Web 2.0 has transformed the internet and there are so many tools and strategies authors can use now to turbo-charge their writing, online sales and build their author platform.

Joanna Penn launched the free Author 2.0 Blueprint as a no-cost resource to help authors understand how the Internet has changed publishing, and how authors must change too if they are to be successful. You can download it here prior to the call.

If you are ready for a comprehensive plan to help you write, publish and sell your books online, don’t miss this VIP Author Talks with guest Joanna Penn!

During this teleclass, you will learn:

• How publishing is changing and why it is a great time to be an author
• What freemium is and how authors have the advantage over others on the Internet
• How the Author 2.0 model works to bring people to your site
• How to build your online platform
• How your online brand is important for creating raving fans for your work
• What specific tools and websites you can use right now so you can get started immediately

This class will give you tons of information that you can use right now to build your online platform!

Register now for:

Free Class*: “How to Use Web 2.0 to Write, Publish, Sell & Promote Your Book”

Date: Wednesday, August 26

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

Download: Get your free Author 2.0 Blueprint before the call here>>

*The presentation will last one hour and is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply. Please note that anyone may call in and listen, but the audio recording will only be available to VIP Author Inner Circle members. 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>>>

There’s no doubt that social media is changing the way authors publish and sell their work. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, GoodReads, Red Room and many more are probably some of the Internet sites you’ve heard about or may even be using. However, there is an art to social networking, and learning the strategies of leveraging these powerful tools can mean the difference between money in your bank account and wasting hours of time on useless online chatter.

Whether you’re just a beginner or an avid user, you’ll want to listen in on the next VIP Author Talks with our guest, Warren Whitlock, co-author of “The Twitter Revolution: How Social Media and Mobile Marketing is Changing the Way We Do Business & Market Online.”

Some of the topics we’ll cover on the call include:

• What is Twitter and what make it so powerful for your business?
• How to create and setup an effective Twitter profile
• Tips on how to build a following on Twitter
• The art of tweeting and starting a real conversation

Class*: How Social Media is Changing the Way Authors Publish & Sell their Work

Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009

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

Have a question on a topic not listed here? There will be an open Q&A at the end of the call. You really don’t want to miss this event, so register right now, because “seating” is limited to 99 for this class.

*The presentation will last one hour and is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply. Please note that anyone may call in and listen, but the audio recording will only be available to VIP Author Inner Circle members. 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>>>

Amid the (seemingly) endless talk of declining book sales, book store closings and industry layoffs lies a glimmer of good news. The digital segment of the industry is experiencing growth–the fastest growth (percentage-wise) within the industry.

So what is a digital book? How do you create one? Can you take your print book and turn it into an ebook? Do you need a specially prepared file? Where do you sell ebooks? How can you get your book on Kindle, iPhone and Sony eReader?

If you’re thinking about turning your manuscript or book into digital form (and you should be), don’t miss the next VIP Author Talks with guest Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords.com, a site for creating and selling digital books.

Topic: How to Publish Digital Books

Date: Wednesday, June 24

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

During this tele-class you will learn:

• What an ebook is and what it is not
• Why ebooks are cool
• How ebooks “fit” into the publishing landscape
• Why you should care
• Why multi-formats are best for ebook delivery
• And much more

Have a question on a topic not listed here? There will be an open Q&A at the end of the call. You really don’t want to miss this event, so register right now, because “seating” is limited to 99 for this class.

*The presentation will last one hour and is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply. Please note that anyone may call in and listen, but the audio recording will only be available to VIP Author Inner Circle members. 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>>>

What’s in a name? “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” wrote the bard William Shakespeare. However, when applied to the name of your book–your book title–suddenly a name becomes very important. The title you select for your book, website and blog, back-end materials such as seminars, workshops, and headlines for press releases and other marketing material can be a make-or-break success factor

No matter what stage of the writing process you are in, you don’t want to miss the next VIP Author Talks when guest Roger C. Parker presents, “Choosing the Right Title: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Committing to a Book Title.”

Roger is the “32 Million Dollar Author” whose 38 books have sold 1.6 million copies around the world. His books include the original “Microsoft Office for Window for Dummies” and “Looking Good in Print: A Guide to Basic Design for Desktop Publishing,” praised by the New York Times as, “The one book to buy when you’re buying only one.”

In this presentation, you will learn:

• Why titles are so important
• 10 essentials of a successful title
• Why titles alone are not enough to ensure success
• Tips for researching the competition online
• 10 questions to ask yourself when reviewing your final title choices
• How to find help at the last minute
• How to adapt your title into a winning URL if your first choice is taken
• How the title resonates through marketing and back-end products

PLUS: Roger will also share:

• How he got his first book contract
• What he learned from his first big success
• What’s changed and what hasn’t

This is a don’t-miss event for anyone writing anything! Mark your calendar now for this free event*. Here’s how to get on the call:

What: VIP Author Talks with Guest Roger C Parker

Topic: Choosing the Right Title: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Committing to a Book Title

When: Wednesday, May 27, 2009, 8:00pm to 9:00pm Eastern (7:00pm Central, 6:00pm Mountain, 5:00pm Pacific)

Call-In Details: To get on the call, please dial 1 (218) 339-4600, and enter Access Code 992777# when prompted.

*The presentation will last one hour and is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply. Please note that anyone may call in and listen, but the audio recording will only be available to VIP Author Inner Circle members. 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>>>

In her eight years in the business Laura Duksta has played many different roles— author, publisher, sales person, marketing, distribution, etc. This has given her an incredible vantage point to see how the self-publishing as well as traditional publishing worlds work. Fortunately for us, Laura loves sharing these insights with other writers!

Join us for “5 Things You Might Not Know about Publishing and Why They Are Important to You,” when Laura explains the publishing process and helps erase some of the “fear of the unknown.”

On this call, you will learn:

• What You Need to Be Thinking About Before You Even Start Writing
• 3 Key Tools
• What is a Niche Market
• How to Price Your Book Properly
• Why Your Royalty is so small

Plus:

• Bonus…How the Lists are Generated
• Bonus…a few pros and cons between traditional printers and POD, Vanity Presses or Self-Publishing Service

This is one conversation you don’t want to miss. Mark your calendar now for this free event*. Here’s how to get on the call:

What: VIP Author Talks with Guest Laura Duksta

When: Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 8:00pm to 9:00pm Eastern (7:00pm Central, 6:00pm Mountain, 5:00pm Pacific)

Call-In Details: To get on the call, please dial 1 (218) 339-4600, and enter Access Code 992777# when prompted.

*The presentation will last one hour and is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply. Please note that anyone may call in and listen, but the audio recording will only be available to VIP Author Inner Circle members. 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>>>

Wouldn’t it be great if life were less stressful, more productive and prosperous?

Life can be that way, according to author Pat Heydlauff, when you implement the principles of Feng Shui. Her new book, Feng Shui: So Easy a Child Can Do it, offers simple, easy-to-implement strategies for creating balance, increasing prosperity and instilling hope and joy.

According to Heydlauff, Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of improving the energy in your personal environment so you can create a better life.

Feng Shui: So Easy a Child Can Do it, provides energy principles to be used daily. By providing step-by-step, actionable guidelines, readers can eliminate
stress, improve relationships and generate abundance.

Feng Shui: So Easy a Child Can Do it is available at the publisher’s website, TheLotusCircle.com. The book is also available at Amazon and will soon be in bookstores.

Do you have trouble talking effectively about your book? Does trying to sell or promote it feel ‘pushy’ to you?

On VIP Author’s talk, we’ll talk with Pamela Bruner, Business Success Coach. Pamela is an expert in helping people overcome blocks to presenting and sales. You’ll learn the keys to an effective presentation, and how to feel comfortable and authentic when promoting your book. Don’t miss the essential element for a writer’s success!

This is one conversation you don’t want to miss. Mark your calendar now for this free event*. Here’s how to get on the call:

What: VIP Author Talks with Guest Pamela Bruner

When: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 8:00pm to 9:00pm Eastern (7:00pm Central, 6:00pm Mountain, 5:00pm Pacific)

Call-In Details: To get on the call, please dial 1 (218) 339-4600, and enter Access Code 992777# when prompted.

*The presentation will last one hour and is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply. Please note that anyone may call in and listen, but the audio recording will only be available to VIP Author Inner Circle members. 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>>>

From where you’re standing, you may not be able to see how you can achieve publishing success. It may seem very far off in a distant future, or perhaps down a road with too many obstacles.

Good writing and successful publishing requires the right point of view. And I’m not talking about using the first- or third-person voice. I am talking about being able to recognize the possibilities among the apparent obstacles. It doesn’t matter where you’re standing: at a blank computer screen, with your manuscript ready for submission to a publisher (self- or traditional) or with your completed book in hand. Today’s publishing industry has been turned upside down and you need a roadmap to navigate all the new twists and turns on the road to publishing success.

If you’re feeling confused and want some help to clarify your vision and keep you on the right track, join us for a free seminar.

Free Call: “Your Next Step on the Road to Publishing Success”
When: Wednesday, March 4, 2008 at 2 pm ET (11 am PT)

CALL INFO*: To get on the call, please dial
1-641-715-3300 and enter code 171279#

*The call is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply.

Many writers make the mistake of sending out work before it’s ready. As the publishing market continues to tighten, it’s more important than ever to look at your manuscript and make sure you not only know the fundamentals, but that you have created a strong enough plot, that your idea is both original and timeless, that you have weeded out all the rookie mistakes that virtually guarantee a rejection. Joyce Sweeney, author of 13 young adult novels, has worked with hundreds of authors on all types of manuscripts. She will discuss mistakes made by beginners, intermediates and even advanced writers, who can’t get past that dreaded…”I love it but it’s not for me”…rejection.

This is one conversation you don’t want to miss. Mark your calendar now for this free event*. Here’s how to get on the call:

What: VIP Author Talks with Guest Joyce Sweeney

When: Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 8:00pm to 9:00pm Eastern (7:00pm Central, 6:00pm Mountain, 5:00pm Pacific)

Call-In Details: To get on the call, please dial 1 (218) 339-4600, and enter Access Code 992777# when prompted.

*The presentation will last one hour and is free to attend, but long distances may apply. Please note that anyone may call in and listen, but the audio recording will only be available to VIP Author Inner Circle members. 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>>>

Change is probably going to be the key word of the year 2009–and possibly the next four years. Whether you are facing change by choice or by chance, you can use new circumstances as a catalyst for growth–or better, a book.

VIP Author Talks kicks off the 2009 tele-series on Wednesday, January 21 at 8:00pm ET with someone who knows how to make change work for you in your life: Marlene Chism, author of Success is a Given: Reading the Signs While Re-Inventing Your Life (www.successisagiven.com).

Having successfully transitioned from factory worker to speaker, coach and author. Marlene will share the insights, tips and resources she used to fashion her circumstances into a successful career. Based on what you hear in this presentation, you can learn how to:

• Choose the topic and title for your book
• Organize your material
• Use your book as a tool to build and expand your business 
• Use writing, speaking and coaching to build an audience (readers)

Bonus Content!

Marlene will also

• Reveal what she would do differently so you can learn from her hindsight (mistakes)
• Answer questions from the audience

This is one conversation you don’t want to miss. Mark your calendar now for this free event*. Here’s how to get on the call:

What: VIP Author Talks with Guest Marlene Chism

When: Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 8:00pm to 9:00pm Eastern (7:00pm Central, 6:00pm Mountain, 5:00pm Pacific)

Call-In Details: To get on the call, please dial 1 (218) 339-4600, and enter Access Code 992777# when prompted.

*The presentation will last one hour and is free to attend, but long distances may apply. Please note that anyone may call in and listen, but the audio recording will only be available to VIP Author Inner Circle members. 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>>>