I highly recommend authors looking to hire a book pastor for a current or future writing and publishing project. A book herder is someone whose book and publishing experience will help you through the entire book process. From cover art, to editing, to dealing with Amazon to locating a printing press, a book herder will help you from start to finish.

I am a fan of using a book shepherd because there is so much to know about the book publishing process and so many things are changing rapidly that it is extremely difficult to keep up with everything. It takes an experienced person to guide you along the way and that’s what a book herder does. Hiring a guide is a concept that has been working for humanity for thousands of years. If you went to a foreign country and wanted to see and do as much as you could, would you read a guidebook or hire someone to show you around? Consider yourself lucky if you can afford a book herder as they are well worth the money spent.

Dan Poynter recently compiled a comprehensive list of pastors of books. At the top of his list is Shel Horowitz, who explains his role: “Basically, I guide unpublished writers through the process of becoming well-published authors. I start by helping them determine if they should traditionally publish, self-publish, or subsidize publishing.” . –and then help them complete all the steps of their choosing, then work with them on marketing as the book nears completion.”

Tanya Hall is a unique book pastor in that she works for a national publisher/distributor. “So instead of working in a vacuum with no up-to-date feedback on trends, launches, etc., as most book herders operate, I have the luxury of a sales force and team of experts behind me to guide the Direction I Give My Clients Most of our “development” clients go through a publishing project development phase, followed by a series of services from design to print (if accepted for publication by our review committee). /distribution) distribution and marketing”.

Award-winning syndicated columnist and author of three books, Mike Ball offers unique assistance to new authors from his position on the front lines of the editorial wars. “Hey, it can be complicated, time-consuming, and downright confusing,” Ball says. “I just helped an elderly author who was completely baffled by the forms Amazon sent him. I understand it can be a daunting task for anyone. That’s why I’m happy to help for a reasonable hourly rate.”

Simon Warwick-Smith says: “We are a one stop shop, from cover and interior design to physical print and eBooks, sales, marketing and advertising. We have been in business for 20 years with a long list of satisfied customers”.

“One of the biggest challenges in writing, publishing, and marketing a book is knowing what to do, when, and how to take each step,” says Beth Barany, book pastor, creative business consultant to authors and publishers, and award winner. winning novelist. Beth says authors come to her because they need one-on-one support for whatever part of the process they’re in, whether it’s brainstorming sessions to get over writer’s block to writing a novel, figuring out how to get their useful non-book published. fiction or get support and gain ease. with social media marketing for her mystery novel. A strong advocate of self-publishing, she works with her authors to help them write, publish, and market the book through the channels that make the most sense for their overall goals, time, and budget, including traditional publishing. To learn more about Beth Barany and sign up for a free 30 minute session.

The bottom line: If you can afford to spend a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on a book shedder, I suggest going for it, as it will help save your sanity! There are so many exciting changes in the book publishing business that it’s virtually impossible to keep up with all of them. The book herder will help him through the whole process or just a part of the process where he needs it.