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>>>

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>>>