Live Events
Live events are scheduled on Thursdays at 4:00 PM Eastern whenever possible.
Dial (206) 402-0100 and then enter pin code 706467#
Every live event is recorded so you can listen to it later. If you are participating live there is time for Q & A with our guest experts. You can also submit questions in advance.
Interviews with guest experts
Book publicist Lisa Weinert
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 Lisa Weinert is an innovative and experienced book publicist who “gets” the publishing revolution, eBooks and how authors are being empowered.
She has spent the past decade spearheading national publicity, editorial and digital marketing campaigns for bestselling and award-winning authors. She is deeply experienced with both old and new media.
She worked at Random House for over 7 years first as a publicist and then as an editor. She also worked at publishing icon Jane Friedman’s innovative ebook company Open Road Integrated Media.
She’s worked with self-published authors whose books she has subsequently sold to traditional publishers, including Random House.
She has run her own book PR company, Lisa Weinert Consulting, since March 2011 and has consulted with The Atavist, Goodreads, reKiosk, Audible and other digital publishers.
Listen (start at :12)
Video expert Abe Cajudo
Thursday Jan. 10, 2013: Abe Cajudo, whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting in person, is a director, cross-discipline creative artist and storyteller.
His current fascinations include directing big ideas through video. He’s edited everything from comedy sketches to animated video game trailers to small business promo videos. Recently he worked on a number of crowdfunding campaigns and was credited on Seth Godin’s Kickstarter – which raised almost $300K for Seth’s latest book, The Icarus Deception. More about Abe and his work at: http://abecajudo.com
Abe made the point that creating and showcasing a short video is particularly appropriate for a business author whose goal is to get speaking or workshop engagements. It doesn’t have to be long or slickly produced.
He mentioned two Kickstarter campaigns for books: Don’t Go Back to School and To Be or Not To Be: That Is the Adventure. Check out the different levels for backing the projects. Also check out the videos. Kio Stark’s, for Don’t Go Back to School, is only 1 minute 45 seconds. It’s a headshot of her talking, low (or no) budget and yet very effective.
Indiegogo is another crowdfunding platform that authors use.
He mentioned Tim Ferriss’s 59-second trailer for the 4-Hour Body and Jonathan Fields’ trailer for Uncertainty. You’ll see that Jonathan’s trailer (slick production but it’s just him talking) is at the top of his book website.
Cost: Abe estimates $3,000 – $5,000 for a video with motion graphics, voice overs and other effects. You can probably find a videographer to do an interview-style video for $1,500.
Abe recommended Behance.net as a site to look for and post a job listing for talented videographers and web designers.
Listen [Start at 29:20]
Best-selling author David Meerman Scott
Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012: Guest interview with David Meerman Scott, best-selling author of The New Rules of Marketing & PR and seven other books. The New Rules has sold 300,000 copies and has been translated into 26 languages. He is now working on the 4th edition.
We talked about how his 2006 PDF manifesto, The New Rules of PR, launched his best-selling book. He had the manifesto professionally edited and designed; then posted it to his blog as a free download (no email or registration required). It was downloaded 50,000 times in the first 30 days – after a mention by Seth Godin and Steve Rubel (then the most popular PR blogger).
We also talked about David’s writing process: he draws directly from his long-running and popular blog, Web Ink Now. Over a period of months he sees “patterns” in what he’s writing about. He dumps those blog posts into a Word doc and uses that as a starting point for a new book. He works with a personal editor to get feedback on “chunks” of his writing, before submitting his manuscript to Wiley, his publisher. He always writes in the morning.
I asked him about his speaking career and how it relates to his books. Each book contains 30 to 50 “stories” he told us. They are little known stories of online marketing success that he collects and uses to illustrate bigger points. He bases his presentations on the stories. So in that sense, his books are very much the basis for his speaking.
I’ve known David for years, since well before he became hugely successful. He’s clearly in high flyer mode now, making $25K and up per speech. Still a lovely guy.
Best-selling author Pamela Slim
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012: Guest interview with Pamela Slim, best-selling author of Escape From Cubicle Nation. Pam is one of the wisest, most compassionate people I know. Full disclosure: she is also my business coach. She gave us an exclusive, inside look at her writing process.
We talked about:
– The big idea for her new book (she calls it “a framework for the new world of work”)
– Bridging the gap between “corporate is bad” and “entrepreneurship is good”
– How her new book will be the anchor for what comes next in her business (new keynotes, workshops, etc.)
– Her thoughts on traditional vs. self-publishing
– The value of the book proposal writing process
– Big idea vs. how-to books (hint: she likes hers to be both)
– The value of a pen and yellow pad
– When she is stuck or overwhelmed, she reminds herself that the purpose of her new book is “to be of service” to readers
Open Office Hours
As Facebook does not seem to be the preferred communications medium for this group [insert smiley icon here], please mark your calendar and plan to dial in to speak live with me and your fellow Beta Authors. This is a smart group and you can help each other with your book projects!
Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012
I discussed the steps of the writing process from the big idea to your outline to your shitty first draft. I talked about ways to self-edit. Then Jeff Pallister and I talked about the outline for his novella. And Rob Moran made an excellent suggestion to Jeff about narrowing the focus of his book.
Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013
I discussed what you should be doing – and when – to publish your eBook. One of the biggest challenges of self-publishing is that many of the steps happen in tandem.
– Writing & revising
– Cover design
– Choosing your title
– Final editing and proofreading
– Converting your Word doc to a .mobi file
– Creating your book website or landing page
– Information for your Amazon Kindle page
– Deciding on the price
– AND planning the launch of your eBook
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013
I discussed the three strategies outlined in Module 5 to launch and promote your book: Findability, Credibility and Shareability. Rob Moran and Joanne Smith were on the call. Joanne suggested that the word “Sharability” would benefit from an “e” in it. Good idea.
The recording of the interview with book publicist 