← Help Center

🚀 Getting Started

Welcome to The Authority Shelf — here's everything you need to get set up.

1. Create Your Account

Visit /signup and choose your role:

  • Author — Share your books, build your platform, connect with readers
  • Reader — Discover authors, borrow books, join book clubs
📬 Email Confirmation: Check your inbox after signing up and click the confirmation link before signing in. Don't see it? Check your spam or junk folder.

2. Complete Your Profile

After signing in you'll be guided through onboarding:

  • Authors: Add a profile photo, bio, website, social links, topics, and your first book
  • Readers: Select favourite genres and interests for personalised recommendations

3. Explore the Platform

📖

Browse Authors

Discover expert authors by topic, search by name, or filter by subscription tier.

🎤

Authority Talks

Live masterclasses where authors share insights. ShelfInsider members get full access + replays.

🎙️

Podcast

Featured author interviews. ShelfBoss (Diamond) authors can apply to be guests.

4. Choose Your Plan (Optional)

Start free and upgrade anytime at /pricing. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial.

💳 Paid externally? If you received an activation code via email, visit /activate to unlock your plan instantly.

Need more help?

Check our full guides or contact our support team