It’s Crowdfunding Unplugged!

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 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.

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

June Tech Tool Box —SOLD OUT

Create or Enhance Your YouTube Channel on Tuesday, June 18^th
Do you know YouTube is the second most popular search engine after Google? People search YouTube for trainings, tutorials and educational purposes as well as for some entertainment. Join us for this intensive workshop to learn how to optimize your YouTube account, tips for uploading videos and strategies for posting your videos on your websites and blogs. We will start with instruction and have work time for you to start implementing what you learned.

It’s YouTube, starring you and your book!

Time: 3 – 6 pm
Cost: $60 or both June and July Tech Tool Boxes for $100
Location: Judith’s Offices
Register for June Only at $60: CLICK HERE

for BOTH Toolbox Workshops June 18th and July 23rd at $100:  CLICK HERE

                   July Tech Tool Box   – 2 SPOTS left

Create Your Own Blog Talk Radio on Tuesday, July 23^rd

Having your own radio show is within your reach from free to a small fee, depending on what bells and whistles you want!

Showcase your expertise through your own radio show on Blog Talk Radio. This will also give you an opportunity to invite guest speakers to your show to reinforce your niche area. Don’t miss this intensive workshop on setting up an account on Blog Talk Radio, features in your radio show account, and strategies for scheduling and planning  your show and show topics. 

Time: 3 – 6 pm
Cost: $60 or both June and July Tech Tool Boxes for $100
Location: Judith’s Offices
Register for July Only at $60: CLICK HERE

for BOTH Toolbox Workshops June 18th and July 23rd at $100: CLICK HERE

September 6-7, 2013 will change your authoring life …

Experience two full days of Judith every September … no guest speakers, no pitches, just Judith Briles Unplugged delivering an amazing depth of publishing, authoring and marketing information that she has derived from her 30 plus years in the publishing field and as The Book Shepherd.

$497 for Early, Early Bird signup

$647 for Early Bird + a guest

Create the best-seller you dream of … turn into the award-winning and sought after author you aspire to. Judith has done it multiple times and she will show you how.

• If you are just starting down the authoring and publishing path, you will come away with a personalized strategy to create and develop your book.
• If your book is ready to birth, you will come away with amazing steps and ahas on how to soar its official launch and develop your next steps.
• If your book, and you, want to create a book launch that sells books and gets you noticed, you will learn how.
• If you want to make serious money as an author, you will come away with strategies that are doable and how to do them.
• If your book is currently available, no matter how old, your current marketing concepts and strategies will be turned upside down.
• If you want to look at crowdfunding, you will learn the ins and outs of a campaign.
• If you want to  create a speech that uses the key elements of your book and expertise, you will learn insider tips on how to and how to niche yourself into “your” market.
• If want to know tricks of the social media marketing whirlwind, you will learn which      platforms work best for which books and how to drill down into them.
• If you are still noodling on what a Platform is, you will not only get it, but you will drill down into yours.
• If you haven’t done a GamePlan for your book, no matter what stage it’s at, you will …  and discover amazing “ahas” along the way about both You and  Your Book.
• If  you want to make serious money as an author, you will come away with the  how to strategies that are doable.

Judith Briles Unplugged is not just another publishing conference where you sit in your seat and take notes—expect extraordinary high interaction, plenty of “to-do” Activities—you will not only listen and hear The Book Shepherd, you will immediately implement what she says. Judith believes in feeding your brain and your belly.

It is your next, next step to authoring and book success. Be there. You and Your Book can’t afford not to be.

Call Judith, determine if this is the “right fit” for you and your book now. Call 303-885-2207 or email Judith@Briles.com. Don’t delay.  www.TheBookShepherd.com 

In other words, your life as an author will be morphed.

Judith Briles Unplugged delivers extraordinary high interaction, plenty of “to-do” Activities and Hot Seats—you will not only listen and hear The Book Shepherd, you will immediately implement what she says.  As the author of 30 books, many best-selling and award-winning, she knows publishing. Her latest book, Author YOU: Creating and Building the Author and Book Platforms will be used throughout … and a book that has earned three national awards in 2013, shortly after it was published: In the Writing and Publishing categories, it was the WINNER at the International Book Awards, the Indie Excellence Book Awards and the International Book Publishers Awards. Limited to a small number of participants, each will receive individual attention and walk away with a personalized GamePlan for his or her Book and for Self, as the Author.

It is your next, next step to authoring and book success.
If that’s your goal, be there. You and Your Book can’t afford not to.

Save these two days in 2013: September 6th and 7th … they will change your publishing life. Who better to captain your journey than Author and Publishing Expert, Dr. Judith Briles?

Location: Denver, Colorado … our Falls are spectacular.

Cost: $497 for Early Bird signups now, ends July 8th. You will get an immediate savings of  $100 at checkout. Continental breakfast is included each day along with a Friday night reception.

Site: Doubletree Hotel SE, 13596 E Iliff Place, Aurora, CO  80014.
Room Rates: $84. Call 303-337-2800, Neighborhood Rate

$497 for Early, Early Bird signup

$647 for Early Bird + a guest

Are you ready to promote your new book?

Perhaps you don’t know what questions to ask or what promotional options are available to you. Author U and expert Literary Publicist Stephanie Barko have answers for you.

Brunch and Learn Registration

Cost: $35 for members, $55 for nonmembers

Signups after Thursday, September, 19th will add $10 at the door.
Date: Saturday, September 21st
Time: 10 am to 1:45 pm
Location: Doubletree SE, Aurora

Bonus Session – Author U members only- 3 SPOTS left

Cost: $30
Bonus Mastermind Session from 2 – 4
Location: Doubletree SE, Aurora

NO refunds 30 days prior to event.

Brunch and Learn $35 for members	Brunch and Learn $55 for nonmembers
Brunch and Learn + Bonus session $65 for members	Bonus Session $30 members only

 

1. What works and what doesn’t work for today’s author?
2. What works best for you and your book?
3. What will it cost?

This workshop surveys book promotion from the 50 foot level, exposing the author to a wide panorama of promotional elements.

You will learn the how and why of these elements in book promotion.

• Blogging
• Social Networking
• Media Kits
• Interviews
• Trailers
• Press Releases
• Features
• Live Events
• Virtual Tours
• Timelines

Writers will get a feel for what they might want to do themselves and what might best be delegated by listening to examples from real campaigns and comparing cost to benefit.

Participants will walk away with a general understanding of modern book promotion and a broad sense of direction for their specific project.

BONUS Session

Stephanie is flying in from Austin, TX to present this amazing workshop, and will facilitate a deep-dive MasterMind for a limited number of attendees after brunch. Think of it as personalized laser coaching. Limited to 20.

Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist was voted Preditors & Editors Best Book Promotion Service in 2011. Her award-winning clients include traditional publishers and their authors, small presses, and independently published writers.

Visit with Stephanie at www.StephanieBarko.com

eVolution is part of your publishing empire. It has to be. Like a menu in a restaurant, eBooks are something that you should create when you create your print book. Or create an eBook, than maybe, create a print book. Then there’s an “a” book—audio.

eBooks now amount to 25 percent of all book sales… and there are strong indications of a flattening of the market with a cross over now to tablets … yet many eBooks can’t be read on a tablet and many tablet books can’t be read on eReaders, like Kindle and Nook. What’s an author to do?

Designer Nick Zelinger will walk you through the step-by-step process; how and why you need to think differently for your covers; what venues you should use to upload and broadcast and so much more. There’s lots to learn and you will get the visuals and the how-tos to make your “e” empire rock and roll.

At this Brunch & Learn, you will come away with:

• The How-tos of eBook formatting … what works and what definitely doesn’t.
• The differences between “fixed” formats and “flexible” formats and when you should use them.
• What works in a standard eBook and what doesn’t.
• How to include art, tables, graphics.
• Why “e” covers need a twist.
• The ins and outs of Amazon’s KDP program.
• Strategies to market your “e” product line.

Book Celebrations can be a Launch or a Hoopla. How do you create an event that is both awesome and successful … meaning your sell lots of programs?

• Determining what type of event to create.
• Examples of alternatives to traditional book signings.
• Getting a crowd there.

Author U Chief Visionary Officer Judith Briles has been creating successful author events for years. She’s going to walk you through a variety to ideas to launch and celebrate your book that takes you way beyond the table in the bookstore. Be ready to come away with a flood of ideas to make you and your book stand above the book crowd–she promises that it will be Snappy, Sassy and Salty!

Cost: $30 for members, $45 for nonmembers
Date: October 12th Time: 10 am to 2 pm Location: Doubletree SE, Aurora (225 and Iliff)

Register now!

Member

Non-Member

All Tech Tool Boxes are for Author U paid up members only and limited to 8 participants to allow for in-depth work with each and are led by Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles

January 14th: Instagram and Infographics – Share Knowledge or Tell a Story Through Images and Instant info to all things Cyberland and Beyond!

Information Graphics or Infographics is a method to share knowledge or tell a story about a topic through a graphic image. Since “a picture is worth a thousand words,” Infographics allow you to present details and content in a compact, easy-to-understand way. Demos of programs to create your own Infographics will be covered in the workshop. Instagram is fast and fun.  You will laugh and learn this afternoon!

Time: 3 to 6 pm $60
Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora (you will get directions and a reminder the day before and what to bring for each session).

 All Tech Tool Boxes are for Author U paid up members only and limited to 8 participants
to allow for in-depth work with each and are led by Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles.

Attention all authors – you need to set up a Google + Authorship account.

Why?

Authorship is establishing you (to Google) as the confirmed author of an item of content that gets published on a website.

Very important aspect to your online presence!

In this Tech Toolbox workshop, we will walk through the steps in setting up your Google + Authorship.

You will need to have a Google + account and Google + profile.

You will also need to bring:

• the log-in to your WordPress website dashboard or
• the FTP log-in to your server for your website files if you do not have a WordPress website.

*WordPress website dashboard log in consists of a username and password.
*FTP log in includes the host name, user name and password (this is only if you do NOT have a WordPress website).

Cost:  $60 each or all 3 (Feb/Mar/April) for $150
Time: 3 to 6 pm
Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora (you will get directions the day before and what to bring for each session)
Register for February Only at $60:  

For ALL THREE Toolbox Workshops February 18th, March 18th, April 15th at $150:

 All Tech Tool Boxes are for Author U paid up members only and limited to 8 participants
to allow for in-depth work with each and are led by Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles.

Audioboo is a tool to record, upload and share audio.

A boo consists of any clip of audio, a picture, a location, a title and a description.

The free account has a 3 minute limit, but you can upgrade for more.

Your audios can be shared on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms, you can embed playlists on your sites, and use the mobile apps and widgets as “listen again” players.

You can also submit your audios to iTunes as a podcast.

Join us for this Tech ToolBox workshop and start recording today!

Cost:  $60 each or all 3 (Feb/Mar/April) for $150

Time: 3 to 6 pm
Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora (you will get directions the day before and what to bring for each session)
Register for March Only at $60:  

For ALL THREE Toolbox Workshops February 18th, March 18th, April 15th at $150:

 All Tech Tool Boxes are for Author U paid up members only and limited to 8 participants
to allow for in-depth work with each and are led by Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles.

This workshop will take you through demos of programs that will teach you simple-to-use business tools, such as ShortKeys, Wufoo, and others – you’ll be clicking away and using new tech tools in no time!

Believe us … new tools are added; old tools morph often. The ones that were your old standbys may have undergone a total makeover as well.

Cost:  $60

Time: 3 to 6 pm
Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora (you will get directions the day before and what to bring for each session)
Register for April Only at $60:

All Tech Tool Boxes are for Author U paid up members only and limited to 8 participants to allow for in-depth work with each and are led by Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles. AND … a limited number of participants can attend via remote.

 Turn Your Ideas into Eye-Catching Designs: PicMonkey and Canva

How would you like to turn your tips, quotes from your book or show your creative side by designing your own images? With PicMonkey and Canva, we’ll show you how you can use these free tools to develop your own ideas into fun, stunning designs!

Learn about PicMonkey and Canva through our demos and then you’ll have time to start creating your own designs!

Time: June 10th, 3 to 6 pm

Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora (you will get directions the day before and what to bring for each session). If you are attending remote, you need to contact Judith directly to set it up. Please put in subject line: Remote Tech Tool Box and email her at Judith@Briles.com.

Cost: $60 each or 3 for $150

For ALL THREE Toolbox Workshops June 10th, July 15h, August 12th at $150:

All Tech Tool Boxes are for Author U paid up members only and limited to 8 participants
to allow for in-depth work with each and are led by Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles. AND … a limited number of participants can attend via remote.

More Than Just Images: How to Use Pinterest to Promote Your Blog, Services & Products

With Pinterest having such a focus on images, we tend to forget that is just one aspect of how to utilize Pinterest.

This workshop will review various methods of using Pinterest for your book and business including:

• How you can drive traffic to your blog through Pinterest.
• Conduct a contest through Pinterest.
• How you can add your Audioboo recordings to your Pinterest and not only grow your followers but offer “snippets” from your book.
• How to monetize your book and other products with a Pinterest boost.

… and more!

This workshop will help you set up your Pinterest account (if needed) and then walk through examples and demos to learn methods for using Pinterest.

Time: July 15th, 3 to 6 pm

Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora (you will get directions the day before and what to bring for each session). If you are attending Remote, you need to contact Judith directly to set it up. Please put in subject line: Remote Tech Tool Box and email her at Judith@Briles.com.

Cost: $60 each or 2 for $100

For TWO Toolbox Workshops July 15h, August 12th at $100:

All Tech Tool Boxes are for Author U paid up members only and limited to 8 participants to allow for in-depth work with each and are led by Kelly Johnson and Judith Briles. AND … a limited number of participants can attend via remote.

Capture a Moment: Instagram and Infographics—Share Knowledge or Tell a Story Through Images and Instant info to all things Cyberland and Beyond!

Instagram is a quick and fun way to share your life and stories using pictures and video.  Come learn about Instagram, and after a tutorial in setting up Instagram, we’ll start capturing those moments for you to share!

Information Graphics or Infographics is a method to share knowledge or tell a story about a topic through a graphic image. Since “a picture is worth a thousand words,” Infographics allow you to present details and content in a compact, easy-to-understand way. Demos of programs to create your own infographics will be covered in the workshop. Instagram is fast and fun. You will laugh and learn this afternoon!

Time: August 12th, 3 to 6 pm

Location: Judith Briles’ Office in Aurora (you will get directions the day before and what to bring for each session). If you are attending Remote, you need to contact Judith directly to set it up. Please put in subject line: Remote Tech

Cost: $60

Bublish and Book Bubbles … isn’t it time you had some FUN with your book marketing. We think so!

Join us for a webinar on Jun 30, 2016 at 4 PM Pacific, 5 PM Mountain, 6 PM Central, 7 PM Eastern

Register now! https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6656529531634847234

On June 30th … meet the amazing Kathy Meis. She will deliver a “live” demo of just how a book bubble works and why they are so hot in book buzzland.

You will learn how to create book bubbles across your social media networks to find new readers and build a dynamic network brand that drives sales to your bank account.

It’s the summertime at and book marketing has never been easier.Don’t bother to pop the popcorn—you won’t have time to eat it—you will be taking notes like crazy!

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.

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 11^th—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 11^th.

It’s BACK …

the Author U’s Annual Member BBQ

For members and their family/guests only. 

AuthorU Members love to eat and schmooze.  Come join in—the day will be warm … perfect for gathering and a BBQ. Expect a musical surprise. AuthorU supplies the BBQ Fixin’s (brats, burgers, chicken), Beverages and Dessert … you get to bring the sides and munchies.

Who: Members and Family and Authors-to-Be!
When: Saturday afternoon, August 13
Time:  5 to 9 P.m
Location:  the home of Judith Briles and John Maling
Cost: FREE

Bring: a side dish for 8 (NO desserts please)

RSVP for this one … PLEASE … with the number in your party!

Yes! I’m coming!

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 8^th, 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