Thursday, September 27, 2018

Interview with author Véronique Vienne



CITIZEN DESIGNER /SECOND EDITION



1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book?
Steve and I weren’t “forced” to write this book, but we were “compelled” to take a stand given the political upheaval in the USA since the election of Donald Trump. We dedicated our book to Michelle and Barak Obama, a clear indication of our engagement and convictions.

2. What is it about and whom do you believe is your targeted reader?
Our readers are designers who might feel powerless when it comes to making a change for the better. We wanted to inspire them — and give them tools — to use their professional savoir-faire to serve worthwhile causes. 

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?
As problem solvers, communication experts, and complexity specialists, designers today can make a huge difference by clarifying the message of responsibility. We’d like them to feel empowered to get involved to uphold the democratic values they cherish. To quote Charles Eames, perhaps the greatest American designer of the 20th century: “Don’t delegate understanding.” In other words, don’t believe the propaganda. If you do not understand something, find out for yourself.

4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?
Whether you are writing for the page or the screen, pay attention to the design. All too often, text is badly laid out, making it hard for readers to enjoy what they read.  The best piece of writing becomes unreadable if the rules of typography are ignored. Don’t let bad design turn your well-crafted thoughts into gibberish.

5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?
Books in print are the last bastions of privacy. No one spies on you when you turn the pages of a book. No algorithm looks over your shoulder. Printed books are safe havens and as such they are becoming more valuable and special.

6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book?
Design responsibility is such a rich topic, we couldn’t cover all the angles. Our selection of essays and interview is not totally comprehensive. It’s only a sample of what’s happening in the field of design.

7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?
Mid-term elections are days away. It’s a great opportunity to act responsibly as citizens of a great democracy.

DON”T MISS THESE!!!

Great book -- or great marketing?



How do you find more book reviewers?



When writers can’t find time to write and market their books



Authors really need to be SUPREME in their book marketing



How to use the right words to market your book



Best Book On Fake News Shows Us How To Defeat The Lies



Valuable Info On Book Marketing Landscape For First-Time Authors



Scores of Best-Selling Book PR Tips from Book Expo PR Panel



How should authors sell themselves?



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.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.