Interview With A Former Cop & Military Veteran Turned Award-Winning Author Of Military Thrillers James Bultema

 

 

1.      What inspired you to write this book? I discovered that I liked to write as a young LAPD officer. While most officers avoid writing reports because they prefer the action on the streets, I took great pride in writing each one and making it the best I could.  Years later, my production company made a six-hour documentary about the history of the LAPD, and as part of the massive project, I wrote the script. That led to a book on the department's history and eventually to Sea of Red, my first novel.

 

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? I write contemporary military thrillers that are very technical and well researched. I am currently working on the seventh book in the series.

 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? As a Vietnam War veteran, like most soldiers, you don’t like it, but you are a soldier, and you do as you are ordered. I’m no different. So, all of my books look at both sides of the battle, and the reader sees and hopefully feels what goes through the minds of those who pull the trigger at each other.

 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? All my titles, except one, have “Red” in the title to alert readers to my books when they see them. Covers are critical to a book’s success, and I spend a lot of time and money to make sure mine are the best.

 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? You don’t know unless you try. Write it, be professional throughout the process, and market it. You can then see if you are cut out for success in this business.

 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I don’t worry about that stuff. I write ten hours a day, seven days a week, and enjoy every minute. I worry about my own trends and where they are going.

 

7. Were there specific experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? To an extent, it helps to have been shot at in war and to understand those feelings when you are a nineteen-year-old kid, so yes, that finds its way into my books. Being a street cop and fighting that war helps as well. I would say the camaraderie you have from these experiences is important, then and now, in I use that in my books.

 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I write like Tom Clancy and have been compared to him many times, the ultimate compliment. I write technically but bring it to life with solid character development.

 

9.   What challenges did you overcome in writing this book? None, except self-doubt when writing my first book. When that first positive review came back, I sat at my writing desk and shed a few tears. You just don’t know if it works until you get some feedback.

10.  If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? If you like military thrillers, you can read about what it must be like in the real world. For example, my book, Red Lines, covers the war in Iran, which is not much different from what is going on right now. That comes from dedicated research. For more info, please see: www.jamesbultema.com    Do You Need Book Marketing Help? Brian Feinblum 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 6,200,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 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 2026.   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) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs   He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, 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 Actress, Playwright & Author Lisa Monde

 

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? A true story from my life. I write about it in the foreword and dedicate the novella “Teach Me How to Die” to that very same young man who, in his early student years, was on the verge of suicide, struggling with his gender identity, and trying to find his place in this world.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? First, I wrote a play of the same name, which had several stage productions Off and Off-Off-Broadway. Audiences responded strongly to the main subject of the play —how to help someone who has concluded that continuing their earthly existence is impossible. Even those for whom the topic was sensitive agreed that it needed to be addressed, and a theatre stage was a brave and proper place to do so. 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? For a wider audience of readers, the play was adapted into a novella, now published and available on all major platforms, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble – “Teach Me How to Die. A Novella and Other Stories.” It offers the opportunity to further explore the characters' personalities, nuances, and development. The reader sees how each of the six participants in a suicide note writing workshop reconsiders or confirms their decision to end their lives. Discussing the subject with others who have found themselves in the same state of despair is one way to prevent the irreparable. Even if you don't know how to discuss this topic, don't pass it by: support them however you can. Because there are no dead ends from which there is no escape. It's important to help them find a way… to stay! 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The actors involved in the play's production became huge fans of this story. The cover art was created by our Violinist. Scott Lilly is not only a talented actor but also an artist, a painter. Therefore, the cover turned out to be very atmospheric, perfectly reflecting the main narrative line. When you read the book, look at the cover, and you'll understand what I'm talking about! I think it represents the mood and the world our characters reside in quite perfectly. 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? I think the secret to being a writer lies in two key components: writing only when you absolutely must, when you can’t contain yourself, when you feel the need to tell a story, and being honest with your readers. I'm talking about the feelings you reveal, the level of your elaboration, and the technical perfection of your book.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I think the relentless fascination with self-help books, which purport to explain in a nutshell how to be healthy, wealthy, and happy, is gradually fading. And this, in my opinion, is a good thing. Readers should seek answers not in life manuals, but in literature. I may be wrong, but the demand for "smart" books is growing, and this is perfectly understandable: we live in an era of double standards and controversial political decisions that affect our well-being. Readers are ready to understand current developments, and it's the publishing industry's job to respond sensitively.  

7. Were there specific experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? I already answered this question above. Yes, the story the book is based on did take place in my life, in a way. I believe my theatrical background came in handy, too; I “work” with feelings, subjects that our souls are sensitive to. As actors, it is our job to feel and make our spectators feel. When you’re writing about people’s despair and disappointment in life, being both careful and honest is crucial. In theatre, if something is true to the performer, it is true to the spectators; it resonates.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books are your writing similar to? All my works, both published and forthcoming, are psychological dramas that carry elements of magical realism. Realistic descriptions of everyday life are juxtaposed and intertwined with fantastical, surreal elements. For example, in the book "Teach Me How to Die," which we're discussing here, the events take place at a master class in suicide note writing, which is completely unrealistic! Blurring the line between reality and something unreal, surreal, is what I strive for. Of course, my main teacher in this literary method is Gabriel García Márquez. And Salvador Dali, of course.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? The subject of suicide is neither simple nor trivial, nor is it guaranteed to generate widespread interest. Discussing important issues within our society is always a challenge. And I accepted it. Moreover, a survey of audience members who attended productions of the play of the same name showed that they were ready and interested in this topic, as well as euthanasia, by the way. They are concerned with life after death and the memory of the departed loved ones. It is true, though, that vampires and vampirism are currently winning in popularity (ha-ha). Perhaps because in the minds of their contemporaries, they are now not only immortal but also nearly omnipotent and endowed with feelings and empathy. I write about this in my other book, “Dracula: Finding of a Shadow”.  

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? My book is worth buying for those who aren't looking for simple answers to complex questions. Those who want to reflect on their own and others' values ​​are welcome! Instead of a printed copy or an e-book, you can listen to the audiobook version – it's available on all platforms. The narrator is Professor Mirrormord himself – Samuel Shurtleff, who played this character brilliantly in the latest production Off-Broadway back in 2023. He is exactly how I imagined him when I conceived the play. The musical design of the audiobook is also mine; it’s original. I believe I managed to convey my entire attitude to the events in the book with just seven notes. Intrigued? Read, listen, write – let's discuss.  

About The Author: Lisa Monde is a writer, playwright, director, composer, and actress. Holds a master's degree in English Linguistics and a PhD in Musical Theatre. Lisa is the author of over a dozen original plays and eight musicals, the majority of which have been produced in the US and other countries.  

Multi-award winner of prestigious theatrical contests and playwriting competitions. Her previously published plays ("I Know All Save Myself Alone", "Saint Francis: Religion of Love", and "Dracula: Finding of a Shadow") have been recognized with various book awards. The novella “Teach Me How to Die” is based on Lisa's original play of the same name, which premiered Off-Broadway in 2023.  

“Teach Me How to Die. A Novella and Other Stories” is Lisa's first experience in writing prose. So far, “Teach Me How to Die. A Novella and Other Stories” has won Gold with the Literary Titan Books Awards 2026 (Fiction), Bronze with the Florida Book Awards 2025 (Popular Fiction), Bronze with the Book Fest Awards Spring 2026 (Women’s Fiction/General Fiction) and became a Distinguished Favorite at the Independent Press Book Awards 2026 (Short Stories). 

Lisa is currently working on her first novel. Lisa is a proud member of the Authors Guild, Dramatists Guild of America, International Union of Writers, and other creative unions. For more information, please see: - www.lisa-monde.com or Instagram: @the_lisamonde.

  

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum 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 6,200,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 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 2026.

 

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) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, 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

 

 

 

Did Society Die With Ted Turner?

Ted Turner died at the age of 87. Anyone under 50 may not know who he was — or care. I mourn today, not so much the loss of Turner, though I admired him in his heyday, but how his death marks the expiration of an era. Society is dismissing its past and the future will be just as unkind when it reflects upon us.

The terms, people, events, and references associated with his career peek are becoming outdated, dead, obscure, and irrelevant. As the years go by, fewer people will remember or care about him, and the context in which he thrived will also be lost. It is so weird to live long enough to see how someone once so significant and popular is reduced to shrugs and blank stares by the masses. It is a little like being the prom queen in high school, only to be a nobody before you hit age 30.

Some names endure the test of time: Babe Ruth, Albert Einstein, Beethoven, Ben Franklin, George Washington, Jesus, Cleopatra, Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman. But most people, regardless of their accomplishments or popularity, are a footnote by the time two or three generations pass after their death. The world changes too much, and so many more stars, villains and heroes, inventors, and politicians come and go. Who can keep track?

Turner, by the way, was at one time, for a few decades, one of the most popular, powerful, and richest people in America and the world. He founded the first all-news, 24-hour news network, CNN, and rewrote the news media landscape, influencing politics, finance, sports, and culture. His mega-network, TBS, changed television. His colorization of classic movies was also controversial. He owned a Major League Baseball team (Atlanta Braves), won America's Cup (sailing), launched a chain of steakhouses (Ted's Montana Grill), and was a big rancher and conservationist, and owned over two million acres of land in America. Oh, and he was married to Academy Award-winning actress Jane Fonda. 

Y,eah, I know, who?

In 1992, he was TIME Magazine’s man-of-the-year. I know, I know. What is TIME Magazine, you ask? See what I am saying.

Everything comes and goes. A cable-TV pioneer’s world is diminished by streaming and social media. An international media powerhouse like TIME is a shadow of itself, where so many influencers and other media outlets hold so much more power today. And CNN, once a provocative jewel that literally helped spread democracy while we witnessed it, is now a garbage wasteland of biased commentary, little news, and low ratings.

A piece of my life is already buried with Turner, and as time goes by, there will come a day where his name — and yours or mine — will not be uttered, our accomplishments to be shrugged at if even discovered, and the setting of our lives will barely be understandable. It is as if we are reading a futuristic sci-fi novel when we discuss history or Turner — both worlds lack familiarity, understanding, or appreciation.

But trust me, Turner was a big deal who helped shape the world of yesterday. And one day, his name will be spoken of no more.

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum 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 6,200,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 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 2026.

 

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) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, 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

 

 

 

Should The Book World Drop Its Spirit Airlines Approach?

  

Spirit Airlines, the big-discount air carrier that just went bankrupt, is a cautionary tale for authors and publishers. 

“Spirit was doomed to fail because of mismanagement, deep financial problems, and – crucially – its reputation for poor customer service,” said CNN.  

Spirit seemed to have a customer base straight out of the Jerry Springer guest pool — and it may have hired the people not skilled enough to work at a DMV. But it offered great prices.  

It wasn’t enough.  

And now with their demise, competitors can charge more — until a new discount competitor repeats the strategies employed by Spirit, and People Express and ValuJet Airlines.  

Authors and publishers are quick to give discounts and provide lower prices or even free books in order to generate sales and readership. But if you can’t be profitable, what good is all of that?  

The problem is the free/discount strategy may seemingly work for some authors individually who desperately seek to develop brand recognition, but overall, the toll of free and low-cost books on the industry seems to be too high of a price to pay.   

I wonder what percentage of a book’s distribution is free vs sale, and when sold, at a discount vs the full price. I don’t know if anyone is keeping statistics on such things, but I have been eyeballing lots of free books and discounted titles online, at conferences and book fairs, and in advertisements.  

GoodReads and many places do tons of giveaways. Some authors tell me they participate in something where a few giveaways are done but as many as 4,000 or more people would register for it. Those people did not seem to go back to buy the book — not even 1 percent — once they missed out on the free raffle opportunity.  

Amazon’s Prime Reading offers an enormous catalog of free ebooks. Further, it is estimated that 15 million books have a free rank, which are distinct from paid, on the Amazon KDP platform. That is just self-sabotage, a literary looting of horrendous proportions. 

What the industry needs to do is: 

·         Develop and grow more readers 

·         Show why books have value over other free content

·         Convince more people that reading a book is better than other forms of entertainment 

Spirit Airlines failed, in part, due to its pricing strategies. Authors and publishers should learn from that debacle.

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum 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 6,200,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 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 2026.

 

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) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, 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 Author Jody Doll

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? I discovered a short story I had written fifteen years ago during a period in my life when I was traveling quite a lot for my job, which I had titled “The Last Gate” in reference to a specific departure gate in the Atlanta Airport. My wife and I were having marital issues at the time, and for someone who had once been so affectionate, suddenly the words “I love you” would catch in her throat. The short story, loosely based on my experiences, reflected the emotions of that particular period in my life. Having fresh eyes, I appreciated the themes that I had built and wanted to expand on those concepts.  

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? Imagine not being able to say “I love you” to the people you cherish most. The book is about a young woman named Alice who has spent her entire life trying to understand why—why life made her the way she is, why silence became her prison. As a child, she was diagnosed with selective mutism, a condition that left her unable to speak, especially to the one person she loved most: her father. When Alice loses her dad to a tragic plane crash, a survivor comes forward with unexpected answers. Told through multiple voices and shifting perspectives, The Words We’ve Lost, and Found is a layered psychological story about love, loss, and the desperate human desire to repair what has been broken. It's for adults, men or women, looking for a compelling family drama.  

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? The story is really a tale of two halves, juxtaposing who we want to be and who we really are. While many parts of the story are humorous and light-hearted, the central theme is about abuse, and its many shades and layers. It takes the stereotype that we think we know and somewhat flips it on its head. No one wants to feel or be made to feel less than. And I think people will identify with that.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? Explaining it, I think, would give too much away.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? I grew up with an old-school commercial artist who put a pencil in my hand as soon as I could hold one. Drawing is a process that starts with a thumbnail and builds from there. If you start out trying to create this detailed masterpiece right from the jump, you’re going to fail. I personally approach writing the same way I do art: I take an idea and just start typing. I don’t worry about format, grammar; I just start to lay things on the page. It may not even make sense. But after I have written a few chapters, I reread and begin polishing. Layering in the details until something I like begins to form.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?  I do love that amateurs like myself have this incredible access to easily self-publish, to put their art and ideas out into the world. I think ease of access has inspired many more people to write, to tap into their creativity. The challenge is that it seems like all of these stories have flooded the zone, making it harder for anything to stand out. Now, with the proliferation of AI, it’s gotten even worse. I would guess that the top 10-20% of a publisher's titles account for the majority of its revenue. And that I imagine makes sorting through all the noise to find the thing that matters a daunting task with high risk and very low reward.  

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?  Absolutely. There is a lot of me in this latest story, mostly my mishaps as an altar boy, and home repairs gone wrong. Constant traveling, marital challenges. I think the best stories are the ones that you can really put yourself inside of. While, thankfully, I have never experienced some of the things I put my characters through, I have, in many respects, felt their pain.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? That is a difficult question. I think, at times, there is a little Kurt Vonnegut in me, conversational, simple, sometimes a little dark with my humor.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Though my name, Jody Doll, is deceptive (yes, it's my real name—my parents loved the show “Family Affair”). I am not a woman, but I have been blessed to know and be around some tremendous women my entire life. There are many, many scenes in this book where I have to really step into the mind of someone of the opposite gender and write with a woman’s voice. One of the greatest compliments I have received from this book is that people who didn’t know me were stunned to find out I was a man.  

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? This book starts in one direction, telling an endearing, often humorous, but very emotional family story—then it wrecks you. It’s not super long; I think it’s paced well, it hits all the emotional highs and lows, and Kirkus Reviews loved it. Earning their blue star.  

Abut The Author: Like Lebron James, I was born in Akron, Ohio—but I have lived in northeast Ohio my entire life. I have been married to the same woman for over 35 years, and I am the proud father of an English teacher who lovingly refuses to read any of my stories.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jody-Doll/author/B0C174Z533?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=c48bdeb1-ca02-4fd3-b8c9-783a922d6eb0

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum 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 6,200,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 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 2026.

 

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) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, 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