Episodes

Top Book Design Trends in 2026 Writing and publishing in today’s world is NOT as hard as most believe. To “ease the overwhelm and stress,” preparation in doing your research is part of the formula. Joining Judith Briles today is award-winning book designer Nick Zelinger, an author himself, and a frequent guest on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. Today’s book is fighting for dominance in a thumbnail world. -Design trends keep changing. Get signs for trends vs. fads for the remin...

Building author success is what Dr. Judith Briles is about. Judith is solo today and takes you inside and through a variety of tools--the WHY and the HOW to use them. This is a podcast you will want to listen/watch multiple times. Have pen and paper and your side as she moves quickly through each one—tools she uses every day. This episode delivers a flood of insight and information. Judith Briles brings a wealth of knowledge in book publishing and book marketing this edition of the AuthorU-Your ...

Mental triggers are psychological levers used to tap in into a book buyer’s emotions, instincts, and cognitive biases. They move readers past passive logic and inspire them to take actions—buy your book. Joining Judith Briles today is Casey Demchak, an author himself and expert in creating book and marketing copy that lures in book buyers and readers. Using emotional triggers in your pitching, in bookstores, even in media means you understand the psychology of creating engagement between you who...

The year of the Fire Horse continues. In this episode of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, host Judith Briles has invited author and influence building strategist Deb Eckerling to join her for a session on Hot Tips with LinkedIn. I immediately took two tips and changed my own profile and then did a follow-up with one of my clients to alter his and then add a new feature to expand his outreach. Deb is an active podcaster, doing her weekly Book Proposal Podcast that provides short...

Building author platforms; knowing where and how to pitch out your book; and know how to find a publicity portal all takes time. Joining Judith Briles today is Kat Neff with 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, she has built a career that needed marketing and publicity tools. With those 20 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge in book promotion and media relations. Your takeaways include: -Why you must own your won story before anyone else does. -Why your email list is your most ...

In this week’s AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing, Dr. Judith Briles invites Writing Coach and PR Expert Dan Janal to join her. You will learn a variety of tips of writing—with a focus getting your book done .. in a flash! Dan Janal is the author of more than a dozen books, first published in 1991. His book Write Your Book in a Flash is peppered with ideas to fast-forward your writing. His next book deals with his adventure in overcoming a cancer diagnosis in his memoir: Reframing Cancer: New...

Writing and publishing in today’s world is NOT as hard as most believe. To “ease the overwhelm and stress,” preparation in doing your research is part of the formula. Joining Judith Briles today is Barb Wilson, an author herself, and an editor with over 30 years of working with authors and editing their manuscripts. Think of this session as Fire Horse Writing and Editing! -Make sure your manuscript is in the best shape possible BEFORE moving it to your editor. Ditto, if you are submitting to an ...

In this episode of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, host Judith Briles has invited author of Communicating with the Future and Futurist Dr. Thomas Frey to join her for a session on the Future of Authoring and Publishing. The founder of the DaVinci Institute, Tom has crisscrossed the globe physically and now via Zoom to crowds as large as 150,000 attendees. A daily blogger, you can find him at FuturistSpeaker.com and via his Substack newsletter, ThomasFreySubstack.com. Your take...

When is the last time you did an author “spring cleaning”—your office, your surroundings, even what your goals are? If you have been on the author and publishing track for a few years, most like some of your original goals have changed. Your overall mission may be different; you may have altered your marketing philosophy and your execution of it; you may decide to tweak your writing style and genres. Who knows … only you. Before summertime arrives, many go through the housekeeping cleaning out, ...

The Weeklies are the core of a community—a type of local press that features a variety of things that helps a community to thrive. Who better to talk about the strength and power a weekly brings to a community that Bob Sweeney, publisher of The Villager for over 40 years that spiders out to communities in the Metro Denver area of Colorado. Usually offered in both print and digital formats … and published weekly. Join in ... you will learn a lot! • Why a Weekly would feature their local authors a...

In this episode of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, host Judith Briles has invited author of 29 books and creator of the www.BigFatWords.com Substack, Dom Testa to join her in a deep probe in what holds writers and authors back. Within his Substack is a creative content studio. His book, The Color of Your Dreams will seed their conversation and tips for you. Dom is a storyteller who writes fiction and nonfiction. With both traditional publishing deals and multiple indie-publish...

IP PART 2 ... The recent pirating of over 500,000 books and lawsuit settlement from Anthropic for 1.5 BILLION dollars opens with Judith Briles and the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Marketing podcast. Joining her is Colin O’Brien, intellectual property expert and partner in the Illinois based law firm of Latimer, LeVay Fyock LLC. This is Part 2 in one of Judith’s favorite podcasts, so much is covered that focuses on your Author Success. So much, that a second podcast was created to cover “the rest” ...

The recent pirating of over 500,000 books and lawsuit settlement from Anthropic for 1.5 BILLION dollars opens with Judith Briles and the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Marketing podcast. Joining her is Colin O’Brien, intellectual property expert and partner in the Illinois based law firm of Latimer, LeVay Fyock LLC. In one of Judith’s favorite podcasts, so much is covered that focuses on your Author Success. So much, that a second podcast was created to cover “the rest” of what authors need to know....

The ultimate entrepreneur Tom Antion, joins the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast with his latest AI hacks to evolutize your publishing business. Your take-aways include: - How to write so it doesn't look like AI. - How to ensure that all your writing shouts out that it was done by a human. - Tips and tricks in using Canva with your next generation images. - How to create a "master prompt generator" by having ChatGPT interview you. - How to use Google's NanoBananas. - When using AI, ...

Publicity expert Joan Stewart has been a frequent guest on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. -Why Press Releases work … and what are the new twists. -Why Newsjacking works … and what are the new twists. -Why Target Marketing is a must … and what are the new twists. -Why Book Hooks are hot … and what are the new twists. -Why eMail Marketing works … and what are the new twists. -Why Repurposing is a must … and what are the new twists. And of course, much more. You’ll come away wit...

In this episode of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, host Judith Briles and book designer and branding expert Rebecca Finkel deliver an hour of show and tell … an hour to enhance your presence and book marketing forward. Your take aways include: -A dozen tools you should using in your Author Kit. -Essential thing you should be adding to website metadata. -Signing event swags to boldly standout. -Idea for depleting old inventory and increasing book sales. -Latest item to add to a...

What does the Kroger grocery store empire have in common with authors and books? Lots … and now you can discover another alternative portal to sell your books. The Authors In Grocery Stores program is available in half the states in the US … that is if you are working within the portal that 220 authors are using, selling over 30,000 books and retaining over 60 percent of the retail book price. Sound interesting? CEO Ray DePew is the featured guest on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing pod...

In this episode of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, host Judith Briles has invited author and sponsorship expert Roberta Vigilance to join her for an hour of show and tell … an hour to grow your support network. Roberta is the author of How to Secure Sponsors Successfully and other sponsorship guides. Her website is www.RobertaVigilance.com Your take aways include: -What is sponsorship, and how is it different from donations? -What do sponsors actually look for before they say ...

How to Thrive in Writing, Authoring, and Publishing THRIVE is one of AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast host’s favorite words. When “thriving” is in your mix … it is way beyond surviving. Think being healthy, striving for personal growth, being able to manage challenges that land in your lap, having a positive mindset, and enveloping the strength and power of resilience. Author and leadership coach and expert Laura Belsten shares her insights about writing, authoring and getting publi...

Ouch … You’ve been stung. There is nothing subtle when it comes to someone or a group of “someones” who go after you and your credit card and bank account. The book thieves, the pirates, and those who penetrate your accounts via lures with their ever-flowing emails and texts that bombard you … that attempt to seduce you and your ego. In this episode of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, host Judith Briles has invited author and cyber theft guru Charles Breakfield to join her for ...

Strategies on Creating a Series - Finding Money for Authors

Two publishing pros reveal the power for newbie authors … for authors-to-be … for any resident of Colorado over 20 on how to get help … money … guidance via the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame Aspiring Authors Scholarships. Joining host Judith Briles is Mara Purl. Both are founding members of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame and are the guiding lights for the creation and the implementation of the Asping Authors Scholarships valued at $17,000. In 2026, five will be awarded to Colorado residents w...

In this week’s AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, Dr. Judith Briles invites Social Media Marketing Specialist Jules Marie to join her. You will learn the latest changes on Instagram and how to implement for your social media and influence building on Instagram. Embracing them will enhance your 2026 marketing and publishing success. Your takeaways include: -Use CanvaPro to resize quickly for social media platform. -Hey authors—discover the updated power of Instagram. -How to turn non-...