By Bash Sarmiento for New Shelves Authors and publishers are crucial in the lifecycle of a book. But as storytelling evolves, so does the need to market and promote those stories. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a groundbreaking tool for book marketing and promotion. It offers a unique blend of data-driven insights and automation, creating a bridge between your work and your readers. For authors, it means getting your masterpiece into the hands of those who would cherish it most. For publishers, it‘s streamlined operations, targeted marketing campaigns, and improved reader engagement. Let ..read more

Adobe: Photoshop, InDesign, etc.  50% off of the first year of all Adobe products. Author Super Bundle: Lifetime access software and courses. Pretty much everything an author needs to get started publishing and promoting their books at 99% off. AutoCrit: Online writing analysis and editing software. 67% off LIFETIME membership. BookFunnel: Digital delivery tool for ARCs, direct sales from your website and easy email list building with promos. 50% off of annual plans for Mid-List or Bestseller plans. Chirp Books: Discount audiobooks. Crazy good deals on audiobooks inc ..read more

By Rose Atkinson-Carter for New Shelves Even with the boom in self-publishing these past years — and the success of indie authors trickling through to charts and bookstores — the dream for many writers is still to land a traditional contract. If one of your life goals is having your name on the roster of a big publishing house, the first hurdle you’ll need to overcome is finding an agent to help you scale this mountain! To help you find that agent who can make your dream come true, we’ve got three tips to help you get going. 1.   Make sure your book is worth publishing Your journey t ..read more

Kimmy Haggard for New Shelves I had no clue Plottr existed until I watched a tutorial workshop for the software a few weeks ago. Since then, I have played around with the application and fallen in love. My Favorite Plottr Tools Here are three of my favorite tools so far: I have found the Timeline tool allows the author to have a visual idea of how the story should be organized. No more scribbles or messy info storing! The Characters tab is probably my favorite tool. This tool allows me to create each character’s profile, from the hair color to the character’s enneagram profile. For an idea of ..read more

By Keri-Rae Barnum for New Shelves A press release is a formal announcement written in 300 to 500 words and sent to media organizations. For authors, a press release will focus on news surrounding their book with the goal of generating brand awareness, media opportunities and, to a lesser degree, sales. The focus of the press release can be a publishing deal or book launch announcement, sharing a book award win, or a tie-in to current events. In other words, when there’s news about your book. Writing a Press Release As you begin brainstorming for your press release, you should aim to outline i ..read more

By Keri-Rae Barnum for New Shelves Ever since KDP announced an upcoming price increase for their Print on Demand (POD) services, I’ve seen mass hysteria about what this will mean for authors and publishers who use this service. And no wonder. When I googled “KDP Print Price Increase” this morning the top headlines were inflammatory. “KDP Royalties Will Decrease by 35%”   “KDP Print Price Increases Will Affect Us All!”   “AMAZON KDP PRINT COSTS TIME SENSITIVE” While each of those claims hold truth, they do not paint a full (or realistic) picture of how the upcoming print price incr ..read more

By E. Danielle Butler for New Shelves Some authors have fantastic stories, but not a writing bone in their bodies. Then there are those authors with all of the expertise and not a minute to spare for sitting down to eat, let alone to write a book. When these authors come to the realization that their stories cannot be contained or the message needs to reach their audience sooner than their dreams of writing into the retirement sunset can come to fruition, they seek the help of ghost authors. A ghost author, or ghostwriter, is someone who writes a piece of content, but their name does not appea ..read more

By Book Award Pro for New Shelves Book awards and reviews are some of the most modern, effective marketing tools available to authors today. With over 2 million books published every year, book marketing is essential if you want to stand out from the crowd. The good news? Marketing your book doesn’t have to be complicated. With tools like Book Award Pro and New Shelves Books, you can become a notable, award-winning author and maximize the benefits of book marketing. Read on to learn how to use book awards and reviews in your book marketing campaign. What is a book marketing campaign? Anything ..read more

By Felice Cohen for New Shelves I thought writing my latest book was hard, but it was nothing compared to getting it out into the world. At least getting it out the right way. Lucky for me, I’ve been a professional organizer for over 25 years, so I approach publishing the same way I approach organizing a closet: break it down into manageable steps. But what are the steps when it comes to publishing? Good question. Getting Started I started with Google. I scoured dozens of websites (Reedsy, BookBaby, ALLi, etc.) and each had their own take: upload the manuscript to KDP, ask for author endorseme ..read more

By Valerie Dimino for New Shelves Books As a lifelong word nerd with degrees in creative writing, I’ve attended a lot of readings and talks by authors over the years. Recently, I had the opportunity to stand at the lectern myself and host an event promoting my first book. It was a learning experience, it was nerve-racking, and it was wonderful. Read on for some key takeaways! What I Did I held the event at my favorite local indie bookstore, Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport, New York, which I’ve been shopping at for probably 20 years. It was the first store I approached about stocking the boo ..read more