Wanted: Rockstar Authors

Reinvention is NOT limited to rockstar musicians!

Do you remember Madonna's Reinvention Tour back in 2004? Like her innovative style, the "reinvention" concept was picked up by other artists. The latest one I could find on Google was the Superchick Reinvention Tour this year. But why should recording artists have all the fun?

Reinvention is not limited to rock star musicians! I'm officially announcing the Wordy Woman Reinvention Tour for Rockstar Authors. And you're the first stop!

The first leg of the tour was merging my three writers' groups as part of the "rebranding" process. I'm not quite ready to reveal the new logo and brand, but good things are happening already, just as a result of taking that first step and bringing all the groups under one umbrella.

And the first benefit is that I have more time to work "one on one" with those of you who want personal feedback and guidance on your publishing journey. I've decided to re-establish private coaching for select candidates who want to get on the fast-track to publishing success.

Are you ready for "reinvention" too? You know you are if you're not moving forward with your book or you feel you need "more." Could be more accountability, more personal feedback, more encouragement, more direction, more instruction, more help, more...well, coaching.

Or perhaps you want some specific guidance with writing, publishing, self-publishing, marketing or social media.

The Wordy Woman Reinvention Tour begins its pre-launch on Monday, November 1. The first leg (week) of the tour is devoted to one-on-one discussions with those who are interested in private consulting.  If that's you, I'm inviting you to join the tour and chat with me about your publishing goals. This first consultation is free.

If you are seriously interested in taking your work to the next level, I want to talk to you next week. Any day, any time that's available.

Here's how it works (very simple):

• Send an email with your phone number and top three (3) day and time requests for next week only (Monday through Friday, November 1-5, 10am ET to 6pm ET).


• Please limit your time requests to the hour or half hour (10:00, 10:30, etc) and remember to request your appointment in Eastern Time.


• I'll respond and confirm, assigning you to the  first availability on your list that is not already booked.


• You MUST include your phone number.

This offer is limited to serious inquiries only. If private coaching is not in your budget or time schedule, this is not the offer for you. However, if you're ready to join the Wordy Woman Reinvention Tour for Rockstar Authors and supercharge your publishing dreams, get on the bus now. Tour begins Monday.

I will fill the available private coaching spots on a first-come, first-serve basis from these free consultations. When all the private coaching spots are filled, the free consults will end. Since I have time to serve only 4 to 6 private clients, it's possible all the spots will be taken in the first day or two.

This offer is no longer available.

The 5 Mistakes Most First-Time Authors Make

Anyone can write a book and just about everybody wants to. According to a New York Times article reporting on the findings of a survey, 81 percent of Americans feel they have a book in them and plan to write it. That's about 200 million people. Talk about competition!

The truth is, however, that only 10 percent of aspiring authors will be successful, if even that many. So how do you get to the head of the class? Well, not making these five mistakes first-time authors typically make will help.

• The first mistake first-time authors make is they don't identify their market. They don't ask before they get started, "Who will buy my book?" Or worse, they think, "Everyone will want to buy my book." You must identify and write to a specific audience to have a marketable product. Probably the number one thing many new authors do incorrectly is start to write about something they're very passionate about without first finding out if there are enough people with the same interest who would buy the book.


• The second mistake first-time authors frequently make is not being aware of the costs involved and then over- or underspending. You might ask, "How can I underspend?" Well, you can underspend by thinking you can do it all yourself and not having a budget for an editor, cover designer or marketing assistance. You can overspend by not knowing the typical fees for these services in the marketplace and paying too much. If you spend too much on production or marketing, you may not be able to recoup your money with the sale of the book. So, it's important to know what you will need and how much you should be spending on those services before you begin the process.


• The third mistake first-time authors make is not knowing how to determine whether to traditional-publish or self-publish. Not knowing the pros and cons of both avenues and choosing the wrong method wastes your time and money. For example, nonfiction authors who want to establish their credibility in the marketplace and position themselves as experts want to get the book on the market as soon as possible. They can't afford to spend the time it can take going the traditional route, which could be up to four years to find an agent, publisher and wait out the publishing process. However, if you are writing literary fiction and getting reviews and acclaim from literary reviewers or perhaps being on the New York Times bestseller list is your goal, you may be best served to try the traditional route.


• The fourth mistake first-time authors make is they don't have a marketing plan. Most people know not having a marketing plan when self-publishing is just dooming the book to failure. However, even if you have a publisher, you are expected to market yourself. Not many aspiring authors know this is important and they think the publisher is going to take care of marketing, so they don't include that information with their submission proposals. But you can show you do know the "ins and outs" of publishing and how important marketing is by including a marketing plan with your proposal or novel submission. If you do, you're going to set yourself apart and get closer to the head of the class.


• The fifth mistake first-time authors make is giving up too early, or giving up at any stage of the process. What blocks success in publishing (or any field) more than anything else is having the "I can't" attitude. The whining: "I can't speak in front of people." "I can't travel to seminars and conferences." "I can't find the time." "I can't start learning about how to market on the Internet." You've heard those excuses. Hopefully you haven't said them. But I'm sure you've heard them if you've gone to a writers group or a conference. Replace that attitude of resistance with an attitude of persistence. Successful authors find ways to say, "I can" and "I will."

Many of these five mistakes are made as a result of misconceptions or myths that are typically held about the publishing business.

But, the truth is that EVERY mistake first-time authors make is a result of ONE big error. That error is attempting to write and publish a book without first learning about the process.   Writing is a passion. But publishing is a business. Successful authors learn the difference. Once educated, it's easy to skip past the mistakes and misconceptions and start to cash in on the miracles. Miracles happen every day in the current publishing market, and the next one could be yours, if you decide to invest in your publishing success.

This article was excerpted from the Publishing Made Easy & Profitable curriculum,  Lesson 1, "The Mistakes, Myths and Miracles of Book Publishing." If you're ready to jump over the mistakes and myths and experience the miracles of publishing, get the education you need. Publishing Made Easy & Profitable is a 10-week home study course that can catapult you to the head of the class. Review the entire curriculum here>>

Wordpress Blog as Your Marketing Hub

VIP Author Talks Special Event

Ten years ago, an author with a website on the Internet was a big deal. Today, having a website is like having a cellphone...everyone has one. And just like smartphones are to cell phones, Wordpress blogs are to author websites. If you want to stand out in the crowd, a customized Wordpress blog is your ticket.

Are interested in finding out how you can make your blog do some double-duty as a marketing hub, too? If so, please join us for a special event when VIP Author Talks interviews Marty Dickinson for a special teleclass presentation, "Wordpress Blogs as Your Marketing Hub."



During this special teleclass, you will discover the answers to these questions:

• What is WordPress, and why is it so essential for the promotion of your book, speaking, and business?


• Should you use the WordPress free hosting option or not ? (And, how the wrong answer could paralyze your business.)


• How can you assure your WordPress installation is secure from hackers?


• How can you connect your website with Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin? (Which will easily save you 10 hours a week.)


• What's involved with converting a traditional (old) website into a WordPress machine? (Design limitations and how to get around them and still use WordPress.)


• How can you promote your main business online using multiple websites produced with WordPress? (And why you would want multiple websites in the first place.)


• How can having a WordPress website set the stage for dozens of higher-level, traffic-building techniques for your website?

Have a question not listed above? Write it down now to ask during the live Q&A at the end of the teleclass.

Mark your calendar right now to join us for this informative teleclass!
Topic: Wordpress as Your Marketing Hub

When: Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Time: 4:00pm Eastern Time (3pm Central, 2pm Mountain, 1pm Pacific).

How to Register:

For Authors Only and VIP Authors Inner Circle Members: You are already registered. Log on to the Members-Only page for call-in details. The audio recording of the class will be posted to the members page within 24 hours after the event.

Non-Members: Not a member, but want to hear the class? You can pay for the class only.

Registration for this event is now closed. The audio recording of the teleclass is available for purchase on the VIP Author Talks Audio page. Review this and all VIP Author Talks programs here>>

Speaker Bio:

Marty Dickinson started his first website in 1995 and is the co-author of Web Marketing All-in-One for Dummies. He manages more than 100 of his own websites and helps authors, speakers and business owners around the world with their Internet marketing through his company HereNextYear, Inc.

Publishing: Dead, Alive or Born Again?

When bestselling author Seth Godin dumped his publisher a few weeks ago and announced he'll be bringing his books and products direct to audience from now on, it set off a series of blog posts and articles about the death of publishing. Those who made the pronouncement admitted to using the headline more for attention than anything else, but the consensus was that publishers should be very afraid.

Of course, those posts inspired a host of "we still need publishers" posts and articles. So who is right? Is publishing dead or alive?

I say "Publishing is Born Again!" I like the idea of being a Born-Again Author: it has a nice ring. Being a born-again author in the born-again publishing world enables me to bring the best of the traditional publishing to a new, improved model. And I prefer to think of this time as a metamorphosis--like a butterfly emerging changed after being restricted within a cocoon.

I prefer this metaphor to that of a phoenix rising from the ashes because I don't believe everything from the traditional publishing system of the past 100 years deserves to be set aflame. No book burnings necessary!

And, btw, Godin is not the first bestselling author to venture into new territory, paving the way for lesser-known writers who feel the same need for emancipation. Earlier this year, Stephen Covey made a radical move to publish exclusively with Amazon.

And, JA Konrath has sparked a movement among published authors with a backlist of unpublished titles to publish their work digitally. The result? The self-published digital titles priced at $1.99 to $2.99 bring in more royalties than their books with their publishers do or ever did. Konrath announced he'd be self-publishing through Amazon from now on, too.

The truth is, however, that most authors (indie or not) are not going to rock the publishing world by making these "blasphemous" statements. No publishing house has shaken in its boots yet when indie authors went solo. Yet, clearly the numbers are starting to add up. 2009 was the first year ever to see more new self-pubbed titles than traditionally published.

The Writer Magazine has pitched its tent in the self-publishing area, sponsoring the pre-BEA writers conference which this year was a self-publishing event, rather than the Writers Digest "pitch an agent" fest of previous years. The Writer is also sponsoring the 2nd annual Self-Publishing Expo in October 2010.

The movement has started and writers needs to wake up and stop worrying about if publishing is dying or not. That's hardly the issue for us. Let the business analysts crunch the numbers and dull their pencil points. We've got books to publish.

For new and aspiring authors, what is important is how to prepare and succeed in the new environment. Good, bad, dead or alive--this is what we got. Seth Godin, Stephen Covey, JA Konrath and the others can do what they do because they are experienced in the publishing process. They know how to put together a good manuscript from an inspired idea, work with editors, produce the material in a form their audience will consume, and promote themselves using the tools available on the Internet today. They are not throwing away all their hard-earned, valuable knowledge of the publishing process, just adjusting the delivery system.

You can do what they do, too--with the proper education, and that begins with the basics that have been around since the beginning of publishing. It also requires knowledge of the new methods and formats and how to determine which best suits your goals. And, finally,  publishing success in this new marketplace is totally dependent on your ability to build a thriving community of readers and communicate with them regularly.

The important question,then, is not whether publishing is alive, dead or born again---but are YOU as an author, ready to die with the old methods, plod along on the fringe, or be born again into the new age of publishing possibilities?

Are you ready to be "born-again" with the knowledge to become a successful author in the current publishing environment? If so, it's time to get the skills and strategies you need to succeed in this market.

Publishing Made Easy & Profitable is the only home-study course that delivers the basic publishing know-how you need and the social media strategies that work today.  Read all about it here>>

Deadlines Extended Due to Oops

Yesterday I made a big "Oops!" I got up early, wrote an reminder email about yesterday's deadlines, put it in the queue to send and promptly hit "delete" instead of "send." Oops.There is no retrieving emails deleted from the queue, and I didn't have a back-up copy. Sigh.

Actually I did quite a bit more than sigh, but I'm not proud of my initial reaction, so let's move on to where I am proud of my next steps. After I calmed down, I looked at the clock. I had about a half hour before I had to leave for a full day of much-needed fun and recreation.

I had two choices: skip the first activity and catch up with the others later, or skip sending out the reminder email. I chose the latter. I AM proud of that choice because too often I choose work over play, and I've made a conscious decision to balance all areas of my life.

Now, here's the deal: We can all benefit from my mistake.

I had a fabulous day out enjoying friends and a visit to LAAFF (Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival) in downtown Asheville, I bought crystals, enjoyed the sites and discovered Kava (more on that in a future post).

And...

You get two extra days on the deadlines! I realize that notifying you today will eliminate those of you who won't even open your computer until tomorrow, because YOU are out having fun! So, here's the scoop:

Tuesday, September 7 is  the NEW deadline to:

Register for 4Ps University and save $100 >>

Sign up for a "Get Acquainted" consult at half price >>

Now we can all LAAFF at my oops!

Labor Day Special: "Get Aquainted" Consultation is Half Price

Sometimes two heads are better than one!

Do you have 1 to 3 questions that need immediate attention?

The approaching Labor Day Weekend gave me an idea. I get so many emails and messages on Facebook and Twitter with questions about writing and publishing that need response right away. But, I rarely can stop what I'm doing and answer the person at the time and must direct the writer to either a personal consultation or group coaching program.

I regularly charge $175 for a 30-minutes exploratory "get acquainted" personal consult. But in celebration of Labor Day, I'm going to offer this short-term consulting package for half price!

This 30-minute live phone  session gives you the opportunity to resolve a writing, publishing or social media problem or just sample working with me without a long-term commitment. Audio recording and 30 days email follow up are included.

Purchase a consult by September 5 to be scheduled on the date of your choosing in September (subject to availability--these will book fast!)

Cost: Reg Price: $175

Only $87 (through 9/5/2010)

(This offer is no longer available.)

Back to School: The 4Ps are the new 3Rs

Yikes! Have you looked at a calendar lately? Summer is drawing to a close and Labor Day is just 2 weeks away! It's officially "Back to School" season!

But, going back to school is very different today than in years past. Not only is the learning equipment much different (computers and calculators vs. composition books and multiplication tables), students must study many more subjects to become successful in today's world.

As writers we have new tools and new subjects to study, too. But that doesn't mean we abandon all knowledge up to this point. The basics of publishing are still meaningful, but in a new context. Just like students have found the 3Rs—Reading 'Riting and 'Rithmetic—have gone the way of language arts, phonics and mathematics, we have to learn the updated versions of what is needed in the publishing world.

4Ps to Publishing Success has always been about educating new and aspiring authors about the process. And every year since its inception (2005), an updated version of the workshop or book has been created. Well, we've taken up one notch and now we're introducing the most powerful and complete course of study for writers to date: 4Ps University, and we are  are now enrolling for fall!

See everything this comprehensive home study course (with weekly live Q&A) offers here>>

And, to make it easy on the pocketbook for those who are facing other Back to School expenses (Have you seen the 'supplies needed' lists being sent home by teachers today?), 4Ps University is offering a steep Early Registration Discount on the already ridiculously-low tuition.

So, start shining those apples and sharpening those pencils. It's time to go Back to School and brush up on those 4Ps to Publishing Success! Don't just take my word for it, read what 4Ps  "graduates" have to say>>

I'm on YouTube (finally)

My first-ever YouTube video shares exciting info on how having a powerful answer to the question, "What's your book about?" can double your book sales.

Please watch the video. I would love your feedback.



Please join me on VIP Author Talks when I interview Beverly Bergman, The Copywriting Queen. The program "Writing About Yourself & Your Book" will help also you create compelling and effective copy to use in blogs,web copy, marketing materials, social networking and media releases. All the program deets and registration info here>>

4Ps to Publishing Success Ebook Give Away Ends August 15

Are you experiencing a heatwave where you live? We certainly are here in Asheville.   Although I do have to snicker just a bit. You see, after living in South Florida for 27 years and putting up with "heatwave conditions" daily from May through September, a few weeks of temps in the 90s and some moderate humidity seem like a minor inconvenience.

But, hot is hot. And here's something else to heat you up...but in a good way! You can download the digital edition of 4Ps to Publishing Success, your step-by-step guide through the publishing process for F.R.E.E. right now.

I really mean "right now" because this fabulous opportunity comes with a deadline: August 15. So, not much more time. Do it now, before you forget and it's too late.

See the big Sign Up arrow to your right? That's the place to enter your name and email and get immediate access to the tips, tools and resources that thousands of writers have used on their way to publishing success. (See who needs this book here.)

Learn how to heat up the pages of your manuscript or the path of readers to your book. It's all in 4Ps to Publishing Success ebook. You can't beat this F.R.E.E. offer, even at twice the price ;-D

VIP Authors Inner Circle "Double Value" Bonus Offer Ends TODAY!

Today is the last day to qualify for the "Double Value" Bonus Offer when you join VIP Authors Inner Circle. Join right now and have immediate access to the Open Coaching Calls, VIP Author Talks exclusive interviews and all the other fabulous membership benefits for the rest of the year... PLUS when you register today, you can download all the VIP Author Talks and Open Coaching audio recordings from January through June 2010--an additional 6 months of value!! (You get a full year's worth of material for the half-year price!) All this for the ridiculously low price of only $75! Or, choose the convenient monthly payment plan of only $15/month for 6 months. Quick! Register now and start downloading! Remember, you must sign up today to get the extra goodies because tomorrow they'll be gone. P.S. Did I mention that new members also get the "How to Take a Great Profile Photo Anywhere with Any Camera" F.R.E.E. report with tips from master photographer Joe Gemignani? (He took the great photo of the darling little girls, above.) See all the membership benefits here>>

Authors, Celebrate Independents Day All Month Long

No, that's not a misspelling. (Come on, I've been an editor for over 30 years.)

On July 4, America celebrates Independence Day. This year, VIP Authors can continue partying for the entire month when they take advantage of the new VIP Author Inner Circle 6-month membership program (July through December 2010).

The 2010 yearly membership is now closed, but savvy VIPs can hop on board the Inner Circle for only $75 for the rest of the year! (If you can't wait to take advantage of this opportunity, join now and come back to read the rest of the post later.)

So why are we calling it Independents Day Month? Maybe you say you're not an independent author—your book is already published by Simon & Schuster, or maybe you're aspiring to get an agent and traditional publisher. Well, I say it doesn't matter who your publisher is (you or HarperCollins). ALL authors are independent authors, because ultimately all authors are responsible for their own success.

You may have noticed that even the Big Publishers expect their authors to come ready with a platform, community of readers, blog and/or website, and marketing plan. So, indie authors and traditionally published authors have to do the same work...we're all one.

In the spirit of the colonists overthrowing their tyrannical oppressors, break free of the stifling old attitudes and join forces with like-minded writers who are ready to take control of their  publishing success. The VIP Authors Inner Circle program provides education and support for all authors. See all membership benefits here>>

VIP Authors embrace independence! We rise to the challenge, eager to adapt the new technology and resources to our own advantage. VIP Authors don't wait for permission, we're too busy following our dreams IRL (in real life).

All we ask is your commitment--not for a year, but only 6 months! (And, at an insanely low price.) That's why this offer is available during July only. Register this month, or be closed out for the rest of the year!

It's not too late to turn those almost-forgotten 2010 New Year's resolutions to get published this year into reality. Come January 2011, will you be where you are now...or will you be clinking your glass to celebrate your continued success in the new year?

VIP Authors choose NOW. What do you choose?

Good. Register here and start celebrating your independence in the VIP Authors Inner Circle program today.

BONUS OFFER: Register by July 10 and download all the VIP Author Talks and Open Coaching audio recordings from January through June 2010--an additional 6 months of value!! But act now, because on July 11, the material is being archived and will no longer be available!

Quick! Register now and start downloading! Remember, you must sign up by July 10 to get the extra goodies.

P.S. The new 6-month program is an opportunity for new members to join. If you are an Inner Circle member already, just pat yourself on the back and get ready to welcome new friends. If it's time for you to renew, don't worry...you'll get a reminder email and you can get the special price, too.

P.P.S. Photo ©Joe Gemignani. All rights reserved. See more like this>>

Social Media + Digital Publishing Skyrocket Publishing Success: Take-Aways from BEA 2010

I'm back from Book Expo America in New York and recovered from the metro-sized cold I brought home--so I'm finally able to tell you all about what's really going on in the trenches of publishing straight from the trendsetters' mouths.

In addition to trolling the Expo main exhibit floor, I focused much of my time at the small panel-size discussions held on the Javitz Center's lower levels--that's where the real action was happening, IMO. I attended these sessions:

• e-Strategy for Authors: A Publisher & Agency Perspective


• Are e-Books Good for Authors?


• How the Digital Book Cloud Works for Publishers & Users (sponsored by Google)


• Maximize Your Sales Potential (sponsored by Amazon)

These are some of the sessions I missed due to scheduling conflicts and time constraints:

• Bring Your Authors to the Social Media Party...and Getting Them to Stay


• Building Online Reader Communities with an Eye on ROI


• When Gutenberg Meets Zuckerberg


• Mobile Apps: A Publisher Roadmap for Creation & Use


• Who's Reading e-Books?


• The Creative & Business Questions Surrounding Enhanced e-Books


• Community Social Networking


• The Next Decade in Book Culture (Guess what they were slated to talk about)

Are you starting to see where the future of publishing is headed?

The primary reason I attended this conference was to explore and experience firsthand the true pulse of the industry--not just read about it via someone else's viewpoint in articles and blogs. When developing social media strategies for myself and my clients, I want to be absolutely certain that I know about the most up-to-date technologies and have a clear vision of how to apply them in this quickly evolving publishing environment.

I want to share what I learned with you and tell you about a program I designed to help you implement this new knowledge to launch or skyrocket your publishing success. Please join me for a free tele-class with an open Q&A session at the end so you can get your questions answered. Here are the details:

Topic: Using Social Media & Digital Publishing to Skyrocket Your Publishing Success

Date: Thursday, June 10, 2010

Time: 7:00pm Eastern (6pm Central, 5pm Mountain, 4pm Pacific)

Call-In Details: Dial (712) 432-0075, Enter access code 622330#

I'm expecting a big turnout (the last social media call went to capacity on the conference line), so call in at least 5 minutes early!

P.S. The cool photo at the top of this post is used with permission of the photographer, Joe Gemignani. All rights reserved. (Since he's my hubby, you can imagine what would happen if he didn't give me permission.) See more like this here>>

Tips & Gifts on Social #@%&*#! Media for Authors Audio Recording

*Social  #@%&*#! Media For Authors* Time-Sensitive Material

Whoohoo! Were you on the call last night? We rocked with myth-busting info and simple solutions to many of the reasons writers resist social media.

Another benefit of being on the call was a limited-time special offer for a free consultation and teleseminar give away in addition to some fabulous bonus gifts guaranteed for every person who enrolls in my new program, For Authors Only.

But many of you wrote that you couldn't make the call and wanted the recording. Others got the time zones mixed up and called in too early or late. (Don't you hate that?)

If you missed the call for any reason, or just want to hear it again to make sure you got all the tips and details down, you can listen or download the recording right now.

Listen here>>

Download here>>

Whatever you do, don't delay. The free consultation is limited to the first 20 people who register and they are going fast! If you want to make sure you don't get shut out, go right to the For Authors Only page now for all the program details. And, you can get a copy of the audio while you're there, too.

Collect your bonus gifts here>>

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

Free Teleseminar: Social #@%&*#! Media for Authors

Pardon the expletive deleted in the post title. It's not my choice of words; it's the feedback I often get from writers when I bring up the need for authors today to be social media savvy.

But grumbling or sticking your head in the sand is not the answer. Just this morning I read an interview with literary agent Wendy Keller on MediaBistro.com's GalleyCat. She said,

"The authors we specialize in have or want to have a massive platform, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people they reach before, during and after publication. We look for people who don't sit around dreaming of how they'll spend the money once they're on Oprah and instead are out there making things happen."

Although it seems almost daily that I read about some awesome blog-to-book deal or a self-published author who sold thousands of ebooks via Twitter and landed a publishing contract, the vast majority of authors with quality material are still failing to make that vital connection on the Internet via social media.

I can tell you why. Writers have specific needs and challenges that must be addressed for social media to be effective that are not issues for most business people. So, much of the social media hype out there doesn't work or is way too complicated and time-consuming for an author's needs.

But what if just a few simple changes in what you're doing could result in massive traffic to your blog? How about adding a stream of income with your material as an ebook? Would that be helpful?

If you said, "YES," I'd like to share some information with you that has helped me and many of my clients.

Please join me for a a Free tele-class for authors only. Here are all the details:

Topic: Social #@%&*#! Media for Authors

Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Time: 8:00pm to 9:00pm Eastern (7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific)

On this call you will learn:

• The secret to having time to write


• The 3 most important things to include in your social media profile


• The trends in publishing that you must know to get published today


• Where agents and publishers are finding their new authors


• Why having a social media strategy is critical to your success


• What's working and what's not for writers


• How some authors are paying their mortgages with income from ebooks


• A simple solution to turning social media overwhelm into social media success

If you've been struggling with blogging, social networking or trying to figure out how to get your book on Kindle, Nook and iPad, you MUST be on this call. So, what are you waiting for?

Registration for this event is now closed. You can access a recording of the teleclass here>>

VIP Author Talks with Paulette Ensign: "How to Promote Yourself with Tips Booklets & Other Info Products"

Do you believe that marketing has to be difficult, time-consuming, expensive, and anything but fun? Many authors and other small business owners cringe at the idea of marketing their business. You may be one of those people, no matter how long you've been in business.

Find out how to turn that all around when VIP Author Talks interviews Paulette Ensign. Known as the "Booklet Queen," Paulette will take you step-by-step through easily marketing yourself with tips booklets and other related information products, some of which will cost you literally nothing to produce.

You will learn simple and easy ways to transform your knowledge into products to use for motivating and making money, while marketing your books and other products and services in the process. This entertaining and information-packed class will prompt a new way of thinking about opportunities, many of which are delivered right to you throughout your week.

Discover how to get a large return on your minimal investment of time and money. Get your juices flowing and your actions moving toward successfully developing and promoting yourself with tips booklets and other information products.

During this class you will learn how to:

• Get paid for your business card


• Leverage your content into at least 7 products, with minimal costs, if any


• Identify new and larger bulk sales clients


• Create licensing rights deals for any product, online or offline


• Increase profits whether you like selling or not

Have a question on a topic not listed? Write it down now for the live Q&A at the end of the call.

Mark your calendar right now to join us for this informative teleclass!

Topic: How to Promote Yourself with Tips Booklets & Other Info-Products

When: Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Time: 8:00pm Eastern Time (7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific).

How to Register:

VIP Authors Inner Circle Members: You are already registered. Log on to the Members-Only page for call-in details. The audio recording of the class will be posted to the members page within 24 hours after the event.

Non-Members: Not a member yet, but want to hear the class? The monthly VIP Author Talks teleclass is free to members, but you can pay for the class only and sample the membership benefits before joining.

Tuition for non-members: $14.95 (includes mp3 recording download).

Registration is now closed.

SPEAKER BIO

Paulette Ensign is the founder, Chief Visionary, and Booklet Queen at San Diego-based Tips Products International. Paulette’s sense of humor and can-do attitude are the backdrop for teaching you to transform your knowledge into tips booklets and other information products for marketing, motivating, and making money. Paulette has personally sold well over a million copies (so far!) of her one tips booklet, "110 Ideas for Organizing Your Business Life," in four languages and various formats without ever spending a penny on advertising. She's made a handsome living on recycling the same 3500 words and you can, too. Her worldwide clients have matched and surpassed Paulette's results. You will leave this session with ideas to breathe new life into your business, just one of which could significantly increase your bottom line.

Social Media Advice from Mom

"I want to hear from you more often."

If I sound like a mom, that's because I am one!  (Here I am with my two fabulous children.) And being both a daughter and a mother, I know how it feels to be on both sides of the question, "Why don't I hear from you more often?"

And, lately that's what you're telling me, too! So, I thought Mother's Day would be a good time to catch up and also offer a special gift to my favorite peeps--YOU! Keep reading for all the details...

Yes, it's been a while since I sent a newsletter. Have you noticed? Or, in the barrage of email that you get every day, are you just glad to have one less thing to delete?

Some of you have contacted me, looking for past issues that you may have missed. Well, the good news is that you haven't missed any back issues. Publishing Success has been on hiatus while I tried to figure out a new format that made sense.

1. I'm interested in helping you do what I do...use social media to create the community for your book. I'm going on a campaign of total transparency, so you can follow what I do. Use the icons at the top right or the links here to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.


2. I often get asked about what's the best way to get published, find an agent and more. I'm going to be answering these questions on my blog, so subscribe to my blog via the RSS feeder (look for the bright orange button, top right)  right now and you won't miss a single tip. BTW, if you want to find out where agents are looking for their next new author, read this>>


3. If you'd rather move faster and work with me directly, consider joining For Authors Only, a mastermind program forming now.The 2010 program begins in June. This program is for authors at every stage of writing (thinking about it, in the midst of writing, finished manuscript or published book). There are lots of reasons (**bonuses**) to join now and payment plans, too. See all the benefits and incentives (**gifts**) for early registration here>>


4. Many first-time authors want one-on-one guidance along the path to publication as well as direct feedback and suggestions. If that's you, check out the new Wordy Woman Consulting options. Now there are ways to work with me just once to ask a few questions or get ongoing support with a book project. See if any of these appeal to you>>

I want to stay connected with you. You tell me the best way to do it. Leave a comment below and tell what you think.

P.S. I didn't forget ;-D. And now for my Mother's Day gift to you! Join For Authors Only on or before Mother's Day and get a free 30-minute consultation with me ($175 value). While you're here, check out the Free Stuff page for some special give-aways, too!

VIP Author Talks with Kim Pearson: "What to Know About a Ghost(Writer) Before Hiring One"

Authoring a book instantly makes you an authority. A book is a great way to promote your ideas, causes, business or services, and can be one of the most effective marketing tools you will ever create.

But maybe you don’t have time to write a book. Maybe you don’t know how. Or maybe you just like to collaborate.

What can you do?

Find out when VIP Author Talks interviews Kim Pearson, a real, live ghost with six published books of her own and more than 30 ghostwritten titles to her credit.

In this one-hour teleclass, you will learn:

• Why ghosts are good for you – reasons to hire a ghostwriter


• Why it’s not cheating to hire a ghost


• What ghosts do and what they don’t do – and what is needed from you


• What ghosts might cost, and how long it takes them to do what they do


• Places to find ghosts, other than haunted houses

Have a question on a topic not listed? Write it down now for the live Q&A at the end of the call.

Mark your calendar right now to join us for this informative teleclass!

Topic: What to Know About a Ghost(Writer) Before You Hire One

When: Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Time: 8:00pm Eastern Time (7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific).

How to Register:

VIP Authors Inner Circle Members: You are already registered. Log on to the Members-Only page for call-in details. The audio recording of the class will be posted to the members page within 24 hours after the event.

Non-Members: Not a member yet, but want to hear the class? The monthly VIP Author Talks teleclass is free to members, but you can pay for the class only and sample the membership benefits before joining.

Registration for this event is now closed. 

Speaker Bio
Kim Pearson is an author, ghostwriter, and owner of Primary Sources, a writing service that helps others become authors of professional and compelling books and articles. She has authored 6 books of her own, and ghostwritten more than 30 non-fiction books and memoirs. To learn more about her books or services, visit her website>>

VIP Author Talks with Stacey Joiner: "Creating Multiple Streams of Income with Your Book"

What do you see when you hold your book in your hands (or visualize that scenario)? If all you see is a book, then you're missing the big picture. A multitude of income-producing opportunities lie beyond the book in the form of classes, workshops, retreats, coaching, speaking, products and much more.

Join us when VIP Authors interviews Stacey Joiner, author of You Deserve the Royal Treatment. Stacey will reveal how the essence of her yoga and massage therapy business became her business name and book title and set the stage for classes, retreats, products and much more.

During this class, you will learn how:

• Your book can become a very large business card


• Your book can elevate your status and increase your business (and fees!)


• Your book can lead to speaking, workshops and events


• Your book becomes your brand


• Your book can launch a product line

Have a question on a topic not listed? Write it down now for the live Q&A at the end of the call.

Mark your calendar right now to join us for this informative teleclass!

Topic: Creating Multiple Streams of Income with Your Book

When: Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Time: 8:00pm Eastern Time (7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific).

How to Register:

VIP Authors Inner Circle Members: You are already registered. Log on to the Members-Only page for call-in details. The audio recording of the class will be posted to the members page within 24 hours after the event.

Non-Members: Not a member yet, but want to hear the class? The monthly VIP Author Talks teleclass is free to members, but you can pay for the class only and sample the membership benefits before joining.

Registration for this event is now closed. The audio recording of the teleclass is available for purchase on the VIP Author Talks Audio page. To review this and all VIP Author Talks programs click here>>

Speaker Bio

Stacey Joiner is a New York and Florida State Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Integral Yoga Instructor. Stacey combines her knowledge of Yoga, Massage Therapy and the human body to give her clients a safe and relaxing experience.

She recently launched her book, You Deserve The Royal Treatment – A Woman’s Guide to Living Royally and her own personal care product line.

VIP Author Talks with Marsha Friedman: Celebritize Yourself

Do you think the only way to become  a celebrity is to be a rock star, TV personality or have a Hollywood mega box-office hit? Think again!

Over the last decade, a new kind of celebrity has emerged—the expert celebrity. These are people who are absolutely at the top of their professions, and they find a way to use the media to offer their expertise to their audiences.

Join us when VIP Author Talks hosts guest Marsha Friedman, owner of EMSI, a public relations firm, and author of Celebritize Yourself. Marsha will reveal how authors can follow in the footsteps of celebrity experts such as Martha Stewart, Bob Vila, Suze Orman and Rachel Ray.

During this teleclass, you will learn:

• Why becoming an expert celebrity is an effective strategy for authors


• The qualifications or background necessary to become an expert celebrity


• The first step to gaining expert celebrity


• The 5 questions you must ask yourself before putting pen to paper

Have a question on a topic not listed? Write it down now for the live Q&A at the end of the call.

Mark your calendar right now to join us for this informative teleclass!

Topic: Celebritize Yourself!

When: Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Time: 8:00pm Eastern Time (7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific).

How to Register:

VIP Authors Inner Circle Members: You are already registered. Log on to the Members-Only page for call-in details. The audio recording of the class will be posted to the members page within 24 hours after the event.

Non-Members: Not a member yet, but want to hear the class? The monthly VIP Author Talks teleclass is free to members, but you can pay for the class only and sample the membership benefits before joining.

Registration for this event is now closed. The audio recording of the teleclass is available for purchase on the VIP Author Talks Audio page. To review this and all VIP Author Talks programs click here>>

Speaker Bio:

Marsha Friedman doesn’t like sitting still. As a prominent business woman, she has run her pay for performance public relations firm successfully through prosperity and adversity, ironically having one of her best revenue years in the midst of the 2009 recession. As a publicity expert, she recently debuted her new book, Celebritize Yourself, and began a national media tour.

How Many Experts Does It Take to Create a Winning Book Cover?

VIP Author Talks with Shelley Lieber

Your mother may have told that "You can't judge a book by its cover," but people do it all the time. And, you don't have to be an publishing industry expert to spot a poorly done, unprofessional cover that screams "self-published." Most people can tell immediately if the book looks like it is worth picking up in a bookstore, or clicking the "Buy" button on a web page.

Join Shelley Lieber as she shares the experts' secrets and tips about how to:

• Get endorsements for your front and back cover


• Write copy that will invite interest and sell the book


• Decide whether to use a graphic, illustration or photo on your front cover


• Hire the professionals you need to get the job done right


• Combine all the elements (design, copy, graphics) for a winning look

Have a question on a topic not listed? Write it down now for the live Q&A at the end of the call.

Mark your calendar right now to join us for this informative teleclass!

Topic: How Many Experts Does It Take to Create a Winning Book Cover?

When: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Time: 8:00pm Eastern Time (7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific).

How to Register:

VIP Authors Inner Circle Members: You are already registered. Log on to the Members-Only page for call-in details. The audio recording of the class will be posted to the members page within 24 hours after the event.

Non-Members: Not a member yet, but want to hear the class? The monthly VIP Author Talks teleclass is free to members, but you can pay for the class only and sample the membership benefits before joining.

Registration for this event is now closed. The audio recording of the teleclass is available for purchase on the VIP Author Talks Audio page. To review this and all VIP Author Talks programs click here>>

Pre-Publication Marketing: Free Webinar

Many new authors wait until their books come out to begin or even think about marketing. Big Mistake! It is never too early to start marketing yourself and your book. Done correctly, pre-publication marketing can help you build a waiting audience for your work and possibly even attract an agent or publisher.

For the skinny on exactly what steps you should be taking, please join me, Dana Lynn Smith (The Savvy Book Marketer) and Tony Eldridge (Marketing Tips for Authors blog) for a special free webinar on Tuesday, February 23 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm Eastern Time. The Pre-Publication Marketing webinar is part of the Spirit Authors Grand Opening Week activities.

Register and get all the details here>>

VIP Author Talks with Stephanie Gunning: Get a Book Deal

VIP Authors who want to write a book in 2010 will be off to a great start after our first VIP Author Talks of the year! Our guest is Stephanie Gunning, a publishing strategist and former senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell. She’s mastered the art of transforming powerful ideas into marketable books and her Get a Book Deal™ program is designed to help writers get started on the road to success in as little as 60 to 90 days.

During this class, you will learn:

• How to set a powerful intention for your book


• The stages to get from idea to bookstore shelf


• Why you absolutely must draft a book proposal


• Tools from brain science to support your creativity


• Spiritual techniques to support your creativity


• Where & how coaching can be an assistance

Have a question on a topic not listed? Write it down now for the live Q&A at the end of the call.

Mark your calendar right now to join us for the VIP Author Talks with Stephanie Gunning. Here are the details:

Class*: VIP Author Talks with Stephanie Gunning

Topic: How to Get a Book Deal

When: Wednesday, January 27 at 8:00pm Eastern Time (7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific).

Registration for this event is closed. The audio recording of the teleclass is available for download on the VIP Authors Members-Only page. To review all member benefits or join now, click here>>>

Speaker Bio:

Stephanie Gunning is one of the most sought-after nonfiction writers in the publishing industry and a well-regarded book proposal coach. She is the coauthor or ghostwriter of (at last count) 22 published books. Her essays have been featured in well-known anthologies compiled by Arielle Ford and Doreen Virtue.

She has worked with numerous bestselling authors, including Hale Dwoskin, Gregg Braden, Ruby Payne, Thomas Moore, Stephen Mitchell, Marlo Morgan, and Ruth Montgomery, to name a few.

* If you are not yet a member and would like a recording of this call, find out more about all the benefits of VIP Author Inner Circle membership here>>