Calendar

Jun
15
Sat
Brunch and Learn- CrowdFunding DeepDive!
Jun 15 @ 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

It’s Crowdfunding Unplugged!

Crowdfunding Workshop

Is there a Kickstarter in you? Should there be? Would you like to know savvy tips to be successful?

Find out and determine exactly how to create, use and succeed with any crowding funding activity.

Whether you need $1,000 or $100,000, crowdfunding is an option.

There’s money in the cyber clouds and Author U’s first regular Saturday pops with a topic that authors want to know about … where to get money to support, create, publish and market their books.

Crowdfunding: Raise Capital To Fund Your Creative Project

Crowdfunding is “the” method for creative thinkers to raise capital for their businesses and projects. It enables anyone the opportunity to raise money for anything, without going to a publisher, VC, or bank. In this workshop, Leigh Lepore, Founder of Crowdfunding Strategy & Information, will walk through what crowdfunding is, which type of crowdfunding (e.g., donations, rewards, debt, or equity) is ideal for which situations, and how to set up a successful campaign. We will discuss in detail the key steps for engaging an audience, presenting your project to the market (including creating the right video), and hitting your goal.

  • Would you like money for your Book Project?
  • Would you like to expand your book empire using OPM—other people’s money?
  • Would you like to learn the how and why of how to do it?
  • Would you like to learn about crowdfunding from someone who creates the strategy and copy for crowdfunding projects?
  • Would you like to learn how to create your own crowdfunding project?

We’ve got the answers to all of the above and much more. See you Saturday morning for a late Brunch and Learn at Author U.
Author U is switching to a Brunch and Learn format after the recent survey with our members.

Leigh LeporeLeigh Lepore is a crowdfunding strategist. She raises funds for products, creative ideas and causes. Leigh has raised a total of $40K for her personal campaigns and has researched, blogged and trained with top platforms and crowdfunding partners to assist in the raising of mega thousands for authors and entrepreneurial projects.

Leigh  is the Founder of Crowdfunding Strategy & Information. She advises small businesses and creative individuals on raising money for their projects through crowdfunding. Leigh has successfully raised $40K for her personal campaigns and advised others on campaigns of over $100K. She is passionate about helping others and being socially responsible. She is focused on crowdfunding especially for those who cannot fundraise for themselves and believes in a communal yet competitive approach to achieve success.

She began her career in crowdfunding while in San Francisco where she trained with the top funding platforms and worked with industry partners. Since then, her passion for democratizing funding and empowering others has led her to raise thousands of dollars and help people around the world.

Leigh started her career in Environmental Engineering and Strategy Consulting with a top global consulting firm. She later transitioned to work for a Fortune 200 financial services corporation until fulfilling her entrepreneurial spirit and successfully reinventing an antique African art business in San Francisco.

Brunch and Learn

When: Saturday, June 15th from 10 am to 2 pm
Where: Hilton Garden Inn, DTC
Cost:
$30 members | $40 nonmembers

Reserve Member Seat | Reserve Non-member Seat

Jan
18
Sat
Create the Ultimate Bestseller at Sea
Jan 18 – Jan 24 all-day

Publishing at Sea

OH-OH … You are going to miss this boat … the Publishing at Sea cruise is SOLD OUT!

Authors who need a crash course in book publishing before they write, or need to create demand for books that aren’t selling, can learn the inside secrets of how to write and market a bestseller, during a Caribbean cruise Jan. 18-23, 2014.

The “Create the Ultimate Bestseller at Sea!” cruise includes training sessions and laser coaching by five book publishing experts:

  • Book shepherd Judith Briles, who has written 31 books, including several bestsellers. She hosts the annual Author U in Denver which trains thousands of authors and publishers.
  • Publicity expert Joan Stewart, aka The Publicity Hound, a former journalist who has coached, mentored and trained thousands of authors, writers, publishers, CEOs and  business owners, on how to self-promote.
  •  Book distribution expert Amy Collins who knows every facet of the book distribution labyrinth and has worked with major publishing houses as well as independent authors.
  • Book marketing expert Penny Sansevieri, who has helped make 11 books bestsellers in less than two years.
  • Branding expert Georgia McCabe, a social media strategist and best-selling author, helps authors by predicting how evolving technologies will combine with consumer needs to create business opportunities.

The cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean’s “Brilliance of the Seas” will leave port in Tampa, Fla., and travel to George Town on Grand Cayman, and then onto Cozumel, Mexico.

At sea, participants can attend 12 intensive sessions on strategic book marking, distribution, publicity, professional speaking, social media and other topics important to creating a bestseller. They can also take advantage of laser coaching with the four experts. In port, participants are free to relax and enjoy the sites.

The cost for all workshops, the cruise, taxes and gratuities is $1,100 per person for an outside, ocean view cabin, or $1,200 per person for a balcony. If you were to buy a collective hour of the five “Chicks at Sea”, it would cost you $1500!  Grab your spot for the ultimate working vacation.

Registrants can pay for the trip over six months, via PayPal, with no interest.  All details are on the PublishingAtSea.com website for each workshop.

Register at http://www.PublishingatSea.com. Or call Judith Briles at 303-885-2207.

Oct
11
Sat
Brunch & Learn – HOT Book Strategies
Oct 11 @ 9:30 am – 1:30 pm

icon_brunch-learn

 

Book Strategies … Embrace Them or Perish!

 

 

Publishing: Time and Project Management, Money, Marketing, Publicity, Social Media

October 11th 10 am to 2 pm

COME EARLY … Author Circles will start at 9.30 AM … take advantage of this!

 

NOTE … there is a change of venue for this event. See below.

 

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Autumn is here … we have a harvest of goodies for you and it’s time to get to work! Author U’s Panel of Experts is ready to let it rip … you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers and solutions.

  • You are overwhelmed … what can you do to cut corners and not cut your productivity?
  • Your bank account is tilting … what can you do to keep going forward without sinking?
  • You want media coverage … what can you do to get without it shelling it out $3,000 a month for a publicist?
  • You need a Game Plan and Strategies … but you are clueless as to where to start (or stop).
  • You know you need Amazon … how can you use it effectively to maximize your book and eBook sales?
  • You know you need marketing moxie … where should you start, what should you stop and what are the latest trends?
  • You think that social media is important … but feel like you are a bottomless pit—learn where to crawl, when to leap and when to exit.

Whew! What a day is planned. Be there early … we will start Author Circles at 9:30 am for those who have questions about anything including newbies and the beginning journey of publishing. Schmoozing, hearty food and Introductions shortly after 10 am, and get ready for a great in-depth program.

Book Strategies … Embrace Them or Perish! It’s your choice, you choose.

Date: Saturday, October 11th

Location: Judith Briles’ Offices in Aurora, CO — you will get directions  … (this is new due to original venue snafu)

Cost: $30 for members, $45 for non-members (price increases $10 on Oct.7th!)

Before October 9th

Members

Non-Members

 

Beginning October 7th

Members

Non-Members

Jan
7
Wed
WebinarGold: How to Create Compelling Characters
Jan 7 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Do you have characters or stories in your books? Will your reader love ’em, hate ’em … or just not care? It’s a critical question that every author needs to deal with.

Webinar Gold

You can have the most compelling and creative plot out there, but without good characters your story just won’t move. But how do you come up with compelling characters that readers can relate too and get behind? That will be the subject of this webinar. We will delve into the creation of characters, and even how to write bios for them so we have something to refer back to when writing. So please come join me as we go over how to create engaging characters. Date is Wednesday, January 7th –details on the Events tab on the website. Freebie for AuthorU.org members. Get ready for Publish Smarter … Not Harder. Watch for the dates and get them on your calendar. Archives will be in the Logged in Members Only section. Check this month’s webinars under the Events tab.

Date: January 7th
Time: 6 pm Eastern, 4 pm Mountain
Location: Anywhere your laptop is.
Register:  https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9178102207940740098

Sep
23
Wed
WebinarGOLD: What Authors Need to Know About CrowdFunding and Why You Should Care
Sep 23 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

icon_webinargold-3DWhat Authors Need to Know About CrowdFunding and Why You Should Care

 

 

Get ready to dust off any preconceived ideas that you have about crowdfunding. This WebinarGold will tell and demonstrate everything you needed to know about crowdfunding but were afraid to ask.

Cost: FREE to all AuthorU members

Time: 7 pm Eastern to 8 pm
Register: On AuthorU website under Events or go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4918103785740100609

Oct
26
Mon
October 26th Salon: Everything You Need to Know About CrowdFunding!
Oct 26 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

icon_evening-salons

October 26th Salon:

Everything You Need to Know About CrowdFunding and You Didn’t Know to Ask … Start Building Your Campaign Tonight!

 

 

There’s nothing like having cash to fuel your book project. You can use your own; you can borrow it; you can have a massive garage sale … or you can do it the OPM way—other people’s money.

 

Judith is going to walk you through how to create a CrowdFunding campaign, step-by-step. She’s worked with several authors who have all succeeded. Yes, it’s work—but how else are you going to get moneys that you don’t have to pay back? If you don’t think you have the ultimate winning lottery ticket, here’s where to start.

 

Don’t miss this Salon for GOLD and BestSeller members only. You will have extensive handouts with it.

 

Must have to participate in this session: Your laptop, images that can be used to enhance any slides you start to create—the more the better. If you have key phrases and quotes that link to what your expertise is and your book is about, have them already written in a file. You will get video tips as well.  Expect a few hot seats.

 

When: Monday, October 26th     DINNER INCLUDED

Time: 6 to 9 pm

Where: Judith’s Offices, Aurora

Cost: $30 – You are encouraged to get Judith’s book on Amazon and bring it with you that night, The CrowdFunding Guide for Authors & Writers.

Aug
11
Thu
AUG WEBINAR Create WorkBooks and Adult Coloring Books
Aug 11 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Get ready to create a variation of your book and expertise that Marvel Comics would be proud of! With the ability to tap into Amazon’s CreateSpace and IngramSpark, you too can join the crowd that had gotten the “how-tos” of creating workbooks, guidebooks, comics … even adult coloring books (not to mention kiddos). If you publish children’s books and adult coloring books or even if you publish nonfiction … OR, are thinking about doing it … you’ve got to see how this is done … and learn how quickly you can convert ANYTHING into a snappy and sassy new product.

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Register here (even if you can’t attend live, you will get the replay the next day): https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1767883132402882306

If you could do this quickly and easily, you can increase your monthly passive income with a snap of a finger (well kind of).

Here’s your question: Are you ready to catch a new wave of ideas and repurposing for you and your books? One that coattails to a top selling trend for adults?

There are a lot of sticky details when it comes to publishing physical books and physical color books that you will want to throw your laptop into the ocean because it could be so confusing! This webinar will be your lifeline … learn how and discover how you can add income to your cash water-way.

NEW! SPEEDBOAT Printing and Publishing Webinar on Thursday, August 11th—it’s another freebie. There’s so much you can do to create new products that are a variation of what you currently have. The time is 4 PT, 5 MT, 6 CT and 7 ET. Expect a fast hour.

Even if you can’t attend “live”, register to get the replay: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1767883132402882306

Are you aware that adult and kid coloring books are hot in book sales? Would you like to know how to convert what you have written and create them? How about spiffy newsletters, guides, and workbooks?

Get ready for a speedboat of a webinar. We are going to show you how to make a full-color book fast. It’s all in this week’s WebinarGold on Thursday, the 11th.

 

Nov
8
Wed
WebinarGold: Why you should have a Coloring Book around your Expertise, or Something New
Nov 8 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Are you ready to tap into an ADULT craze that doesn’t to appear to have an end in the short-term horizon?

Did you know that adult coloring books are rocking it in book sales?

But consider this…

Adult coloring books and other low content types of books are easy to create and profitably publish IF you know how to use complicated graphics like Photoshop or Gimp Shop. 

But what if you don’t? As you like the idea … but where is the Dummies version?

Get ready … this webinar has that solution for you.

On Wednesday, November 8th, we’re going to show you a brand-new way starting at NOON Mountain time—11AM Pacific and 2 PM Eastern.

Here’s the other great thing you can use this to create:

  • Adult coloring books
  • Children’s coloring books
  • Maze Books
  • Game Books
  • Action Guides
  • Journals
  • Diaries

and much, much more!

Get ready to create new products that compliment what you have now. Create something spanking new. And have fun.

Register here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8441475619286147586

 

Aug
10
Sat
It’s a HOT August AM for Colorado Authors! @ The Book Shepherd's Offices
Aug 10 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Details

What we’ll do in August is a great month. There’s the beauty of both the day and evening … and there is the “prep” planning that leads to the huge Fall book selling season. You will get a “what’s old and what’s new” strategy throughout the morning.

This Saturday is the perfect time to take just three hours for you to get your brainstorming and masterminding hat in the publishing ring and kick off the coming out of winter. Besides the answers to the “What I Need to Know Before I Go” that is posted on the Flip Chart, you will come away with:

* Transition from the CWO to the CMO.

* Re-launch a tired book and add sparkle to your push.

* How to use social media to master book marketing. * Learn about must-have adds for you and your book.

* Learn how to add “juice” to what you are currently doing.

* Learn new author tools to add to your success.

* Always … get any questions you have answered.

Springtime in the Rockies delivers a split weather personality–we could have a little snow; some rain; or sunshine as the day begins. Inside, there will be plenty of HOT NEW ideas that will flip what you think and turn your head and attitude about what works and doesn’t work in today’s publishing arena. All gatherings start with a flip chart and a question: what do you need? The morning is then off … who knows what paths it will take? Is there a book in the works? Are you stuck? Curious about the various publishing options? Ask your questions … AND participate.

The value of the group is to GIVE and SHARE ahas, insights, and techniques, not just TAKE. If you are a taker, Author YOU is not for you. The AuthorYOU participants are hungry for new information and delighted to share what works for them … and what doesn’t. The SALONS created will expand your projects and the breadth of your success. If you want to make your book happen … here’s the inner circle that has ideas and experience to kick start it, goose it and just get the launch started that The Book Shepherd Judith Briles leads each month. Your answers are in the room. AND … it’s MONEY FREE to attend … with two strings attached: Bring a healthy snack to share AND some new socks. Judith is a Sock Ambassador and part of a team that distributes to the Homeless and Kids in Need–, your ideas, questions, an open mind and meet other authors. No question goes unanswered! –come at 9, stay til noon– See you Saturday, August 10th. Hot Coffee and Teas are ready for you.

Warning: if you are a “no-show,” you get two passes; after two misses, future participation will be based on availability.

• What to bring Bring a snack to share and some NEW socks to give.

Location: The Book Shepherd’s Offices: 8122 S. Quatar Circle · Aurora, CO

Register here: https://www.meetup.com/AuthorYOUSalons/events/260321129/

 

Jun
12
Sat
JUNE… Creating the BUZZ Factor ONLINE — It’s Author YOU SALONS June 12
Jun 12 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

June opens to warming weather on the outside… and sizzling ideas on the inside. Let’s dump what isn’t working and reveal new avenues for your author success… about you; about your book… what else? It’s part of your expanding author infrastructure. See you Saturday a 9.00 a.m.

This Event is exclusively for AuthorYOU Members.

To Join AuthorYOU, visit https://authoru.org/join-author-u/why-join-author-u.html, and sign up for a VIP AuthorYOU Membership.

• AS ALWAYS, All gatherings start with a virtual flip chart and a question: what do you need? The morning is then off… who knows what paths it will take? Is there a book in the works? Are you stuck? Curious about the various publishing options? Ask your questions… AND participate.

The value of the group is to give, not just take. The Author YOU SALON participants are true masterminds. The SALONS created with expand your projects and the breadth of your success. If you want to make your book happen… here’s the inner circle that has ideas and experience to kick start it, goose it and just get the launch started. Your answers are in the room.

There is no charge for AuthorYOU Members. No question goes unanswered! –come at 9, stay till noon if need be.

Aug
14
Sat
AUGUST AuthorYOU Salons are on Saturday, August 14
Aug 14 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

For AuthorYOU members only.

It’s an ONLINE Saturday AM gathering for the AuthorYOU Salon community. Grab a COOL beverage–who knows how hot it will be outside? Bring your questions … you get answers. Catch up with old and new friends. August is often a “laid back” month… get ready to rev up your marketing engines for Fall time. What are you going to position yourself for the prime selling season?

REGISTER HERE: https://www.meetup.com/AuthorU/events/rrbcjsycclbsb/