BookMarketingBuzzBlog

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

The Quest For Book Marketing Happiness !

As an author, you want to write. You love writing and all that goes with it -- thinking, reflecting, analyzing, researching, and interviewing. You are driven not only to write about something specific, but to engage in the very act of creation. Writing gives you hope, power, and a voice. It allows you to recreate, improve, and change. Writing helps you become who you always were meant to be - and it could help others live their lives. What a beautiful skill and act. It’s your way of being, your expression, and fulfillment of who you are. But writing books does not end with the act of writing.

Then comes editing, getting published, and the marketing of your works. But the book marketing can drain writers of their time, money, energy, and mindshare. It challenges, frustrates, and clutters the harmony of most writers. But it’s a necessary burden that all authors must grapple with.

Some, perhaps the majority, will do little to nothing when it comes to marketing their books. That’s the equivalent of remaining in your bed when you smell smoke in the house.

That never ends well.

Some, if they are the fortunate 20% of authors to have a publisher (not the hybrids), may get some assistance for a brief period of time, but without supplementing it, you too shall see your book perish without a trace.

Some will take ownership of their marketing. They will outsource some or all of it -- and/or they will do some of it themselves. Results will be mixed for most, based on many factors – the length and depth of the campaign, quality of its execution, competing titles/price, timing, and the proclivities of the book-buying public.

Ok, so that’s the landscape of book marketing. How does an author achieve book marketing happiness? Notice I didn’t say “book marketing success.” Presumably, one who has success will be happy but one who has happiness may not have had success.

The happiness part derives from an author’s mental state -- how one feels about the marketing and how taxing it becomes for them. The goal here is how to feel good about your book marketing, regardless of the results.

For instance, maybe you will achieve book marketing bliss by deciding to do nothing - and you proudly commit to it. Once you know and accept your limitations - and work within that framework - the easier it may be for you to function and go about your business.

But, when fear, anxiety, regret, wants, desires, and unfulfilled dreams gnaw at you, that’s when you have a problem. Unless these feelings drive you to do something about them, you must accept your station in life and not look back. However, when you feel doubt or guilt about not marketing, a strategy of ignoring it does not lead to book marketing happiness. You are not content and need to do something about it.

First, don’t make excuses, no matter what your life is like. I know you have little time or money to do anything, but exactly to what degree? You may not be able to put in two hours today to market your book, but can you spare 15 minutes? You may not have $10,000 to pay a promoter, but can you invest $3,000 over 100 days, for $30 a day, into your book’s marketing?

Second, no whining. You may see marketing like going to the dentist, buying a used car, or filing your taxes - a negative experience -- but it is something you simply cannot choose to avoid without suffering the consequences. So, instead of building up resentment about the need to market your book, embrace it.

Finally, in order to gain book marketing happiness, you need to be better informed of what to do, when, and how, as it relates to book promotions. Knowledge is power. Once you have a bigger-picture grasp of the book marketing world, the better you’ll be at making decisions and taking actions. No doubt, it feels better to act from an informed position, rather than one of ignorance or fear.

You can achieve book marketing happiness- and maybe even success too - but they don’t necessarily have to go together.

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over four million pageviews. With 5,000+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” Copyright 2025.

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook. It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Interview With Author Brendan Finbar Mooney

1. What inspired you to write this book?

I have always admired Percy Bysshe Shelley’s work Ozymandius, reading this piece inspired me to explore other works of romantic poetry. I have always had an

interest in poetry, but it wasn’t until 2022 when i was locked down in isolation because of COVID that I began to toy with the idea of writing poetry. I didn’t have

much that I could do, and isolating meant I could not go out and practice photography which is my other hobby. I loved reading poetry throughout my life and decided I would try my hand at writing some to pass the time at home.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for?

The book is a foray into science fiction poetry, containing several pieces of science fiction related work in addition to other classically romantic works of poetry. Each piece is best consumed on its own and is unconnected to others in the book, making it accessible and able to be picked up whenever the reader has time.

It was written for lovers of classical romantic poetry, of space and science fiction, who are interested in an alternative viewpoint on the world.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?

I would hope that readers will enjoy an easy, lyrical read of my book. I created the book to offer readers interested in science fiction access to poetry in what is an

unrepresented niche. I hope that it offers the reader a chance to escape the doldrums of the modern world and take comfort and refuge in thoughts of space,

science fiction and mythology. I wrote each poem to spark the imagination with vivid imagery.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

The original title of the work “Death to the Cybermen” was chosen as a striking title that firmly places it into the science fiction genre. The cover artwork is a rendition of a poem from a currently unpublished book of poetry which I felt captured the spirit of my book perfectly. Strikingly vivid imagery and mystery. The book is now published under a new title “The Illuminated Man” which was chosen based on my desire to maintain a science fiction theme for the book.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than Run!?

You never know what hidden talents you have until you discover them and give things a try, like myself discovering I was a poet aged 53, laying on the couch with COVID.

6. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy

when writing this book?

As a child, I loved physics and science and I used to go to warehouses and get discarded pieces of technology and take them apart and rebuild them. This experience meant that I have always been interested in science and science fiction which is very useful when writing a book of science fiction poetry.

7. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your

writing similar to?

Some of my greatest inspirations have been poets such as Lord Byron, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley and William Butler Yeats. I find myself

gravitating to the style of romantic and modern poetry. I am increasingly interested in pursuing more poetry that explores themes of space, science fiction and the cosmos.

8. How do you feel your book compares to others in your genre?

My book occupies a niche in that it explores themes of science fiction, which is rare in the genre of romantic poetry. For this reason i feel that my book is unique

and offers a different insight that many fans of the genre will find interesting and engaging.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?

In composing the book I needed to find a balance between the science fiction nature of the work, aesthetics as well as the grand themes I wanted to explore.

When i had finally settled on a draft, it took me some time to find a publisher to help share my vision with the world.

It was a very long process with challenges along the way but I am very excited with how it has panned out. A more recent challenge was needing to change the

name of the work from “Death to the Cybermen” to the “The Illuminated Man” which took place after the publishing date due to potential copyright issues.

I am very grateful to my publisher and my family and friends for supporting me through each step of my writing journey.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be

yours?

I think that in today’s troubled world of noise, technology and troubles, that most people would benefit from finding an escape in poetry that is soft and lyrical and that encourages them to take their mind into a different world and time, away from the trials of their lives.

Biography: I was born in 1969 in Galway, Ireland. I come from a family of 6 people, being the eldest of 4 children. My father is Australian, and my mother is Irish. We emigrated to Australian in 1987 due to my father wanting to return home. We moved to Newcastle

in New South Wales before finally settling in Launceston, Tasmania 6 months later. My hobbies include science, music, photography and architecture. I am always looking at broadening my experiences and developing new skills in these areas. I started

writing poetry in 2022 as part of my isolation after having contracted COVID. I did not have much that I could do, and isolating meant I could not go out and practice photography. I loved reading poetry throughout my life and decided I would try my hand at writing some to pass the time at home. Some of my greatest inspirations have been poets such as Lord Byron, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe

Shelley and William Butler Yeats. I find myself gravitating to the style of romantic and modern poetry. My first book, The Illuminated man was published on the 21/02/2025 by Austin Macauley publishing. I am currently refining a second book titled The

Forbidden City with aims to get that published next. My next aim, after having these works published, is to begin entering my works into publications and competitions to

have my work recognized and gain exposure for my poetry. For more info, please see:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brendan-Mooney/author/B0DTDDX634?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=69ace237-b8af-4e36-a834-a6a9d06f7aac

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

About Brian Feinblum

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum

Interview With Inspiring, Self-Help Author Joe Sipher

1. What inspired you to write this book?
While there are countless “success books” that use world-class people like Bill Gates or Roger Federer as examples and try to reverse engineer how they found success, I couldn't find a book that showed how ordinary people like you and me can overcome obstacles, make transformations, and find success. When I couldn’t find that book, I decided to write Outsmart the Learning Curve which chronicles seven regular people who made dramatic transformations without superhuman gifts - like the marketing manager who became an aerospace engineer at 36, or the failed kindergarten teacher who became a consultant to every top MBA program globally. Their stories prove that with the right approach, anyone can outsmart the learning curve.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for?
Outsmart the Learning Curve provides inspiring guidance to everyday people on how to make dramatic transformations or overcome significant obstacles. It breaks down practical techniques for getting through the tough times when trying to learn or achieve something new. The book is structured around five key elements: finding your purpose, cultivating openness, getting help, building confidence, and developing resilience. It's written for anyone who wants to make a major career change, learn a challenging new skill, or overcome a seemingly impossible obstacle. If you've ever thought "I suck at this" while trying to learn something new, this book is for you.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?
I hope readers will gain practical techniques to transform their lives and careers without requiring world-class talent or 10,000 hours of practice. Beyond the specific strategies, I want readers to understand that most things are "figure-out-able” — that with the right mindset and approach, they can achieve things that currently seem impossible. Most importantly, I want readers to find their own "glimmer" — that strong feeling that draws you to an activity or subject area — and turn it into their purpose. The stories in the book prove that regular people can achieve extraordinary success, and my deepest hope is that readers will apply these lessons to write their own success stories.

4. How did you decide on your book's title and cover design?
The title Outsmart the Learning Curve came after extensive testing which a chronicle in the book on the lessons of applying A/B testing to your daily life. I actually tested three different title options by creating landing pages and Google ads to see which one resonated most with potential readers. The data clearly showed that Outsmart the Learning outperformed the alternatives. The subtitle "How Ordinary People Can Achieve Extraordinary Success" reinforces that this book is for and about regular people, not just the naturally gifted. The cover design metaphorically represents the S-shaped learning curve that's central to the book's learning curve framework.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?
Write every day, but don't burn yourself out. I blocked out two-hour writing sessions each morning and afternoon—every day including weekends and holidays because I believed the mantra “write every day”. But found I couldn't maintain that rhythm for more than three weeks without my productivity dropping. Take strategic breaks to recharge, then return to your daily practice. Also, use A/B testing for important decisions like your title - don't just go with your gut or what your friends like best. Most importantly, find a group of brutally honest readers who will tell you when something isn't working. My daughter, wife, and sister were my most valuable critics because they didn't sugarcoat their feedback.

6. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?
Absolutely. My career transformation from an English major who got fired from his first job to a successful product leader who helped build mobile technologies used by hundreds of millions of people gave me firsthand experience with many concepts in the book. I relied heavily on techniques like volunteering to learn high-value skills (by programming my father's business software as a teenager), cultivating openness (by jumping into hardware design with no background), and getting help from loose connections (like when Microsoft product manager Melinda French inspired my career pivot). These personal experiences helped me recognize and validate similar patterns in the stories of the book's subjects.

7. How would you describe your writing style?
My writing style is conversational and grounded in research - blending engaging personal stories with evidence-based insights. I weave together narratives about ordinary people making extraordinary transformations with relevant academic studies that validate their approaches. I aim to be practical rather than overly theoretical, offering actionable bulleted recommendations at the end of each chapter. I also try to be authentic and occasionally self-deprecating, acknowledging my own struggles and shortcomings rather than positioning myself as an all-knowing guru. My goal is to make complex concepts accessible without oversimplifying them.

8. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?
The biggest challenge was finding the right subjects whose stories would illustrate the book's central themes. I initially tried Google searches and AI chatbots, but my "conversion rate" on reaching out to strangers was terrible. When I finally looked at my own network, I discovered amazing transformation stories hiding in plain sight. Structuring the book was another challenge - early drafts seemed to regurgitate success clichés like "be confident" or "be resilient." The breakthrough came when I realized I needed to focus not just on what to do but how to do it, providing practical techniques for implementing these concepts. Finally, maintaining a consistent writing schedule while balancing other responsibilities required significant discipline.

9. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?
If you've ever found yourself feeling like you just "suck at this” or afraid to follow your dream because you “just don’t have it” or “it’s just too late”, my book offers practical, research-backed techniques to break through that barrier. Unlike books focusing on elite performers who put in 10,000 hours of practice, Outsmart the Learning Curve shows how regular people can achieve mastery without world-class talent, coaches, or circumstances. Through real stories of everyday people making extraordinary transformations - from a marketing manager who became an aerospace engineer at 36 to an artist who finally found success after decades of setbacks - this book proves that with the right approach, you can achieve things that currently seem impossible. If you're ready to transform your career or master a challenging skill, this book will show you how.

About The Author: Joe Sipher started his career helping two nascent startups grow into multi-billion-dollar public companies (Palm and Handspring). Next, he founded two profitable mobile app companies that generated over 200M downloads. Joe has held various VP and C-level positions in both product management and marketing for tiny startups to public companies. He holds 26 patents related to mobile technology, wireless communications, and user interface design.

The above is the bio I've used for years, but the real story is...

‍Joe started his career as a rudderless English major fired from his first job for incompetence. Somehow this aimless, unemployed 22-year-old, who steered clear of STEM classes, built a successful career in technology and business. This remarkable transformation spawned his book Outsmart the Learning Curve.

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

About Brian Feinblum

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum

Interview with Author Birgit Forsberg

1. What inspired you to write this book?

Many factors in my life came together simultaneously to provide the background for writing. First, the mere joy of living delighted me, as I was freed from working in shifts! Secondly, I was free to retire, and so to choose how to spend my time. Thirdly, I wanted to tell my children, cousins, friends and relatives of how I experienced life as a child, teenager and young adult while growing up in Thailand. And lastly, I was quite alarmed at the car crash incident which my husband experienced. I was very glad and thankful to God that I had time to be with him every day. I wanted to share my life experiences with him and so try to encourage him in physical rehabilitation of the broken leg.

2. What exactly is it about – and who is it written for?

The story is about vocational school students who become acquainted and keep up their friendship throughout their lives. These students were from totally differing backgrounds and life situations, but that did not deter them from being friends.

This story took place in northern Thailand in the 1970’s. Many things have changed since that time. I grew up in the area, watching how illegal immigrants were taken into custody because they did not have any identity papers, how illegal pouching was commonly practiced, and how illiteracy brought problems into many lives. I thought that perhaps by reading about these mishaps, today’s people might learn to appreciate what older folks have had to go through and so be thankful for the great leaps in civilization today. Maybe mission enthusiasts would like to learn about life on the mission field. And maybe the realization that cultural differences are not always a point of contestation, but a richness which allows for deeper understanding.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?

I hope that readers will enjoy the characters (who are true people!), benefit from some of the observations made by the main characters and perhaps view their own lives from different perspectives. I hope that readers will get a small glimpse of northern Thailand. I also pray that readers would have a desire to learn more about people from other cultures in their own

communities.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

The title of the book was a difficult one for me. I played with two tiles, WHEN LIFE CHANGES and WHIRLING EVENTS. Then I realized that with WHIRLING EVENTS I might mislead the readers to expect some fast-moving plot; perhaps the first title would be better! The cover design unfolded by itself. I was playing around with the story, trying to form a short ‘comic book’ strip of it to entertain my nephew when he came to visit. I sent these sketches then to the publisher, who drew them into this neat and compact combination.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run?

I feel that it’s good to write about something that touches one’s heart. I also like sharing everyday life events with my readers, especially when people from various cultures interact with each other. I also enjoy writing when I feel ‘the flow’ of writing; then, words and sentences are easily formed. If possible, when writing, I try to avoid interruptions!

6. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?

Truthfully, yes. I have always wanted to help underprivileged people wherever I live in some way or another. These characters are real people, with names, places and family relationships altered purposely to protect their identity. I have also asked these people if I may write about their lives, and they answered in the affirmative, provided that their names were not used as such!

7. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing style similar to?

Personally, I prefer to rate my writing style as a ‘narrative’, or ‘one telling a story’, or a ‘description of events’. Perhaps I do not conform to any style as such, but this is what comes naturally. I have also realized that I often change my style if and when I’m writing in the first person or third person. Then if I’m ‘an outsider’ in the story, it differs from when I’m ‘an insider’.

8. How do you feel your book compares to others in your genre?

Fiction. the fact that these stories are based on true events causes limitations. I cannot let my imagination run wild! Then again, the timeline of the story limits part of it. Yet, I think that this story is strange and different in the sense that it brings its own suspense and energy.

Compared to other books, I feel that one must understand the surrounding culture somehow to enjoy reading the book. But I have attempted to explain cultural importances or to show them in practice so that the readers may better understand the events.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?

I had to curtail so much of the story! I wrote far too much and wanted to explain everything to the reader! Gory details were left out, character descriptions, historical events, background information, and so on.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

This book is based on true events. The stories of these people need to be heard.

This book shows how life’s difficulties are very small after all, when compared to those difficulties encountered by the characters in the book. I will get a better understanding of myself as I get a new perspective on life. This book might challenge behavior, lifestyles, motivations, understanding and actions in MY everyday life as I meet these people in my community who come from other cultures. This book might cause me to become active in bringing about social justice in the community today.

About The Author: I was born in Sri Lanka, to Finnish missionary parents. The oldest of three siblings, I lived my childhood and youth in both Sri Lanka and Thailand. In 1985 I married a Christian Thai Chinese man, and together we had three daughters. My husband died suddenly in a car crash in 2002. For over thirty years I worked as a missionary in Thailand, part of the time as a member of the Laine team. After 1999, I became a Finnish returnee and worked as a nurse until retirement. In 2010 I married a Christian Finnish man. Presently, I live with my husband in a small country house. Our senior dog keeps us company. In addition to enjoying handicrafts, I volunteer in my church as an interpreter sometimes and sing in the church choir. Fo more info, please see: hodos21.webnode.fi/

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

About Brian Feinblum

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum