BookMarketingBuzzBlog

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Interview With Author Bainy Cyrus!

1. What inspired you to write this book?

I grew up along with the clubhouse belonging to the Woman’s Club of Norfolk. Since my small elementary school did not have an auditorium, we used The Woman’s Club only a block away for school plays, Christmas carols, assembly meetings, and special events. Then I attended cocktail parties at the same clubhouse. Finally, I joined the Woman’s Club of Norfolk in 2016 and was for the first time mesmerized by the beauty of the clubhouse. Hence, I began researching its history dating back to its construction in 1910 and the history of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC). That clubhouse has seen an interwoven history of the city, the neighborhood, and even America. I felt that GFWC deserves recognition for its hard work and dedication to the community nationwide and globalwise since 1890.

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

"Tea and Toil at The Woman's Club" has an interwoven history of the 120-year-old club, its clubhouse called the Martin Mansion, its unique neighborhood called The Hague, the city of Norfolk, America, and most of all, the General Federation of Women's Clubs. This narrative nonfiction, along with the author's stories of growing up along with the Martin Mansion, focuses mostly on women's issues and empowerment in the past 155 years.

And "Tea and Toil" is for the general audience including men because it has significant male characters, one of whom was the founder of The Weather Channel.

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

Appreciation for history and respect for women's indebtedness to the community and the world.

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

Since the book contains fancy events and hard work in that clubhouse, I thought it would be cool to have two terms contradicting each other, especially with the same first letter. So "Tea and Toil" came up, added by "at The Woman's Club" so that readers would understand that the book revolves around the clubhouse and shows its connection to historical events in the city, nation, and the General Federation of Women's Clubs.

I wanted the cover design to appeal to both sexes by placing the female silhouettes in a fashion timeline from left to right under the Martin Mansion in the oval frame - and a WWII warplane associating with the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Something of an eye catcher!

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

Take time and enjoy what you are writing about. Pretend that the reader is across the table from you for the sake of motivation. And when you research, check more than one source for the sake of clarity. Credibility is key to a successful historical book. And it's okay to overwrite because it is always easier to cut and edit than simply rewrite the entire book. Self-editing as many times as you can is the best thing you can do. Just be patient with yourself, relax and have fun. Even if writing a book is fiendishly hard work.

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?

These are difficult questions to answer but I will do the best I can. I believe that real facts are more important in the book world amid misinformation by the media involving politics. And also, history is more important as well. About the book publishing industry...I feel that it is heading to more self-publishing, independent publishing, and hybrid publishing due to more rejections by agents and traditional publishers.

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

Absolutely yes, "Tea and Toil at The Woman's Club" contains my personal experiences with the clubhouse here and there...

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

I have always been a fan of truth and real facts so I would say my writing is straight-forward and to the point. With some humor. Maybe like Anne Tyler as a realistic novelist and Erik Larson as a historian that writes his books like a novel.

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

At least I finished the entire book!

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

Because today's politics have distorted the real facts on women and history, my book should open people's eyes to the amazing women's movement from the late 1800s toward today. And help them appreciate history in general.

Bainy is the author of five books including the 2010 award-winning “All Eyes, A Memoir of Deafness”. A lifelong resident of Norfolk, VA, she just published a narrative non-fiction that won six awards in different categories. Before writing, Bainy was a landscape designer and then a job coach for the disabled. She is now retired and enjoys RVing across the country with her husband Steve and their dog Sydney. Please see this for more information: www.bainycyrus.com.

Do You Need Book Marketing 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 4.4 million pageviews. With 5,300+ posts over the past 14 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

Interview With Award-Winning Children's Book Author Dr. Lynsey Victoria Rinelli

1. What inspired you to write this book? My daughter has been an incredible inspiration. My love for animals and profession as an emergency veterinarian guided the print of my second book.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? "Goodbye For Now" is a heartwarming and poignant picture book that explores the deep bond between a child, Little Grey and her beloved German Shepherd, Teddy. When Teddy is diagnosed with a terminal illness, Little Grey and her parents face the difficult journey of coping with grief and loss. As they navigate the stages of grief together, Little Grey learns valuable lessons about the importance of cherishing time with loved ones, the power of unconditional love, and the significance of saying goodbye. Through tender moments and fond memories, this family shows that even in the darkest times, support and time can help heal the heart.

This book is an ode to a fallen K9 officer Timoshenko who worked for many years in Brooklyn, NY. This K9 officer was named after a fallen officer who was honored for his bravery and lost too soon.

It is written for 4yr +, it has helped children and adults

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope readers will find comfort and an invaluable resource to help guide them through the difficult topic of loss.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? I chose goodbye for now keeping children and families in mind. To express that the loss of a pet or a loved one does not indicate they are not with us anymore. They forever live on in our hearts and in our memories. The cover design I worked with my illustrator on. I wanted to portray comfort and feelings of love.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Have patience, be persistent and keep writing! Understand your audience and connect with them. Quality weighs heavier than quantity- build your tribe!

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? The trends I have noticed in the past year is that more authors are self- publishing. They want to keep intact the rights to their work as well as how it will be designed and sold. I feel like we are heading into an age where smaller publishing houses will be born.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Yes, my vested experience of 11 yrs as an emergency veterinarian shaped the way I wrote my book. The overwhelming sincerity from families I have met in the hospital helped to guide this resource. Collaborating with a psychologist and my major in psychology from college helped to create a more unique text for my readers.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? My writing style is similar to: (unsure) would love to know your opinion after reading the book!

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Challenges I ran into while writing this book. I would say figuring out sizing and the ability to offer it in different forms. Understanding and learning about audible, kindle, paperback and the weight that a hardcover holds. Finding another printing press that I loved and finally offering the book in Spanish as well.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Why should anyone of any age group pick up my book this month? It is an incredible resource for families who have lost a loved one or are preparing for loss. The front half of the book is a fun and imaginative story between a little girl and her best friend. As it transitions to the later half, it allows the reader to prepare for conversations that may happen in the hospital. The thought bubbles are a great way to explain the stages of grief from the viewpoint of little grey. The back of the book gives families a guide through the different stages and how to best heal together.

For more information, please see: https://littlegreysbooks.com/

Do You Need Book Marketing 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 Micah Carlsen

1. What inspired you to write this book? Since my teens, I wanted to write a novel. I grew on the Beat Writers and Poets and admired the freedom they expressed. My tastes changed and having read authors like Tim Winton, Sam Selvon, George Pelicans and John Steinbeck, I found a style that I think is universally accessible. This galvanised me. Also, I promised my children that I would write a novel and you have to honour a promise to a child! Not that they gave a monkey's butt in the end.

2. What exactly is it about - and who is it written for? Billy Collins grew up on Portland Isle an isolated, insular community, East of Chesel Beach, Dorset. Billy is something of a loner, happy in his own company. He is shunned by his fellows being seen as being bad luck, his father having been killed in a quarry fall. He also has something of a 6th sense which doesn't play well for him on parochial Portland. He leaves to become a bomb disposal officer with the Royal Engineers. After a lucky and distinguished 30 year career, he decides that when the phone next rings he will make it his last job. He didn't count on it being on Portland. Billy hasn't returned in decades and the thought makes him quake and shudder. Will this definitively be his last job? The book was written for teens. My hope was that it might become a school text (there is a long explanation for this better told on the phone!). Despite my intentions, it has been enjoyed by teens and adults alike, some in their 90's!

3. What do you hope readers will get out of it? My hope is that people enjoy the story/ narrative and language as well as the detail about Portland and the life of a bomb disposal officer which I hoped would provide excitement as well as learning.

4. How did you decide on your book's title and cover design? Dead Man Walking: this is the nickname in forces for bomb disposal officers and is also relevant to the 'thriller - does he get blown to smithereens'.' The cover design with the WWII barrage balloons sets the back drop to Billy's childhood on Portland and I hope conveys a sort Billy's solitude.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? It's a very lonely experience. You spend all your time on your own, in your own head. Having spent all those hours, the effort of submitting your first novel to 100 publishers, you can't help feeling that it might all have been a complete waste of time. If you're lucky enough to have a positive reply of your 101 submission, don't expect red carpet and bunting. Having been published, I still haven't had a single phone call with a person at Austen Macauley and they prefer to communicate via email and discourage speaking. Lonely, lonely, lonely!

6. What trends and where do you see the book world industry going? I don't really understand the industry, but crime thrillers seem to be the Zeit Geist in the UK and I don't see this changing.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing the book? When I worked in HMP Exeter a fellow officer/ pal had been a bomb disposal officer for 15 years. This was a long and lucky run, he said and didn't want to chance his arm any longer! Straight from the horse’s mouth, Steve was able to give me huge amounts of detail about the profession and a BDO's hope and fears!

About The Author: After University at Exeter, I trained as an English teacher. I worked in Pupil Referral Units for young people permanently excluded from main stream education. This led to working at the Exeter Youth Offending Team. I then worked for the Probation Service in HMPS Exeter, Channings Wood and Dartmoor. Recently, I moved from the West Country back to my home town, Swansea. 5 years ago, while on a walk at The Knave in Gower, I slipped off a cliff ledge and fell 40 feet, fracturing my skull, spine and both arms. It has significantly affected my life, but I am up and about and walk my Jack Russel twice a day, though not so close to the edge! The funny part about it was when I told the consultant the story, he said "You shouldn't have broken bones my friend, you should have little wings!" I did laugh, like some kind of fool!

Do You Need Book Marketing 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 Best-Selling Author & Transformational Speaker Debra L. Morrison, CFP®

1. What inspired you to write this book? Having been a practicing CERTIFED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Asset Manager already for over 30 years I had heard the same questions again and again/repeatedly as I consulted with newly widowed women, so in 2011, I wrote New Widow Financial Lifeline; Practical Next Steps. And especially after 9/11 I realized while I was indeed an empath and not afraid of death, I wanted to understand much more about grief recovery, so I enrolled in a 2-yr program and obtained my Grief Coach Certification. I then wrote My Husband Died, Now What? A Widow’s Guide to Grief Recovery & Smart Financial Decisions which interweaves hastened and effective Grief Recovery tools with Financial Tips as well as warnings of Financial TripWires to avoid.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? While this book was written for widows, a great number of my currently married friends and coaching clients purchased this book in order to “be prepared.” I thought that was interesting in so much as it widens the audience of this book to women everywhere who, perhaps would prefer to be more prepared in advance, for what befalls them, should their husband predecease them. To a woman, they advocated that ALL women read this book, as an effective guide map for how to proceed through the uncertain sea of grief recovery.

3. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? I’ve always found water soothing and healing and the first edition of my book new widow financial lifeline bore a picture of floaters attached to a rope atop the water and the second and third iterations show a like preserver comprised of images of a $100 bill recognizing that the life preserver will help widows process their grief and lead them towards more swift recovery and that will invariably include smart financial decisions.

4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Au contrare! Writing is very therapeutic and we each of us have innate wisdom that sometimes we feel everyone knows but I can assure you everyone doesn’t know what you know so please get out there and share it with the world.

5. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? Books are shorter now to coincide with the attention span of busy readers realizing that people can always tap the author for individual coaching to delve deeper into anything they wish to understand on a deeper level. Along that same rationale I look for books to actually be published paperback in smaller sizes; we’re more a society of minimalists, cramped spaces and/or life on the go, so small is both beautiful and apropos. Many more authors are interweaving stories, because they laser-resonate with readers. We’re far more a show-me-the-proof society now.

6. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? The instances in which I helped widowed clients process their grief and organize their finances to ensure them financial security are sprinkled throughout the book, yes. While my clients were very well prepared for the death of their partner, I inherited many widowed clients who had not benefited by that preparation. And yes, I unwound 3 unsuitable sales of MEGA-commission annuities, sold to widows, which gave these widows their monies back to invest as was necessary to ensure their security and monthly income streams. Each of these ‘reversals’ took on average 12 months, with tapping the state’s Insurance Commissioners, etc. and I did so pro bono, as a way of ‘paying’ back to these widows the ‘wrongs’ they had suffered. And they DID suffer, as each case involved decades-long family ‘friends’ as their agents.

7. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? Very common sense, very practical. Widows’ minds are swirling with emotions and bouts of overwhelm; it’s no time for financeze; rather widows need answers and they need them when the questions percolate to the top of their minds.

8. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? It was difficult to discern just how much financial information to include in this book when I well understand that widows’ minds are in a moil processing their grief. Yet ultimately it’s important to alert widows of financial tripwires, which I do, in terms of the warning them NOT to do business with commissioned insurance salespeople, as well as sharing very sad stories of widows who were abused and then later were referred to me to help them somehow extricate themselves from the effect of unsuitable products they were sold.

9. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Grief recovery tools are helpful for every single reader regardless of whether you’ve been widowed or not; someone in your circle of family or friends has been widowed and will be widowed, so it’s incumbent upon us to be better equipped to understand the debilitating effects of attempting to grieve and learn about finances simultaneously. Best, instead, to learn about finances and uplevel our finance confidence NOW! If nothing else this book can serve as a preparedness guide, because when you’re in the throes of grief, laced with profound emotions around such significant loss, you will surely wish you had more tools in your toolbox with which to approach this new sea of uncertainty. And finally, you will never be one to utter some of the stupid *** things that people less familiar with grief recovery will inevitably utter—stay OFF of Chapter 3’s list!

10. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? First I hope every single reader will, at SOME level, BELIEVE my words of DEDICATION….healing lies ahead.

About Debra L Morrison, CFP®, MS, AEP: Retired from 4+ decades of practice as a CFP® Practitioner (Master’s Degree in Retirement Planning) and Asset Manager, Debra now leverages that rich wisdom as a Financial and Leadership Coach to uplevel mature women’s financial confidence, and coach them to create intentional wealth to live the life of their dreams.She’s a Certified Grief Coach, an Accredited Estate Planner and the Best-Selling Author of My Husband Died Now What? A Widow’s Guide to Grief Recovery & Smart Financial Decisions, and Common Sense Money Guide For Women. A TEDx Speaker, Debra speaks on stages & podcasts emphasizing that our 2 most important assets are time and health, urging women not to waste either. Featured on CNN, ABC, Fox, CNNfn, LA Tribune and quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Business Week, Reader’s Digest, Nation’s Business, Kiplinger, Money, Journal of Financial Planning, Ladies Home Journal, and more. Debra is listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who of American Women and Who’s Who in Finance and Industry. She was named one of New Jersey’s Best 50 Women in Business in 2008, 2011 Leading Woman Entrepreneur and Business Owner of New Jersey, 2012 Grief Coach of the Year, 2019 Marquis Who’s Who Women Of Influence Award, and Celebrate You’s 2021 Woman Of The Year. For more info, please see: https://www.wecandoitwomen.con

Do You Need Book Marketing 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