VIP Author Talks with Jerry Simmons

Now is the best time in history to be a writer! Why? Because writers today have more opportunities to publish their work than ever before.

Of course, more choice makes the publishing process more confusing than ever before, too! If you’re trying to figure out your next steps on the path to publishing success, join us when VIP Author Talks with Jerry Simmons, publishing consultant and author of What Writers Need to Know About Publishing.

On this call, you will learn:

• How the changes in publishing affect getting a book deal
• What it means to “self-publish”
• How to publish your work as an ebook
• Which comes first: the ebook or the pbook?
• Should you do it yourself or get help?
• Plus, much more

Have a question not listed above? Write it down now to ask during the live Q&A at the end of the teleclass.

Mark your calendar right now to join us for this informative teleclass!

Topic: Publishing 2010: You’ve Got Options!

When: Wednesday, July 28, 2010

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

How to Register:

VIP Authors Inner Circle Members: You are already registered. Log on to the Members-Only page for call-in details. The audio recording of the class will be posted to the members page within 24 hours after the event.

Non-Members: Not a member yet, but want to hear the class? The monthly VIP Author Talks teleclass is free to members, but you can pay for the class only and sample the membership benefits before joining.

Registration for this event is now closed. The audio recording of the teleclass is available for purchase on the VIP Author Talks Audio page. Review this and all VIP Author Talks programs here>>

Speaker Bio

Jerry Simmons is a 32-year veteran of publishing, 25 in New York with Random House and the former Time Warner Book Group as Vice President, Director Field Sales. His sales division generated hundreds of millions of dollars in book sales across the United States and Canada.

Jerry speaks around the country and his articles have appeared in Writers Digest and across the Internet. He spends his time writing, teaching, and speaking with writers about the importance of understanding the marketplace and educating them about the business of publishing while sharing the secrets of the largest booksellers and publishers in the world.

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>>

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>>

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>>>

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>>>

2009 IS “The Year of The Author.” Every day new opportunities are lighting up for authors.

What? You only see doom and gloom? If you’re interested in results, not excuses, plan to attend a free* tele-seminar that will explain what’s going on in publishing today. More importantly, you’ll learn 5 steps you can take right now to move ahead in this new environment! It doesn’t matter how you plan to publish, either. This seminar is for anyone who has a message to deliver to an audience. If you’re writing anything, or intend to, you need to be on this call

Free Call: Books are NOT Dead! 5 Steps You Can Take Right Now to Publish.

When: Wednesday, April 1, 2pm Eastern (1pm Central, 12pm Mountain, 11am Pacific)

Details: Call (641) 715-3300, Enter Access Code 171279#

*The tele-seminar is free to attend, but long distance charges may apply.