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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 … Read More

Note from Keri Today’s post is by Tara Alemany, founder of Emerald Lakes Books, a hybrid publishing company. I have personally known Tara for many years and have worked with her and several of her authors. When speaking to Tara … Read More

I was inspired to begin a podcast while listening to authors on Free Advice Fridays with Keri Barnum talk about expanding our brands and outreach. Then, a special guest on Free Advice Fridays, Holly Shannon, touted the benefits of authors … Read More

If you missed Free Advice Friday last week, you can watch the replay on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/NewShelvesBooks. April 8, 2022 Free Advice Friday Hot Topics Check out the video at 1:07 to hear Keri give an update on how … Read More

For many authors who want to publish with a traditional press, the first stage of book marketing is to pitch to literary agents. While there are publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts out there, many will require representation by an agent. A … Read More

If you missed Free Advice Friday last week, you can watch the replay on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/NewShelvesBooks. April 1, 2022 Free Advice Friday Hot Topics Will an agent read your email if you send it on Monday or Friday? … Read More

Everyone wants to become a bestselling author It may not be your top priority, but I’m willing to bet you would be thrilled if it happened. Hitting bestseller status is not only validating as a writer, but it’s a great … Read More

If you missed Free Advice Friday last week, you can watch the replay on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/NewShelvesBooks. March 25, 2022 Free Advice Friday Hot Topics Listen at 1:13 to hear Keri explain why Amazon pauses and suspends ads: Amazon … Read More

A question we receive often from authors is “How do I get paid?” So, whether you’ve got a traditional publishing deal or you’re going the indie route, we are breaking down how authors get paid. Traditional Publishing Deal Authors sell … Read More

If you missed Free Advice Friday last week, you can watch the replay on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/NewShelvesBooks. March 18, 2022 Free Advice Friday Hot Topics What microphone does Keri use for webinars? Her go-to is a USB input microphone—Blue … Read More

On Monday, March 14, 2022, Amazon announced that authors can now advertise traditionally published books with Amazon Ads in the US. I predict this will be a major market disruptor as tens of thousands of authors suddenly have access to … Read More

If you missed Free Advice Friday last week, you can watch the replay on our YouTube channel, youtube.com/NewShelvesBooks. March 11, 2022 Free Advice Friday Hot Topics If an author accepts a publishing deal, who maintains the copyright? Unless specifically negotiated … Read More