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>>

Now is the best time to become a VIP Author! It’s our Holiday Bonus and we’re giving new members the chance to catch up on what they’ve missed so far this year! But don’t delay because this offer expires December 25!

**BONUS GIFTS for those subscribing on or before December 25**

The ENTIRE LIBRARY of audio recordings from the 2009 VIP Author Talk teleseries.
(A $395.00 value–FREE when you subscribe before December 25.)

Here’s how to receive your Bonus Gifts:
Become a VIP Author member!

#1 Reason to do this now:
To receive your bonus gift, you must subscribe on or before December 25.

#2 Reason to do this now:
The membership rate is discounted through December 31. The yearly fee increases on January 1, 2010.

Get your Holiday Bonus Gift Now>>

Kudos to Laurel Wilczek, Grand Prize Winner of the inaugural Feast of Flash Thanksgiving Contest on the Not from here, are you? blog  with her story, Thanksgiving Day Pies. Laurel has chosen The Salvation Army of East Stroudsburg, PA to receive a $100.00 donation in her name. Her story was published on the blog on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, and you can read it here.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Laurel had this to say:

“I think this is a good example of how to pursue the community spirit that you  mentioned in [the Class to Ca$h] class. I’ve always liked the idea of giving back to the community, but your class helped me step out and actually do it. In taking your advice to heart, I’ve been able to help 14 teen writers in a six week prep/write for the National Novel Writing Month. And now, I’ve been able to help families right in my own backyard!

It’s a fantastic feeling. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. –Laurel”

Congratulations, Laurel, and thank you for sharing your inspirational work with all VIP Authors!

A Message from Shelley Lieber, VIP Authors CEO & Founder

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope I’m among the first to wish you a happy, healthy holiday filled with joy.

Our family’s Thanksgiving tradition is to go around the table and let each person express gratitude. We started years ago when my
children were young. Thanksgiving came on the heels of my son’s and my niece’s birthdays, with Chanukah sometimes only a week or two
away. Because they were so young, the children started to associate the holidays with gift getting, culminating with my daughter blowing out the Chanukah candles, thinking it was a birthday party (she was only three).

So, we began our gratitude-giving tradition to help them understand that holidays are as much about giving as receiving. We continue it to this day, whether we are together or celebrating at tables spread across the country. We make sure we call each family member who is away so we can still connect and give thanks together.

A Special Thanksgiving Offer

I’d like to include you this year in my gratitude giving. I thank you for being a VIP Author Inner Circle member or taking a class or consulting with me this year. You are source of inspiration for me and I appreciate your participation in our work together.

And so, in gratitude, I’m making this special Thanksgiving offer. You can join VIP Authors or renew your membership at the special low rate of only $97, a savings of $30. If you are renewing, the additional year will be added at the end of your current membership, so every member can take advantage of this offer.

Please take a moment to review the VIP Author Inner Circle member
benefits and take advantage of this special Thanksgiving offer>>

“Build your platform” was the advice most often given to writers by agents, editors and publishers in the past 10 years. The idea was to establish a waiting market for your work  by connecting to your audience via email, newsletters, speaking engagements, media appearances and so on.

Today the platform concept has been extended to incorporate a more personal connection between you and your audience, and the more appropriate description is to “build community.” The word community implies “interaction” and “communication” with others who have common interests or goals. Social media such as blogs, podcasts, videos and social networking sites can bring you in direct contact with your readers and enable two-way conversations.

Nancy Mills may have started the trend several years ago when she created The Spirited Woman, a woman’s empowerment community on the Internet, long before the term “build your community” was ever uttered. The Spirited Woman community that Nancy began with only a newsletter to a small list of women today includes a website, newsletter, blog, mastermind groups, events plus much more and serves thousands of women globally.

Don’t miss VIP Author Talks with guest Nancy Mills on Wednesday, October 28, when Nancy will share how she grew her list (& business) and reveal the strategies authors can use right now to build their own communities of loyal readers.

On this call you will learn:

• The tools Nancy Mills used to build The Spirited Woman
• Why authors must build communities and lead their “tribes”
• The best resources authors can use to build their communities
• Whether to go it alone or use a team to build your community
• What else authors must do to effectively communicate with their audiences
• What strategies authors can employ to stand out in a crowded genre or marketplace

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 Member Event on Wednesday, October 28 at 8:00pm Eastern Time.

How To Register for This Event:

If you are not an VIP Authors Inner Circle member yet, find out more about  Membership Benefits here>>

If you are already a member, you can find the call-in number on your Members-Only  page. If you no longer have this information, please e-mail us at support@vipauthors.com.

Speaker Bio:
Nancy Mills is the founder of The Spirited Woman, a leading women’s empowerment community, the publisher of the international Spirited Woman Blogger Team. She is known for being a creative out-of-the-box marketing expert. She also mentors women in her “Nancy’s Inner Circle” program. On a more personal note, through her Tales of Downtown blog, she loves to write about her adventures living in a loft in downtown Los Angeles. That blog is gaining quite a local following.

August is VIP Author Membership Month! To celebrate, we’re offering you these three (3)  great reasons to join or renew:

1. The VIP Author Talks teleseries with industry experts and monthly Coaching Call recordings for the months of January  through July 2009 are available for immediate download on the Members-only page. These mp3 files will be removed on September 1.  Joining now gives you access to 7 months of Inncr Circle  exclusive educational material in addition to the 12 months of benefits you will receive as part of your membership for a total of 19 Months of Benefits. Review all the Author Talks teleclass programs here.
2. Beginning September 1, 2009, live VIP Author Talks sessions and audio recordings will be free for members only. Non-members will pay a fee to listen or participate in the calls or to access the recordings. Review all the benefits of membership here>>
3. VIP Authors Inner Circle will be upgrading to association status Fall 2009, with increased benefits and increased membership fee. Current members will be grandfathered in at the lower rate for the duration of their memberships. So, by joining or renewing right now, members will enjoy the increased benefits for the lower price. Check out all the membership benefits here>>

The sooner you join, the sooner you can start enjoying the benefits. And, this opportunity is good only during August. September brings the Fall and with it, higher prices. Plus, all the retro benefits and opportunity to join or renew now at the lower price will disappear. Don’t delay! Join now or review the membership benefits 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>>>

VIP Author Nancy Kaiser has taken a leap of faith (on some good advice) and started a blog to serve her clients and readers. Although many of her clients are cats, dogs and horses, she offers something for humans, too. Her book, LETTING GO: An Ordinary Woman’s Extraordinary Journey of Healing & Transformation, showcases her talents as an animal communicator as she shares her story of personal discovery and empowerment. 

Just getting started is a big accomplishment and we applaud Nancy for her willingness to do new things and challenge old comfort zones. Visit Nancy at her website and blog Nancy Kaiser Animal Communicator for great insight and information. While you’re there, write a comment and offer your support as she begins a new journey in the blogosphere!

Open coaching calls with Shelley Lieber are scheduled the third Thursday of each month for VIP Authors Inner Circle members. This month’s call will be held January 15 at 2pm Eastern (1pm Central, 12 Noon Mountain, 11am Pacific). The session will last one hour. Call-in number and instructions are on the Members-Only Page. 

Members can call in with questions or email questions in advance if they are unable to attend the call. The session will be recorded and the audio file will be posted on on the Member-Only page for download after the call.

See all VIP Author Inner Circle member benefits here>>>