networking | Sally Ember, Ed.D.

What OTHER Authors Recommend to Authors/Readers: A Great New Site!

Shepherd.com “Like browsing the best bookstore in the world” asks writers to put up their “BEST OF” lists, either in pre-set or their own choice of categories. The Founder, Ben Fox, invited me to join!

***Create or Search Book Lists on Shepherd.com***

If you are an author, you can sign up, here: https://forauthors.shepherd.com/contact

Offer your own “BEST OF” list! When you do, you also get to show off one of your own books and 2 of your favorite links (for that book or your website, or whatever you want)! You can also include a short author bio, your photo, a book cover image and a blurb for your featured book.

I created and chose to put up my 5 favorite Speculative Fiction books / compilations that ALL sci-fi writers ought to read/have read. “The best speculative fiction books that every science fiction author needs to read” by Sally Ember, Ed.D., with a short description of each and my reasons for including it, can be found here: https://shepherd.com/best-books/speculative-fiction-sci-fi-author-need-to-read

***my favorite kind of Sci-Fi is Speculative Fiction***

Explaining the Shepherd site’s concept: “I love wandering around bookstores letting random books capture my attention. Nothing will ever replace the ‘bookstore experience,’ but I want to reimagine book discovery online with a lot more serendipity. Thus, Shepherd.com was born.

“Shepherd launched on April 19th, 2021, and in addition to helping readers, we are also helping authors. There is a growing trend that authors have to become their own marketing team. That concerns me because it takes time away from writing and it is very hard to do. I [Ben Fox, Founder] want to make it easier for authors to get their books in front of the readers who would be most interested in their book.

“We are creating an experience that is like wandering around your favorite bookstore. Along with little notes from authors pointing out their favorite books. Signup here to get an inside look as we work toward this goal.

“Authors pick their 5 favorite books around a topic or theme they are passionate about, along with why they recommend each of those books. Then, we feature the author and one of their books alongside that list forever. And, we promote the author, their book, and their book list throughout our website and marketing channels.

“What features are coming soon? Topic Page s, search, and a new front page!”

So, if you want help marketing, networking, building an audience, finding new good reads, and more, check Shepherd out!

They also offer topic-specific articles and a newsletter: https://shepherd.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fc6f04f4b024400e14636c034&id=c248e1153b

FMI: https://support.shepherd.com/hc/en-us

Authors/Writers and others are often looking for ways to become more visible, become associated with “better” (and more well-known) bloggers, and reach a new audience. Guest blogging/posting is a great way to do this. Here are some opportunities and ways to find opps that I’ve come across. Check them out! [FYI: I am not endorsing, merely curating others’ content, here.]

First, be careful! Your writing, including all comments and blogs you post, comprises a key part of your professional/ personal brand. Anything online is public and stays around forever. Make your visible, online presence the one you want to have. Protect it, use it well, be intentional!

Belinda Summers provides some warnings: “5 Things to Consider Before Guest Blogging.” Belinda “works as a Business Development Consultant for CallboxInc. She helps businesses improve and maximize their marketing campaigns by providing expert advice on lead generation and appointment setting. She provides tips and trainings on telemarketing, email, social media, and other marketing strategies.”

The Word is looking for guest posters/bloggers (400 wds) on the topic of writing. Andre Cruz is the owner of this site.

Ways to find guest blogging opps are laid out well by Rae Hoffman, “(AKA “Sugarrae”) is a veteran in the affiliate marketing space and the CEO of PushFire, a digital marketing agency that provides SEO and PPC management services.”

Mackenzie Fogelsen has “5 Steps to finding the right guest blogging opps,” given with examples and details, a different approach (largely good for nonfiction writers, but easily adapted for fiction authors) from Rae’s to finding guest blogging opps. “Mack is the Founder, CEO, and full-on Evangelist for Mack Web Solutions. She is a Moz Fan and honored to be an Associate. Mack is a firm and passionate believer in user experience and the building of community.”

On my site, since it’s only a few months old, I’ve been the only blogger (although I reblog and link to others’ content regularly). I’ve now finished my first quarter of having my own blog and am ready to open it up to guest bloggers.