2014 October by Author U (niversity)

The Author Resource Vol. 5 Issue 8

October 2014

Time-Outs Lead to New Ideas

Lightning Source and CreateSpace

Finding Creative, Cost-Effective Solutions for Your Business: 10 Free Online Services and Tools

Seasons, Regions, Directions: Which Do You Capitalize? Self-Publishing: What You Should Expect to Pay What Are e-books? It’s a Good Question …

Draft to Dream Book Competition Debuts!

Use Psychology in Your Social Media

The Author Resource

Mark Your 2014 Calendars ... Save the Dates!

Visit our online Calendar on Author U - go to: http://tinyurl.com/AUdates

October 1, 4 11 16-18

Webinar Gold: How to Sell Your Books into the Holidays Brunch & Learn Colorado Library Association conference … CTrade Show, display of books

November 5, 8 15

Webinar Gold: How to Sell Your Books to Libraries BookCamp … How to Create a Killer Book Publicity that Sells Books Far Beyond Your Launch on a Shoestring Budget with Joan Stewart

19, 22

Webinar Gold: Fiction Plotting Webinar Gold: Encore

December 3, 6 6 17, 20 31

Webinar Gold: Fiction: How to Build Characters Holiday Party: 6:30 p.m. Webinar Gold: Pitches, Blurbs and Tags Webinar Gold: Encore

Get your DVDs and CDs from the 2014 Extravaganza! … Available via the AuthorU.org website. Go to: http://bit.ly/2014Extravaganza and order yours now ... before it’s too late.

The Author Resource

HOT Book Strategies … Embrace Them or Perish! Publishing: Time and Project Management, Money, Marketing, Publicity, Social Media October 11th -10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Autumn is here … we have a harvest of goodies for you, and it’s time to get to work! Author U’s Panel of Experts is ready to let it rip … you’ve got questions—we’ve got answers and solutions. • • • • • •

You are overwhelmed … what can you do to cut corners and not cut your productivity? Your bank account is tilting … what can you do to keep going forward without sinking? You want media coverage … what can you do to get without it shelling it out $3,000 a month for a publicist? You need a GamePlan and Strategies … but you are clueless as to where to start (or stop). You know you need Amazon … how can you use it effectively to maximize your book and ebook sales? You know you need marketing moxie … where should you start, what should you stop, and what are the latest trends?

You think that social media is important … but feel like you are a bottomless pit—learn where to crawl, when to leap, and when to exit. Whew! What a day is planned. Be there early … we will start Author Circles at 9.30 a.m. for those who have questions about anything, including newbies and the beginning journey of publishing. Schmoozing, hearty food, and Introductions shortly after 10 a.m. and get ready for a great in-depth program. HOT Book Strategies … Embrace Them or Perish! It’s your choice, you choose. Date: Cost: Location: Register:

Saturday, October 11th $35 for members, $45 for non-members … price increases $10 on Oct.7th Doubletree SE, Aurora CO http://bit.ly/OctBrunchLearn

The Author Resource

Webinar Gold Publishing Smarter - Not Harder

Time Out Leads to New Ideas

Premier Partner NZ Graphics

18 Self Publishing: What You Should Expect to Pay

New Members

Why You Need Lightning Source and Create Space

Member News

34 TIPS

CAL - Colorado Association of Libraries Conference

Seasons, Regions, Directions

Use Psychology in Your Social Media

Member Perks

Code of Ethics

Finding Creative, Cost Effective Solutions

BookCamp Creating Killer Publicity

14 Book Competition Draft to Dream

16 Tech Toolbox Shine the Spotlight

38 39

Contact Author U

29 What You Need to Know “About the Author”

“Author U is the premier authoring resource in the country, creating community, education, guidance, vision, and success for the serious author.”

The Author Resource

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 you how to navigate and implement strategies that will enhance you and your book.

www.AuthorU.org FOUNDER: Judith Briles

Contact Author U Phone: Judith Brilesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 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 Penny Sansevieri /Marcella Smith Susan RoAne / Peggy McColl BOARD: Judith Briles / John Maling Amy Collins / AJ White / Mara Purl Steve Replin / Georgia McCabe Daniel Hall / John Kremer Tom Campbell / Joan Stewart Ed Hoskins / Kelly Johnson

NEWSLETTER: Nick Zelinger, Cover www.NZGraphics.com Linda Lane, Editing Shannon Parish, Layout, www.CreativeVirtualOffice.com

The Author Resource

Time-Outs Lead to New Ideas Judith Briles, Author U Founder

Have you ever had one of the those days (or weeks/months) when you wanted to rant and rave about technology? Mine came as September drew to a close. Two of my websites were hacked; my computer and “smartphone” calendars refused to play nice—randomly deleting things that I knew were entered; e-mail decided that it just wasn’t going to work; and AT&T, which services my “smartphone,” played totally dumb, not getting its packages right for when I was in Europe and on a cruise earlier in the month. Grrrgh! We authors have a “love it and hate it” relationship with the things that drive our marketing, our connecting, our almost-everything in today’s world. So I took a break. While in London, I spent an amazing few days just being tourist. One of my favorite signs was discovered on a building as I walked around. Technology—this love it and hate it environment—is an “Enter at Your Peril” scenario at times. For a solid week, the only technology I let take me over was the camera on the phone. Hello, London! What fun it was to discover that the Queen personally names every new foal in her Mews at Buckingham Palace— even more fun to discover that one is named Milford-Haven, the same name as Author U Board member Mara Purl’s publishing company and fictional town of her book series! When I spent a morning at the Tower of London, I was enthralled and moved as I watched hundreds of volunteers create a massive field of artificial giant red poppies to honor the 800,000 plus military casualties that surrounded it—one poppy for each soldier who had died. As a writer, an author, and The Book Shepherd, I’ve learned there are places that add to my creativity juice. One is water; the other is a garden. I was in heaven when I spent the day in artist Claude Monet’s spectacular gardens in France. Loving everything about where I was, I didn’t want to leave—the flowers, the waters with the famous lily pads he gloriously painted on his canvases, even the bees made me a happy girl.

Continued on page 6 ...

The Author Resource

6 New Ideas: Continued from page 5 ...

I fell in love with Ireland, promising that I would come back and just settle in for several days. In Blarney, John and I found the best Irish Coffee! And then my Muse said, “It’s time to starting writing. On the Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, I settled in with a client’s manuscript to do all the rewrites that were necessary. The goal was to arrive back in the U.S. with a completed manuscript and start the work on my own next books. The Entrepreneur did get completed and is now back in the hands of the author. I did start my next book, and discovered, gulp, there are three books that will pop at once in the new series, the Author YOU Mini Guides—all outlined and each half written … and how was your Summer? Lot’s happening at Author U in October … if you are in Colorado, make sure you get signed up for the Brunch & Learn on the 11th—the Tech Tool boxes are on the Events section to register for … remember that you can do this if you are a remote member, as you can Salons and the twice-a-month Webinar Gold events. Early bird ends for the November Autumn BookCamp with Joan Stewart—do not miss this. The Draft to Dream Book Competition rolls out this month—amazing prizes for the winners. And remember, you need to send us your member news so we can include it in the Author Resource.

Judith

The Author Resource

Webinar Gold

Publishing Smarter … Not Harder This fall, Author U rolls out the regular Webinar R Us series. Hosted twice a month by Nick Taylor and Judith Briles, a new webinar will be available FREE to all Author U members … non-members can attend for a fee. A live presentation will be given on a Wednesday with a “replay” the following Saturday. At the end of the month, an encore will be included from our library of webinars for your enjoyment. The time and login information will be posted on the website, as well as in the Monday announcements from Author U.

OCTOBER 1, 4

Webinar: How to Sell Your Books into the Holidays

Holiday book selling isn’t just in December …it’s all year round. Did you know that October is the #1 book selling month. Get ready to knock down old ideas … there’s book sales out there! Cost: FREE to paid-up Author U members; $49 for non-members

15, 18

Webinar: Don’t Be an Ostrich: Timely Timelines in Publishing

Most authors just think “writing” as they move their book forward to printing. Not after this webinar… there are critical timelines to focus on long before a book is even completed and in the hands of an editor. Roll up your sleeves, there’s work to do! Cost: FREE to paid-up Author U members; $49 for non-members Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/773659422

In the comfort of your own home ...

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 shipping to printing and everything in between. http://ow.ly/dflYi

The Author Resource

Webinar Gold ... continued

Publishing Smarter … Not Harder

NOVEMBER 5, 8

Webinar: How to Sell Your Books to Libraries

Libraries are hot … for print, e-books, audio, and events. You will learn how to approach, present, and sell to the libraries of your choice. It’s your ideal partner in publishing and the public. Cost: FREE to paid-up Author U members; $49 for non-members

19, 22

Webinar: Fiction Plotting

Everyone loves a great story, but how do they happen? Learning how to create the plot of a novel or short story sounds difficult and intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. In this webinar you will learn some basic plotting methods that will take your story idea from, “how do I do that?” to “people are going to love this book.” Once you learn plotting, the world of storytelling will open its doors to you. Cost: FREE to paid-up Author U members; $49 for non-members

DECEMBER 3, 6

Webinar: Fiction: How to Build Characters

Characters are the foundation of every great story. Without good characters your plotting or word crafting means little. In this webinar we’ll cover some of the basics for creating engaging and believable characters. Cost: FREE to paid-up Author U members; $49 for non-members

17, 20

Webinar: Pitches, Blurbs and Tags

Blurbs, pitches, and tag-lines for books are one of the most ignored arts in publishing. Your blurb is one of your strongest marketing tools—without it even the best of books will struggle. You’ve spent hundreds of hours on your book, so don’t let that time and money go to waste by writing a blurb or tag-line that doesn’t scream for the reader to take your book to the checkout. Learn the key basics for writing pitches, blurbs, and tags in this webinar. Cost: FREE to paid-up Author U members; $49 for non-members

Wait … Wait … more’s coming! In January, watch for the Publishing Smarter, Not Harder Learning Labs —ranging from a 4 to 6 week Online Training Lab dedicated to a specific topic.

The Author Resource

CAL CONFERENCE 2014 October 16-18, 2014 Participate in the Colorado Association of Libraries Annual Conference October 16-18 in Loveland, Colorado. All Author U Members in all States are welcome. AuthorU.org will have a booth. Librarians love books from authors EVERYWHERE …of course. If you have had a great book review in ForeWord Reviews, Blue Ink Reviews, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly and/or the Library Journal, you are nuts not to be there! Your options as an Author U member are Be represented. Early Bird Cost is $60 per book to display and be pitched by Booth participants; after September 15th, Tardy Bird is $75—there is a limited number of books accepted. Speak up now! Sign books. Why not … it can be arranged, and Author U will handle sales. Work the booth. Bodies needed … why not you? Interested? You don’t have to be a Colorado resident … all Author U members welcome. What to do: Contact Judith Briles NOW and commit to your spot. Judith@Briles.com or 303-885-2207. Register on the website. http://authoru.org/event/cal-conference-2014

The Author Resource

How to Create Killer Book Publicity that Sells Books Far Beyond Your Launch Saturday, November 15, 2015 Would you like to create killer, knock-the-socks-off book publicity that reaches far beyond any launch you envisioned … even on a teeny tiny shoe string budget? You can … and you will if you attend the Fall BookCamp led by the Publicity Hound Joan Stewart. Your take-aways include How to take the target market for your book and find them online, offline, etc. Includes contacting them (journalists, bloggers, consumers) on social media sites, pitching, follow-up. How to create your own media outlets and tips for building a raving fan base. Includes YouTube, podcasts, an e-zine, etc. E-mail marketing. So IMPORTANT and something most authors miss! Tips for capturing an e-mail address and what to do with it once you have it. What kinds of e-mails to send, even if you write fiction. Includes things like killer subject lines that get them to open the message, tricks for writing, and presentation, etc. How to prepare a publicity campaign for your book—what to do pre-launch, during launch, and afterward. Hot seats in the afternoon … Joan will pre-select up to 6 attendees who will be in the Publicity Hound’s eyes … will you be a lucky one and howl with and for your book? Who should attend: • Authors who haven’t started writing yet. • Authors who haven’t published yet. • Authors who are bored with their own books. • Authors who have a book that is getting long in the tooth. • Authors who are just published. • Authors … you!

Continued on page 11 ...

The Author Resource BookCamp: Continued from page 10 ...

Joan Stewart is the Publicity Hound. With an in-depth background as a journalist, publicity coach and master of creating the best of the best in Cheat Sheets for propelling authors to the forefront of media attention, get ready for an action-packed and fun day. Her website is PublicityHound.com. When: Saturday, November 15th Lunch and workbook included Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost: Author U members - Early Bird ends Oct. 10th: $99 Tardy Bird: $129 Non-Members - Early Bird ends Oct. 10th: $139 Tardy Bird: $169

The Author Resource

Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing with Judith Briles ... Everything You Want to Know, But Didn’t Know What to Ask 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 that 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

taking you

FROM CONCEPT TO REALITY

CREATE | PRINT | MARKET

CHG

Color House Graphics | 800.454.1916 | www.colorhousegraphics.com

The Author Resource

NA graphics is a sponsor of Author U – Your Guide to Book Publishing

Award-winning book design, banners, posters, postcards, brochures, business cards, corporate identity, logo design ... and more. Compelling graphic design that meets your deadlines without breaking your budget. “Nick is the best book designer in the business. You can’t go wrong. He melds creativity and imagination into every client’s product while always considering the commercial viablity of the marketplace. He has helped many of my clients achieve a look and feel that maximizes their message and allows them to stand head and shoulders above the competition.” - Mark Graham, Owner, Mark Graham Communications, www.MarkGrahamCommunications.com “As a veteran book manufacturer’s rep, I’ve worked with Nick on a number of titles over the years; and he’s the consummate professional. I’m quick to recommend him to authors and publishers who are looking for a talented, knowledgeable, and experienced book designer. I know if Nick is handling the design of a title that the files will be supplied in accordance with our guidelines, which ensures problem free and expedited production.” - Mike Daniels, Four Colour Group (Past President, Colorado Independent Publishers Association) “Nick designed my book cover, and I can say without qualification that he is truly a genius. I first presented my ideas to Nick, and he followed my instructions to the letter. The cover that I envisioned looked really inferior. He gently guided me to a better and more creative solution that turned out to be a home run. People pick up the book because of the cover that Nick designed! Nick is prompt, receptive, careful, and creative. He knows his business and cares about his clients. I would use him again without hesitation.” - Joan McWilliams, Author of Parenting Plans For Families After Divorce

Nick Zelinger Phone / Fax: 303-985-4174 / mailto:nzgraphics@comcast.net

www.NZgraphics.com

The Author Resource

Make your publishing dream come true â&#x20AC;Ś with the Author U Draft to Dream Book Publishing Competition What you need to know is on the next page ...

The Author Resource

Make Your Publishing Dream Come True … with the Author U Draft to Dream Book Publishing Competition • • •

Do you have your manuscript ready or almost there? Is crossing the finishing line and having your book in print a goal? Would you like expert publishing help for free? As the premier authoring resource in the country, AuthorU.org creates community, education, guidance, vision, and success for the serious author. The Draft to Dream Book Publishing Competition is your tipping point to realize your dreams … to make your book a reality.

4 amazing authors to-be will stagger away with a Grand Prize valued in excess of $10,000. From Editing, to Cover Design, to Interior Layout, e-Book creation, Advanced Reader copies, National Distribution, Virtual Assistance, one year Membership in AuthorU.org, full registration at the Author U annual Extravaganza, ISBNs, Book Review, Platform Strategy Session, ETC. Prizes are being finalized …

36 Finalists will get a 6-month membership to AuthorU.org, a special webinar designed exclusively around Nuggets for Newbies, discounts to all Author U events and attendance at the Eaglet/Eagle Publishing Day at the Author U Extravaganza on May 7, 2015 and participation in a special How-to Crowdfunding Webinar.

All entrants will receive a free copy of the Author YOU Mini Guide to Publishing Timelines and two months of The Author Resource e-zine exclusively available to Author U members. Early Bird Entry Fee is $119 … for Author U members, $99 Tardy Bird Entry Fee is $129

All entries must be in by January 15, 2015. .. Finalists will be notified by April 20, 2015... Manuscripts must be received in the Author U offices no later than January 19, 2015.

Full Details are on the AuthorU website Disclaimer: There will be no “upsales” from sponsors of the services provided and/or won. Services have been donated by the sponsors of the Draft to Dream Book Publishing Competition and AuthorU.org. Author U (niversity) Author U, a membership organization, is an authoring resource that creates community, education, guidance, vision, and success for the serious author. It accomplishes this through The Author Resource, an e-zine for members; multiple monthly programs, including Brunch & Learn, Dinner and a Program, Salons, Tech Tool Boxes, Author YOU Circles, the Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing radio show, Hangouts On the Air, Author Mentoring Mondays, BookCamps and the annual 3-day Author U Extravaganza. http://www.authoru.org

The Author Resource

All Tech Tool Boxes, exclusively for Author U paid-up members only, are limited to 8 participants to allow for in-depth work with each and are led by Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles. AND … ... a limited number of participants can attend via remote.

October 21st

Shine the Spotlight on Your Media Page Authors – when was the last time you shined the spotlight on the media page on your website? Interested in speaking engagements and media exposure? The marketing of your book and business should include a media page on your site. Join us for this Tech Toolbox to learn must-have items for your media page, bios (yes, plural!) to have posted, and review author one-sheets. After this workshop, the spotlight will be so bright on your media page that you’ll have to wear shades! Bring your laptop and the log in details for your website, your headshots, book cover images, and a copy of your book. Date: Tuesday, October 21st Time: 3 to 6 p.m., mountain time Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora CO (you will get directions the day before and what to bring for each session). For our out of state members, we can set up Skype for you to participate.

Cost: $60 or both October and November for $100

In October, Author U members get FREE webinars twice a month. Get ready for Publish Smarter … Not Harder. Watch for the dates and get them on your calendar. Archives will be in the Logged in Members Only section. Check this month’s webinars under the Events tab. www.AuthorU.org

The Author Resource

Renew, Review, Revamp, and Repair Your Blog Blogs give authors a great outlet for expressing their thoughts, expanding on ideas in their books, and generating discussions. To help ensure that your thoughts and ideas are “getting out there” to your target audience, you need to review and implement best practices when writing and posting your blogs. In this Tech Toolbox, we will have participants log into their blog dashboards to review techniques on best methods for posting images & content, look at blogging tools, demonstrate plug-ins for WordPress.org that you can use for posts, getting ideas for posts, best practices for comments/ commenting, and more—give your blog some TLC! Bring your laptop and the log in details to access the dashboard of your blog. Date: Tuesday, November 25th Time: 3 to 6 p.m., mountain time Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora (you will get directions the day before and what to bring for each session) Cost: $60 or both October and November for $100

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 45,000 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 that 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

The Author Resource

Self-Publishing: What You Should Expect to Pay By Michele DeFilippo

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 professionally-designed 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 eBook, 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.

The Author Resource

Why You Need Lightning Source AND CreateSpace By Amy Collins

I have been asked one question more than any other. ”Do I need Ingram Spark or Lightning Source if I have Create Space?” I know it is tempting to avoid the extra expense and hassle of taking on a second POD provider, but I want to take a moment and share some of the experiences we’ve had here with our POD work. I hope these statements help you determine if you need one or both.

So… DO YOU NEED BOTH? YES! •

Create Space does a terrific job with Amazon.

•

Create Space charges less for printing and set up fees that Lightning Source.

•

Create Space does offer “Extended Distribution” for bookstores and libraries. (sort of… more later)

•

Lightning Source charges set up fees and a lot more for proofs than Create Space does.

BUT ... •

Create Space’s “Extended Distribution” is only fully available to those books using a Create Space ISBN. (You should always buy your own ISBNs and have a direct relationship with your book’s brand and ISBNs)

•

Even if your book has extended distribution and CAN be bought by bookstores, it most likely WON’T. Bookstores do not relish the idea of giving their biggest competitor money.

•

In addition, the extended distribution offered by CreateSpace is ACTUALLY LSI! CS uses LSI for the distribution. They do not, however, offer competitive discounts to the bookstores, further narrowing your chances of being stocked.

•

You will be instantly relegated to the pile of “self-published” books before the buyer has a chance to review the quality. Continued on page 20 ...

The Author Resource

20 Why You Need Them Both: Continued from page 19 ...

•

Lightning Source allows your book the chance to be ordered in many countries and formats that Create Space does not.

SO ... •

Use Create Space for Amazon. They do a great job and take less money for each sale.

•

Use Lightning Source in ADDITION so that you can be ordered by the bookstores and libraries from the large wholesalers with which they prefer doing business.

•

Use your own Bowker provided ISBN so that you have the benefits of your publishing company’s brand on all databases.

•

Don’t cheap out. Lightning Source and Create Space are two different tools for two different markets. If you don’t want to be in the retail store and library market, then you don’t need Lightning Source. But if stores and libraries are your goal, then spend the money to provide the books to them in the manner that gives them the best chance of saying “yes.”

FINALLY •

If you really cannot stand the thought of using more than one POD provider, go with Lightning Source—it will allow you access to more venues even if it makes you less money per unit.

If you have only one or two books, you will be sent to INGRAM SPARK (https://www1.ingramspark.com/) If you have more than 2 books and more coming, I would suggest trying to set up an LSI account. (https://www1.lightningsource.com/register.aspx). CREATE SPACE takes all comers. (https://www.createspace.com/)

Amy Collins is the CEO of New Shelves Distribution, www.NewShelves.com and serves on the Board of Author U.

The Author Resource

Seasons, Regions, Directions: Which Do You Capitalize? By Kathy Watson We’ve all seen warnings about failure to address basic punctuation or grammatical errors in preparing a book for publication. While every book needs an editor, planning to use one is not an excuse for authors to engage in stream-of-consciousness writing and skip paying attention to spelling and punctuation details in their manuscript. Running your work through spellcheck is not enough. In fact, if you make changes based on spellcheck, you’ll likely be introducing errors that didn’t exist. It’s a rare story that doesn’t include describing place or direction. Here are some tips on capitalization related to seasons, regions, and directions. Generally, seasons are not capitalized: • •

After a punishing winter, everyone hopes for an early spring.

As youngsters, we spent lazy summers at the seaside.

But do capitalize a season when it’s part of the name of an event: •

We’re looking forward to attending Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier in Chicago.

•

Purdue University holds a fitness walk during its Spring Fling weekend.

Directions and parts of the country aren’t quite as clear-cut. Don’t capitalize north, south, east or west when describing a compass direction: •

Sam is heading east as soon as he finishes his final exams.

•

Georgia found her phone at the north entrance of the building.

Don’t capitalize a general area of a state or city: •

Darby hopes to buy a ranch somewhere in western Montana.

•

They operate a bed and breakfast in northern Portland.

Do capitalize specific regions of a country or of the world: •

Darlene works in the Pacific Northwest, but her new job will take her to the Far East.

•

Ken expanded his Midwest company’s reach to the East Coast and Pacific Rim countries.

Do capitalize a region or location when it is part of a proper noun: •

Will Santa fly over the South Pole on his way to Wisconsin’s North Woods?

•

The entire Western Hemisphere is in the middle of an unprecedented deep freeze.

Each book needs an editor’s eagle eye, but don’t expect that person to accept total responsibility for every word, every comma, every capitalization in your work. An independent writer and self-proclaimed ruthless editor, Kathleen Watson has for 25 years been working behind the scenes to help organizations and individuals look good. Her blog examines examples of both good and not-so-good communication, and she has a book in the works — Grammar For People Who Hate Rules — that will provide examples of today’s conventional usage. The Associated Press Stylebook is her primary resource. Contact her or see her blog at: www.RuthlessEditor.com

The Author Resource

Once is never enough … 2014 Extravaganza DVDs and CDs Are Available! If you were at the Extravaganza, you know that many of the sessions had “your name” on them … beckoning to you that this was “your next step” … or you may have missed a session. Experts cite that to get it, truly “get it”—repetition is critical. Listening to and/or viewing learning modules is the ultimate to implementing an idea. Author U was able to post within a week of the Extravaganza all main sessions, including Penny Sansevieri’s Deep Dive Workshop on Thursday night. All you need to do is indicate your preference from the AuthorU.org website and Mark Camacho and 81 Media International will get your order to you promptly. Fall is a perfect time to watch, listen, review, and create a plan of action for you and your book.

NOW … take home all the main speakers from the Extravaganza in either audio of video. Complete details are on the website—get yours today! http://authoru.org/ex14-order.html

Reserve Your Spot now ... MAKE IT SO… the Author U Extravaganza slated for May 7-9, 2015

May 7, 2015, Deep-Dive Dinner Workshop with Heather Lutze, author of The Findability Formula, Thumbonomics, and the forthcoming Marketing Espionage from 6 to 9 p.m. Prior to Penny’s first session is the Eaglet/Newbie sessions. The Author Shark Tank will be held in one session on Thursday. Brainstorm with the Pros will be back. There will be a session on Agents, Book Reviews, and Legal Issues ... and the Author U Shark Tank will be revealed. Lots to do. Get the dates on your calendar now—you don’t want to miss this. The Early, Early Bird left and flew the coup … Prices are low right now—lock yours in pronto. Register: http://authoru.org/extravaganza.html

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Use Psychology in Your Social Media By Melody Barnes Jones In the marketing world, human behavior has been studied relentlessly in the name of using psychology to motivate people. What is social media? Simply another tool for marketing. To make the most of your social media efforts, try applying a few basic psychological principles. Emotions are contagious By using software, Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, analyzed one billion Facebook posts over two years and noticed an interesting trend. Users dealing with gloomy weather tended to post more negative thoughts, adversely affecting those who were experiencing nice weather. Gloominess was contagious. Interestingly, they also discovered that positive posts proved more contagious than negative. Their stats: negative posts prompted 1.29 more negative posts from others; positive posts prompted 1.75 more positive posts. People love exclusivity You know that rush you feel when you just beat a deadline? Everyone who missed it, even by a minute, did not get to be part of the exclusive group … but you are. You can use this to your advantage in social media. By creating a way for your fans to be part of an exclusive group, you’ve helped them feel valuable, like they’re part of the club. A few ideas: make offers time-limited, thereby creating a sense of urgency and a feeling of exclusivity; establish an invitation-only group on Facebook or your website that only includes fans who have worked for it in some way (signed up for a course, participated in an event, etc); or do the timehonored “The first ten people to (insert action here) get (an exclusive thing)” and then keep a public running count of how many are left. People like to be seen You’ve no doubt noticed the high number of selfies on social networks. Big brands have experienced great success in creating fan ambassadors by appealing to being seen. For example, if fans post a photo of themselves enjoying a product or visiting a site that relates to the brand, they “win” something. It can be as simple as their photo being posted in a prominent place for a week, or they may win an actual product. Fans then post themselves winning that product, and the brand has created an ambassador. Think about how this can work for your author platform. Perhaps all fans who submit a book review get promoted on your social media; or maybe they win something bigger, such as coffee with the author or a book club visit. Don’t be afraid to think big! Be creative in applying these basic psychology concepts to your social media marketing strategy. With a little extra effort, you can continue building a strong author platform. Melody Barnes Jones is owner of Social Media Management Services, where she takes care of the day-today so you don’t have. Check out her current or future offerings at http://bit.ly/socialmediamelody. Melody was recently published in Stories Gathered at the Kitchen Table: A Collection of Women’s Memoirs. E-mail her at Melody@SocialMediaMelody.com.

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Do you want to master authoring and publishing? If yes, you need to be on The Author’s Ark. Each quarter, a new Ark begins--it’s a three-month commitment for a limited number of authors that includes a combination of sessions done online and over Skype: • • •

2 webinars - sessions are done online and over Skype each month Monthly Group Coaching Monthly One-on-One Laser Coaching with Judith Briles

The Author’s Ark with Judith Briles ... Surviving and Thriving in the Flood of Authoring and Publishing There are only 12 spots—grab yours NOW under the Events tab on The Book Shepherd website: www.TheBookShepherd.com

Judith Briles, known as The Book Shepherd, is a book publishing expert and coach. She is the Founder of Author U, a membership organization created for the serious author who wants to be seriously successful. She’s been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 31 books, including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers, and is a speaker at publishing conferences. Become part of her inner circle by joining the Author’s Ark and exclusive monthly webinar and coaching event. Her audio and workbook series, Creating Your Book and Author Platform is now available. Join Judith live on Thursdays at 6 p.m. EST, for Author U - Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Network at http://togi.us/authoru. Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.

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The Technology and Tips Toolbox

Finding Creative, Cost-Effective Solutions for Your Business: 10 Free Online Services and Tools By Kelly Johnson As a business owner, you want the best for your business; but sometimes the budget calls for you to find creative, cost-effective solutions. With the countless online applications, services, and tools available, you have many options you can use to run your business. Here are 10 free tools and services that may be of assistance to your business: 1. Tweepz.com - Want to see who is Tweeting on any topic, location, or skill set? Try using Tweepz. You can get inspiration if you’re lacking sufficient information about any topic. It’s also a great way to find movers and shakers to follow on Twitter. 2. Mention (https://en.mention.com/) - Want to find out how many times you’re mentioned throughout all social media? You can sign up as one user with one account and get up to 100 mentions per month for free. 3. Khanacademy.org - Want to learn almost anything from experts? You can do it at Khan Academy. 4. Apptivo.com - You can get started with this online project management system using the free version, which allows for unlimited users, up to 40 standard apps, and the ability to send invoices even with a mobile app. 5. Nutcache.com - This free invoicing and time management service works in many languages, is secure and free. 6. Doodle.com - A group scheduling app that enables you to send a group invite that allows everyone to collaborate on when the meeting will take place. This helps avoid the back and forth e-mails that can get everyone confused. 7. Boomerang (http://www.boomeranggmail.com/) - Want to write an e-mail now but send it later? You can do that with Boomerang for Gmail.com. It gives you a “send later” button in your Gmail, and you can tell it when to send an e-mail. The basic plan is free, and there are upgrades available. 8. Tregia.com - Want to know what another website is doing to get visitors and be successful? You can use this free tool to analyze any website that you want. It’s smart business to check out your competition. You can also use it to get tips to make your own website better. 9. Streak.com - This app lets you organize your e-mails inside your Gmail.com. It also offers e-mail scheduling and more.

Continued on page 26 ...

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Finding Creative: Continued from page 25 ...

10. Trello.com – Trello is a great way to remember ideas, collect supplies, and get your thought process in order. You can track all your to-dos in one place, and they have a mobile version. Let me know what tools and services you try and what works well for you! 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.

What Are e-Books? It’s a Good Question … by Nick Taylor One of the number one questions I get from people is “What are e-books?” To some that might seem like a pretty simple question—they’re electronic books. But what IS an electronic book? What black magic makes these things work? In a nutshell, they are websites. Yep, that’s it; e-books are just websites. If you crack open an e-book, you’ll find a bunch of files and a few folders, all filled with HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) based documents. E-books are formatted using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) just like websites; but unlike websites, e-books are missing many of the features that HTML has to offer. An ePub or mobi (Kindle) file is just the wrapped up version of the website that is your book. HTML is what makes e-books compact and gives users the ability to customize their reading experience. E-books like websites can be vast and their inner workings can be difficult to understand if you don’t understand web design. Just keep the web in mind when thinking about e-books, and you’ll do just fine. So the next time someone asks you what an e-book is, you can speak with confidence when you say they are electronic books. And if you want to feel extra spiffy, you can point out that they are written in Hyper Text Markup Language using Cascading Style Sheets. If you’re not talking to a web person, you should get some impressed looks. So there you go, e-books in a nutshell. Nick Taylor (720) 490-6881

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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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HOW TO KEEP YOUR SANITY Feeling overwhelmed about the various aspects to manage during the book publishing process? Kelly Johnson, owner of Cornerstone Virtual Assistance, is a Professional Certified Virtual Assistant who specializes in working with authors to provide support with projects during the book publishing process. Kelly earned a certification as a Professional Author’s Assistant; some of the projects she manages include: • Obtaining an LCCN • Obtaining ISBNs • Setting up online shopping cart or PayPal buttons on your site to purchase your books/products • Setting up an account on Author Central • Setting up social media accounts • Managing blog posts and website updates • Creating QR codes to include in your book and on your site • Creating a book trailer video using Animoto

Her area of expertise is in handling technical projects. Visit the Cornerstone Virtual Assistance booth in the exhibitor area—learn more of how a virtual assistant may be an asset for your business and your book.

Kelly Johnson Cornerstone Virtual Assistance www.cornerstoneva.com

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What You Need To Know About ut Thee “About The Author” If a picture can say a thousand words, s, what is it you want to communicate? What does your author photo say about you? This is exactly why having a great bio shot is essential in putting that final touch to your publishing project. You can quickly tank the professionalism of your book by using a substandard photo, or no photo at all. And yes, people know and it shows. Your bio picture and the “About The Author” section is a way to connect with your readers and give them a glimpse of the real you…the best version of the real you. You are an author diamond. Just like there are multiple facets and sides to you, you should also have several photos that reflect that and that will work for the various promo materials you will be creating for your book. You need a professional headshot. You know the kind—upper body, shoulders and face. This doesn’t have to be the mug shot school picture type that haunts you from your past. These can be fun. There’s no one in it but you, your head, your shoulders, and your fabulous smile. More than likely this type will be what actually goes into the “About The Author” section of your book. Then it’s time to branch out and have some fun with your other options. Creativity and your “other sides” can be reflected on your website, in your newsletter, presentations, and other things you’ll need to represent yourself in. Think about how you can represent your genre and connect with your readers. If your book is a technical business book, then stick with photos that reflect that. Maybe an

indoor shoot is more appropriate for you with great lighting and completely neutral background. If your book is a cookbook, maybe get some shots in your kitchen of you in your favorite apron or with pots and pans flashing. If you’re into cars (and your readers are too), shine one up and snap away! If you’ve got a military background, maybe the photo shoot location can be on a tarmac or hanger and incorporate some of your uniforms or snazzy bomber jacket. Often times an outdoor photo shoot can capture this and naturally bring an element of *zing* and flavor to your photos. These are the kind of pictures that can go on your website, in your newsletter, Christmas cards, and other promo materials. More than anything, do not chintz out on one of the most important elements of your book…you. You’ve worked hard and poured yourself into this project, now it’s time to show off the masterpiece. (You are the masterpiece—let your photos show it!) -- By Ashlee Bratton Event Photographer based in Southern Colorado info@ashography.com /www.ashography.com

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Trying to get that new book of yours out into the world? Or maybe yours just needs that jolt of electric make-over magic to give it new life and selling potential. With 20 years of award-winning experience in book design, NZ Graphics can breathe new life into your book cover and interior—making it shine, pop and dazzle—from cover to cover. Stop by the NZ Graphics booth and see samples of his work and discuss your project. Visit www.NZGraphics.com to see more examples of award-winning books and testimonials. “If you need a book interior, book cover, logo, brochure, flyer ... you name it ... Nick Zelinger and NZ Graphics should be at the top of your list. He is flexible, creative and a pleasure to work with. My clients rate him tops, so do I.” – Dr. Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd, Author, Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms “If you’re an author or publisher and want your book cover and interior design process to be easy, high value and hassle-free, NZ Graphics is the company for you. Nick Zelinger is one of the most professional, customer service book cover designers in the business. Hire him now.” – Maryanna Young, President, Aloha Publishing

ww.nzgraphics.com 303-985-4175

Nick Zelinger, NZ Graphics … A Proud Member of the Author U Community.

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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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New Members Lavel Miller flew across the country in the summer of 2013 to bring three new additions home to join her family of five. Due to abandonment and neglect, these children had been removed from the custody of her drug addicted niece and put up for adoption. Never having met them and knowing very little about their experiences, Lavel placed her life and career on hold to adopt the traumatized children with the hope of helping their mother, as well. Without any experience beyond her own self-work and healing from an abusive childhood, she launched the children into a new life in her home. The supportive letters she began writing to her niece evolved into the development of their story in a book. Her letters unfold the horrors associated with drug addiction and its aftermath through the eyes of the children’s caretaker. Addiction and abuse touches each one of us in one way or another. Letters to Melissa: Echoes of Silence brings the stark pain, irrationality, and heartache of substance abuse to the forefront as she shares her life and thoughts with her niece.

Kathleen Watson, self-proclaimed Ruthless Editor, works behind the scenes to help individuals and organizations look good. She loves words, respects punctuation, and knows that rewrite, rewrite, rewrite is the path to perfection — or darned close to it. During her 25 years in the field, Kathy has produced hundreds of newsletters, written countless employee profiles, ghostwritten columns for executives, and developed numerous press releases and articles for trade publications. With much of today’s communication dependent on mobile devices and web-based technology, writing has gained new importance. We meet people, create first impressions, continue interactions, and conduct business electronically. Kathy’s monthly “Killer Tips From a Ruthless Editor” and regular blog posts demonstrate proper usage through examples, helping people communicate more effectively at home, at work, and online.

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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Member News Nancy Sullivan TransitionPoints: Finding Your career Intersection of Skill and Passion is hot off the press and a perfect debut book to support Nancy’s mission for her clients to get on track or on the career path that is the right one versus the one that is the wrong fit. Ronnie Moore of WESType Publishing Services did the interior and Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics did the interior.

Steve Snyder is the making global news with Shot Down: The true story of the pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17, Susan Ruth. He’s just returning from the European launch in Belgium after over 600 in sales in Amazon in just a few weeks. Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics did the interior and cover.

Lesia Cartelli’s Heart of Fire is creating a buzz in California and Colorado with its double debut at a firefighter conference and the annual fund-raiser. Rebecca Finkel of F&P Design did the interior and cover.

Steve Laufmann’s Breaking Through the Agility Barrier has finally landed. If you have ever wondered why all those technology systems go snafu, here’s the inside track!

Ashlee Bratton is doing the happy dance with the launch of Life Before the Lottery: The 30 x 30 List… media is coming to her and a standing room only book signing at the BookBar in Denver. Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics did the interior and cover.

Heather Elliott’s 7 Critical Mindset Strategies started getting orders on Amazon long before the book was even available. Rebecca Finkel of F&P Design did the interior and cover.

Kim Curtis has gone to layout for her book, Money Secrets. Kathi Dunn of Dunn+Associates did the cover Rebecca Finkel of F&P Design is doing the interior.

Connie Strasheim and W. Lee Cowden books, Goods that Fit a Unique You and Create a Toxin-Free Body & Home Starting Today are now available, and book three, BioEnergetic Tools for Wellness, has headed to the printers. Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics did the covers and Rebecca Finkel of F&P Design did the interiors.

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Hot Tips for October Aha #Tweeter Tip: Don’t Tweet on a random basis … being consistent is important. Daily, with duplicate posts … remember, Tweets last anywhere from 15 seconds to many minutes—not hours.

Is your website mobile friendly? Check out how yours and your tablet measure up with Mobile Test emulator–here’s your link: http://mobiletest.me/

It’s a great day when you can use royalty free photos. Make sure you bookmark Public Domain Pictures net … lots of categories and photos to select from that are freebies. http://www.publicdomainpictures.net

Love this tool … WeTransfer. com … it’s fast, it’s free … bypass DropBox and the time it takes with Hightail to move large files. You can move items up to 10 GB … use it and a tip of the Author U hat to Joan Stewart, Publicity Hound for sharing.

Author Alert: NEW Website link to get your LCCN: http://www.loc.gov/publish/pcn/

Saturday, November 15, 2015 How to Create Killer Book Publicity that Sells Books Far Beyond Your Launch on a Shoestring Budget Would you like to create killer, knock-the-socks-off book publicity that reaches far beyond any launch you envisioned … even on a teeny tiny shoe string budget? You can … and you will if you attend the Fall BookCamp led by the Publicity Hound Joan Stewart. Early Bird ends on October 10th … get registered for a day that will change your book. Full details are on the website under the Events tab.

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Hot Tips for October Google AdWords Warning Thanks to Mike Schatzki who shared this: “My Google AdWords billing recently skyrocketed from under a dollar a month to about $100 a month, but resulted in no contacts. Here is what happened and how you can prevent it from happening to you. “When I saw the jump on my credit card statement I called Google (866-246-6453) because I thought I had become the victim of click fraud. They insisted that that was not the case and that all the clicks were legitimate clicks from their “Display Network” program. “Google has two types of advertising — Search Network and Display Network. Search Network is for the ads that you see at the top and on the right when you do a Google search. Display Network (which used to be called AdSense) posts the ads that you see embedded on websites. Display Network can be good if you are selling a consumer product. However, for speaking and training, almost invariably our results come from people doing searches on our name or our keywords. “When they explained to me that all my additional charges were from Display Network (and the damage could have been much worse except that I had a low dollar limit per day that acted as a stop loss), I asked them what they had changed that resulted in this huge increase in my Display Network clicks. They insisted that they had done absolutely nothing. Instead they stated in an e-mail that the Display Network is an “extremely dynamic space that itself changes all the time.” “What this basically means is that the Display Network is unpredictable, a kind of gigantic roulette wheel. If the ball happens to drop on your number and you want this kind of traffic, you just hit the jackpot. If Display Network traffic is useless to you, you could get taken to the cleaners really fast, as I was. “If you have an AdWords account, you should immediately log in and see how you are set up. Click on each campaign and then click on “Settings.” On the third line down it will say “Type.” If it says “Search Network only” then you don’t have to worry about the Display Network. On the other hand if it says “Display Network Only” or “Search Network with Display Select,” (or “All”) and you don’t want Display Network, click “Edit” and then the down arrow and change it to “Search Network only.” If you have trouble, call Google and they will walk you through it.”

“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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Did you miss a show? Listen to any of the previous shows either on your computer or via iTunes. Always packed with useful information for the author who wants to succeed. Past shows are listed on the home page of Your Guide to Book Publishing and AuthorU.org. All you need to do is click on the one you want, and it starts immediately. http://togi.us/authoru

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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: The Replin Law Group, 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

The Author Resource

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always a good idea to review some of Author Uâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original fabric. If you are a member, please take a few minutes 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)â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s e-Magazine. The Board of Directors has the right to decline membership in Author U(niversity) to any applicant if it has knowledge, direct or indirect, of behavior, including speech, of such applicant which would constitute a violation of any provision of the Code of Ethics. By applying for membership to Author U(niversity) and by signing this Code of Ethics, applicant agrees to the following: Article 1: Author U(niversity) members shall treat other members with courtesy, dignity, and respect. Members will respect the personal and business confidentiality of other members. Article 2: Author U(niversity) members shall conduct their business on the highest professional level and not bring discredit to Author U(niversity), its members, or to the publishing profession. Article 3: Author U(niversity) members shall avoid using materials, titles, or thematic creations originated by others, either orally, graphically, or otherwise, unless the use has been approved by the originator. Article 4: Author U(niversity) members shall protect the public and other members against fraud and unfair practices, and shall use his/her best efforts to eliminate any practice that may bring discredit to the publishing profession, to Author U(niversity), or to its members. Article 5: Author U(niversity) members will not engage in any action or practice or agreement that will or will likely unfairly limit or restrain access to the marketplace by any other Author U(niversity) member based upon economic factors, race, creed, color, sex, age, disability, or country of national origin. Article 6: Author U(niversity) members will not engage in any action or practice that takes advantage of or exploits the comparative lack of knowledge or lack of expertise or the financial status of any Author U(niversity) member or member of the public.

Your joining Author U(niversity) and acceptance of membership signifies that you agree to the above.

The Author Resource

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