AuthorYOU Board Members 2023–2024
PRESIDENT
Judith Briles is The Book Shepherd® and an advocate for authors, knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent/self sides. She delivers snappy, sassy, and savvy programs about book publishing and book marketing. Judith is a best-selling and award-winning author who has authored 55 books that have been translated to 17 languages; earned more than 45 national and international book awards; sold a combined 1,000,000 copies; generated in excess of $5,000,000 in revenues from combined book sales and speaking fees; and been featured in 1500+ radio, TV, print media, and podcasts.
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Her podcast, AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing has achieved in excess of 18 million downloads since debuting in 2016. Get her must-have books: The Authors Walk and How to Avoid Book Publishing Blunders Judith’s website is www.TheBookShepherd.com.
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VICE PRESIDENT
Mara Purl is the author of the best-selling Milford-Haven Novels & Novellas which have won 70-plus book awards and hit several best-seller lists. Her hit audio drama Milford-Haven, U.S.A., reached 4.5 million listeners on BBC Radio, and became the basis for her books. Mara wrote for the Associated Press, Rolling Stone, and the Financial Times of London, among many others. Also known for theatrical performances and on Days Of Our Lives, she co-authored (with Erin Gray) Act Right and has written more than 200 scripts. A frequent speaker at writing and author conferences; she is an Audible narrator of audio books and has won over a dozen awards as an audio performer. Mara is CEO of Haven Books, LLC, where she consults for authors in multiple genres. Visit www.MaraPurl.com and www.HavenBooks.us Books: The Milford-Haven Novels & Novellas.
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SECRETARY
Deborah Armstrong is a Canadian dairy farmer who writes hot and spicy contemporary romance. She is an award-winning author of She is the proud owner of a Tim Horton’s car which she won in 2014. Deborah lives on the family dairy farm with her husband, two cats, and 500 cows. She is a sucker for a great romance, whether in books, film, or real life. Deborah enjoys hanging out with her family, especially her grandchildren, or on the farm visiting with the cows, who she lovingly calls the Ladies. Deborah is an advocate for agriculture and Canadian Dairy. She posts pictures of her cows, cats, and books on social media. For romance readers, start with Forever Love. Visit www.DeborahArmstrong.ca
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Nick Zelinger is an award-winning book and graphic designer for over 30 years and a songwriter, recording and working musician since the age of 16. He’s worked with publishers, ad agencies, printing companies. His cover and book designs have earned him and his clients more than 100 book awards including Best Cover Design by American Book Fest, International Book Awards, the Indie Excellence Book Award, Foreword Reviews Book of the Year, Global eBook Awards, EVVY Awards, and the San Francisco Book Festival Awards.
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Nick is the co-author of Another Nightmare Gig from Hell: Musicians Tales of Wonder and Woe. He has released 3 CDs with Colorado-based Saxxon Woods. He has shared the concert stage with such legendary artists as The Vanilla Fudge, The Strawberry Alarm Clock, J.J. Cale, and Chuck Berry. Visit www.NZGraphics.com.
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Marsha Haygood has turned her business expertise into a career of helping others become and remain successful. As a successful entrepreneur, co-founder of Black Women of Influence, co-author of bestseller, The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women, and former human resources executive and leadership advisor, she advises senior management and coaches professionals at all levels to implement strategies to reach their goals.
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The Network Journal named her an “Influential Woman in Business.” She received the YMCA’s Black Achievement Award, the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR) Trailblazer Award, and the Community Service Award. Her website is www.marshahaygood.com/
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Dr. Ronald Beach is a speaker, trainer, consultant, professor, and proud United States Marine Corps Veteran. He is the lead faculty for the University of Arizona Global Campus, he conducts classes globally from his office overlooking the third green of his home in Washington or upon occasion from a room on a cruise ship.
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Earning both his master’s degree and his PhD in Organization and Management, with an emphasis in Leadership from Capella University, and a BLS in Liberal Studies from the University of Oklahoma, he brings his breadth of over 30 years of corporate experience as the senior director of a US manufacturing company with a billion-dollar a year electronic data storage division and was a United States Marine electronic countermeasures technician supporting operations in Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War.
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Ron is the award-winning and best-selling author of The Virtual Divide. The Virtual Bridge is his second book, and readers can look forward to his third book, Virtual RemoteTeams, available later this year. His website is https://RonaldBeach.com
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Rebecca Finkel is a multi-award winning graphic designer. Founder of F + P Graphic Design, she specializes in unique cover and interior book design. As well as eBooks and websites.
Rebecca’s imagination and work have opened the door to book design delight for thousands of authors at publishing conferences. Her work is often the steppingstone for countless award-winning books and bestseller recognition for authors.
A master at creating swag for marketing and at converting books into classy and colorful eBooks, she loves to say, “eBooks don’t have to be ugly!”
Noted for being fast and easy to work with, visit her website for samples of a few of her latest projects, www.fpgd.com