Need to sell more books? Here are 5 things you can do right now to change that:

1. Update your book categories on KDP so customers can find your book. If you use KDP, watch this video to learn about time-sensitive changes to make so you don’t lose royalty.
2. Optimize your book description so it sounds better…and yes, it can always sound and look better. Consider using the free version of ChatGPT to help you re-write some of your blurb and improve upon it. Just go to openai.com/ to sign up. The world of AI is here and although it can be a scary and puzzling tool, all we can do is embrace it and help us be more productive each day.
3. Create a free lead magnet such as a free chapter of your book (or an activity/coloring page if it’s a children’s book) to give away using an email marketing program like MailChimp, MailerLite, ActiveCampaign, etc. to build your email list to get in touch with potential customers
4. Update your book cover…this is key! More about that below.
5. Sign up for a book event or upcoming holiday festival and set up a table or booth. Remember to have something free on your table, even if it’s a bowl of candy. The holidays are right around the corner and books make great gifts.

Now more about updating your book cover. If you already have an awesome book cover and you’re selling mounds of books, Congratulations! However, if you are like most of us, you are still working hard to market your book, and you want your investment to pay off. So why isn’t it selling? Well, as I mentioned above, it could be that your book categories need updating, or it could be your metadata – when is the last time you updated your book description and keywords? Is your marketing plan all it can be? You have done everything you could think of but did you forget something? It could be staring at you right in front of your eyes. What is the one thing that people see first…your book cover! Does it pop with contrasting colors? Does it tell people what your book is about and make them want to buy it? If not, it’s time to revamp your book cover or create a new one. It’s time for a book cover facelift! You don’t have to hire a book cover designer and spend hundreds of dollars for just one design. Instead, you can learn my trade secrets to help you create book covers that bring your story to life. Get empowered with the skills you need to captivate readers and make your book stand out from the crowd. Click here to learn more about how to create attractive book covers that demand attention!

Now that the new year is here, it’s an important time to reflect on what’s behind us and what lies ahead of us. It’s a time to give thanks and gratitude for all the accomplishments in 2022, no matter how big or how small. As I gaze out the window, I think about the last few months of holidays, events and festivals and all the joys of the season. Welcome 2023!

The biggest lesson learned for me over the past year is to not try to cram in as much as possible, but instead, pace myself, organize and prioritize. If you’re trying to scramble and finish up those goals you set for yourself for the last year, slow down and take one step at a time. At least that is what I keep telling myself! Putting your eggs in different baskets is perfectly fine – as long as there are only a few baskets. A wise person recently told me not to try to do (or be) all things for all people. So true.

Warren Buffet said you shouldn’t work on more than 5 things at once. It’s part of the 5/25 Rule. It goes like this:

1. Write down a list of your 25 career goals (or other types of goals). They can be short-term or long-term goals.
2. Circle the 5 most important goals.
3. Cross all the other goals off your original list and forget about them. Yes, cross them off your list!

The third step helps you consciously classify your goals into one or two categories: do or do not. You can use the 5/25 rule to help you focus on the most important goals first and avoid being distracted by less important items. This can effectively free up some mental resources so that you’re not worrying about too many things. You can even apply the 5/25 rule to hobbies, housework, and other types of to do lists. With more time on our hands, we can connect with others, plan fun events, and do more things we enjoy.

I like the idea of the 5/25 rule and I’m going to give it a try. There’s only so much time in a day, week, or month, so let’s give the 5/25 rule a try to reduce the lists in our lives. Will you try the 5/25 Rule?

"Just For a Laugh" Writer's Joke of the Season 

Why are writers cold?

Because they are surrounded by so many drafts!

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The day has finally arrived! The first book in the Author Journey Success Toolkit series, Author Journey Success: 7 Steps to Your Bestselling Book is now available in both eBook and paperback formats! The companion workbook is also available.

Perhaps you have always had a dream of writing a book and becoming a published author. Whatever your dream may be, whether it is to write a novel, a memoir, a self-help book, a training guide, or a children’s book, I’d like to try to help you get there. All you need is drive, commitment and discipline, along with faith, determination and confidence. With all those things, along with a thirst for learning, anything is possible. My wish is for you to use the information in my book as a springboard to your success.

Reviews are greatly appreciated! When posting a review on Amazon, did you know that you can post a review with or without commentary? If you just want to leave a star rating, you can either click on the number of stars to rate a book when you reach the end of the book on Kindle, or you can go to the “Write a Product Review” page from your Amazon Orders page, and then just click the number of stars to rate the book; you will see a green checkmark confirming the submission and at that point, you can exit from the review page. If you would like to leave a written review, continue filling out the information on the review page including the Headline, Written Review comments and then click Submit.

There’s also a special page dedicated to the Author Journey Success Toolkit. Click here to visit the specific toolkit page which will be updated as additional materials, books and videos are available.