Sunday, September 30, 2018

Interview with author Kenji Jasper




Nostrand Avenue



1.      What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book?

Nostrand Avenue first began as a short story called “Thursday” that was published in an anthology called Brooklyn Noir back in the early 2000s.  A few years ago I decided to return to the character, Kango and, in a way, discovered that I’d been writing his story in bits and pieces for a number of years.  So, I decided to finish what I started.  And when I did it was an introspective journey that pushed me to take a look at not only my personal life but also decisions I’d made on a lot of different levels in my career.

2.      What is it about and whom do you believe is your targeted reader?

I would say Nostrand Avenue sits at the intersection of a Walter Mosley novel and the Harry Potter series.  It’s a story that takes place in an alternate world where human beings have energy auras that are classified by different numbers.  These auras allow people to do different things, whether it’s manipulating matter, reading minds or locating people at a moment’s notice, etc. 

Kango Watts, the main character, is a consultant for the underworld who plans crimes that go off without a hitch.  He’s a 7- aura type, which makes him very hard to harm or kill.  But as a young man he was a little too flashy with his gifts and made some enemies in the Brooklyn neighborhoods where he lived, which forced him to leave New York after only being there a few years.  15 years later, while he’s living in DC, his old friend and yoga teacher comes to see him to hire him for a job to steal an antique Bible, which takes him to London and then back to Brooklyn, where old enemies are waiting for him.

3.      What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book? What should remain with them long after putting it down?

The Afrofuturism movement is at its height in 2018.  I grew as a comic book and sci-fi fan in the ‘80s and ‘90s and I very rarely got to read and see people of color as main characters in the genre.  It’s a miracle to me that Black Panther is not a billion-dollar franchise or that a show like Terence Nance’s “Random Acts of Flyness” is on HBO every week.  Since I have a reputation as a crime writer, I wanted to create a world where fantasy and sci fi readers might feel just as at home in my work as traditional following.  One reader described Nostrand Avenue as Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone with a lot of sex.  It’s also been compared to The Akata Witch series.  I think there’s a lot in this book for every type of fiction reader.  There’s love and sex, crime and retribution as well as introspection on religion, African mysticism and yoga.  Nostrand Avenue is really unique.

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

Writing is a craft.  It’s something you have to study, practice and devote yourself to like any other art.  It isn’t about image and it’s best when it doesn’t aim to copy the work that anyone else is doing.  You don’t write novels for the money.  It gets harder and hard to make a living as a creative writer, though there are many opportunities in content creation.  The true reward comes in the impact you can have on readers’ lives and the world as a whole.  The paycheck for that is priceless!

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

I think publishing is trying to find new models to sustain itself.  In a world where there are TV shows on every platform it gets harder and harder to get people to read for fun who weren’t born with or developed a love for it.  But when the right words hit the air in front an audience they become far more than just ink on the page. 

I think what you may see more of his audiobooks moving into the virtual reality sphere and the return of the short story as a promotional medium.  Once you have people attention it’s easier to get their patronage.  So it’s all about making them see. 

6.      What great challenges did you have in writing your book?

This was the first time when I made the decision to intentionally travel very close to my personal “home”.  Maybe it was a 40-something crisis, but I needed to remind myself that I still had a lot of say to my readers. But in doing that I had to not only look back at my past, but also where I was in my present.    Sorting through your own baggage on paper in front of the whole world can be super complicated.  And as I learned the hard way, readers can internalize what you fictionalize as exact copies of realities, when that is rarely the case. Perspective is everything.  

7.      If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?

One of the things that I’m best as it as a writer is finding humor in everything.  Though it deals with violence, heartbreak and death, Nostrand Avenue is a love letter to the human experience and learning from your mistakes.  Whether it’s being on an all-night bender in the five-boroughs, to beating yourself up over a relationship gone bad, or getting your head back in the game after a long hiatus, everyone has stood somewhere on Kango’s road at least once.  They might not make the same choices that he does they’ve stood in his shoes whether old or young, gay or straight, Caucasian or of color.

About the author: Kenji Jasper’s work has appeared in Essence®, Vibe, The Source, on National Public Radio and in many other publications. The author of the memoir The House on Childress Street, and the novels Seeking Salamanca Mitchell, Dakota Grand, and Dark, he is a Morehouse College graduate. He lives in Los Angeles. For more info, please see: www.KensingtonBooks.com

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Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America and participated in a PR panel at the Sarah Lawrence College Writers Institute Conference.

Interview with author Daniel Meyer



Kentucky Haunts


1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book?
To share a few of the many ghost stories that thrive in the state of Kentucky...plus a few of my own.
2. What is it about and whom do you believe is your targeted reader?
Ghosts and the places they inhabit. My target audience is both believers and skeptics, residents and visitors.

3. What do you hope will be the everlasting  thoughts for readers who finish your book? What should remain with them long after putting it down?
That the spiritual world of ghosts is something to be understood--not feared. Same answer, both questions.
4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?
The classic advice: write, read, write some more. Also, believe in yourself.
5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?
Although social and electronic media are growing and driving current trends, there will always be a place for printed books.
6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book?
Patience!

7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?
For both residents and visitors--the discovery of new places to share time, space, and new experiences with the ghostly world.

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Daniel Meyer divides his time between searching the night for ghosts and gargoyles, and seeking the sunrise on rocky beaches where whales breach in the distance and mermaids call to those who listen. Always attempting to create the perfect novel and the perfect margarita, he writes on topics as diverse as: ghosts, gargoyles, labyrinths, inspirational writing, environmental protection, and more. He has one son, two cats, a partridge in a pear tree . . . and one hell of a sense of humor.  For more information, please see:  fb.me/ghostKentucky


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Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America and participated in a PR panel at the Sarah Lawrence College Writers Institute Conference.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Interview with author Sean Kerr




The Man Inside Me


1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book?
As a middle-aged gay man, I wanted to write a book about an older gay couple, rather than the muscle studs so prevalent in the genre. I wanted to explore the angst and the grief that accompanies age, because as a middle-aged gay man myself, I no longer feel attractive or as vital as I once was. Attraction is a difficult thing to maintain over a long-term relationship, and it takes effort and consideration, and that is what this book is about. The two leads are older and feel that love has passed them by. Set in the 1800’s, it also deals with their struggle to be gay in a British society that condemns them. It’s emotive stuff, but it is a story that means a lot to me, because as I approach fifty, I feel that I am invisible. At the end of the day, we all have the right to love whom we want, no matter how old we are, and that is essentially what this book is about.

2. What is it about and whom do you believe us your targeted reader?
Believe it or not, a vast army of really rather wonderful women reads Gay Literature. I know, it was a shock to me as well, especially as I presumed I was writing for a gay male audience. No, oh no. It is my hope that this book will appeal to those wonderful female fans of the genre, but I really hope that I may gain some gay male readers, especially in my age group, as this book is so pertinent to the middle-aged gay man. Heck, its pertinent to every middle-aged person, because I have tried to show that there is hope, no matter the circumstances.

3. What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book? What should remain with them long after putting it down?
I want people to walk away feeling thrilled and moved, but more than that, to feel inspired. Age, no matter sexuality, is a cruel thing, and so many of us give up because the world makes us feel unworthy. Well, I wrote this book to say ‘NO!’ Age means experience…and we have that in abundance, together with as much love as anyone wants. That should not be overlooked just because of a number.

4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?
I am very lucky, because I am part of a traditional publishing house, and I am also an Indie Author. I was lucky enough to meet the most amazing Editor who works with me both at my publishers and on my Indie books, and we have a very close and trusting relationship. She has helped me grow and improve as a writer no ends over the last three years. If you are self-published, it is vital you find an editor you can trust and that you love working with, because they make all the difference in the world.

5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?
It is so good to see bricks and mortar book shops starting to appear again. As wonderful as Amazon is, they have, to a degree, laid waste to a great number of outlets and publishing houses. We are starting to see Indie Authors hitting mainstream, which again is partly due to Amazon’s influence, and as a result, Indie Authors are no longer looked down upon as we once were.

6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book?
There was a huge amount of research needed to be able to write this book, and I love that part of the process. Believe it or not, it was the ‘naughty’ scenes that proved most troublesome. While I knew they needed to be there to help drive the story forward, trying to keep them interesting and varied was a challenge! There is also a huge twist that takes place about half way through the book, and that was tough because I had to be very careful how I wrote the first half! But, I am so pleased with the final result, and ‘The Man Inside Me’ has turned into my favourite book so far.

7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?
It is a very different type of read, and very different to anything else I have read in the Gay Literature genre. Set in the 1800’s, I wrote the book in a very specific manner and style to reflect that. It is a shocking read, and also moving and thrilling at the same time. It is a very unique book, and something that I hope will haunt you long after you have read it.

Sean Kerr is a 48-year-old man living with his husband of 30 years in Cardiff, Wales. With ten books under his belt so far, Sean has a passion for Gay literature and horror, and may be found most days glued to his laptop. A big film buff, Sean has a massive film collection and when not writing, he loves nothing more than to watch a good film with a bar of chocolate or two. Trained in art and interior design, Sean is also a keen crafter and loves to create hand made cards in his spare time.  For more info, see: www.deadcamp.com

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Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America and participated in a PR panel at the Sarah Lawrence College Writers Institute Conference.

Interview with book reviewer Julie Barrett




1.      How did you become a book reviewer? For how long have you been doing this?
Because I am blind I needed a place to keep track of what books I was reading, not realizing that the NLS was doing that for me-books on tape.  2008 at my blog, some just the titles and authors name, later reviews and star ratings  Goodreads:  started tracking my books in 2011, They listed me as #16 top reviewer. At Amazon I’m in the top 100 top reviewers. In 2010 I had double cataract surgeries where they implanted lenses and I was able to read a paperback book for the first time. Still prefer pdf or epub as my tablet can read them to me. Also get a large majority of free kindle books from amazon daily and from NLS I can put them on my BARD player so that device can read the books to me.

2.      Which genres do you favor? Why?
Romance, because they take me to new locations that I might never visit in my lifetime. There’s a bit of romance and some I even learn something new-like those who work with their hands, especially if they tell you how a career is done.

3.      How did you have the time to read and review 800 books last year?
Just looked at my stats -- only 809 -- but also I have lengths of books/pages listed as well. I make the time while doing chores around the house-quiet ones, and also on my elliptical/recumbent bike=I get a lot of miles in. or while I’m knitting for charity-have tens of thousands of hours logged in many different ones.

4.      What is the key to writing a powerful book review?
The synopsis tells the real story, a hint of it. I try to focus on things I liked in the book: detail, location, etc.

5.      What is the key to writing a good review?
Getting out what make it a good read for you.

6.      Are most of your book reviews favorable or negative? 
Favorable, but for cookbooks I’m very critical as to our healthier dietary needs.

7.      What advice do you have for authors seeking to get more book reviews?
I and many others are listed in book buzz reviews-updated yearly and it lists what we want to read and where we post, etc. just send us a short note about your book-we can read the synopsis at the book retailers. I like that I meet new authors to me on facebook, goodreads and through email via netgalley or bookbuzz.

For more info, please see: http://jbarrett5.blogspot.com

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Enjoy New 2018 Author Book Marketing & PR Toolkit -- 7th annual edition just released

Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America and participated in a PR panel at the Sarah Lawrence College Writers Institute Conference.

Interview with Author Saul Warshaw


 INSTINCT FOR SURVIVAL

1.  Saul, what is your newest thriller, Instinct for Survival about?
     When World War II ended in 1945, many Nazis tried to escape capture, arrest and conviction as war criminals by assuming new identities and fleeing to different countries. INSTINCT FOR SURVIVAL is the story of an American Immigration Services investigator who -- in 1964, pursues one such fugitive across Europe and the United States.

2. What inspired this tale?
      Even though WW II ended over 63 years ago, every once in a while, I'd see stories about  Holocaust survivors.  And it got me to wondering if -- in parallel to these survivors -- there might still be some Nazi war criminals alive.  People who have avoided capture and have been living with their no-longer-new, but still-false identities.  And it seemed to me that there would be a great story to tell, by now tracking down one such fugitive and confronting that person with a holocaust survivor.  And that's what this book does.

3. How does it differ from your prior books?
     All of my prior books are built around a retired Los Angeles Police Department  homicide detective -- Will Jonas -- who runs a private investigative agency.  Sometimes in association with the LAPD -- but most times on his own -- Will gets involved in cases as varied as kidnappings, assassinations, corrupt government officials, wrongful criminal convictions and the Mafia. 

4. Next year, we approach the 80-year anniversary since the start of WW II and the Nazi atrocities.  How does your story recapture some of history?  
     I didn't set out to write an historical novel.And I have not done so. But the book unavoidably "recaptures" some of that WW II history by telling a story that tracks the pursued and the pursuer throughout different, WW II based sites in Europe and the U.S.

5. What remains to be done to bring Nazi war criminals to justice?
     Wow, I don't think I can really answer this question. I'm just a writer -- and not a lawyer or international justice and war crimes expert.  I'll leave this question to those more qualified people.

6. Has law enforcement technology improved to help capture war criminals? 
     Obviously, the technology is there.  None of the data gathering, tracking and storage capabilities we have today, existed in the 40's and 50's.  So, yes, we've got the technology.  But using it to capture war criminals?  That's something for governments and NGO's to ponder and pursue.

7. You took up writing novels very late in life.  What advice do you have for fellow writers looking to bloom as a senior?
     The advice is simple. Want to be a writer?  Then write.  Don't just think about it.  Do it.  Will you bloom?  Who knows?  I think a lot of it probably has to do with the personal history you've accumulated over your many years prior to --to use your phrase -- "very late in life."  In my case, writing was always in my background.  I have a dual work history of  journalism and public relations.  So writing my books has come pretty easily to me. I've been lucky, I guess.

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Enjoy New 2018 Author Book Marketing & PR Toolkit -- 7th annual edition just released


Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America and participated in a PR panel at the Sarah Lawrence College Writers Institute Conference.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Interview with author ERIN COLE


THE SIZE OF EVERYTHING

1.      What inspired you to write a book about overcoming a dysfunctional childhood?
For the longest time, I kept my past a secret… not because I was ashamed, but because I didn’t want anyone’s pity. Eventually I got to a point in my life where I realized that maybe sharing my own story could help others who were experiencing (or had experienced) a similar situation. At the end of the day, we’re all just doing our best to make sense of where we come from and where we are going. If I can help even one person feel better about his or her circumstances, I’ll consider the book a success.

2.      What lessons do you hope readers take from your book?
I really hope that people walk away from The Size of Everything with the knowledge that the only things that truly hold us back are our own limiting beliefs. Sure, some people have a harder path than others, and gruesome things happen in this world. Those are sad realities of life. But if you can say, “You know what? I deserve better,” or “I’m not going to let this thing that happened to me define me forever,” you can change your own course for the better. I believe that in my core and I’m determined to help others see it, too.

3.      How did you rise above your circumstances to become a successful bridal designer?
I guess I was lucky in the sense that even during my darkest days, I was convinced that there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and that things would and more importantly could get better. I realize that not everyone was born with the optimism gene, which is why I hope my story can provide some hope to those who weren’t.

4.      Aren’t you tired of serving the needy commands of bridezillas?
It’s funny, that word isn’t even in my vocabulary! I’m a problem-solver by nature, so if a bride is unhappy or “needy” as you say, my first thought is “okay, what is it going to take to make this woman over-the-moon happy?” I love what I do and I derive great joy in helping brides achieve their wedding-day dreams. I didn’t fall into this industry accidentally; I was drawn to it like a moth to the proverbial flame. Weddings are joyous, momentous, love-filled days. Being a part of that is an honor and a privilege, and I don’t take that lightly.

5.      Bridal design is about creating an illusion to a day people fantasize will be magical, but do brides ever take a realistic approach to a day that many may have to repeat?
Hahahaha I love your cynicism! I have yet to meet a bride who’s said anything remotely like, “Just give me something decent… next time I’ll get the fabulous gown and the stunning jewelry!” Even if there are some chilly feet—which are absolutely normal, by the way--I think weddings are all about hopeful optimism… even when they are second or third marriages! Everyone I meet is looking for their own version of happily ever after, and I’m always right there pulling for them.

6.      Is it a burden to be so beautiful — or is it a great asset?
Now you’re just making me blush! Seriously, that’s an incredible compliment, and a question frankly I don’t know how to answer. So I will say this: I believe happy women are the most beautiful women, and that the two most flattering things anyone can wear are confidence and a genuine, gigantic smile.

7.      What challenges did you have to deal with when writing your book?
Obviously, revisiting some of the more painful parts of my past was difficult. There were times when I’d be writing notes for my co-author Jenna and I’d literally have to stop because I was sobbing. Jenna was amazing about holding my hand through it all—in fact, sometimes she’d call me sobbing after reading my notes and then I’d feel terrible for upsetting her! There were also times when I’d very matter-of-factly tell her about some awful thing that happened, and Jenna would be like, “You know that’s totally messed up, right?” It was hard but also incredibly eye-opening to see my own past through someone else’s lens. Writing this book was both terrifying and liberating, and I’m just so proud of the end result. I hope the world loves it as much as I do.


DON”T MISS THESE!!!
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Enjoy New 2018 Author Book Marketing & PR Toolkit -- 7th annual edition just released


Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America and participated in a PR panel at the Sarah Lawrence College Writers Institute Conference.