STRUCK: A Husband’s Memoir
of Trauma and Triumph
Douglas Segal has written and produced movies
for Warner Bros., Disney and MGM, and television for Fox, The CW, Showtime,
A&E, History, Discovery Channel, The Cartoon Network and others. The projects he has been involved in have
been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, Grammy Award, People’s Choice Award
and have won numerous Teacher Choice and Parent Choice awards. He continues to work in the entertainment
industry and lives in Los Angeles with his family. For more info, see: www.douglassegal.com
1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you
from
taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book?
During my
wife Susan’s recovery from the accident, I began sending out regular email
updates to our large circle of family and friends. Many people on the list
wrote back to me, moved and inspired by our circumstances and the emails, and
encouraged me to write about it. Because I have a worked a lot in film, many
thought I would turn it into a screenplay, but I always felt that it should
first be a book. I hope that by sharing our story, it can help others who are
going through challenges of their own.
2. What is it about and whom do you believe is your targeted reader?
While
it’s a cliché to say, “You never know what’s going to happen when you wake up
in the morning; you might just get hit by a bus.” that is what happened to my
wife and daughter. And as rarified as that is, there’s a lot about the event
and its aftermath that is universal to many of our lives. So, the book is about
a lot of things – the randomness of life, the power of love to heal, the value
of community and how people really do show up for one another in times of
crisis. It’s also about navigating these types of life events, parenting, and
the importance of having a positive attitude. I think that primarily the book
will appeal to women over 35, since it’s from a husband and father’s point of
view, and they’ll be moved by a spouse’s love and care. But I’ve also received
many touching emails from men who relate to many of my thoughts and
experiences, and it’s had a positive affect on them as husbands and fathers.
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?
One thing
that’s become very apparent after going through our experience is that
everybody’s got their bus, meaning we’ve all been hit by something. I hope
readers will realize that they, too, can get through their challenges, even
when they seem overwhelming. I hope they’ll also leave with a sense of
gratefulness and appreciation for the life they have because, as we know, it
can all turn on a dime.
4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?
My advice
would be to write honestly and transparently, to not be afraid to go to some of
the deeper and more “dangerous” places. It’s the exploration of some of these
thoughts and feelings of mine that have resonated with many readers.
5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the
book publishing industry is heading?
Because
this is my first book, I’m incredibly grateful that Colleen Dunn Bates at
Prospect Park Books responded to it and decided to publish it. My sense is that
like most media today, the publishing world is crowded, especially with the
ability to self-publish, compounded by a dwindling vs. expanding audience. It
seems that reading books has taken a back seat to time spent on social media
sites, the abundance of television, and the bombardment of daily news. I hope
that people keep returning to (and for the younger generation, discovering) the
escape and quiet that can come from sitting down and reading a book.
6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book?
The
biggest challenge in writing the book was reliving this chapter in our lives. The
tendency is to want to put this kind of traumatic event behind you, and writing
about it in such detail forced me to re-experience it. On the other hand,
writing the book has been an extremely cathartic experience.
7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?
I think
we could all use an inspiring story that reaffirms hope and love, that shows
that deep down people are kind and that when others are facing a challenge, we
do put aside our own needs to help. Our story is a testament that love is still
alive and well, and faith in ourselves and others is a powerful thing.
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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.
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