Authors Must Say No To No

 

Authors are likely to hear “No” and experience rejection or be ignored more often than almost any professional salesperson. Get used to it. Expect it. Embrace it. Reject rejection!  Turn that frown upside down. 

How? 

·         By never giving up.

·         By not taking it personally.

·         By realizing the only thing that matters is a Yes, and not the 27 No’s leading up to it. 

When you get a No, you should: 

·         Try again — have them reconsider

·         Ask someone else 

·         Re-evaluate your needs/desires and what to ask for

·         Change your method of approach — in person, phone, email, text, social media, mail

·         Alter the substance and style of your pitch

·         Dig for more ammunition

·         Bluff and BS your way to an opportunity 

Be driven by a hope and desire that you won’t stop until you get what you want. This is all 

based on a blind belief that you can get what you want. Your confidence can be stronger than the insecurities or needs of others. 

You do not need to threaten or lie your way to success, though I suppose this can be part of the arsenal of some desperate people. 

The key to all of this is not to let a No to sound like the end or some final judgment. One No or a dozen No’s do not preclude you from trying again nor do they deny the fact that you may offer something of value. It just means that some circumstance in a specific situation led to a No.  

What could lead to a No? 

·         The person you asked misheard or misread your offer

·         That person was not in a good mood when approached 

·         That person was distracted, stressed out, or too exhausted to make an honest evaluation

·         You happened to ask when they were not open-minded or you asked at the wrong time 

It is also possible that your offer was: 

·         Boring

·         Made to the wrong person or organization

·         Mumbled and garbled in its delivery

·         Nothing special

·         Lacking urgency

·         Failing to highlight the best part of your offer 

So, doing a post-mortem audit of why you got rejected can help you realize changes are needed in your approach, ones that you can make, and that some of it is just bad luck or lousy timing. In other words, don’t give up. Make adjustments and try harder, smarter, and more often.  

Success is a numbers game. The more quality attempts that are made, the more chances you have of a Yes. The No’s mean nothing. 

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 11 million page views. With over 5,700+ 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 2026, 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 Upcoming Author Linda Stewart Henley

 

1. What inspired you to write this book?  

I wanted to write a book about an older woman who restarts her life after a great loss.

 

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

It’s about Nan, a sixty-three-year-old woman who loses almost everything in the 2018 Paradise, California fire.  The book will probably appeal to middle-aged or older women. 

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

 That it’s never too late to start again, even after suffering from a great loss. That true friendship and creative expression can be life-enhancing. 

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

 The book’s title is significant in a couple of ways. Nan is a former marathoner, and tries to outrun the Paradise fire. She is also running away from herself until she recovers from her losses and gains a new awareness of herself. I wanted the cover design to reflect the California setting. 

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

Never give up! If you have a story to tell, keep at it until it’s told. 

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

I see more novels being written about older people. I hope the publishing industry keeps publishing authors who write creatively without AI. 

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

I lived in California for many years and I used the setting in the book, though I never went to Paradise. 

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

I try to make my characters interesting and I use a lot of dialog. I’d love to think my books are like Ann Patchett’s because she can say so much without resorting to drama, but I have a way to go in that regard. 

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

Learning about fires. Tying up the sub-plots (always a challenge). 

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

The book is due out in June, 2027. My book is uplifting. I believe Nan is a sympathetic character. You can learn a bit about painting and Grandma Moses. 

About The Author: Linda Stewart Henley is the author of three award-winning novels. She lived in California for many years and presently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. For more information, please see: www.lindastewarthenleyauthor.com.

 

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 11 million page views. With over 5,700+ 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 2026, 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

 

Do Authors Need A 12-Month Marketing Plan?

 

 

In life, time can be your enemy or an ally, depending on whether you squander your opportunities or take advantage of them. This is certainly true when it comes to marketing your book.

The number one thing authors can do to undermine any potential success for their book is to ignore the significance of their book’s release date on Amazon and other retail platforms. 

Why?

Because everything is based on it.  

Depending on what your launch date is — or was — will dictate whether:

* You can win a book award
* Your book can garner a book review.
* You shall be invited to speak at an event or conference.
* A bookstore will shelf your book.
* Your web site needs to be launched or revised.
* Your blog, podcast, newsletter, or social media need to be launched or altered.

Some of the marketing surrounding a book’s publication date involves perception — is it new or old? Much of it involves policies, some of which are stated clearly. Authors find out the hard way that a publication date becomes like a sell-by date for a bag of ridged barbecue potato chips (oh, yum).

For instance, to have a chance at getting a book review in a book trade journal like Publishers Weekly or a major daily newspaper book review section like The New York Times, you must, must send an advance review copy to the correct editor about four months before your scheduled release date. Anything beyond that, with few extraordinary exceptions, gets tossed into the garbage without a word getting read.

Book awards also have deadlines as to when your book is eligible for qualifying. Each one has a small window of time as to when you can submit your book for consideration. If you miss the deadlines, your book will not be considered — no matter how good it is.

Every aspect of your book marketing needs a plan — with scheduled dates of specific activity. If you plan to any of these things, timing matters: 

* Crafting a web site

* Scheduling speaking events

* Creating a blog, podcast, or newsletter

* Getting book testimonials

* Advertising on Amazon, Google, or Facebook

* Submitting for book awards

* Creating social media posts 

* Securing a book marketer or promoter

* Participating in book festivals, fairs, and conferences

* Seeking out book reviews 

The take-away here is clear: plan ahead and be prepared to honor deadlines or suffer the consequences of ignoring them.

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 11 million page views. With over 5,700+ 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 2026, 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

 

 

What's Your Book Marketing Strategy?

 

I hear all kinds of things from authors who seek glory for their books. Here is a sampling: 

“I need to do something big, something different from what everyone else is doing.”

But they ignore tackling the things that are more easily achievable.

“I want to write and have others promote my books.”

It is good to get help, but authors must still do some things on their own.

“I have done everything that could be done to market my book, but have few sales to show for it.”

Chances are you did not do everything, nor did you do it as well as it should be done.

“The book is great and should sell itself.”

Don’t we wish! It takes time, money, help, persistence, hard work, connections, and luck to break through — not randomness. Hope is not a strategy. 

My approach to book marketing is simple: Start with the low-hanging fruit and obvious stuff that one needs to build an author brand. Then experiment and try a few long-shot approaches. Maybe you will get lucky.

Start with creating the tools needed to build a platform. This means:

Open several social media accounts: improve your profile, increase your posting frequency, improve the quality content, use the platform to network with your targeted readers.

Have a web site — and not just a social media presence or an amazon page. Use words, charts, photos, reviews, book excerpts, blog posts, book giveaways, free content, media, and anything that you can create or buy that gets your message across powerfully.

Craft targeted pitch letters for the news media, seeking speaking engagements, and soliciting testimonials.

Research your lists of the people and institutions that you plan to reach out to, such as targeted media outlets, book awards, bookstores, and family and friends.

Join writer associations based on your location, such as Florida Writers Association, your book’s genre, such as Romance Writers Association of America, or general ones, like IBPA.

Identify the keywords and terms needed for string SEO on your website, social media, and Amazon page. Develop the hashtags, and headlines you will want to incorporate in your messaging.

Get third-party validation: Ask for testimonials, get paid reviews, and apply to book awards and writing contests. 

Develop a strong elevator pitch and be prepared to succinctly play your book up anywhere, anytime.

Pursue news media coverage, including local media where you live and where you grew up. Create a press kit and research the media to pursue appropriate feature stories, interviews, and byline article opportunities.

Hire a professional to help you with certain marketing aspects, but do not expect to outsource everything. 

In short, no matter what you think book marketing is or should be, I can guarantee you that some measure of savvy book marketing will be needed to give your book a competitive chance to succeed.  

What is your book marketing strategy?

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 11 million page views. With over 5,700+ 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 2026, 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