BookMarketingBuzzBlog

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Dilbert's Death & A Writer's Legacy

Scott Adams died from prostate cancer at the age of 68. For those who don’t know him, you may ask: Who was he? You may even note his age and feel he was not young but say he was too young to die. You still wonder why you should care, beyond general human empathy for the loss of a stranger.

For those who recognize the name as the artist who created Dilbert, once one of the most relevant and popular cartoon strips filling American newspapers in his day. It seems so long ago that his lively, award-winning, iconic work was water-cooler worthy.

His witty cartoon strip ran for over 30 years, being consumed by millions of people and often quoted when people would try to explain awkward or negative moments in the workplace. It rebelled against the office culture, mocking bosses, stinging Corporate America, and highlighting the marginalization of the workforce. Not bad for a former bank teller.

The nature of the office and work has dramatically changed since 2020 and the pandemic. Does anyone even go to the office, and when they do, are employees just zooming with colleagues while AI is doing their work?

Newspapers are a shell in size or significance, from what they were a few decades ago. Thousands of newspapers folded, others cut back printing schedules, shrank staff, or transitioned to digital only. We are a culture without headlines.

And the Dilbert comic strip was killed off a couple of years ago due, in part, for some controversial remarks made by Scott — and for becoming less relevant to a new generation of worker.

So, my question here is: Does anyone care he died when what he was known for and the environment for which he thrived in are both gone?

This is not an attack on him. His work was great— both witty and relevant. But the nature of one’s legacy, in any industry, seems shorter these days. It is like trying to compare statistics between a QB that played in the 1970s to today. The whole game, length of season, rules, strategies, schedule of opponents, and size and speed of players is so different now vs then that one cannot find a commonplace standard to compare.

And so, with Dilbert, how do you compare a comic strip about the office in a newspaper from the 1990s to now when the landscape of society, newspapers, and the workplace are so different, and evolving into something else?

Plus, even though his comic strip was killed off just a couple of years ago, his high point of relevancy was 15-20 years ago. A chunk of his original readers may even be out of the workplace, even dead. One’s legacy may not extend much beyond their lifetime.

So, why am I waxing on about someone who at one point was very famous and a part if our culture’s fabric, and who now is a footnote to history? I see a parallel to the fame and fortune that writers seek. Could the notoriety that they desire be achieved, and if so, for how long will it last? Could what they have achieved become irrelevant upon their death?

If Scott Adams were still alive, he probably would have something to say about it. But I fear no one would listen.

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 5,400,000 page views. With 5,500+ 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

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Do You Need A Book Marketing Pep Talk?

Every author needs to market their book. Plenty do nothing. Others try, weakly, while others try hard — but with mixed results. There is enough evidence to support one should market better but too many lack something — time or money or awareness of what to do or the knowledge of how to execute well or courage or confidence or a combination of several of these things. All that said, most authors could use a swift kick in the ass to jumpstart their marketing campaign.

So, here is your pep talk.

Look at the positive: you can do this! Plus, you have to, so it is not a choice, it is a command.

Your book marketing mindset must reject whining, fear, or failure. You don’t have to be envious of authors who succeed, nor quick to find a brotherhood with authors who fail to market well. Only assume you can succeed, and do not waste time second-guessing yourself.

Create a solid marketing plan with an intention to execute each step that will be needed to complete your tasks and serve your goals.

Seek to learn what you don’t know and to acquire the skills and information to carry out your campaign. You may need to network, outsource, and pour in some blood, sweat, and tears.

Find a work-around for challenges and obstacles that will pop up, such as these:
* time: manage it better
* money: invest more in your marketing
* confidence: develop this
* skills: try, practice, repeat until new habits form
* knowledge: learn what you can about marketing

Get help:
* buy book reviews amd advertisements
* hire a publicist, a social media assistant, and/or a web site designer
* trade for help
* beg for assistance
* seek out favors
* do some give-aways

Do the things that you can do:
* create an email signature
* craft a good elevator speech
* write a blog
* post regularly on social media
* research best book marketing practices
* meet people who can help you
* create a business card
* hand out fliers
* join writer associations

Here is the bottom line. Book marketing is like going on a diet, managing your finances, or nurturing healthy relationships: They take work and they can have a high payoff. So, don’t look to anyone else but yourself. Take ownership of your marketing and push your limits.

You can do this!

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

About Brian Feinblum

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

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Interview With Author Kenneth Paul Callison

1. What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve been thinking about peace for as long as I can remember. Growing up during the Cold War, nuclear annihilation was a background threat of everyday life, and that sense of danger never fully disappeared. As the decades passed, it became clear to me that humanity’s technological power was advancing faster than its wisdom. This book was written out of a deep concern that unless we change how we think—individually and collectively—we risk destroying ourselves.

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

This book is about human potential and survival. It examines why humanity remains trapped in cycles of fear, violence, and militarization—and how those patterns can be unlearned. It’s written for everyday readers, not academics or policymakers alone, because lasting peace cannot be imposed from the top down; it must begin with a shift in human awareness at the individual level.

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

I hope readers come away with a sense of responsibility—and hope. The book is meant to help people recognize that peace is not naïve or unrealistic, but a natural state humanity can evolve toward. If readers begin to examine their own beliefs about fear, conflict, and separation, they become active participants in humanity’s future rather than passive observers.

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

The title reflects my belief that peace is no longer optional—it’s necessary. Humanity has reached a moment where the choice is no longer between peace and war, but between peace and extinction. The cover imagery, including time and interconnected mechanisms, represents urgency, cause and effect, and the idea that our collective actions are already in motion.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?

Write what you feel compelled to write, not what you think will be well received. Writing is an act of responsibility. If you’re honest with yourself and willing to explore difficult truths, the work will find its audience. And patience matters—some ideas take longer to mature.

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

Readers are increasingly drawn to books that help them make sense of a chaotic world. There’s a growing appetite for works that bridge science, spirituality, and lived experience. I believe publishing is moving toward books that are not just informative, but transformative—books that ask readers to rethink their assumptions about life and humanity.

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

Yes. Beyond my work as an entrepreneur, I spent years researching nuclear war and global risk, including conducting a nationally published survey that was later cited by Carl Sagan. Those experiences reinforced how close humanity is to irreversible harm—and how denial and fear distort our judgment. That perspective deeply informed this book.

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

My writing is reflective, direct, and exploratory. It blends philosophy, psychology, science, and spirituality. Readers often compare it to works by thinkers like Buckminster Fuller, Carl Sagan, or Eckhart Tolle—not because of style alone, but because of the focus on humanity’s evolution and collective responsibility.

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

The greatest challenge was confronting uncomfortable truths—about violence, fear, and humanity’s capacity for self-deception. Writing this book required looking honestly at our collective failures without falling into despair. The balance between urgency and hope was something I worked hard to maintain.

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

Because this book addresses the most important question of our time: whether humanity will survive its own power. The Way to World Peace doesn’t offer slogans or quick fixes—it offers a framework for understanding why peace has eluded us and how it can finally be achieved. The future depends on whether we are willing to change, and that change begins with awareness.

About The Author: He is the founder of Allied Beauty Experts in Denver, Colorado. Callison built a nationally recognized company by creating a state-of-the-art online insurance processing system and spearheading initiatives spanning R&D in medical technology, engineering, FDA process work, contract negotiation, and large-scale business management. Callison holds three patents in the beauty and medical industries. A visionary leader dedicated to creating a world free from militarization, poverty, the escalating global water crisis, and widespread environmental degradation, Callison believes humanity is capable of profound transformation—and that the time to act is now. For more info, please see: atimeforhumanity.org/

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

About Brian Feinblum

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 Jennifer Licate

1. What inspired you to write this book? Working as a high school counselor, I ran a small counseling group for students struggling with anxiety. When I was running this small counseling group, I had a model group member who was comfortable opening up and being vulnerable about her experiences with anxiety. Her sharing helped to set the positive and supportive atmosphere for other group members to share. I wanted to create a resource counselors and also parents could use to teach preteens and teens about anxiety in an engaging way. I thought a story that showed characters who struggled with anxiety in different ways would be a great way for preteens and teens to learn about anxiety and learn how they can apply this understanding and strategies to their own situation to make positive changes.

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? My book is written for children ages 9-14 to learn about anxiety in an engaging way. The book tells the story of Oscar who is struggling with anxiety which creates problems for him. A caring teacher notices and encourages Oscar to join a small counseling group run by the school counselor. Oscar is reluctant to join the group but through the group he learns he is not alone in his struggles and learns positive coping strategies to deal with his anxiety.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope readers will learn what anxiety is and positive coping strategies to deal with anxiety. I hope this book normalizes anxiety, it's normal to experience anxiety in situations that make you nervous. I hope readers will remember how the characters used healthy coping strategies to create positive changes in their lives. I want readers to apply this to their lives and know there is hope to improve any situation they are struggling with. It's important to talk to those who care about you and use the resources available.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? I chose the title, "My Anxiety is Messing Things Up" because I wanted the title to sound like a phrase a child would say. The title is very descriptive of the main character's situation, his anxiety was making relationships hard for him and reducing his self-esteem. I wanted the illustration on the cover to show the feeling the main character had when he felt anxious and the frustration of the effects his anxiety caused.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? My advice to fellow writers is to start writing. Even if writers don't know what they want to write about, getting words on the paper...or in the computer will help the ideas flow. Once the ideas start flowing, writers can commit to writing a story they are passionate about telling.

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I see the book publishing industry heading in the direction of audiobooks being a more popular format for readers than traditional books. With most of us leading such busy lives, audiobooks are easier to listen to while accomplishing another task, such as driving or taking a walk. I often hear adults share they read a book and not clarifying that they listened to the book. I always ask the clarifying question but it's interesting how common it is to share you read a book when the book was listened to, or read to you through the audible version of the book. This is what I always share about my books being geared to preteens and teenagers, everyone loves being read to.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? My experience as a school counselor helped me to write this book and all the books in my series of social-emotional learning books. I draw from my training as a school counselor and my experiences working with children and families.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I would describe my books as written in the language of preteens so they can learn about complex topics in an easy-to-understand format.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? The challenge I overcame when writing this book is reducing such a complex topic to a short book that is easy for preteens and teens to understand. The story needed to progress quickly from understanding how Oscar experienced anxiety to managing his anxiety well through practicing coping skills. I wanted to develop the character of Oscar so the young readers cared about him and rooted for him throughout the story. It was a challenge to tell this story and include essential information about anxiety because anxiety is such a complex topic.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? People should read "My Anxiety is Messing Things Up" because anxiety affects all of us. Not everyone has problematic anxiety, but everyone would benefit from learning healthy coping strategies to deal with anxiety when it presents in their life. When people understand anxiety and how to use coping strategies, they do not need to fear anxiety. If people fear anxiety it will prevent them from stepping outside of their comfort zone which is often necessary to grow and achieve their individual goals. It is a gift for children to learn about anxiety at a young age so they are well equipped to deal with anxiety in a healthy way throughout their life.

About The Author: Jennifer Licate's award-winning books focus on growing-up topics children struggle with, from friendship struggles to anxiety to study skills. The books are geared toward children ages 9 through 14. Young readers learn strategies to work through their challenge and give them the comfort of knowing they're not alone in their struggle. Jennifer received her Master's Degree in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling and has worked as a school counselor for over a decade. Through working with children of all ages, she has seen the benefits of social emotional learning books firsthand. Children lose themselves as they're immersed within the stories. They're able to understand complex issues from so many different perspectives by seeing the story through the eyes of the characters. For more info, see: https://www.storiesbyjennifer.com/

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

About Brian Feinblum

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