Saturday, September 8, 2018

Interview with Author Douglas Segal




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 clichĂ© 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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