We Authors Are the Lifeline for Billions …
Many have asked me, “WHY? Why did you create another HUGE project … an adventure—you already have your hands and hours full.”
Yup, I do. It’s true, my hands are full most of the time … plus what goes on in my mind. Holy moly, sometimes a collision and Kaleidoscopes of ideas dangle a “Let’s do this … No, let’s try that …”
As an author myself and someone who coaches and guides writers in the quest, I know that authoring can be a lonely number. And too often, shoutouts, and acknowledgments are missing.
And yet, it was authors, often in their solo rooms, who generated the answers and provided the solutions for dealing with business issues and building my own. For delivering countless hours of stories that engaged and thrilled me. Authors I didn’t know personally became my “go-to” for sage advice and entertainment.
They became a lifeline at important junctures. I was a Superfan of many yet didn’t know what a Superfan was. Then.
What to do for a shoutout to the countless authors who had made my days and evenings. Who helped me build my business?
Recognize them … that’s what I could do.
I decided to create a special recognition for authors, authors who had been a lifeline for me growing up and provided wisdom as I built my businesses and delivered thousands of hours of reading delight with their stories in my leisure time.
In the back of my mind was always … we need to create a platform to truly honor the gift of words and those that create them. Busy with my own business—speaking all over the world on my own books, I finally said enough of this travel bit with 150 hotel rooms a year … and The Book Shepherd went into full gear helping authors achieve their dreams. The nudge was there.
Reaching out to a friend who was familiar with nonprofits—could you give me some guidance on how to set it up? Another who was a CPA, stepped in to create “the words” necessary to file a formal application for a 501c3. That was received in 2014.
2018 became another milestone, it was a now-or-never time. With the support of a Book Fair and Barnes & Noble and a private donation, the website could be built. The Board was firmed up and plans to call for Nominations and plan the first Induction were made.
I’ll never forget what one of my friends said when I shared what was evolving—“Who would care about this but authors?” I was stunned. “Who?” I questioned her. “Why, ANYONE who has been inspired by something they read; motivated to take action; obtained the know-how and steps to start a business, or save it; needed answers to problems and solutions and discovered them within a book; wanted to learn something new; wanted to discover what made a famous or successful person tick; wanted to improve relationships with loved ones; wanted to escape for a few hours with an amazing story; even to rediscover a purpose and reason to live … that sounds to me that that is a HUGE amount of people who would care.” She didn’t respond. More like the deer in the headlights impact.
The Colorado Author’s Hall of Fame is an all-volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was originally founded in 2014 with a vision to recognize and preserve the recorded accomplishments of past and present authors who have created and published books. Both historical and contemporary authors who have shared their words of wisdom, encouragement and entertainment are celebrated. The Hall ensures that their insight and visionary achievements will not be forgotten.
TaDAH …
Saturday, September 14, 2019, was a special evening where all who cherished and loved the words of authors get to revel in them and the stories of outstanding published authors from all genres and generations who have a vibrant connection to Colorado. The result: collectively, we ensured their legacies won’t be lost of 23 Inductees.
The September inaugural inducted authors come from diverse backgrounds and have created major social, personal, and professional impacts on the lives of others with their words. They do it (and did it) by elevating readers’ knowledge; solving problems; inspiring them to reach and stretch; delivering stories that entertain; stirring the imagination of young and old alike; and changing lives within our state, our nation, and for many, around the world.
It was repeated on September 18, 2021, with another 16 Inductees added.
Discover WHO they are at: www.ColoradoAuthorsHallofFame.org
The next Induction Gala is Saturday, September 16, 2023. Join in … and support. Words matter. Ideas matter.
And that’s the WHY … I owed it to the many authors who threw me the lifeline when I needed it.
All of us involved with the Authors Hall of Fame welcome your participation. Won’t you support the work of the Hall? And join in for an evening that sparkles, inspires, and is downright fun with Dom Testa once again as our hoot of an emcee.
Dr. Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. Often, she must roll up her writing sleeves and become a Book Doctor, juicing up storylines and author words. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the ’80s. Judith is the author of 43 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Success for Authors and Writers, and How to Create a Million Dollar Speech. Her personal memoir When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present is a #1 bestseller on Amazon and her historical fiction debut Secret Journey. Collectively, her books have earned over 45 book awards. Judith speaks throughout the year at publishing conferences.
Throughout the year, she holds Judith Briles Book Unplugged in-person and online experiences: Publishing, Speaking, Marketing, and Social Media. All are two-day intensives limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. Join Judith live for the “AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing” podcast on the Toginet Radio Network HERE.
Follow @AuthorUYOUBooks and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorYOU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her.
©2023 Judith Briles – The Book Shepherd™ All Rights Reserved.