Today, I kicked off the morning with Author Success Tools and Tips.
I went through the essential differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing. For me, it’s about Quality, Control, Timing and Money. Meaning how do you want your book to look and feel; is having input into cover design, copy and layout important; what about when your book will be available; and really understand the money side.
One of my Publishing Contract HOT TIPS was: If you are dying to have your book with a traditional publisher …. You MUST include a Reversion of Rights clause—most publishing contracts have eliminated this gem that could save your book’s bacon. Not to mention your heart and soul when publishing goes south.
A Reversion of Rights clause means the YOU, the author, can terminate the contract. The decision is not up to the publisher. My recommendation: add a number, such as 300. So, it would say something like this:
If PRINTED book sales are less than 300 within the annual year, the author has the right to TEMINATE the publishing contract and receive all rights back.
Why do you want to do this? Because, today’s publishing can hold your book hostage in perpetuity due to the print on demand model.
Kelly Johnson rolled out some essential ahas on how to Marketing your Blogs and Articles using SEO tips and tricks.
Tip #1 … Important reminder for all author websites: If you have been offering something for “free” … it may be time to refresh it and offer something new.
Tip #2 … Create a keyword list: you know that you do repeats … create a list that you can do a copy/paste over and over. Also, get a spread sheet with Names, URLs, user and passwords.
Tip #3 … Add one of your Keywords to opening Content; in your Title and in your Description in all our postings.
Nick Zelinger waltzed through book interiors. Starting with the Front Matter, we started with when and why to have a half title page, moving to Testimonials, Full Title page, Copyright page, “ … Dedication page, Contents, Foreword and Introduction. Diving into the Main Body of the book: when to use Sections or Part pages—and then on to Back Matter: Afterword, Appendices, Suggested Reading, Acknowledgments, About the Author, How to Work/Connect with the Author and Index.
Loved the samplings of interiors of books he has created.
Important author aha: You never want your interior design to look like your Word manuscript. Book reviewers can spot that instantly and it shouts out “amateur” not what any author wants to hear or read about his or her work.
Amazon time with Amy Collins … the #1 thing to know about Amazon is Searchability for your book. Just how Searchable is your book?
And … you need 85 Book Reviews to get Amazon’s attention to cross promo your book. Get them. Period.
As a bonus, author and Laurie Weiss shared her techniques for getting over any type of block or stress inducer to our group.
You can find it at www.LaurieWeiss.com/forward/guide
It’s Book Signing time in the main Promenade. It’s an experiment—we all know it. Many of our authors signed on to “expose” themselves and their books to passengers. Will they come? Will they buy? Both we, and the ship’s retail shop contact wonder? We are tickled that the ship’s Cruise Compass from 2.00 – 2.45:
The big moment arrives … and we all ask out loud … Will Captain Tony really show up at out book signings like he told two of our Publishing at Sea members?
Hot spit … not only does Captain Tony show up first thing … so do curious passengers. 
You ask—Did we sell books?
It’s a happy dance with all of us—EVERYONE has at least one sale—some sold out! And Oh my—I share the total books sold to our group at dinner … A total of 87 books were sold on the Promenade. And tomorrow is another day.
Tonight, we gather for our last “formal” night. Some dress up (I just do a quick change that takes all of 5 minutes including blingy earrings. We are not all here—but most are … are off to dinner … it’s lobster night! Yummers for me. Tomorrow, a full class day.
Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. She empowers authors and 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 35 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms (ForeWord IndieFab Book of the Year), Snappy Sassy Salty: Wise Words for Authors and Writers and a speaker at publishing conferences. Book #35 was published this summer: The How to Avoid 101 Book Publishing Blunders, Bloopers & Boo-Boos. Get your copy now.
Each summer, she holds Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged, a three-day intensive limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. In 2017, the dates are June 22-24th. 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 “AuthorU – Your Guide to Book Publishing” on the Toginet Network at bit.ly/PublishingShow .
Follow @AuthorU and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a “Like” at AuthorU and Judith Briles – TheBookShepherd on Facebook. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact Judith at Judith@Briles.com.
Author U is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to the author who wants to be seriously successful. Monthly education programs delivered face-to-face and online, The Author Resource ezine, BookCamps and the annual Author U Extravaganza are tools designed for authors pre, during and post publishing of their books. Join AuthorU.org today.
If you are looking for FREE author and book coaching … call in to Judith’s Author Monday Mornings at NOON Eastern each Monday. The number is 218-632-9854; Access Code 1239874444 … have your questions ready–there’s a full hour to ask and listen