If you feel like “the times” are in a bit of a roller coaster this year, you are not alone.

Times are tough for some and times are good for others. And, most likely, it’s going to continue to be a roller coaster ride for many with the economy and the variety of factors that affect it.

When uncertainty seems to be certain, do you latch down the hatches and toss your publishing dreams aside or do you plow forward?

It depends … it depends on whether you viewed your publishing venture as a business or a hobby. For me, it isn’t the time to pile money into what would be considered a hobby … it is, though, a time to support and grow your publishing business. To create a plan. There are so many tools to use to help … yes, some have a fee … and many are freebies or nominal in cost.

If success is part of your plan, then it’s time to have a strategy on not only how the book is going to look and feel, but on how you are going to market and sell it. Sure, it’s great you have your book … but how are you going to get it into a buyer’s hands and exchange cash for it? And who are your buyers … where are they … how do you connect with them?

It takes planning. I’ve been publishing for over 40 years. The great majority of them focus on my speaking business—my primary distribution chain for sales. I pre-sold, sold onsite at speaking gigs and conferences … it’s how I sold over one million copies of my books. Often, those sales had a retail value of many thousands of dollars at a time. It was my plan. 

My books netted a minimum of 90 percent of full retail price. Does I sell via wholesalers for bookstore distribution and Amazon? Sure, but it’s a minimal amount of effort. At a 55 percent discount of the retail price, I would rather focus on something that could yield a higher return—like 90 percent. It was my plan.

My plan is different now. Mostly online via Amazon and through bookstores, primarily through Barnes & Noble. And I added consulting to my mix, replacing the mega days I was on the road—a road that took me to all 50 states and 20 countries.

When times feel uncertain, there are always opportunities. What need does your book fill? What problem(s) does it solve? Who’s the crowd/the people who need your book to fill or solve that need or problem? Where are they? How do you connect with them?

Don’t assume that others don’t want to spend money on items like books. They do … and will.  As a speaker, I always offered hope … answers … solutions. As an author, I do the same. It’s all part of my plan.

What’s yours? What have you done to strategize how you are going to move/sell books in these challenging times? How are you going to drive a buyer to place that they can find your book … how are you going to connect with your reader and stay in touch?

It’s hunker down time to move forward. Do you know what your main thing is when it comes to your book … your marketing? Reduce your distractions pronto. 

What is your PLAN … create it … review it … update it … implement it.

Dr. Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. Often, she must roll up her writing sleeves and become a Book Doctor, juicing up storylines and author words. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the ’80s. Judith is the author of 48 books and 60 book awards including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Success for Authors and Writers, and How to Create a Million Dollar Speech. Her personal memoir When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present is a #1 bestseller on Amazon and her historical fiction debut The Secret Journey and The Secret Hamlet. The Secret Rise, book 3 and her first cookbook, Cooking with Judith will be published in 2025. Collectively, her books have earned over 50 book awards. Judith speaks throughout the year at publishing conferences. 

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