This leads to muddled, hurried, and inconsistent messaging. Instead, you want to work from a well-crafted Key Message Copy Platform that serves as the central, master messaging document for all your campaign materials. In this month’s salon, expert copywriter and consultant Casey Demchak will teach you why creating a Key Message Copy Platform for your book is a must, and he’ll tell you exactly how to put one together. You’ll learn how to • • • •
Structure and build a series of attention-getting key messages for your book Build emotional selling messages that hook your target audience Create “benefit-driven” and “thought-provoking” headlines about your book And much more!
Bring your laptops, plenty of questions, and be ready to participate in this highly interactive and informative session. Dinner is included. Open to Author U paid-up members only. When: Monday, March 24th Time: 6 to 9 p.m. Cost: $27 Where: Judith Briles’ offices, Aurora Register*: http://authoru.org/calendar.html
* Registration is limited on all Salons. You must preregister. Includes a light supper; program will start at 6.00 p.m.
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... and You If you are looking for a small group of enthusiastic authors … some in the beginning stages and some “old hats” … Author YOU may be the perfect fit. Author YOU is all about education, just like the many AuthorU.org functions; but this one is a bit different. Totally informal and casual, it’s designed as educational for mentoring in the field of writing, authoring, and publishing books. Designed as an old-fashioned “Circle” or “Salon,” Author YOU is held once each month for authors with inquiring minds—be it about publishing, writing, social media, marketing books, the latest gadgets and tools to use, you name it—that Judith Briles hosts in her open living room and kitchen area. It’s always held on a Saturday morning from 9 to noon—the coffee and tea are hot when you arrive— and it’s been around since the Fall of 2012. Take advantage of it—the cost is FREE ... what you need to bring is a healthy snack to share and yourself, along with enthusiasm, questions, and the willingness to learn and share info if you can provide it when a topic is in the Circle. Created in a loose-structure format, it has no set agenda ... the topics are created via posts on a flip chart as people arrive: what you want or need help in. It’s simple, it’s fun, it’s highly informative, and it’s FREE. As Author YOU member Gene Morton says, “It’s like a personalized MasterMind group—I always walk away with information that I can immediately use.” To find out more information and the next Author YOU date, check out the regular postings at www.Meetup.com/AuthorYOU
Did you know that Author U posts TWO Blogs a week?! Every Sunday and Thursday you will find something new. On Sunday, you get a general information/how-to/what to do. On Thursday, you get the Top Ten Twitter Tweets. (Did you know that Author U posts over 200 Tweets a week?) Subscribe TODAY and get your FREE info-pak of the Top 5 Things You Need to Know to Publish on the AuthorU.org website.
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Join Us for Author U’s Extravaganza May 1-3, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency, Denver Tech Center
Special pull-out Section
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Here’s What’s Happening at the Extravaganza
Thursday Pre-Eagle & Eaglet sessions Strategic Visioning Plans that EVERY Author Needs to Begin the Publishing Journey - Judith Briles & Georgia McCabe
Eagle Essentials (Advanced) • • • •
Stage Right, it’s the Virtual Assistant … Add Time to Your Day for Doing the Work You Love and Deal with the Overwhelm Factor - Kelly Johnson Fast & Free Easy Ways to Research Journalists & Bloggers BEFORE You Pitch You and Your Book - Joan Stewart Available Wherever Books Are Sold?! - Amy Collins Beyond the Book – Taking Your Publishing Success to the Next Level - Bret Ridgway
Eaglets (Newbies) • This Little Book Went to Market – How to Get Your Book into the Book Trade - Randy Kuckuck • The Wide World of Legalese: Stay Out of the Frying Pan and the Fire! - Steve Replin • Nuggets for Newbies: 10 Time & Money-Saving Tips for Authors Just Starting Out - Nick Zelinger • How to Turn Your Blog into Bucks! - Tammy Bleck • Does Your Cover Need a Make Over Before It’s Even Printed? - Kathi Dunn
Deep Dive Dinner Workshop: How to Sell More Books … Now! - Penny Sansevieri
Friday • • • • • • •
10 Trends Driving the Future of Publishing - Mark Coker Make Your Website Do the Work: The 6 Site MUST-Haves to Sell More Books, Improve Your Credibility, and Grow Your Following - Amber Ludwig The Secret to Marketing on the Internet in Less Than an Hour a Day - John Kremer Your 30-Second Elevator Pitch - Mary Jo Fay Audiobook Cashflow Fast & Easy: Step By Step Blueprint - Daniel Hall Selling Your Books at Amazon and Other Online Retailers. Today’s Facts, Not Yesterday’s Myths - Amy Collins Rounds with the Pros -3 table rounds with the Pros
AFTER DINNER: Change Your Author Game - Tim Guard, a very funny man!
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Saturday • • • • • • •
Are You Fiddling with Social Media while Rome Burns? -Georgia McCabe Virtual Book Blog Tours -Stephanie Barko Targeting Potential Customers … Send announcements on your book only to people who care -Dan Poynter Quick and Dirty Blog Posts When You Don’t Have Time to Write -Joan Stewart Ka-ching! – Joel Comm YouTube from Soup to Nuts … Getting Started with YouTube Marketing -Susan Gilbert What’s in Your Brand Wallet?-Creating Your Author One-Sheet -Patrice Rhoades-Baum
CLOSING TALK: Create a $1,000,000 Speech from Your Book Starting Now! -Judith Briles
Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing with Judith Briles ... Everything You Want to Know But Didn’t Know What to Ask launched live last year and now has over 18,000 downloads each month. Every Thursday, Judith hosts an hour radio show with guests and features. Live with call-ins. For the beginner and intermediate author—all episodes will be available for downloads and podcasting. Listen live or click on the podcast from the website. Recent programs focused on how to maximize social media, how to create book publicity, how to market globally, beyond Amazon, how to market fiction, and so much more. If you want to write and publish a book ... if you want to be successful as an author, Your Guide to Book Publishing ... Everything You Want to Know But Didn’t Know What to Ask is for you. You will hear about statistics, scenarios, and strategies on what to do now! As The Book Shepherd, Dr. Judith Briles is in, and each week she will include publishing professionals who will reveal tips and secrets to the author’s journey. If there is a book in you, you want to listen, learn ... and, yes, call-in with your questions each week. http://togi.us/authoru
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Join Us for Author U's Extravaganza! 3 jammed-packed days, you will be working with amazing book marketing strategists, publicists, Internet gurus … all done in an intense workshop environment … Deep Dive Workshop starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 1st with Penny Sansevieri and reveals: How to Sell More Books … Now! Penny is one of the top Internet Book Marketing Strategists, book columnist with the Huffington Post, and author of Red Hot Internet Publicity. Mark Coker, President of Smashwords, John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books and a dozen-plus other publishing and book pros will share their expertise Friday and Saturday. Eagles (advanced) and Eaglet (newbies) workshops will be Thursday noon and end with the Trade Show with Exhibitors opening, Dinner, then Penny’s Deep Dive Session. Friday starts at 8 a.m. Georgia McCabe and Judith Briles will jointly kick off a pre Eagle/Eaglet session on Strategic Visionary Publishing Strategy ... for the Not Stupid ... Just Ignorant to What’s Really Needed to be a Successful Author and Publisher. This is a must-be-at session—FREE to anyone who has signed up for either Eagle or Eaglet session. Bonus: You may register additional friends, colleagues, or family members who are not already Author U members for a reduced fee. Most meals are included. Deep Dive Session is an add-on. All attendees will get a sneak pre-view of the Exhibitors and participate in free drawings throughout the dinner. •
Mark Coker kicks off all general sessions Friday a.m. The CEO of Smashwords (all attendees at the Extravaganza 2013 were given a flash drive with three of his books for e-book marketing on it) reveals the latest and greatest in eBook land.
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Penny Sansevieri will do the Deep Dive Dinner Workshop on How to Sell More Books … Now! You get Penny’s 2014 strategies (trust us, they change constantly).
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Tim Gard will headline our after dinner humor event on Friday night—get ready for a fun evening.
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John Kremer will unscramble the layers of book marketing on Friday.
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Stephanie Barko will reveal the inside tips and tricks to creating a Virtual Book Blog tour on Saturday.
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Joel Comm will take you into the stratosphere of partnering and social media on Saturday.
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Amy Collins knows how to get your book into B&N, Costco, Amazon, and key spots ... do you? You will after her presentations for the Eagles Thursday and on Friday’s regular session. Her insight on covers is not to be missed.
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John Kremer will dive into the latest and greatest in book marketing Friday.
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Joan Stewart will weave you through the matrix of how to get the attention of every blogger in the country in the Eagle session and on Saturday with another twist.
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Susan Gilbert is going to turn you into a YouTube celeb on Friday.
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Bret Ridgway will reveal the web of repurposing in the Eagle session.
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Nick Zelinger designs books—over the years, he's compiled his Nuggets for Newbies and will reveal the musts and must nots in the Eaglet session.
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Georgia McCabe will show you how to stop fiddling with social media and survive the social media matrix that entangles so many.
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Mary Jo Fay will reveal the tricks and tips to pitch your book to anyone anytime.
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Dan Poynter knows author Klout and his techniques for today's author will change your "presence" everywhere-learn deep down methods to target your market.
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Amber Ludwig knows exactly what works and what doesn't in creating an author's Web site and what to do to fix yours.
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Tammy Bleck is a word master. Her “Witty Woman Writing” blog has led to ongoing columns in the HuffPost and ghost writing for Who's Who in her Eaglet session.
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Judith Briles will show you how to create a $1,000,000 speech from your book.
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Kelly Johnson is an author's best friend—get all the how-tos about the virtual assistant world and how it can bring sanity to your publishing life in her Eagle session.
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Steve Replin dives into legal stuff: all things copyright and more in the Eaglet session.
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Kathi Dunn knows covers; in the Eaglet session, you will get the insider's POV and how-tos.
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Randy Kuckuck will roll out all the publishing basics in his Eaglet session.
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Georgia McCabe and Judith Briles will kick off Thursday prio to the first Eagle and Eaglet sessions with Strategic Visioning Plans that EVERY Author Needs to Succeed on the Publishing Journey.
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Patrice Rhoades-Baum is all about branding and you will be too on Friday.
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Daniel Hall is a master of many things that will move you and your book. Learn all about audio bookshow to create them for peanuts in cost and monetize them for your bank account on Saturday.
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Rounds with the Pros is a speed round with a dozen experts where you shift tables three times prior to dinner on Friday.
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Author Shark Tank ... is back. Just a few authors get to dive in ... will you be one of them?
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Pick Their Brains ... our speakers will have a series of one-on-one 15-minute spots where they will laser coach you—answer questions—advise ... are you ready?
What to do NOW: 1. Clear your calendar from May 1 – 3. 2. Get registered immediately. The Early Early Bird has passed—prices increased. The Early Bird has passed—prices increased. You are now in regular pricing with rates scheduled to jump again in another month. Don’t wait! Register on the website today under the Events tab: http://AuthorU.org 3. Stay at the official Extravaganza hotel: Hyatt Regency-Denver Tech Center. Even if you live in Denver, don’t commute—Thursday and Friday are l-o-n-g days—immerse yourself in the Extravaganza—some of the best take-aways happen when you allow yourself to hang out and schmooze. Rate is $119, which includes free parking and free Internet in your guest room: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/ AuthorU2014 and enter the rate code: G-5AUTOr call 1-888-421-1442 and ask for the AuthorU rate.
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The Author Resource 4. If you are flying in—make your reservations now – arrive either Wednesday night, April 30th, or make sure you land at Denver International airport by 10 a.m. Mountain time. Information about how to get to the hotel—Shuttle, taxi, car rental—will be sent to registrants in April.
Guy Kawasaki kicked off the 2013 Extravaganza to rave evals— everyone got his book, APE!
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3 jammed-packed days, you will be working with amazing book marketing strategists, publicists, Internet gurus … all done in an intense workshop environment … Bonus Session on Thursday, May 1st, with Penny Sansevieri will reveal How to Sell More Books … Now! Penny is one of the top Internet Book Marketing Strategists, book columnist with the Huffington Post, and author of Red Hot Internet Publicity. Mark Coker, President of Smashwords, John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, and a dozen other publishing and book pros will share their expertise Friday and Saturday. Eagles (advanced) and Eaglet (newbies) workshops will be Thursday noon and end with the Trade Show with Exhibitors opening, Dinner, then Penny’s Deep Dive Session. Friday starts at 8 a,m. Bonus: You may register additional friends, colleagues, or family members who are not already Author U members for a reduced fee. Most meals are included. (Most meals included. Thursday Eagle, Eaglet, and thd Deep Dive Dinner Workshop are extras.)
Count me in for the Author U Extravaganza 2014! Until April 15, 2014 Fri-Sat. Registration Additional Registration Deep Dive Dinner Workshop Eagle Session (Advanced) Eaglet Session (Newbies) Friday Only Saturday Only
After April 16, 1204
AU Member Non-Member** AU Member $ 445 _____ $ 545 _____ $ 495 _____ $ 275 _____ $ 325 _____ $ 300 _____ $ 85 _____ $ 105 _____ $ 95 _____ $ 85 _____ $ 85 _____ $ 95 _____ $ 85 _____ $ 105 _____ $ 95 _____ $ 275 _____ $ 375 _____ $ 295 _____ $ 225 _____ $ 325 _____ $ 250 _____ **Join Author U and receive AU Member price.
Non-Member** $ 595 _____ $ 350 _____ $ 125 _____ $ 125 _____ $ 125 _____ $ 395 _____ $ 350 _____
Total Extavaganza 2014 Registration: $ _______ *Please add me as a new member for $99 _______ Total Extravaganza 2014 Registrations: _____ Please add me as a new member for $99 _____ Name(s)__________________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________________________Zip _______________________ e-mail __________________________________________________________________________________ _ 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! … put it on your calendar now.
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Join Us for Author U’s Extravaganza May 1-3, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency, Denver Tech Center
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Are you ready … to dive … into the Author U Matrix?
May 1st • 6 to 9 p.m.
How to Sell More Books … Now! with Penny Sansevieri At the end of the day, for all the marketing we do, for all the Tweeting, Facebooking, and blogging, we really just want to know if it’s paying off. Does any of this sell books? Have you ever asked yourself the following: • • •
How do I know if they are the right things to market my book? I don’t want to spend my life marketing, so how can I get the most out of my efforts? Will any of this help me sell more books?
You’ll learn... This session will teach you not only how to identify your exact right market, but how to effectively and efficiently go after it. We’ll also look at how to find reader groups, book groups, and reviewers online. • • • • • •
How do you find more readers for your book? Is your website selling effectively? Here’s how you’ll know. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest: which social site is right for me? Have you ever wondered, “Do I have to be on all of these sites?” The answer is no. We’ll show you which ones are perfect for your book. Should you have an e-book? How can you effectively market an e-book? We’ll explore marketing offline: pitching yourself to radio, TV, and print How do you get more reviews for your book?
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It’s a Deep Dive Dinner workshop you won’t want to miss! Early Bird until January 31st $??? for Members; $??? for Non-Members
Penny C. Sansevieri is the Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., a best-selling author, and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an Adjunct Professor, teaching Self-Publishing for NYU. Her company, one of the leaders in the publishing industry, has developed some of the most innovative Social Media/Internet book marketing campaigns. She is the author of twelve books, including How to Sell Your Books by the Truckload on Amazon and Red Hot Internet Publicity, which has been called the "leading guide to everything Internet." AME was the first book marketing and publicity firm to use Internet promotion to its full impact through The Virtual Author Tour™, which strategically harnesses social networking sites, Twitter, blogs, book videos, and relevant sites to push an author’s message into the online community. AME has had eleven recent books top bestseller lists, including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal. To learn more about Penny’s books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at www.AMarketingExpert.com.
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Independent Book Publishing: How a Manuscript Becomes a Book By Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist
Note: Stephanie will be speaking at the Extravanza on Creating a Virtual Blog Tour. As a literary publicist, the number one question I receive from first-time authors is “How does my manuscript become a book?” A manuscript becomes a book through a series of decisions and actions called the publishing process. The publishing process can be thought of as a length of chain, where each link that is added to the chain progresses the writer closer to the end of the chain and publication. Link # 1 The first link in the publishing chain is a writer with a manuscript. The ideal candidate for independent publishing has a time-sensitive message, is not afraid to go into business for herself, and is willing to promote as well as write the book. Links # 2-5 The next four links in the publishing process chain are professional book editors. Book editors specialize in both the type of editing they do and the genres they accept. Experience matters when selecting an editor, as well as temperament and style. While some editors will intrude on your writing, others remain so detached that they only suggest what you might want to fix, so it is important to select editors with whom you feel some comfort and rapport. The second through fifth links in the publishing process are as follows: The second link in the publishing chain is the developmental editor. The third link is the substantive editor. The fourth link is the line editor. The fifth link is the proofreader. Do not use an editor unless you know her given name. If editing is included in your indie publishing package, it is unlikely that you will have direct access to that editor; and for this reason, it is best to hire someone whose work and reputation you know. Always use a proofreader who has never before seen your manuscript. Link #6 The sixth link in the publishing process chain is the book designer. Book designers are not general graphic designers—they are specialists at turning manuscripts into books through artistically rendering its exterior and interior. The book designer will collaborate with your publicist to transform your back cover into a compelling marketing piece. Some book designers can create your InDesign files that go to press, as well as formatting the files that produce e-books. Continued on page 22 ....
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Do not hire a book designer until you have viewed her portfolio. You want to know if she has experience with your genre, whether she has won awards for her covers, and whether she can meet your release date. Link #7 The seventh link in the publishing process chain is the independent publisher. Publishing is considered independent when the author owns her ISBNs and has paid to have her manuscript published. A publisher converts InDesign files into print books and e-book formatting into downloadable books. Most publishers also offer book distribution with their printing services through vendors like Ingram or Baker & Taylor. Link #8 The caboose in the publishing process chain is the publicist. The publicist joins the publishing team 4-6 months prior to release date, preparing the book for the marketplace and its intended audience. Contrary to what most authors believe, the publicist works only one or two months post-release and then cycles off to a new prerelease project. An author wishing to publish and promote her own book today is entering a mature industry that has been recently renewed and made young again by dynamic changes in technology and business. This is the independent book publishing process, and it is the fastest way to get from manuscript to market.
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. Award winning clients include both traditional and independent nonfiction and historical fiction publishers and authors. For more information on custom Virtual Tours, visit www.stephaniebarko.com or follow Stephanie’s Tweets.
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Self-Publishing: What You Should Expect to Pay By Michele DeFilippo
Note: Michele and her company 1106 Design will sponsor the Eaglet track on Thursday, May 1st, at this year’s Extravaganza. As with everything, in self-publishing you get what you pay for. And if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t anticipate paying nothing for book design, editing, or printing; if a self-publishing company offers you something for free, expect to pay something at some point because—after all—these companies are not nonprofits; their mandate is to make money! Editorial rates vary widely according to the task, the editor’s experience level, the project’s complexity, and the deadline (the same goes for book designers). Some professionals charge a flat fee; others charge by the hour, the page, or the word. Remember that these professionals are business entities and must be paid enough to cover their business expenses. Some professionals work for companies that provide the administrative and marketing services for them—a great arrangement but one for which these companies must be paid accordingly. Allow the vendor to see your manuscript and provide a firm quote in writing that includes the amount of time allotted for corrections and the rate thereafter. Feel comfortable asking for references. Someone will always offer you free services. But unless your aunt is a professional editor and owes you a favor, or your best friend is a renowned book designer, you run the risk of sloppy work as a trade-off for that freebie. So what about websites offering free book design? By laying out your book using one of their free templates, you run the risk of creating a book that is not unique and can’t compete with professionallydesigned books. In fact, these companies count on your getting frustrated or not being happy with the end result, and they will happily provide design services to you for a fee (along with editing, proofreading, marketing, and more). Also, be wary of “free” services that include a one-time “set-up” fee. Bottom line: be clear on your goals, do your research, and set yourself a reasonable budget. If your book is meant as a hobby or a gift and will not be sold publicly, you can probably get away with offers of free editing and free online templates. But if your book is meant to compete with the other thousands of books in the marketplace, you should expect to pay. Michele DeFilippo owns 1106 Design, a Phoenix-based company that offers cover design, interior design and layout, manuscript editing, and more with expert self-publishing advice and hand-holding every step of the way. Please visit http://1106design.com to download her free e-book, Publish Like the Pros: A Brief Guide to Quality Self-Publishing. Special offer for Author U members: AU members will receive a 5% discount with 1106 Design. Enter code “AU-FivePercentDiscount” in the “Additional Notes” section on our order form.
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The Technology and Tips Toolbox
5 Additional Tips for Growing Your YouTube Following By Kelly Johnson
Note: Kelly will present a session on Working with Virtual Assistants to Excel Your Success at this year’s Extravaganza. I previously shared 5 tips for increasing your YouTube following. How are you coming along with uploading your videos to your YouTube account and implementing the tips? Video is such a powerful tool for communicating your message to your target audience I want to be sure you have tips and tools to continually grow your online presence. Here are 5 additional tips for YouTube: Tip #1: Include and promote videos from fellow niche experts. This assists with keeping your channel active with content. Create and promote a playlist. Tip #2: Increasing Identification Brand your channel by adding videos and playlists as well as a channel banner. We see many people brand their Twitter and Facebook Page; be sure to brand your YouTube channel too! Tip #3: Add a Trailer to Your Channel When an unsubscribed visitor comes to your channel, they will see your channel trailer. This is an opportunity to create a video to welcome visitors and introduce your channel. To edit your channel trailer, visit your own channel. You will see a section promoting your channel trailer. You will then be able to choose your upload by thumbnail or by entering your video’s URL.
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Subscribed visitors: If the viewer is already subscribed to your channel, they will not see the channel trailer but a video under the heading “What to Watch Next.”
You can always change or remove your channel trailer by clicking on the pencil icon. Can’t find your Channel Trailer option? Go to My Channel. Where you see the words Video | Discussion | About – click the pencil icon to the right. Select Edit Channel Navigation. Enable Browse. Save. Tip #4: Custom Thumbnails Create a custom thumbnail for the image that serves as the “placeholder” before the play button is clicked to watch a video. This is another method to “brand” your videos. Go to Video Manager. Click Edit on the video you want to have a custom thumbnail. Custom thumbnail button is on the right side of the video. Upload as large an image as possible (suggested: 1280x720) because the image will also be used as the preview image when your video is embedded on other sites. You can upload a JPG, GIF, BMP, or PNG file. Maximum file size is 2MB.
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Tip #5: Keyword/Keyword Phrase in File Name When uploading your video to YouTube, use a keyword in the file name – this gets indexed in the search engines. To your success,
Kelly
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. Her site is www.cornerstoneva.com.
Are you overwhelmed? Stuck? Need Momentum? Sign up at www.CreativeVirtualOffice.com for Creative MoJo Brainstorming events and receive two free tickets!
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Math Lessons For Today’s Book Industry By Amy Collins
Let’s look at the path a book takes from publisher to store and do the math. First, however, let’s address current definitions for some industry terms. You’re living in the publishing world now, so it’s best you learn the lingo. We’ll start with publishers, distributors, and wholesalers. Lesson #1 PUBLISHERS and how they sell books: Publishers manufacture books and sell them to a store or a wholesaler at 40-55% off retail price, sometimes more if the store is part of a chain or a wholesaler that has a central warehouse and has extra costs associated with getting the books to THEIR customers. The wholesaler or store’s book buyer contacts the publisher, places a purchase order for books, and expects delivery in five to seven days. They also expect to be billed, but will usually require at least ninety days to pay. If you want to become a publisher, here are a few things you should think about. Budget carefully. Small presses usually aren’t paid for three to four months or longer. Plan for not getting paid for six to seven months. You will pay to ship the books to them. Wholesalers rarely pay a small press for shipping. If you want to take a stand, I applaud you! But it will cost you some sales. Now, are you ready for the big hit? Publishers may not even see the money they think they are owed because the books are bought on a 100% returnable basis. After a publisher ships a book to a store, the store has the right to return it for any reason. Say a book priced at retail is $16.95. A publisher sells it to a wholesaler for $7.63 (55% discount). The publisher then waits sometimes 6 months for the $7.63 or for the book to be returned. If the book’s printing and design/editorial costs are in line with what they should be, each book should have cost the publisher approximately $3.25 per unit to produce. The shipping and distribution costs of GETTING a $16.95 book to the wholesaler is usually around $3.50 a book. (this factors in calls to stores and wholesalers, sample copies or flyers sent to buyers, shipping of books, materials, returns, etc., and assumes you are doing everything yourself. That leaves the publisher 88¢ a unit in profit. Where does all the rest of the money go? Why does a wholesaler take so much? That leads us to… Lesson #2 WHOLESALERS and how they sell books: Book wholesalers buy your books at a deep discount and hold them in their warehouses so that Internet and brick-and-mortar stores can order from them. Bookstores like to use wholesalers for reasons of speed, convenience, and less financial exposure. Continued on page 28...
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Bookstores usually get their orders in 24 hours, and the discount normally ranges from 40-45% off the retail price. What the bookstore loses in profit margin, they often make up in convenience and risk aversion. A book ordered from a wholesaler can be combined and shipped with hundreds of other books. Some stores hire wholesalers to stock, manage, and handle all aspects of their book departments. Large “big-box” chains happily hand their title selection and discount negotiations over to a wholesaler that will manage the entire department for them. The same can sometimes be true for libraries. Many U.S. library systems depend upon wholesalers for all their new books. People at the chain or library office work with the wholesalers and oversee the choices, but how closely that is managed depends on each individual situation. If you want your book to have a chance at a bookstore chain like Barnes & Noble or BooksAMillion, and if you don’t want to use a distributor, a wholesaler is your next best bet. The two biggest book wholesalers for the book industry right now are Ingram and Baker & Taylor. You can find their application processes on their websites. Send your books in with the proper paperwork and try to get your titles into at least one of these wholesalers’ warehouses. Ingram and B&T do not usually take small presses, but B&T will sign up a small publisher if they have enough marketing and sales plans to support the book. Ingram has recently partnered with IBPA, and through them a small press CAN get listed in Ingram’s system. However, only the books with strong demand get stocked; the rest are just listed, and Ingram will order a book from the publisher when a store backorders one. (The kicker? Most bookstores will not backorder.) Remember, if you get an order, you will be selling your books to the wholesaler at a discount of at least 55%. They usually order only as many as they need to fulfill the demand coming in from their customers … stores and libraries. If they are overstocked or books come back from the stores, they will return those books to you for a full refund. (Having fun yet?) Back to the math: A book priced at retail is $16.95. A publisher sells it to a wholesaler for $7.63 (55% discount). The wholesaler has paid $7.63 for the book. They then turn around and sell it to the bookstore for $9.83. The wholesaler pays for the overnight shipping and packing materials. The profit for the wholesaler is $2.20. Lesson #3 DISTRIBUTORS and more math lessons for today’s book industry: Bookstores also get books from distributors that handle all the après-production elements of getting a book onto a store’s shelves. Publishers agree to funnel all their sales, warehousing, shipping, and Continued on page 29 ...
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billing through the distributor, which does this work for a percentage of the billing generated by the sale of the publisher’s books. Like publishers, distributors sell a book to a wholesaler or bookstore at a discount of the retail price. That discount is usually 45-55%. If bookstores get about the same terms and about the same schedule, why do they go to a distributor instead of directly to the publisher? Some bookstores (especially bookstore chains) are not interested in setting up new, small, or regional publishers in their ordering and accounting systems for just a few books. They rightly weigh the benefits of a publisher’s book against the time and trouble necessary to order it; if the balance does not come out in the book’s favor, they skip it. How do new and small publishers avoid this terrible fate? They sign exclusive agreements with a distributor. A distributor’s cut varies from 15-35% of each book’s net billing. Nearly all distributors have additional monthly fees, and most require an initial deposit for new clients. Before you balk, keep in mind that it is very difficult, expensive, and time consuming to handle your own warehousing, purchase shipping materials, and learn how to ship exactly the way each store wishes their shipments to arrive … and everyone is different. (It’s a little joke they like to play on publishers. I am convinced that bookstore owners get together every two years to devise slightly altered yet completely incomprehensible trafficking instructions.) Then comes the billing, monthly statements, handling claims for books damaged in transit, taking in returns, and reconciling the amount due with what the bookstore believes is due. After that, consider the money and time it takes to tell the country’s thousands of buyers about your books. The sales reps working for distributors have long-standing relationships with book buyers in your hometown, across the country, and in the major chains. You would not be able to start a fledgling relationship on your own with these buyers. What an experienced sales rep can often do with a phone call, you could rarely accomplish with six months and a great deal of research, e-mails, flyers, catalogs, paperwork, and free samples.
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Back to the math! A book priced at retail is $16.95. A distributor sells it to a wholesaler for $7.63 (55% discount). The distributor charges the publisher on average $2.15 to handle that order. Shipping and other fees will cost about $1.30 a book (give or take). The publisher gets $4.18 for the book from the distributor six months later when the payment comes in. After the productions costs of $3.25 are taken into consideration, the end profit is about 93¢ a book. (AND the distributor does most of the work) So there you have it: math by an English Major for Publishers. Call if you have any questions! Amy Collins has over 25 years’ experience selling and marketing books. In 2006 Amy created a book sales company which quickly turned into New Shelves Distribution, the fastest-growing book distribution company in North America. New Shelves offers book sales, warehousing, distribution and marketing services as well as consulting and marketing for publishers and authors. www.newshelves.com. Amy and her team are committed to being of service and sharing their book and sales experience. She can be reached at amy@newshelves.com
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Is Your Blog a Ferrari… or a Tricycle? 7 Tips for Author Blogs By Dr. Patsi Krakoff Some authors I know have a Ferrari in their garage and don’t even know it. Others take it around the block only on Sundays, or once a month. Yes, I’m talking about your blog. Someone said “all writers should have a blog,” so you got one… then you forgot to use it. Or most likely, other than write on it, no one taught you how to use it to drive book sales, conversations, and reader relationships. To me, a blog is the best darned author and book platform builder on the planet! You can use it to get found online, get known with your readers, and get raving fans for your books. Let me ask you this: When you hit the “publish now” button on your blog, do you hear the deafening vroom-vroom of the engines… a clickety clunk… or worse, the roar of silence? I’ve worked with some pretty smart people, helping them write their books and fix their blogs. Most of my clients are executive coaches and keynote speakers. Many have a Ph.D. But that has nothing to do with how blog-savvy they are. Most people react with embarrassment when I ask about their blog. Like exercise, they don’t do it consistently or often enough. Here are a few tips to help you feel better and be more blog-savvy about the whole blogging thing. 1. If you’ve got a Ferrari, you need to drive it. Don’t let your blog sit in the garage. Take it out at least once or twice a week. Here’s why: HubSpot customers who write just 3-4 blog posts per month get 20 more monthly lead submissions, 800 more monthly site visits, 60 more Twitter followers, and 50 more Facebook like’s than customers who only write 2 blog posts per month. 2. Non-fiction writers: Don’t write a long article about a topic. Write about a problem your readers are frustrated with. Explore the problem, traditional solutions, and why things aren’t getting solved. Start with a question and get to the point right away. 3. Educate, but entertain. Readers go online to learn things, but they also love being amused, or being made privy to opinions and hot tips. Provide research and be provocative. 4. Suggest a list of 3-5 solutions. End your 350-500 word post with a call to action. 5. Invite reader participation, and ask them for their thoughts. Specifically ask them to leave a comment. Continued on page 32 ...
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6. Fiction writers: Share some of your backstory – the inspiration that leads you to create your characters. Perhaps include some of the history of the setting where your story takes. Ask readers if they’ve known people like your characters. Ask about turning-points in their lives that are similar to your book’s dilemmas. Engage your readers. 7. Finally, I need to address the number one mistake bloggers make when they’re new: Don’t assume because you’re writing in your area of expertise that the search engines will recognize and index your blog post for appropriate keywords and keyword phrases. 8. Don’t forget to hyperlink your keywords. You should aim for one link per 120 words. This alerts the search engines and helps them identify what your blog post is about. Use a free plugin called YOAST on your Wordpress blog platform. It will check your post for how clear it is about keywords in the title and body of content. Aim for a green light. If you get an orange or red button, it will tell you what you need to do to make your post search-engine friendly. I’d like to see more authors blogging. A blog platform is an ideal way for writers to express themselves. At the same time, you’re creating a strong Web presence and making it easier for readers to become fans. If you’ve got it, flaunt it! Now go take your Ferrari for a spin around the Blogosphere. Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D., is co-founder of The Blog Squad and a Doctor of Psychology with a specialty in content marketing for the Web for small businesses. www.WritingontheWeb.com / www.ContentforCoaches.com
Are you in Colorado? Did you know about the special "Author YOU Circle" held once a month for authors with inquiring minds—be it about publishing, writing, social media, you name it—that Judith Briles hosts in her living room and kitchen? They’re always held on a Saturday morning from 9 to noon—the coffee and tea are hot when you arrive. The cost is FREE ... what you need to bring is a healthy snack to share and yourself, along with enthusiasm, questions, and the willingness to share info if you can provide it when a topic is in the Circle. Created in a loose-structure format, it has no set agenda ... the topics are created via posts on a flip chart as people arrive: what you want or need help in. It's simple; it's fun; it's highly informative; and it's FREE. As Author YOU Circle member Gene Morton says, "It's like a personalized MasterMind group—I always walk away with information that I can immediately use."
The next one is slated for Saturday, November 23rd. You need to join Author YOU Circles via www.Meetup.com, sign up to come. Here's where to register: http://www.meetup.com/AuthorYOU/
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Fiction Timelines … Believe It or Not! By Judith Briles
I’m in awe of the gift of the fiction writer. The array of clever ideas that set up a storyline is an imagination feat to behold. As The Book Shepherd, here’s a common thing that keeps hiccupping with fiction books as I first read them: the plot and story timelines seem to be out of synch. One of the remedies is to have an editor who has an eagle eye. He or she should be looking for the disconnects—all those loose ends that don’t come together despite the author’s belief that they do. The editor should make sure that names and places are consistent. I had one book come in with three different names for the main character—nothing like a mind change along the writing way! The other is for you to have a well-defined method of tracking who does what to whom, when, with what, and where.
The Plot Thickens … How’s Your Plot Timeline Doing? Normally, timeline errors surface in three ways: • The author changes directions about the chain of events. • The editor deletes or moves text. • The author or the editor decides to add new material. What to do: create a Timeline so that you can track who does what and when. You need to know what your characters are about—and for that matter, what makes them tick and what they are doing (or likely to do). It’s your bible for your book. Continued on page 34 ...
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You can use a writing program, such as Scrivener, or just a blank piece of paper. Give yourself two to three pages for each character and label the name of each character. Remember, sometimes the location serves as a character. The blank pages are for your fill-ins … fictional and fact. Note them as they occur … if you have dates—post them. If it’s a month, season, year, activity—post it. Add detail and if it ties to another event/character—cross check and post.
Create pages for Happenings and Events. If your story references real names, events, gadgets—make sure you have the right time when it occurs. If you are writing about balmy weather in July and your character is in Australia, it doesn’t fit—it’s wintertime there. If you are using restaurants with real names, sporting events, etc., in your storyline, make sure that they existed within your time frame. For example, you may reference Disney World and set the date in the 60s—it’s the wrong Disney Park. Disney World opened in 1971, Disneyland in 1955. Don’t forget technology, foods, fads, songs, movies, cars—you name it. Anything that you use as descriptors to ground your storyline, move it along, accessorize your writing—make sure that it existed in the era your scene is in. Apple introduced iPhones in 2007—having a character using one in the late 90s is a boo-boo. Putting a character at a Genius Bar in an Apple store in 2000 or before doesn’t work either; Genius Bars bubbled up in 2001, with the first one in New York. If you reference Facebook, the year 2003 and before won’t work. What’s a good source to use for a quick timeline check? Try Wikipedia—you will be amazed at the cross-referencing within, including relevant dates. Continued on page 35 ...
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Have you got a beginning, middle, and end? That’s another blank page—take one and divide it into three sections. Start filling it in. Sometimes, authors don’t know what the end is—the book takes over, and they just get out of the way as the words flow. Fine, but note it as it progresses. Or, you may be quite clear where you want to go—even with knowing the end before you start at the beginning. Fine, write it down so you are reminded. Personally, I’m a nonfiction writer—one who has done thousands of one-on-one interviews for the 30-plus books I’ve published. Within those interviews unbelievable stories are revealed. They are written down with entire chapters created around them—chapters that I hadn’t originally thought I would be writing about. They were added to my book timeline so I’m reminded to insert and use. You can create your timelines with all words, graphics, mind mapping, callouts, sticky notes, a combo—you can do them within your computer, a physical notebook—even post on your wall if you need to see a visual … but whatever you do, be consistent so you remember and can keep track. If your storyline or plot changes, you need to quickly reference if there is a domino factor in any other section of the book—your timeline will be your guide.
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If you are like me … sometimes I think something is great idea on a Tuesday morning, and by Friday it’s forgotten and I’m off and running on another path. There is paid software and free software available. Google “book timeline software” and “free book timeline software” … or you can do what I do, which is have the blank notebook I work from along with a flip chart and a bunch of colored sticky notes that is on a huge white board in my inner office. The key is to use what works for you. Happy Timeling to you!
Judith Briles, known as The Book Shepherd, the Author and Publishing expert, and the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Author U, will deliver a talk not to be missed at this year’s Extravaganza: How to Create a $1,000,000 Speech Out of Your Book. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and The Book Shepherd, Judith Briles on Facebook. Join the Author U LinkedIn Group and the Author U Google+ Community. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her at Judith@Briles.com. Visit her website at www.TheBookShepherd.com
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 soso; 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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Authors Never Retire By Dan Poynter
Have you ever heard an author who retired? Of course not. People who retire are retiring from something: a job they did not enjoy. I always wonder how long they endured a job that wasn’t fun. Year after year, they continued in the job they didn’t like and wished they could escape. Authors have a job they love. • If they are introverted, they can stay home and write. • If they are extroverted, they can get out and promote their work. • They are self-employed and they have a choice. According to Forbes magazine, 87% of the employed in the United States hate their jobs. Forbes: “Loving The Job You Hate” http://onforb.es/1dKgsJ4 Could it be that the remaining 13% are authors?
Dan Poynter is the author of 130 books and will speak at the Extravaganza on Targeting Potential Customers, something every author needs. His website is http://ParaPub.com
How Author U communicates with you—Besides the two weekly blog posts, on Mondays, we send a general e-blast to your e-mail called “It’s Monday at Author U.” On Thursdays, we send “Thursday at Author U.” You must subscribe to get them. Also, we send out The Author Resource nine times a year. Get over to the website and subscribe twice, once for the Blog and once for the general e-mails, notices, and The Author Resource e-zine.
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Nail Your Brand!™ A 5-Step System to Brand Your Business By Patrice Rhoades-Baum
Note: Patrice will be the featured speaker at the January Brunch and Learn on January 11th.. Have you started a new business? Changed direction? Even if you’ve been in business for years, it’s critical to clarify your brand. Your clear brand provides a solid foundation for your hardworking marketing toolkit: a strategic website, speaker/author one-sheet, and even your elevator pitch! In short, your clear brand is the launchpad to promote and grow your business. Join this hands-on workshop to learn an easy, do-it-yourself branding process specifically created for small business owners who consult, speak, coach, and author books. Key take-aways: Gain a clear, simple understanding of branding. Experience a step-by-step process to clarify your unique brand so you shine as the expert you are. Clarify your Brand Elements™ so you can present consistent messages and design throughout your marketing tools, including your website. About Patrice Rhoades-Baum, Marketing Consultant & Branding Expert… Patrice Rhoades-Baum developed her Nail Your Brand!™ system while clarifying the brand for her own business. Since then, she has teamed with hundreds of consultants, professional speakers, and other business owners to clarify their brand. Next, Patrice and her team create the website and speaker/author onesheet – the most important tools in your marketing toolkit. Patrice’s experience includes 25 years of high-tech corporate marketing, where she managed big-budget advertising and direct-mail campaigns. Plus, she has been the branding strategist, project manager, and copywriter for numerous websites, including two Hewlett-Packard sites with budgets exceeding $250,000. An expert copywriter, Patrice has been published in Fortune magazine.
Have You Met Author U’s Premier Partners and Associates? Have you checked out Author U’s Premier Partners and Associate Services pages on the website? Recommended providers from shepherding to illustrating to editing to shipping and everything in between. http://ow.ly/dflYi
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Oh, the Mistakes We’ve Seen!: 3 Writing Gaffes to Avoid at All Costs By Blue Ink Reviews In our mission at BlueInk Review to review self-published books, we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. While it’s difficult to explain how to create stellar prose—there’s always a touch of genius involved in the best literature—there’s no secret about where writers go wrong. As our reviews show, authors tend to make the same mistakes, book after book. Below, we have compiled excerpts from the more than 2,000 reviews we’ve done, each of which exposes common writing blunders. So what makes the bad review rear its dreaded, beastly head? Here are three traps you should avoid at all costs: Fiction Containing Over-Powering Agendas: Readers don’t appreciate picking up a romance novel or thriller, only to be inundated with an author’s opinions about abortion or saving the rainforest. Yet authors often feel it’s appropriate to hammer a political or social message home through their characters. It is perfectly acceptable for your characters to have strong opinions, provided that this point of view is in keeping with the character’s overall persona. But if readers can tell that the characters are simply acting as your mouthpiece, they will feel used and manipulated; and your story will collapse under the weight of your agenda. Before you write, ask yourself: Is this my character’s opinion or am I simply trying to get a pet message across? Am I focused on telling a story, or presenting a diatribe? Let the story lead the way, not your politics, your religious beliefs, or your social attitudes. Here’s a sample of what our critics have said on the subject in various reviews: “The story (title deleted) is a nice tale about the efforts of a father who finds unexpected encouragement in the pride of his sons. But many of the other stories frequently turn to angry rants aimed at everyone from quack doctors to rude neighbors, a hypochondriac secretary, and a friend’s father—often rendering the protagonist even less sympathetic than his targets.” “Retired surgeon (author name deleted) calls this rambling essay on the nature of man and the fate of the world, translated from Italian, a work of fiction. But the reader will find no novelist’s pulse here, and the central characters come off only as disembodied voices giving vent to the author’s grand philosophical inquiries.” “The human interaction feels stilted, as if it exists only to allow Michael to meditate on larger issues…. Michael is a big-picture person: in his thoughts and discussions, he tackles enormous issues from religious violence to politics, corporate greed to technology. Ruminating on British politician Robin Cook’s resignation, for example, he notes, “The global skies were changing at knots [sic], and were such that no human eye could have envisaged [sic]. It all seemed like an illusion, because this world, like its champions [sic], had been robbed of another champion of truth.” Continued on page 40 ...
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Mixed Genres: You don’t go to a Chinese restaurant for tacos. Similarly, you don’t expect to see egg rolls on the menu at a Mexican restaurant. Readers have the same kinds of expectations when picking up a book. If your book cover promises a mystery, science fiction novel, romance, or other genre story, only to deliver an odd mash-up of fantasy, erotica and young adult, readers aren’t likely to appreciate—or in many cases even understand— your book. Before writing, study highly regarded books in your genre. Read, read, read! And then read some more. This will help you understand the plot elements, character requirements, and pace that readers will expect of your story. And if you’re tempted to mix genres in the interest of creativity— without the skill of a professional with decades of writing experience behind him/her—think again. Here’s what our reviewers have to say about that: “(Title deleted) represents the attempted pairing of two vastly different kinds of novels. The first is an attempt to explore the nuts and bolts of a presidential campaign and administration. The second is a dialogue-driven novel that succumbs to a constant effort to fill the page with snappy one-liners. Neither type of book is successfully achieved.” “The fact that it’s often told from the point of view of older males is uncharacteristic in a young-adult novel written for girls.” “At heart, (title deleted) is a brash mash-up of kung-fu flicks, superhero capers, and airport thrillers that skews along the lines of John Carpenter’s cult bomb, Big Trouble in Little China. The narrative is immature at best, while unwieldy dialogue and overlong expository sequences hinder the book’s pace. Ultimately, the story’s atmosphere of spiritual mysticism is overpowered by childish notions of heroic fantasy that often feel out of place in the midst of an adult-oriented thriller.” Unsubstantiated Arguments: When writing nonfiction, self-publishing authors often feel that presenting their opinion is enough. But you can’t expect readers to buy your argument if it’s not backed up with coherent logic and/or research. Why, after all, should your readers just take you at your word? Successful authors lead readers through their thought process logically. They cite credible sources to back up their arguments, along with facts and examples. Don’t simply share your thoughts and/or opinions. If your argument is to make a lasting impression on your audience it must be properly supported!
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What not to do: “The authors cover everything from 12th century BC Arabian trade routes to proper coffee roasting temperatures, but without giving the context or explanation that would affirm their expertise. They emphasize that, while critics focus on the risks of consuming caffeine, coffee has antioxidants and many other beneficial components; but they do not cite studies that prove these benefits in any detail. Stronger claims are hedged (“There is a lower incidence of type II diabetes among coffee drinkers …”) and difficult to fact-check, given that there are no footnotes. Ninety-seven of the 101 chapters have exactly three sources referenced for each.” “While his premise is potentially compelling, he uses flawed logic and trite quotes in order to maintain the dichotomy he creates. For example, he claims that ghosts must exist solely because there is a word for them in the English language, and notes that we are all meant to be vegetarians because we have molars similar to cows, which are natural herbivores…. He states that his ideas are obvious, or common sense, thus alienating readers who may disagree with his conclusions.” “He might be justified in claiming credit, but readers will find little persuasive evidence here to validate these undocumented assertions.” These are just a few common mistakes, but stay tuned for more “Oh, the Mistakes We’ve Seen!” To receive these tip sheets in your inbox, just sign up for our newsletter. BlueInk Review offers credible and unbiased reviews of self-published books exclusively. Visit us at www.blueinkreview.com.
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Lick your lips. Whet your appetite. Start salivating. It’s time for …
The Authors Cookbook Author U is gathering up recipes. An author cookbook is in the works. The Authors Cookbook is the working title, most likely waiting for the magic morph to it. The goal is to create a cookbook of favorite Author U member recipes that may have inspired you, created the comfort food needed when a chapter just isn’t coming together, or a favorite dish that creates the happy dance when celebrations are in order. The proceeds of the cookbook will fund the Authors Hall of Fame, our 501c3 organization that rolls out “officially” next year at Extravaganza. Your contribution could be a beverage, appetizer, dessert, side dish, main dish—seafood, poultry, meat, soups, sauce, salad, sandwich, casserole, different cultures/nations/seasons, vegetarian, breads, menus, something for kids, special celebrations, entertaining tips … you name it—we are game for anything. Not sure what the category is? Just call it Miscellaneous … we will figure it out.
We need recipes, tips, and goodies to include—the more, the better. Here’s what we need to have: • How about a brief tidbit on where it came from or how you created it?—of course a short bio as well (as in very short bio of no more than 75 words about you and your book). • Your magic recipe(s). • Nifty name/title for your recipe. • Both prep and cooking time. • If you just happen to have a pic of the finished masterpiece, include the jpg. Submit soon and submit many. You will be acknowledged on both the recipe page and in a special section in the book—that makes you a contributor. Alert … you will not be paid for your participation. You will be able to get a teaspoon of a discount when the books are available for sale. We have to select the final title and get it assembled. This will be an author and publishing community project with all proceeds in sales going to the Authors Hall of Fame. Would you like to be in it? Start sending in your recipes. A J White (author of The Bloomers), Judi Monsour (ghostwriter For the Love of Paprika), and Judith Briles (author of Author YOU) will gather them—they are cooks. They create their own recipes, and they read cookbooks; they will edit, work closely with the interior designer, and get it printed and on the reader’s plate. Send all your recipes to AJ White at: mailto:AJ@Bloomerwise.com Put in subject line: AU cookbook
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BookSmarts Steven King On Writing On Writing is one of the best books to guide writers—fiction and nonfiction—without calling it a guide book, how-to book, or a manual. Yet it is all those things. Think of it as two books in one—King’s autobiography and what brought him to writing, his early influences. It follows his life up to the time he was hit by a drunk driver while out for a walk. And then, think of it as a jewel to marvel over as he crafts his descriptions of his childhood memories and the family that influenced him, For dessert, chew over his use of phrases and adjectives to bring the reader to be with him as he experiences each hiccup and aha. Within are ideas for creating unforgettable characters, getting a workspace that works, and structuring a writing day. King’s a firm believer that if an author is to be an author and a writer a writer, then being a reader is not only imperative, it’s crucial. On Writing offers a unique perspective on the craft of writing—it’s short and sweet, not a tome. Although not written in a “how-to” format, allow yourself to see King and his craft as a mentor. His bottom line for writers, “Write tight and eliminate all bullshit.” Hooray. Read it once, then pick it up in a year and read it again. Make it an annual party with yourself and your mind. You will be surprised what you see each time; understand; and begin to use, often in a way totally unexpected. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work. Stephen King
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New Members Charles Clark … since the ninth grade science class where he learned about the four cycles of an automotive engine he has been fascinated and involved with old cars. Upon graduation from Union College in Schenectady NY in 1954, he bought a 1940 Ford Coupe . After a stint as an officer in the Stategic Air Command, he received an electrical engineering degree from Cornell University leading to original design work in aerospace medicine and product management of computerized cardiac cath labs. Most recently, he founded Sandhill Scientific a medical diagnostics company and is a licensed professional engineer in the state of Colorado. He currently designs fuel injection systems for antique Ford flathead engines and has written articles for the Street Rodder and Hot Rod magazines on that subject. The worldwide adventures of his 1940 Four Coupe will be revealed in his forthcoming book. Julie Schoerke, founder of JKSCommunications, specializes in developing winning book publicity campaigns integrating traditional and new media for authors and publishers and in managing comprehensive publicity campaigns. The hallmark of her company is creating campaigns that fit the lifestyle of the author. The firm is in New York, Chicago, Denver and Nashville. JKSCommunication’s client list includes titles by all of the Big Five Publishers, as well as several boutique publishers. Julie believes that self-publishing now has a place at the table and is also proud to represent numerous terrifically written and edited selfpublished books. Her clients have enjoyed strong launches and premiere placement on television and radio shows, in print, and online. Julie speaks at conferences around the country including University of Chicago, The Oxford Creative Non-Fiction Conference, Decatur Book Festival (Atlanta), Southern Festival of Books (Nashville), and Alabama Book Festival. Diana Davis Baker is a former teacher utilizing tools of art and writing to apply the guidance of a treasured mentor. She wants to inspire as many readers as possible to acquire the ability to communicate and receive guidance from loved ones passed. The passion and intensity Diana works with leads her to send messages of love through her art and writing.
Susie Scott, Producer - After leaving Colorado State with a Bachelor of Arts, Susie spent time in the advertising agency world—only to be told by legendary Denver ad woman, Kathy Piper, “You would do better to work for yourself.” A number of freelance years and media projects later, she and two partners formed i25productions, inc.—a full service, award-winning production company that has produced national/international commercials, powerful and memorable info and training pieces and compelling, inspirational documentary-style stories. Now, Susie, along with long-time i25 partner and audio book guy Steve Bowlby and longer-time buddy and published author Mark Margulies, have launched “Authors on Film”, the experts in video book trailers. And yes, Ms. Piper, she still works for herself.
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Tips Front Cover Red Flag: from member and book cover designer Kathi Dunn: Never, ever use the word “by” before your author name. There is no greater red flag that a book is NOT written, edited or designed professionally to the highest standards.
Book Spines Are Important! Don’t forget the cover on your book spine … on the sea of shelves at a book store where yours would rest ... how does it stand out? You may not be the best judge ... this is where other eyes are critical. Take yours to a book store ... do a quasi focus test with browsing customers and say: I’m doing a test for an author’s group about book spines. Would you take 15 seconds of your time and tell me which spines pop on these three shelves ... Step back and don’t say a word. Listen to what they say and thank them. Next ...
Blog Tips … Two Tips to Add Followers 1. Add ‘read more’ links at the bottom of each post. Search engines like links. It can be distracting to the leader if you load them up within your article—and let’s face it, once many go off your post/blog/article, they engage in the Squirrel Factor and get distracted. Better yet, add reference links with a few words why you have recommended to the end of your post. PS—make sure you’ve read it as well and are assured that they add to your post. Link back to some of your posts in the past—keep visitors engaged on your site. 2. Do a tease of what’s to come next. Just about all websites have a “subscribe now” widget of some sorts on their sites—most are ignored. Why not offer “something”—from a FREE, special report to a hint of what the next blog’s about (or video), a white paper, a compilation of like blogs all in one pdf (and also think this for an ebook), etc. To protect yourself from duplicating others, know about Copyscape. It is the best-known plagiarism detector. For less than a dime, you can check your copy as well protect your reputation from any accusations of plagiarism and copying. If any duplications are uncovered, determine what the issue is, then rewrite the paragraph. Trying to repair word by word takes longer. Suggestion: If you are writing a guest post or an article for a that quotes/cites other sources, learn where else the same copy has appeared. www.CopyBlogger.com
Do you have a boat load of loyalty cards that are cluttering your wallet, purse or travel pouch? If you’re tired of toting around all the loyalty cards for every airline, hotel, grocery, department, library, etc., you use, you might want to get the Key Ring App at www.KeyRingApp.com and load them all to your smart phone. Once on it, coupons and special offers will be captured as well. It’s FREE.
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Tips Videos for Book Proposals and Publicity Pitching your book to a publisher or for publicity should have a video these days … make it two minutes or less. For a publisher, think of it as a compelling mini version of your book—include links to your contact and websites at the end. For a publicity spot, you have to create several grabbers for the producer—startling stats, amazing fact you uncover, outrageous aha, etc. —include links to your contact and websites at the end. Producers are looking at how well you can connect with them verbally and visually.
eMail Brand Alert: There are many ways to promote your brand, and one of the most often overlooked branding opportunities is your email address. Avoid using a Gmail or AOL or Yahoo or Ymail or other nondescript email address. These get hacked lots.
eMail and Branding: When creating your email address, use your first name or an identifier that is uniquely yours. Avoid using “info”, “sales”, “speaker”, or “contact”. All email communication that comes from YOU should come from YOU. It’s part of your branding. When sending email from your website/domain, ask your host or web designer to create your branded email address.
Podcast and Broadcast: Discover Spreaker, a web, tablet, and mobile application that lets you podcast or broadcast live audio recordings to your social media networks. www.spreaker.com
Rule the World Hands Free! The TechSlinger … not sure if you would call this a “tip” or but what the heck … if you have a lot of gadgets and want to be “different”… this could be for you! www.techslinger.com
Need help with taglines and slogans? Get ye to Slogan Slingers—the ultimate in quick and easy ways to get talented writers come to your aid. http://www.sloganslingers.com/
Want to Speak? Looking for associations to take your message to? Here’s the Directory link to ASAE’s community to search for groups: http://www.asaecenter.org/ Community/Directories/associationsearch.cfm
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Why Join Author U? A good question. Here’s your answer: If you want the latest in marketing strategies and how-tos for Authors … join. If you want high content information to make your Authoring life successful … join. If you want to work with Publishing Professionals who will make your book and you shine—many who offer special rates and discounts to Author U members … join. If you want to be within a Community of Authors … join. If your goal is to be successful … join.
If you don’t want any of that, if you want to gaze and just think about writing and publishing, if you aren’t committed … don’t.
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What does your Author U membership bring? A lot! For only $99 … here’s why you should be a member: Member of ...
• The Author Resource magazine, published online 9 times a year • All programs designed for the committed and serious author - rates are $15 less for members meetings; $50 for BookCamps … over $100 for the Extravaganza • Reduced attendance costs for monthly programs, BookCamps, and Extravaganza in May • Webinars and Teleseminars (free) exclusive to Author U members • Archive access to all past webinars, radio shows, Google Hangout Air, Author Mentoring Mondays (free) exclusive to Author U members • Attendance at Member-only events: Holiday, Annual BBQ, Tech Toolboxes, and Salons • Book Award discounts: USA Book News, Global eBook Awards • Book Blog Campaign discount: The Cadence Group • Book and Publishing Coaching discounts: The Book Shepherd, Get Published Coach • Book Cover design discounts: NZ Graphics, F+P Design • Book Display discounts: BookDisplays.com • Book Fulfillment and Distribution discounts: Author Fulfillment Services, Pathway Book Service, New Shelves Distribution • Book Interior Designs discounts: WESType Publishing, NZ Graphics, F+P Design, 1106 Design • Book Printing discounts and perks: Sheridan Books, Four Colour Print Group, Thomson-Shore, Color House Graphics, King Printing, MiniBuk, Lightning Source • Book Publicity discounts: Stephanie Barko, New Shelves, Smith PR • Book Review discounts: BlueInk Reviews, Foreword magazine • Book and Audio Cataloging-In-Publication discounts: Donohue Group • e-Books, Audio book discounts: NZ Graphics, Book Baby, Author Fulfillment Services • Credit Card Merchant Service discounts: The Free Terminal • Editing and Indexing services discounts: Editing by John Maling, Patti Thorn, Denver Editor (Linda Lane) • Graphics and Illustrations discounts: NZ Graphics, F+P Design, IllustratingYou • Legal assistance for authors and publishers: Replin, Rhodes, LLC; Legal Shield • National Book Distribution discounts: Pathway Book Service, New Shelves • Online Book Industry Optimization Discount: New Shelves Distribution • Shipping discount: FedEx • Virtual office assistance discounts: Cornerstone Virtual Assistant, 123Employee • Website design and implementation discounts: IllustratingYou, NGNG • Bowker discounts • Bookscan discounts
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It’s always a good idea to review some of Author U’s original fabric. If you are a member, please take a few minutes to read over part of our core guidelines about how the business and the 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)’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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Everyone communicates differently. Judith Briles is the CEO and Chief Visionary Officer of Author U. She is at your service ... If you’re a Phone person, here’s the office: 303-885-2207 If you’re a Skype person, here’s Judith Briles’ handle, our CEO: Judith.Briles If you’re a Twitter person, here is the handle: @AuthorU If you’re a Facebook person, here is the page: Facebook.com/AuthorU If you’re a Google+ person, here is the page: Join the Community, Author U If you’re a LinkedIn person, join the Author U group If you’re a Pinterest person, here is the page:
pinterest.com/authoru
If you’re a Snail Mail person, here’s the office address: PO Box 460880, Aurora, CO 80046 If you’re an Impatient person, type an e-mail message to Judith below right now: http://authoru.org/contact-author-u.html