Interview With Author Emily Swaim

 

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? I have a love-hate relationship with Peter Pan. As a child, the story of the boy who never grew up was very dear to me. But then I read the original novel as an adult, and to say that the story aged poorly is an understatement. Even early 20th-century Europeans of the time were shocked by J.M. Barrie's racism and sexism. But one thing J.M. Barrie did very well was to show the nuance of Peter's situation - how eternal youth was more of a curse than a gift, because it meant Peter could never grow as a person or understand the consequences of his actions. 

I wrote REVEN to return to Peter Pan's darker roots, exploring the dichotomy between youthful innocence and adult accountability, while also deconstructing the white male savior narrative that underpinned the original novel. 

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? REVEN is a YA steampunk retelling of Peter Pan, for fans of Wicked, Howl's Moving Castle, and Treasure Planet. After losing her mother, 15-year-old Wendi Darl has worked hard to support her family and keep her academic scholarship. But an innocent mistake puts all her efforts to waste, and Wendi is soon staring at a future behind bars. 

So, when charming Peter appears outside her home and asks her to run away on his flying ship, of course Wendi accepts. He’s offering her a magic necklace that would let her defy gravity. A home with friends who appreciate her. An escape from all the mistakes of her dead-end life. 

However, Wendi may have fallen into worse trouble than what she left behind. Peter’s magic is dangerously powerful, and a hook-handed stalker has vowed to steal it for himself. Both sides see Wendi’s arrival as an opportunity to break the stalemate and end their rivalry once and for all. No one is going to save her. If Wendi wants her happy ending, she’ll need to steal it for herself. 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope the asexual and aromantic readers realize that you don't need to be in a relationship to become a 'real' adult. I hope the gifted kids learn that failure is normal and that there is always more than one way to fulfill a dream. I hope the nostalgic adults enjoy overanalyzing the themes around trauma, redemption, and civil disobedience. And I hope everyone else has fun.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? REVEN is NEVER backwards, making it a nod to the original Neverland. "Across Golden Skies" refers to the glittery ichor clouds that spread across the skies once a year. The cover was designed by the artist Jenny Zemanek. I gave her a list of thematic imagery that shows up throughout the book, such as Wendi's heirloom watch or the moon lilies, and Jenny brilliantly incorporated them all into one cohesive image.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? The best writing advice my grad school mentor gave me was that every word needs to earn its place in the story. You should be able to point to any passage in your book and explain its purpose, whether that's showing your protagonist's fears, revealing a clue to the mystery, or simply making the reader laugh. If all a scene does is fill space between "important" story beats, then you need to cut it. I say this as someone who had to cut a LOT of words from my early drafts.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?  I think novellas are making a comeback. Around ten years ago, I noticed authors selling novella side stories for established series. Lately in the indie scene, I've increasingly seen novellas being sold as standalone stories. Given our modern attention spans (or lack thereof), I think novellas may become more common in both indie and trad spaces. 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?  I've practiced a variety of martial arts over the years. I've never done fencing specifically, but understanding the general rhythm of combat helped me pace the fights correctly. My studies in set design were also very handy for choreographing action scenes.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I try to create stories which are fast-paced and witty on the surface, but can also provide a deeper, more thematic narrative underneath. If I had to position REVEN among other fantasy pirate stories, it would probably be shelved between Joshua Phillip Johnson's The Forever Sea and Maggie Tokuda-Hall's The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Cutting down the word count was definitely difficult. I have multiple flashbacks tucked away in a drawer that I may use for future bonus content. 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Because in a corrupt world like ours, sometimes people need to see a story where the good guys win. 

About The Author: Emily is a Midwestern writer who specializes in genre fiction. Her novella Kilohedon won Honorable Mention in the Writers of the Future Contest, and her short story The Witch and the Fool featured in Luna Station Quarterly. When she's not writing, she enjoys painting, strategy games, and yoga. You can find her on Instagram/Threads/TikTok by the handle @swaimwrites. For more information, please see: www.swaimwrites.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 6,750,000 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 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

 

 

 

At 250, What Is America?

 

 

The bicentennial year of 1976 seemed like such a big deal, either because it really was or because everything seemed larger than life to a kid. I was just nine years old when America celebrated its last milestone birthday, and I remember the excitement surrounding that July 4th. Now, as we hit 250, there is still pride in a nation that leads the free world, but it is obvious that we are fractured and divided and quite concerned over the future.

Has America peaked — or is it just in transition and confronting challenges that all great societies must deal with?

The backbone of the country’s founding — those seeking a new start in a free world, where capitalism drove everything, and where the rights of the people trumped that of the government, seems more distant to me. The nation is gripped by too many groups of people feeling entitled, to the point they would welcome socialism or even Communism. Every demographic feels disenfranchised, victimized, or marginalized.

We can’t seem to agree on anything and the extremes of both political parties tear us further apart from the center that we so desperately need to arrive at.

There have always been two America’s co-existing uncomfortably. There are always haves and have nots, always racial disharmony, always immigrant tensions, and always calls for peace with every generational march to war. If you look carefully at our history, only for a handful of moments was there unity or harmony in the nation.

Some of it depended on the economy, politics, peace, or certain watershed moments, but it seemed America was on the same page when WWII ended, JFK was killed, MLK was assassinated, the moon landing, the go-go 1980s, 9/11, the promise of the Internet of the 1990s, and the victorious election of hope and change Obama. None of that lasted very long, however.

Perhaps one thing we can agree on about America is that we keep trying to find ways to broaden our welcome tent. Initially, America treats you like an enemy. Just ask any group marginalized by hate, prejudice, fear, and ignorance. It is a long list, each suffering different degrees of being abused, feared, or ostracized. But we keep making room for more minorities to find their place in this country.

However, what seems to be changing is that in the process of making room for others, there is a tearing away of groups that previously achieved acceptance, and there is an attempt at dismantling the nation’s majority as a cost to elevate others. One group’s rights is coming at the expense of others, when instead we should be striving for a respectful equality and not just a reset on who gets subjugated unfairly.

I am not a political pundit nor do I have easy solutions. I love what this country could be and I respect where it’s been. I wish that we spent more time finding common values and supporting each other, instead of our alienating us vs them discussions and interactions.

I have lost the faith in our democratic process to protect and heal us. I also am so frustrated in how so many people can be misinformed, lazy voters, and hateful in their treatment of others.

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 6,750,000 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 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

 

 

 

Will Authors Ride Today’s Book Marketing Trends?

 

Ever since I started promoting books and authors over three decades ago, the following trends have taken place:

a. More books are published annually than ever before, up about 12-fold for traditionally published books since my career began. This has been a long-standing trend that does not look like it will slow down.

b. Authors moved from vanity publishing into self-publishing and hybrid publishing, and the majority of published books each year are no longer from traditional publishers. In fact, around only 1 in 7 new books comes from a traditional publisher. There are millions of new books coming out each year from the non-traditional publishing world — and growing.

c. The number of media placements needed to impact book sales and grow one’s brand keeps increasing. There are fewer outlets that have a high command of influence. Further, author-generated media like social media, has increasingly grown in importance.

So, what does this mean for today’s author?

1. Understand that to be a successful writer may take some redefining. The average book sells fewer copies than it used to. So many titles are competing for a certain amount of money available from consumers and libraries. Too many people don’t dedicate time to read books while others choose to obtain their books for free — online giveaways, amazon unlimited free kindle, libraries, borrow from friends.

2. Authors who produce more books are likely to be more successful, meaning being prolific increases your chances of visibility and getting more sales. Writing a series, trilogy, or sequels is a good idea, because once someone discovers, reads, and likes one of your books, they are likely to explore your other books.

3. The key is discoverability and getting word-of-mouth exposure for your books. This can happen only with intentionality on your part. You must market your books on a consistent basis, either through things like social media, speaking engagements, applying for book awards, and securing paid book reviews. You must also utilize the help of a book marketing consultant or a book promoter, someone who can either guide and advise you, or do things for you, such as secure news media interviews, write press kit materials, develop a web site, and media coach you.

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 6,750,000 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 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

 

 

 

Have You Asked Other Authors For Help?

 

Authors turn to many people for help — friends, family, paid consultants, book marketers, and publicists — but one resource they don’t always think to seek out is both free and plentiful.  

Authors.  

Yes, fellow authors, can be helpful to you even if you feel many are competing with you or you believe they don’t know much more than you.  

Be open and deliberate in befriending authors. 

You can do a lot with authors, including:

*!Brainstorm or seek out their advice. 

* Share relevant knowledge and provide useful insights.

* Show emotional support for each other.

* Ask for introductions to any relevant connections.

* Partner with authors in similar genres to reach shared audiences through joint emails, giveaways, or bundled content exposure, while minimizing costs.

* Blurb each other’s books.

So, where do you find fellow authors? 

* Join a writers association, based on the genre you write in or the region that you live in. 

Attend some writers conferences.  

* Meet authors at book fairs.  

* Connect with writers on social media.   

* There is no shortage of authors, so reach out and connect with them.  

Fellow authors can be very helpful and supportive of one another.  You have more to gain — and little to lose — in talking to other authors. Get to it!

 

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 6,750,000 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 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 School Shootings Prevention Author Luis D. Aponte

1. What inspired you to write this book?
Six and a half minutes. That’s how quickly 17 lives were taken and 17 others were wounded during Florida’s deadliest school shooting on Valentine’s Day 2018. It happened at my alma mater in Parkland, Florida. The devastation shook the entire South Florida community, and it changed me as well.

As I watched the news unfold and parents scream for their children, I felt paralyzed, angry, and determined to make a positive difference. I knew I couldn’t undo the tragedy, but I also knew I had skills that could help. As a librarian and researcher, I could gather facts, identify patterns across 30 years of school shootings, and create something that might prevent another community from experiencing this pain. My goal was simple: offer solutions grounded in data, not politics, while respecting everyone’s Constitutional rights. Every child deserves to feel safe at school. That conviction is what drove and sustained my commitment for seven years to write this book.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for?
A Safe Place: How to Prevent the Next School Shooting is a meticulously researched and deeply personal exploration of school gun violence in the United States. Drawing from 30 years of data across 1,204 incidents, the book uncovers patterns and misconceptions surrounding school shootings, offering actionable, nonpartisan solutions for communities to prevent future tragedies. I challenge common perceptions, revealing that arguments, feuds, and criminal activity—not mental illness or bullying—are the leading causes of school shootings. I emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence, responsible gun ownership, and community involvement, while advocating for measures like threat assessment teams, panic button systems, and consistent use of metal detectors. The book also highlights the critical role of parents, educators, and students in fostering safer school environments. With compassion and urgency, I provide a roadmap for communities to work together to protect children and educators from the devastating threat of gun violence.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?
My hope is that this book will inspire communities to move beyond offering “thoughts and prayers” and laws that don't address the root issue of school gun violence. By examining fact‑based, nonpartisan patterns across 1,204 school shootings, I want parents and communities to feel empowered and to recognize that keeping children safe from gun violence does not require an act of Congress. It requires understanding the patterns, taking practical steps, and working together. That sense of empowerment is what I hope readers carry with them.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?
The cover image of my book is based on a photo I took of the memorial at the front of my alma mater, captured just two weeks after the Parkland mass shooting. The title changed and evolved over time. I knew this is a heavy but important topic, and I wanted the title to carry a sense of hope. That’s how "A Safe Place" was born. I later partnered with a talented designer, David Provolo, through Reedsy.com to bring the cover to life, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the result.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?
Nothing pulls a reader out of a book faster than poor writing, especially when you have an important message to share with the world. The truth is, you don’t know what you don’t know. That’s why I feel it's essential to invest in your work by building a team of people who excel in different areas of writing, editing, publishing, design, and promotion. Think of it as assembling your own literary Avengers… minus the capes and creatine.

When I first attempted the traditional publishing route, I hired Windword Literary Services to strengthen my query letter and book proposal. Their guidance dramatically improved my book’s development and helped shape a more compelling table of contents. I also worked with a developmental editor through Writer’s Digest, who helped refine the prose, pacing, tone, and structure. Once those revisions were complete, I hired a line editor on ServiceScape.com to review every sentence for grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Finally, I brought in two beta readers from Upwork.com to provide honest, unfiltered feedback before publication.

These professionals are worth their weight in gold, but thankfully, their prices are far more reasonable. The right team will elevate your work and help you create a book you’re genuinely proud to share with the world.
 
6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?
As a librarian who helps people find their next great read, I’ve noticed that most readers still prefer physical books over their digital counterparts. There’s just something about the weight, the pages, and the ability to accidentally drop it in the bathtub without voiding a warranty. But as an author, I also know it’s important to meet readers wherever they are, which is why I released my book in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats.

I’ve also seen a major shift in how books actually reach readers. Whether you’re traditionally published or self‑published, you normally can’t rely solely on your own platform to sell books. Authors today need to connect with targeted bloggers, podcasters, influencers, writing contests, and reporters who already speak to the audiences most likely to connect with your work. In other words, even the best book needs a little help finding its people.

In addition, I find it intriguing that authors are now finding ways to use AI to promote and market their books. I have used different AI platforms to check the grammar of my blogs, tighten up my social media posts, and even create instrumental background music for some of my videos. However, I have yet to use platforms like Zeeli.ai to generate and run ad campaigns on social media. I think more traditional and self-published authors are going to take advantage of this technology to generate creative promotional campaigns and to save precious time.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?
As a librarian, I help people find credible information every day—whether they’re searching for jobs, improving their language skills, or locating peer‑reviewed medical research. After the Parkland shooting, I realized those same research skills could help me identify fact‑based patterns that might prevent the next school shooting. I just didn’t realize how big the project would become. Most books on school shootings examine one to twelve incidents; mine are the first to analyze 1,204. In my personal life, the experience that kept me pushing through seven years of research was the fact that I had to leave school a year early because of the threat of gun violence. That memory stayed with me and fueled my determination to finish this work.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?
My writing style is conversational and casual because it is important for the average person to understand the concepts that are in my book. I added personal stories and stories of some of the victims and suspects so that readers can see themselves reflected in these events. I didn't want it to be a neutral-toned study with dry facts. School gun violence is personal and affects people all over the country. It should feel personal, yet authoritative. I have too much respect for the talent of other writers to try to compare my writing style to anyone else. 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?
One of my biggest challenges was taking the mountain of data I collected and turning it into clear, digestible insights that readers would actually want to engage with. At one point, my spreadsheet looked less like research and more like something that required its own IT department. That’s when I discovered a talented infographic designer named Harrison Schell. I had seen his visually stunning infographic, "The History of Pandemics," and immediately knew I needed to work with him.

I shared my entire spreadsheet with him and asked what stood out. He became the fresh pair of eyes I desperately needed. He was someone who could spot the most compelling patterns and help give the book shape, structure, and visual clarity. In short, he turned my data chaos into something readers could actually enjoy and appreciate without needing a pot of coffee and Scotch tape to hold their eyes open.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?
No parent should ever have to bury their own child. In my book, I talk about the four deaths I believe parents experience when they lose a child, because grief doesn’t end with the funeral. It echoes through every part of life. It’s summer now, but a new school year is just around the corner. In the United States, at least one school shooting occurs every week. If you have children or grandchildren in school, how important is it to you to protect them from gun violence?

No one ever thinks it can happen in their community...until it does. Parkland is an affluent city and considered one of the “safest” in Florida. No one imagined a tragedy of that magnitude could ever be unleashed there. I don’t want to see another parent endure that kind of loss. I dedicated seven years of research to this book to empower families and communities with the knowledge they need to help save the lives of the people they love.

If you read one book this month, let it be one that could help protect a child’s life. 

About The Author: Luis D. Aponte (he/him) is a librarian, U.S. Air Force veteran, and author of four influential books on school shootings, including A Safe Place: How to Prevent the Next School Shooting and The Ultimate U.S. School Shooting Reference Guide, Volumes 1-3. An alumnus of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School—the site of Florida’s deadliest school shooting in 2018—Aponte turned his community's tragedy into a mission to prevent future violence. Over seven years, he analyzed 1,204 school shootings spanning three decades, uncovering patterns and evidence-based strategies to save lives. His work has appeared in the EDUCATION peer-reviewed journal and in Virginia-based newspapers. His books serve as vital resources for parents, educators, policymakers, and community leaders. With a master’s degree in Library and Information Science, Aponte blends academic rigor and personal conviction to inspire safer schools and stronger communities. His work serves as a powerful call to action, urging communities to unite around nonpartisan, evidence-based solutions to end the epidemic of school gun violence. For more information, please see: https://asafeplacebook.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 6,750,000 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 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