Don't Market Your Book Like Apple's Ron Wayne

 

Authors must never give up on their creations if they believe in them. Just follow the lesson of Ron Wayne, who threw in the towel too soon on what could have dramatically changed his life and his family for generations to come.

Here is Ron’s story, a cautionary tale for all entrepreneurs and enterprising authors:

Apple, one of the world’s leading technology companies and heavily influential in the evolving telecommunications industry, just turned 50. The company was formed by a college dropout, Steve Jobs, and a gadget-tinkering friend who worked at Hewlett-Packard, Steve Wozniak.

They each formed their partnership with 45% shares and 10% went to their advisor, Ron Wayne. However, the company got off to a shaky start and Ron shit the bed, cashing in his stake very early, for an $800 payout. He would get another $1500 a year later. The company is now valued at $3,700,000,000,000. If you can’t add up all of the zeroes, that’s 3.7 trillion dollars. His share, due to changes when the company went public, would be worth at least 100 billion dollars today.

So, what is the moral here?

If you truly believe that you have created something unique and special, be willing to weather temporary missteps, losses, or setbacks. Be willing to take a risk. It is like a slumping athlete. Their tailspin is temporary. They know that if they stay fundamentally sound in their approach to their craft, and work hard, they will eventually breakthrough.

Sure, most start-ups fail, but many have modest success, and only a few really blow things out of the water. For authors and their books, it is the same thing.

But you don’t have to play things by statistical odds. All that you need to do is remain confident and take action. Be resilient. Your book, if it is good, deserves better. Market often and do it well. If your book is to fail it should be because it really was rejected by those who read it, not because your marketing was weak and lackluster.

There is a saying on Wall Street: Only invest what you can afford to lose. Similarly, do not break your credit card limits or take out a second mortgage to fund your marketing, but do stretch yourself to support what you believe in. That could mean working OT, getting a side hustle, delaying a vacation, buying a cheaper car, or even deciding against a planned home renovation. Invest what you can afford to do.

In addition to money, the author’s greatest resource is her or his time. Pour in what needs to be done to learn and execute core book marketing functions — social media, website, book awards, speaking, news media, and networking.

What you don’t want to do is be a Ron Wayne. He pulled out of what was destined to be a monster pay-off. He stopped believing, feared risk, and gave up. He even screwed up again years later, when someone paid him just $500 to get the original contract that he had signed. It would eventually get resold for $2 million!

 

Don’t stop until you break through -- or you see evidence of actual rejection of your book and not of your marketing.

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,950,000 page views. With 5,600+ 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 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). 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, 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

 

 

 

Do Authors Know When To Pack It In & Move On?

 

It occurred to me recently that selling one’s home is akin to an author having to make big decisions about their book.

My in-laws, now in their early 80s, made a big move recently. They sold the house they had lived for a half-century and raised a family in. The walls that bore witness to the significant moments of their adult lives will now be the domain of another family. 

As they packed up their things, all kinds of memories came upon everything they touched. They made decisions on hundreds of items: keep, toss, or donate. But it was more than a process of finding a physical home for each item. It was about evaluating one’s life and reflecting on who they are becoming in contrast to who they were or think they are.

Our things have a way of conjuring reflections of a life lived with joy, accomplishment, and
love. But they can also remind us of regrets, shortcomings, losses, and missed opportunities. They have a way of attaching us to aspirations unfulfilled and get us thinking of what could or should have been.

Life has many mile markers in our early years. First steps, initial words, learning how to read and ride a bicycle, first kiss, first summer job. Lots of firsts.

Then we graduate from school and enter the working world. Marriage for many, kids for some, and divorce for half. We earn promotions, make career changes, and maybe even launch a business. Our vacations take us across the country and around the globe.

Whatever paths are taken, we eventually confront our advanced age and transitions need to be made. Perhaps authors need to also make certain transitions, choices, and changes. They have to decide when to write, how to publish and market, when to alter plans, and when to pack it in.

Most authors are slow to take action in each of the aforementioned areas. There is a natural propensity for procrastination that seems baked into an author’s DNA. Denial, divergence, avoidance, delay, and excuses are all in the author toolkit. But at some point, reality has to hit.

Once a writer puts a book out and crosses into being a published author, a meter of time, money, energy, and motivation starts ticking. Money tends to be the first to go. Authors hit different crossroads where they contemplate what to do next when marketing a book. They start to see the results — or lack of — in response to different initiatives. Hopes start to dwindle alongside anemic sales numbers. Optimism and good faith give way to anger, frustration, bitterness, and bewilderment.

So, when should an author pack it in?

If they tried their best for a sustained period of time and feel they have exhausted all reasonable opportunities, pack it in.
If they have run out of resources: money, time, or favors, pack it in.
If they received many rejections and bad reviews — as opposed to merely being ignored — pack it in.
If they no longer believe in their book, pack it in.

Not every book is a winner and all books have an expiration date when it comes to focused marketing. Never throw in the towel too soon, but don’t beat a dead horse, either.

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,850,000 page views. With 5,600+ 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 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). 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, 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

 

 

 

Library Week Starts April 19th - Celebrate!

  

The American Library Association’s National Library Week is being honored April 19-26 this year. Libraries are a key part of the book culture and reading ecosystem of our nation. 

Please support your library! 

Right To Read Day, Monday, April 20 

Book bans and literary censorship have skyrocketed in recent years. Join the fight against lawsuits, legislative actions, and political campaigns to remove books from shelves or fine/jail people who seek to protect your right to read.  

National Library Workers Day, Tuesday, April 21 

Honor the hardworking employees and volunteers who make our libraries such great places.  

National Library Outreach Day, Wednesday, April 22

Acknowledge how libraries meet their patrons where they are, from a book mobile stop at a local school library, pop-ups at community gatherings, to online availability of content and resources, 24/7. 

Take Action For Libraries Day, Thursday, April 23

Use this day to rally others to support libraries. Encourage the government, corporations, and individuals to donate resources to help libraries thrive and survive.  

This honorary week is a great time to highlight how libraries serve the greater community, transforming lives and strengthening society. The library is a literary haven, a treasure trove of millions of free books, historical content such as old newspapers and original documents, and a place where people can gather. To learn more of how you can participate or support libraries, please consult www.ala.org. 

You can always donate books, money, or your time to volunteer at a library. You can always be a patron of a public library. And you can always champion to others the treasures that libraries provide us with today- and always.

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,850,000 page views. With 5,600+ 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 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). 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, 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 Inspirational Author Bob Violino

1. What inspired you to write this book? I’d been thinking of writing some sort of self-help book for a while, but what pushed me to start writing it was a few life-threatening experienced that reminded me about my mortality. One of these was a cardiac arrest that left me clinically dead for nearly 10 minutes. Another was going into heart and respiratory failure following an operation to amputate my left foot because of a vascular blockage. Following such close brushes with death, I was gripped with a sense of urgency to put my words down so that others might benefit from what I’ve learned over the years.  

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? The book, Life Lessons—How I’ve Learned to Embrace Gratitude, Positivity, Resilience, and Joy, includes 25 valuable lessons for life. Topics such as gratitude, positivity, resilience, living in the moment, patience, overcoming fear, setting goals—to name a few. Each “lesson” includes relevant, in many cases deeply heartfelt, anecdotes from my life. Many of the lessons also include science-based facts to back up concepts. I write this book for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by life events, for those looking for inspiration during a touch time, or really for people who are looking to read about someone who has lived through some difficult experiences and taken away some vital insights. There are some serious topics, but I try to inject warmth and humor throughout, 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Maybe a new perspective on their own lives and what they are facing in the way of challenges or disappointments, and how to better cope. Many readers and reviewers have commented on the book being “transformative”, “powerful”, and “heartfelt”. Some have told me the book is on their nightstand so they can read a chapter now and then for some inspiration. Others have said the book fell into their hands exactly when they needed it. These comments make me feel like all the hard work of writing, producing, and publishing the book was well worth it.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? I wanted the title to be brief and work off the subtitle. The cover design is meant to convey positive, upbeat feelings as well as the idea of a life journey—reflecting the content within the book. I hired a professional book designer to create the cover. It was a collaborative effort. 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Be persistent. Whether it’s writing, editing, publishing, decision making, marketing, etc., you have to stick with it. It’s easy to want to quit at every stage of producing a book. But if you do, you might regret for the rest of your life that you didn’t share your story.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?  Clearly self-publishing continues to rise, as it should be. If traditional publishers have made it so difficult to publish a book, many writers have no choice but to self-publish. Fortunately, technology has made this much easier to do than it was even a few years ago. Another big trend is the ongoing growth and development of AI, and how that impacts publishing in various ways.  

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?  Yes! The book is filled with personal and professional experiences from throughout my life. It’s really part self-help and part memoir. In every chapter I try to include personal events to make the points. As for career, I’ve been a business and technology journalist for more than 40 years and I had written two previous books, so I’m accustomed to writing. 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I would describe it as conversational and personal, as well as straightforward in terms of offering actionable insights. A few readers have said they felt as if they were chatting with me in a coffee shop, offering friendly advice or support. I include humor in the book because we should never take ourselves too seriously, and having a sense of humor is extremely important. I would like to think the style is similar to that of James Clear, Brené Brown, and Wayne Dyer.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? The challenges related to being a self-published author: handling not just the writing but also the decision making in hiring a skilled copy editor, designer, proofreader, and marketing specialist. The marketing part is by far the hardest. It requires skills that I didn’t necessarily have to begin with, but have had to learn in a hurry. It takes a lot of persistence.  

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Because it will deliver some insights they might not have been expecting in areas they might not give a lot of thought to. The book is honest; sometimes brutally so. One of the reviewers said she normally doesn’t read self-help books, but that this one is different. I’m not writing from the perspective of someone who is describing hypothetical things. I’ve actually experienced them. Even if someone thinks the book is not for them, it most certainly could be for someone they love who needs a burst of positive energy.

About The Author: Bob Violino has covered some the most momentous events in the information technology field, including the emergence of the personal computer, the growth of mobile communications, and the rise of artificial intelligence, over a career spanning more than 40 years. Since 2002, he has worked as a freelance writer, producing articles, newsletters, and other content for print and online publications and clients in a variety of industries. His writings have appeared in CIO magazine, CNBC, ComputerWorld, Forbes, Fortune, CBS Interactive, InfoWorld, Newsday, and Business Insider. In addition to his personal blog, Embracing Gratitude and Positivity, Violino has authored the books, New Life: Lessons in Faith and Courage from Transplant Recipients and Children of the Light. He lives in Massapequa Park, New York, with his wife Reneé, and enjoys reading, blogging, travel, painting, and experiencing the wonders of nature.

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,850,000 page views. With 5,600+ 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 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). 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, 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

Should Authors Pretend Their Books Are Wanted?

Book marketing and public relations, to be highly effective, often involve a certain level of manipulation, embellishment, trickery, omissions, and distraction. Somewhere in there are truths and facts, but everything is presented in a distorted and carefully manicured way.  Of course, some of this crosses into lies and things like fake book reviews, and that is illegal, unethical, and often ineffective. 

But, how far should or could an author go to stage their book for mass consumption?

Should authors make up testimonials or endorsements for their books? 

One famous food brand did.

 

“When Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs first opened in 1916, the owner hired people to dress as doctors and eat hot dogs outside his shop, to convince people his hot dogs were healthy.”

 

I read this on Instagram, but in order to make sure it was not another Instascam lie, I looked into it. According to AI and Reddit, it is true. A Google search stated:

 

“The Reason: Nathan’s slashed the price of his hot dogs to five cents—half the price of competitors—which made customers suspicious that the meat was unsafe or low-quality.

 

The Strategy: To build trust, Nathan’s hired people to wear white medical coats and stethoscopes to act as "doctors" enjoying his food.

“The Result: Passersby saw the "doctors" enjoying the food, assumed the food was safe and healthy, and flocked to the stand, launching a successful business.”

 

Is what Nathan’s did a legitimate practice?  Hiring actors to consume a product happens all of the time on television, but we are told they are commercials and understand these are actors or paid endorsers.

When you don’t tell people that what they see is fake and a dramatization, you have crossed a line. In this case, Nathan’s did not just plant fake out customers to give the illusion of a high demand for their product; they clearly pulled off a hoax, in essence, presenting false health claims by impersonating doctors. 

 

Authors can do a lot of things today that are as bad, or worse than what Nathan’s did. For instance, authors can blatantly lie about the merits of their book. They can hire people to post fake Amazon reviews. They can orchestrate hitting a bestseller list by buying up copies of their own book. They can pay for testimonials and forewords and are not required to identify the pay-for-play. They can buy fake followers to bloat their social media numbers.

The marketing industry lives on lies, false assumptions, opinions presented as if fact, unprovable claims, and a lot of other BS deception and trickery. The question for all authors is: How much of the game will they play?

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,850,000 page views. With 5,600+ 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 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). 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, 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