Few authors REALLY think about overall branding—for book, for self, for all that they do. Yet they should from the get-go. Joining @JudithBriles today is Marilyn Heywood Paige, VP Marketing of Fig Advertising. As: is your book—your product—the best it can be?

Take-aways include:

- A huge mistake authors make is thinking they can show up at a book signing store patrons will flock to their table—nope there’s plenty of pre-work.

-A huge mistake authors make is skipping the essential steps that must be taken to ensure success before publishing a book.

-A huge mistake authors make is failing to watch TV shows that use pitches for products-think QVC, infomercials and Shark Tank.

Learn what to do and so much more on this week’s edition of AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing.

As an author, how would you like to rock Amazon's Marketing Services? Or, how about learning how to get a sponsor to underwrite your book costs? And how about this: get an insider's tips on how to expand your metadata that the SEO gods will gobble up?

It's all yours in this edition of AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing. Joining Judith Briles The Book Shepherd is Kathy Meis, CEO of Bublish.

You will come away with:

-Sizzling ideas for authors to get sponsors for book.

-Essential tips for using Amazon's advertising services.

-Get the whys and hows to create a position analysis and strategy for your book.

-Insider tip on ways to expand your metadata few think about.

- And of course, so much more.

It's a lot to cover, but we do it--another great show on AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing.

The savvy author knows that eBooks have dropped again in sales—three years in a row in increasing sales over print and “e”; yes, print books have increased and leading the JUMP sales in AudioBooks.

A lot has happened since last year. This week's show has a leader in the Audiobook field, Richard Rieman, author of The Author's Guide to AudioBook Creation and an expert in working with the self-publishing and indie published author/publisher.

If you want to compete in the "book industry" ... add an audiobook now to your mix You will learn what’s the latest in the Audiobook Revolution; what the top audiobook genres are; how to proceed with narration—your voice or a professional narrator (and how to find them); how to produce your audiobook at the lowest cost; how to promote your audiobook (wait til you hear the awesome idea from Audible! Don’t miss this one!

How would you like to win a book competition that is based on the quality and creativity of your work? One that where your book is still in manuscript/ draft form? And how would you like to win having your book cover done; your interior design done; your ebook done ... and so much more ... including $1,000?

You can.

AuthorU.org is sponsoring, along with two dozen other majors--like IngramSpark, Thomson Shore, New Shelves, The Book Shepherd, Total Printing Systems, Cornerstone Virtual Assistance, Color House Graphics, F+P Design, the Publicity Hound, Best Book News Awards, Editing, Ashography Photography, Bublish, AudioBook Revolution and Daniel Hall Presents.

There are 5 main categories: Fiction, NonFiction, YA, Juvenile, Childrens

The only catch: your full work cannot be published before.

You will get all the details in the show aired in March of 2017--the how-tos, what-fors, and the prizes. DON'T MISS IT! The Early Bird entry ends on March 16th ... all manuscripts must be received by April 15th.

Today, on Author U-Your Guide to Book Publishing, Judith will deep-dive into the Draft to Dream Book Publishing Competition ... where 4 winners will get $10,000 each in prizes and 20 runner-ups will get $700 each.

You can get all the Details ... the Rules ... and How to Enter at the AuthorU.org website: htttp:AuthorU.org

Get ready for a great show on Authoru U-Your Guide to Book Publishing with Dr. Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd!

One of the visionaries in publishing is Mark Coker of Smashwords. Always on point, and blunt, in this podcast with Judith Briles and AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing, he reveals:

- why Amazon’s Unlimited program could be bad news for your book;

- why the virtual bookshelves are so clogged and how to separate you from the masses;

- gather tips on how to expand our eBook sales in the declining ebook sales market (yup, they are);

- why the KDP Select could be a spiraling death for your book; and - - - what the upcoming overall trends are in publishing today.

It's a lot to cover, but we do it--another great show on AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing.

So … an Amazon Book Launch and RUN for Best Seller Status is spiraling in your midst. Judith Briles has identified 5 ways—ranging from big bucks to no bucks (just a little time).

It’s always the author’s choice that should include the overall GamePlan. And when “best seller” status is achieved … how to use the status … because Amazon is starting to slap down for the misuse of Amazon Best Seller on book covers.

Another great show for authors with Dr. Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd and AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing.

Let’s face it, authors would love to have their books in the spotlight. Publicist Laurie Anderson joins Judith Briles and AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing for a tutorial:

- on what you need;

- how to “earn” your right to free publicity;

- how to avoid accepting a bad media PR date;

- discover two great FREE resources to upload your press release to;

- learn why publicity is an implied third party endorsement of book and author;

- and as always, so much more.

Another great show on AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing and Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd.

Oh my … Amazon is at it again. Changes, changes, changes—get the latest news on how it is vetting books. On the podcast with Judith Briles, Penny Sansevieri offer:

-New news on how to price your books;

-Why free books and 99 cents books are bad news for authors;

-The new aha: what was the norm is now going to be the kiss of book death per news from the recent Digital Book Marketing conference.

-If your expertise is worry and stress (could it be EFS: Election Fatigue Syndrome?), your books are hot.

-Discover why the free and 99 cent #book may be the kiss-of-death for today’s author.

-Slap down coming to #authors from Amazon for misuse of “bestseller” status on your #book cover.

And lots more.

Another great podcast with Dr. Judith Briles and AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing.

Surrounding myself with some of the best and brightest author and publishing experts for 8 days, I gathered tips to make books shine; to score in marketing; to ace new tactics in social media; to goosed up promo and publicity.

- create a stellar Author One-Sheet

- 9 essential press release must haves

- book marketing tips

- Amazon ahas

It was an amazing 8 days and what I share in this podcast are some of the take-aways I think every author who desires to be successful will want to hear about; and will want to implement.

I always love it when I can dive into GamePlans for Authors. This podcast is extracted from the two-hour special webinar I did for Authors in the beginning of the year. Creating a GamePlan, or reviewing the one you think you are doing, is essential to keep your book train in a forward motion.

-Just what is an Author GamePlan?

-Key tips for knowing your target marketing.

-Why "getting" the reader's pain is essential for your success.

-Steps to take for your Author Success.

And as always, much more. Another great program on AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing