Episodes

I’ve said it a zillion times: Speaking is the #1 way to sell books. But it’s just not in-person. It’s online presentations. It’s book clubs. It’s on a podcast. It’s the old-fashion buzz factor. Joining me for this week’s podcast is Jackie Lapin who has developed an extensive toolbox and system for getting booked and taking advantage of the significant number of ways to get featured and supported with your book marketing, sales, and speaking. Her system is called Speakertunity, and we do a deep-d...

In this episode of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, Dr. Judith Briles The Book Shepherd uses the tools from her book, How to Create a Crowdfunding Campaign for Authors and Writers (published in March 2022). Your take-aways include: - how to be in the 35% winner circle -the essentials of crowdfunding for authors - most current stats for crowdfunding - how to create a crowdfunding campaign - how to plan your campaign

When it comes to websites, it's time to ask critical questions. -Does your website stand out ... or is it limping along? -Does it represent your brand and branding ... or is it a hodgepodge of your past? -Is it vibrant and fresh ... or is it stale and tired in its look? -Does it match up with what is expected in the layout of websites ... or is it a treasure hunt? Answers to fixes and how to soar your website presence and much more in less than an hour. You will hear and understand the essential...

Get ready for an hour with two masters of book marketing and what you should be doing for 2022: John Kremer, author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Book and Dr. Judith Briles via the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. Your takeaways include: • Hot tips for 2022 to do starting now. • Rediscover why superfans are your sweet marketing spot. • How to serialize your book via Amazon Vella. • New tips for cleating the “CliffNotes” version of your book. • Discover Substack. • Why authors should ...

Weekly, Dr. Judith Briles receives questions about how to get published by a traditional publisher, primarily based in New York. Of the 37 books, she’s published, 18 were with New York publishers. In 2000, she crossed over to become an independent publisher. If your goal is to publish traditionally, this episode of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast has questions for you to address and steps to take. Takeaways include: • The #1 thing all publishers require authors to have. • Why a...

Every … EVERY … author makes mistakes when publishing. Joining Dr. Judith Briles is Author, Columnist, Book Reviewer Lisa Shultz for this edition of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. Takeaways include: • The #1 biggest mistake authors make. • Tips for what to do with an old book or when it goes limp. • How to avoid “wastes” of money. • What to do when a negative review hits. • When to turn your back on a previously published book. • 3 things authors—newbies and old-timers—forget...

In my decades as a human being, it has never ceased to amaze me the level of deception that can be parlayed. When I was young, words like rip-off, scam, con, and grifter weren’t in my vocabulary. I knew what a person who was a robber did, but that was it. It wasn’t until I started to work in the financial industry that my vocabulary and understanding of rip-offs, scams, cons, and grifters surfaced. As an author, you are vulnerable. Most don’t realized they’ve been scammed until it’s an after fac...

Did you know that over 80% of what people hear is what they see! What do your visuals say about you? What is your brand about? As an author, your marketing material, your social media platforms, your website, your book cover, EVERYTHING that is connected to you, needs clarity and consistency. Does yours? Branding … it’s personal and professional. What do potential readers hear when they see you and what you are connected with? -Discover the 5 essential elements of every brand that stick and neve...

Have you been stuck on AMazon with your publishing account? How about with Amazon's Seller portal? Or have you been sent to Amazon Jail and had your account suspended, blocked, or dumped? If YES to any of the above, this edition of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast is a MUST listen to. Joining host Dr. Judith Briles is Chris McCabe, a former Amazonian who was on the "fix it - resolution" team at Amazon. Today, Chris consults with wounded sellers of products on Amazon to restore s...

All books must start from somewhere. Yours should start with four questions: 1. Why are you writing your book? 2. What is your book about? 3. Who is it for? 4. What’s your intentionality for it? Answer those four and you are reading to begin writing—not before you fully answer them. There’s always prep work. Start there—it’s the first step …what Judith goes through within her 13 Steps is a tried and true process that will get your across the finish line. Meaning, you are ready to publish. Whethe...

Are you able to “write hot”? How about with a “sizzle”? It’s all about allowing yourself to juice up your creativity .. creativity that gooses “fresh writing” and takes you to another level that you didn’t realize that you could deliver. -How to let your writing energy flow. -Why you should “check” your inner critic at the door. -Why it’s essential to keep your pen moving. -Why correct spelling and grammar can zap your writing flow. -How being outrageous expands your writing power. Joining the A...

When it comes to authoring and positioning an author as an expert, a speaker, and just create an opening introduction, this edition of the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast is a core part of author success. It’s starts for key questions: -Do you want to sell more books? -Do you want to create more speaking engagements? -Would you like to create “grabber” brag statements that gets any listener’s attention? -Would you like to learn how to create statements that make you shine? Would yo...

Are you, your expertise, and your book getting noticed? By readers? By the media? Would you like to be? … it’s a good idea. If you want to be the #1 influencer in your genre and industry, you need to step up your game by increasing your media visibility. In this week’s podcast, you will come away with strategies to help you go from the “unknown” to “newsworthy”. Your takeaways include: -How to get your message to the right people. -How to get quoted in the media. -How to know what the media outl...

Audiobooks increased another 35% in listenership … and were a factor in more print and eBook sales. Are you participating? Have you created an audiobook? And if you have a children’s book, have you added “videobook” to your offerings? Richard Rieman, the Audiobook Wizard will update you PLUS wave his magic wand, inviting you into the new world of Videobooks. Imagine creating a book that children who are visually impaired can "hear" and "read". If you are a children's author, it's time to discove...

There’s a new contact in town with the Tattered Cover Bookstore and it’s time to meet him. As an author himself, he gets the challenges that authors have with engaging a bookstore; and in partnering with bookstores going forward. What’s covered: - The reduction of the stigma of self-publishing. - Tips for approaching bookstores. - Tips to blow your book socks off in working with bookstores. - How to use the new Colorado submission program for authors. - Why all authors should approach bookstores...

Author, Speaker, and Broadcaster Dom Testa began his publishing career after years of school visits to help kids discover their creative spark. He’s a hybrid … starting as a self-published author; selling a book series to a major New York publisher; then reversing his path. Dom expanded his publishing empire, publishing all his books under his imprint, the Profound Impact Group. Get strategies and tips on: - How to deal with and lance the Imposter Syndrome. - The power of the author community. -...

Get ready to add 25 tips of Spice to Your Fall Book Marketing. It's bookselling season meaning you need to be thinking … What do I need to step my book marketing and presence up. Where are you in that process? Whatever path you take to shout out your book, it needs to revolve around smart choices ... and choices that are a fit for both you and your book. It starts with your online presence … your footprint. What is it? Is it perfect? Or does it need finetuning or bold gutting? You need online bo...

Discover the 7 financial and security mistakes to avoid as an author. Do you know all the expenses that you can take on your personal tax return? … bet you don’t. Financial expert Mary Salas, partner in Peak Wealth Strategies, reveals: -Why it’s a good idea to get a “positive” cash flow within your three-year “it’s OK to have losses” timeframe; -Why it’s smart to get a tax professional on your team from the get-go; -How to write-off the hallway in your home … and the bathroom; -Where you can get...

Joining host Judith Briles is Marilyn Van Derbur, winner of Writers Digest Best Self-Published Book Award, author of the international bestseller Miss America By Day that revealed her betrayal and sexual assault at the age of 5 until she was 18. Self-publishing at 65 after turning down NY publishers, it was her first book, and only book, that is used in universities internationally, and has changed the lives of millions. A film on her life, An Incest Survivor’s Odyssey won an Emmy award and Los ...

Creativity has potholes. Sometimes, publishing success can be held at bay. Get ready to cross the line. -Want to get published successfully? -How about nifty tips to crash the barriers to writing blocks? -Are you ready to jump into the speed lane to reaching your author goals? Joining the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast is NY Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson. Co-author of today's Dune books, writer of many of the Star Wars forward books, fingers in multiple sci-fi and fan...

Have you ever thought about using your expertise to create a virtual trade show? Discover how two authors have taken their know-how and created virtual tradeshows seeded by their knowledge on what they write and speak on; partner with vendors that pay for virtual space and meet their customers; and never have to get in a car or plane to host it. And how you can do the same! Did you know … -Engagement is higher: 30% of people are more likely to speak to a person in a virtual booth … -Virtual trad...

Get ready to learn lots about the cryto currency world and how authors can use it in a variety of ways. With host Judith Briles The Book Shepherd on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast is Daniel Hall. Daniel is a co-author of One Coin, Two Coin, What Coin, Bit Coin. Takeaways include: -What is an NFT? -Why authors should explore NFTs and crypto currency. -How authors can turn their books into an annuity. Lots more ... it's protecting your intellectual property with a twist on the A...

Everyone talks about characters—the ones they love; the ones they hate; the ones they love to hate … but how does an author go about actually creating characters that are both realistic and memorable? Joining host Judith Briles is Mara Purl, a bestselling author and writing coach. Creating characters, storylines, and setups is what Mara does this for a living. Many of her readers say that her characters become friends they like to keep up with. In this episode of AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publi...

have you ever wonder why so many authors fail or never get passed selling 100 books. Developmental Editor and Ghostwriter Dan Janal joins AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing host Judith Briles for a fast and fun hour. Takeaways include: -when to get a ghostwriter -how to work with a developmental editor -why short books are more effective--and preferred -how to avoid the "digital dust" of a book graveyard -5 reasons why authors fail and how to avoid them And, of course, lots more.