Interview with Author Amy Gray-Cunningham

What inspired you to write this book?

I donated a kidney to a stranger on July 6, 2019. While I was researching becoming a living donor, I couldn’t find many easy-to-read or inspiring books about kidney transplants. The books I did read, however, were either boring or so technical I couldn’t understand it. Also, throughout the process, I experienced things that I felt were unique and wished I had known about before the surgery—not that I would’ve changed my mind, but it would’ve been nice to be more prepared. So, I decided why not me, and I wrote Daring to Believe.

Who should read it—and why?

Everyone should read it! Not only is Daring To Believe about being a living kidney donor and the process I went through but I reveal intimate details about my life and what led to my decision to donate a life-saving organ to a stranger. This easy-to-read, often humorous book reveals much interesting information about kidney disease. But, the essential part of the story is my spiritual journey where I admit to human frailties and mistakes. It’s a book that everyone can relate to and hopefully will inspire people to dare to believe in the impossible.

How is it better or different from others in its genre?

Daring To Believe I don’t feel better than another book but what sets it apart is it's about my journey through the kidney donation process. It’s easy-to-read yet humorous. It’s personal yet inspiring. And, its an honest, first-person account about one of the most life-challenging yet affirming decisions a person can make—a decision that saved a person’s life and changed many lives in the process.

What challenges did you overcome to write your book?

The most significant challenge I had to overcome was myself—self-doubts and negative self-talk. Who would want to read my story? Who do I think am I? I’ve never written a book before—what makes me think I can do so now?

These and many more questions I wrestled with during my time at writing Daring To Believe. Eventually, I decided to write to one person. A conversation, I guess you can say, between me and Evelyn (my avatar). 

Also, I had to give up being perfect and just let myself write. I scheduled writing time into every day and sacrificed many family gatherings so that I didn’t miss a session. I became committed to Daring To Believe and it to me.

I joined a writer’s critique group and learned many valuable tips about writing and how to make it better. I’m still friends with many of those women today.

What lasting messages do you hope your readers are left after consuming your book?

I hope my readers are left with the inspiring belief that anything is possible if only you dare to believe. I hope my book inspires others to become living donors or to reach for whatever their calling is in this lifetime. I hope it inspires others to tell their stories because if someone didn’t share their story of David Ensley and his need for a kidney, I would’ve never been able to tell mine.

What advice do you have for struggling writers?

Never give up. Learn everything you can about the craft of storytelling and then write! Keep learning and keep writing. And, don’t worry about being perfect because you won’t be perfect but keep writing anyway. Oh, and hire a great editor!

Question: Where do you see the publishing industry heading?

Answer: I think self-publishing is the wave of the future if it’s not here already. It’s effortless to self-publish, but you must be committed to marketing yourself or hiring a publicist to help you. It takes dedication and time, but it can be done.

For more info, please see: www.amygraycunningham.com

PLEASE CONSULT THESE TIMELY RESOURCES

How Do Authors Promote Books When The Media Is Corona Centric?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-do-authors-promote-books-when-media.html

Advice to Authors From A Book Promoter of 30 Years

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/advice-to-authors-from-book-promoter-of.html  

How Are Authors Selling Books Through A Pandemic?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-are-authors-selling-books-in.html

A Book Marketing Pandemic Playbook

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-book-marketing-pandemic-playbook-for.html

What Types of Books Can Get Media Coverage Now?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/what-types-of-books-get-media-coverage.html

The Bestseller Code For Book Marketers & Authors

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-bestseller-code-for-authors-books.html

What Should You Do to Market Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/what-should-you-do-to-market-your-book.html

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 ©2020. 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.

Interview with Author Eugene St. Martin Jr.

1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a book? Basically as I go about my life I keep figuring out what is important to me or working to do that. I think about ways to play tennis and to learn tennis. Also, I keep working to find my song, my swing and ways to help others find their swing.

2. What is it about and whom do you believe is your targeted reader? To families and especially to young people looking to find their song, their swing in life.

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 I have read this book over these last times there is a little zen idea where one brings one’s mind back to the present and one lets go… an emptying…

4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? To be thankful for the opportunity to write and sort out things in our life.

5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? Looks like it is going towards a digital ebook and audiobook direction where people are reading on their devices and possibly reading less novels. For me audiobooks are fun. Still, I like a traditional book because I can put it down when I want, there are no batteries, and I can give the book to someone.

6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book? No big challenge. It is just an expression of my life.

7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours? It is just a light little book that may help one to think. The audiobook of this book is beautiful. When the book is read out loud slowly it is like a meditation.

About the Author

Eugene St. Martin Jr. has been a part of the tennis community in Baton Rouge, LA by maintaining the green clay tennis courts and instructing both children and adults of all ages and abilities. He enjoys walking, nature, and singing in his church choir. St. Martin Jr. has published several other literary works including “Christmas Stories and More by E. C.,” “A Tennis Journey by E.C.” and more. For more info, please see: https://www.iuniverse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/763240-Figuring-Out-Something-by-E-C--

PLEASE CONSULT THESE TIMELY RESOURCES

How Do Authors Promote Books When The Media Is Corona Centric?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-do-authors-promote-books-when-media.html

Advice to Authors From A Book Promoter of 30 Years

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/advice-to-authors-from-book-promoter-of.html  

How Are Authors Selling Books Through A Pandemic?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-are-authors-selling-books-in.html

A Book Marketing Pandemic Playbook

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-book-marketing-pandemic-playbook-for.html

What Types of Books Can Get Media Coverage Now?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/what-types-of-books-get-media-coverage.html

The Bestseller Code For Book Marketers & Authors

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-bestseller-code-for-authors-books.html

What Should You Do to Market Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/what-should-you-do-to-market-your-book.html

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 ©2020. 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.

Book Publishing News & Author Marketing Resources

 

Explore Affiliate Sales

Looking to find people to sell your book for you? Hoping to make a little extra by selling other people’s books? Want to get an affiliate commission by listing your own book on a site and pushing sales through it? Explore these:

www.affiliate.com

www.affiliateguide.com

www.clickbank.com

www.cj.com

www.linkshare.com

www.revenueloop.com

Alternative Audiobook Publishing Platforms

Looking to turn your story into an audiobook? Check these platforms out:

PodiumPublishing

Scribl

ListenUp

FindawayVoices

AuthorsRepublic

AudioCreation Exchange

New Online Retailer For Indie Bookstore

Go to www.BookShop.org and see how a new digital retailer is soaring in les than three months from its launch date.

Online Course Platforms

Looking to turn your book and areas of expertise into an online course? Try these:

www.coursera.org

www.lynda.com

www.skillshare.com

www.teachable.com

www.udemy.com

Print-On-Demand Options

Here are your best options should you want to self-publish and go the POD route:

www.ingramspark.com

www.kdp.amazon.com

www.lulu.com

www.printtrtasil.com

www.press.barnesandnoble

NYPL Turns 125

As the New York Public Library celebrates its 125 uears of serving the reading needs of America’s biggest city with its doors closed due to Corona, it recently identified the five most-checked-out books of all-time, which are:

The Snowy Day

The Cat in the Hat

1984

Where The Wild Things Are

To Kill A Mockingbird

Print Book Sales Are Down

Due to corona and closed bookstores and supply chain interruptions with Amazon, print book sales have suffered in 2020. Unfortunately, in 2019, both adult non-fiction and fiction printed books were each down from 2018. However, print still seems healthy. In 2018, non-fiction print sales was up 4.9% and in 2019 it dipped only by 1.9%.

“Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.” –JFK

PLEASE CONSULT THESE TIMELY RESOURCES

Powerful 2020 Book Marketing Toolkit -- FREE

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-2020-book-marketing-pr-toolkit.html

How Do Authors Promote Books When The Media Is Corona Centric?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-do-authors-promote-books-when-media.html

Advice to Authors From A Book Promoter of 30 Years

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/advice-to-authors-from-book-promoter-of.html  

How Are Authors Selling Books Through A Pandemic?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-are-authors-selling-books-in.html

A Book Marketing Pandemic Playbook

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-book-marketing-pandemic-playbook-for.html

What Types of Books Can Get Media Coverage Now?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/what-types-of-books-get-media-coverage.html

The Bestseller Code For Book Marketers & Authors

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-bestseller-code-for-authors-books.html

What Should You Do to Market Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/what-should-you-do-to-market-your-book.html

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 ©2020. 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.

Is There A Mathematical Formula For Book Marketing?

I don’t know how I will look back on the times we live in now. It is hard to put distance from an all-consuming present, but I suspect I won’t see these days as all bad, as lousy as they are. For one, I get to spend more time at home with my family, which means I get to take afternoon walks with my youngest, a 12-year-old girl. I cherish those walks because they are just daddy-daughter times and we don’t merely walk. We talk, and we explore life together. One of our chats today was about math and I found a lesson to apply to book marketing.

I shared with her that I like the exactness of math. There is a formula for everything, and with the right calculations, we get the same answers and have universal agreement on the facts. With math, something is either right or wrong, nothing left up in the air, nothing in between two answers, and no gray areas.

She said that is exactly what she doesn’t like about math. She likes to explore feelings, ideas, and to form opinions and to not be tied down to an exact singular way to see things.

It got me wondering about book marketing. Though there are many principles that guide what I do to practice the power of securing publicity, there are no exact formulas to follow. It’s not as much math as it is an art.

When I was young I actually accelerated at math and was in the top 10% nationally on my SAT math. My English language skills, even as an English major, lagged. I took a creative, artistic approach to math and a mathematical approach to writing. It seems to have worked.

Math helps ground us and gives us a foundation of what is true. Math can’t explain everything, but it can give us a perspective to operate from. Can you find a way to see your book marketing efforts as an expression of some type of mathematical formula?

Well, start with percentages. What are the percentages of success when applying certain book PR strategies? What percentage of your time is split between certain functions, such as speaking, social media, traditional media, or networking? Can you measure certain metrics even when it is challenging to do so? See, math can play a role, even if it is not the only answer.

People always look for formulas when it comes to book marketing. For instance, people want to know the cost-benefit of something like advertising. Can one accurately predict how many sales of books will come from spending a certain amount of money on advertising? Nope.

Can one assume how many book sales they will generate if they get a certain level of media exposure? Of course not.

Is there a way to say with certainty if one has a certain sized online following that x amount of book sales will be generated? No way, Jose!

Ok, so you might ask, Why would anyone agree to market their book if no formulas or reliable indicators exist by which to measure things?

We do book marketing even though its results vary from person to person, book to book. It is a huge wildcard, but one with great promise. Few things in life come with guarantees or predictability, and most such things are boring or negative, such as taxes, aging or death. But book marketing, done well, and when diversified in its approach, can yield significant results. It all depends on your goals and why you seek publicity. The only way to measure results is when done against your needs or goals.

Book marketing, even though it lacks a proven, scientific formula, does work for many. Of course, one formula is true: Those that don't try to market their book are guaranteed to see no results. Now that is some math none of us believes adds up.

PLEASE CONSULT THESE TIMELY RESOURCES

How Do Authors Promote Books When The Media Is Corona Centric?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-do-authors-promote-books-when-media.html

Advice to Authors From A Book Promoter of 30 Years

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/advice-to-authors-from-book-promoter-of.html  

How Are Authors Selling Books Through A Pandemic?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-are-authors-selling-books-in.html

A Book Marketing Pandemic Playbook

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-book-marketing-pandemic-playbook-for.html

What Types of Books Can Get Media Coverage Now?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/what-types-of-books-get-media-coverage.html

The Bestseller Code For Book Marketers & Authors

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-bestseller-code-for-authors-books.html

What Should You Do to Market Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/what-should-you-do-to-market-your-book.html

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 ©2020. 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.

Interview with Author Steven Mintz, Ph.D.

1. What really inspired you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or
experience and conveying it into a book?
I’ve been blogging about ethics in society, the workplace and on social media for over ten
years. My blogs have become quite popular. During this time, I’ve observed that we have
lost our moral compass as a society and civility is a thing of the past. I felt obligated to
share my wisdom on these issues with the general public. I am trying to make a positive
difference in the best way I know how by raising awareness of the ethical issues that we
face in everyday life.

2. What is it about and whom do you believe is your target reader?
My book explains how readers can lead a happier, more fulfilling life by committing to
following certain ethical principles. I explain a process for ethical decision-making that is
easy to follow. Simply stated, for a person to become more ethical they need to: (1) know
when they face an ethical issue (ethical awareness); (2) have the ability to make ethical
decisions (ethical judgment); (3) be committed to acting ethically (ethical motivation);
and (4) carry out ethical thought with ethical action (moral courage). I explain these
concepts with the use of real-life and hypothesized examples of ethical dilemmas.
The target reader is anyone looking to enhance their personal development in a humane
way and learn skills for dealing with some of the most difficult choices we face in life.
Given that the book addresses many social media practices that can impair our happiness
and well-being, such as ghosting, trolling and catfishing, millennials and young adults are
bound to find a lot of guidance to qualitatively improve their personal and professional
lives.
Beyond that, the book is meant for all age groups. Young adults will learn how to deal
with issues such as cyberbullying, a fact of life on social media that can threaten one’s
happiness and sense of self. Older adults will enjoy reading about well-known people
who have used ethical reasoning to contribute to society and why doing good by being
good is a self-actualizing philosophy.

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 takeaway for readers is that each of us can improve our life and the lives of friends,
family members, co-workers and passersby by being kind, considerate and respectful of
others. We need to return to the moral roots of The Golden Rule: Treat others the way we
wish they would treat us. Most people want to be treated kindly, with compassion and
empathy, and with respect. We need to practice acting in these ways through virtuous
behavior. In other words, develop those traits of character that make for a better person.
If I could pick one enduring message for readers of my book it is that they should avoid
the proverbial ‘ethical slippery slope’ where once we tell an initial lie a coverup ensues
and we have to perpetuate the lie to avoid getting caught. In other words, the key to
ethical behavior is not to take that first step down the slippery slope. There’s a famous
statement by Mark Twain that sums it up well: “If you tell the truth you don't have to
remember anything”. It means that if you tell a lie you have to remember what lie you
told to who.
From a long-term perspective, I hope readers will keep in mind three things about ethical
decision-making and think about them before tackling ethical dilemmas in their lives: (1)
think before you act: consider the consequences of your actions on others before deciding
what to do; (2) fulfill your obligation to yourself and to others to be the best version of
yourself that you can be; and (3) practice random acts of kindness, pay it forward and
always be civil.

4. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers?
Perseverance is the key. Writers must stick to a game plan they develop for writing their
book. By that I mean each writer must find a time – the same time every day – to write
and do so for at least six hours every day. Nothing should get in the way of keeping to the
schedule. It has to be the priority while the book is being written.
I’m my most creative early in the morning after I’ve head a couple of cups of coffee. I
worked from 6 am to 12 noon every day until my book was completed. My early
schedule enabled me to set aside my phone and not read or respond to messages until the
noon hour. That left plenty of time for social media interaction.

The challenge of writing a book is it’s very easy to find reasons not to write because it’s
an intense process that requires laser-like-focus on the end goal of writing so making it
part of your daily life, as if you were going to a job, enhances the process and facilitates
completion of the book.

5. What trends in the book world do you see and where do you think the book
publishing industry is heading?
The main trend is self-published books. It’s been reported that self-published books now
account for 30% to 40% of ebook sales and ebook sales are approaching parity with
paperbacks.
New authors, such as I, can get our books out into the marketplace more quickly through
independent publishing than going through the traditional publishing route. There are a
variety of self-publishing websites that facilitate the process both in paperback and ebook
form. While there are fees for the services provided, it still makes sense for a new author
to consider this option at least for the first book. If sales are good for a self-
published/indie published book, it might help to find an interested mainstream publisher
down the road when a second book is written. So, a new author is creating a track record
that can help in developing a long-term successful career as a writer.
Audiobook sales seem to be increasing. Perhaps it’s a reflection that many people do not
have time to sit down and read a print book or scroll through an e-book. We’re in our cars
a lot so listening to audiobooks makes sense. Digital subscription services for audiobooks
and ebooks is on the rise as well. The subscription based model can be tailored to the
needs of each individual. It’s like getting pre-selected product types in the mail on a
monthly basis. The specific products are selected for you. Maybe you like romance
novels. These can make up the bulk of your ebook and audio purchases. Given that
subscription services are increasing, it’s important for authors to learn how to distribute
their books in this marketplace.

6. What great challenges did you have in writing your book?
My book is nonfiction and provides self-help guidance to readers who want to find
greater purpose in life. I had to make sure the advice I dispensed was based on sound
principles of ethical reasoning – the philosophy of ethics – so one challenge was to attend
to the accuracy of explaining moral philosophy in an understandable way. I had three
different people read the book for accuracy and completeness. They provided insightful
comments on how to develop scenarios to illustrate my ethical thoughts for a reader who
might have little or no formal knowledge in ethics. In other words, I had to bring the
discussion down to the level of a relatively novice reader of philosophy without
compromising the spirit and guiding principles of philosophical thought. Two of the three
people who read the book were a philosophy professor and a student of philosophy. This
ensured that the examples I provided were relevant to millennials, an important group of
readers for my book.

7. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?
I fear our society is coming apart at the seams. There is a crisis in America today where
many people, especially the younger generation, are no longer grounded in moral
principles. Ethics isn’t taught in schools. Cyberbullying is a big problem especially for
youngsters. The suicide rate is rising for young adults. Bullying in the workplace is on
the rise. Violence in our streets, in schools and in the workplace is increasing.
On a national level, we’re well into the political debate season. What have we learned so
far? The nature of political debate is to make the other person look bad so you’ll look
better by comparison. The tone of discussion is often uncivil. We no longer know how to
disagree with each other without being disagreeable. Our words and actions appeal to the
lowest common denominator of ethical behavior – greed and selfishness.
Something has to happen and quickly to stem the rising tide of offensive behavior. Ethics
and civility must return to society else we’ll continue to slide down the ethical slippery
slope where lies, deceitful behavior, disrespectful words and abuse of others rule the day.
My book provides a fresh look at how we can learn to deal with each other in a positive
manner using the guidance I provide. The book can change lives, I believe, and open our
minds and hearts to a better – more ethical – path to achieve happiness and greater
meaning in life while, at the same time, improving the lives of our fellow citizens. This is
one reason why buying my book now is important.

About The Author

Steven Mintz, PhD, is an emeritus professor from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He blogs
under the name “Ethics Sage.” His blog has been recognized by Feedspot as the 25 th best
in philosophy from thousands of top Philosophy blogs in their index using search and
social metrics (https://blog.feedspot.com/philosophy_blogs/). His Workplace Ethics
Advice blog is listed as the third best in the 30 Exceptional Corporate Social
Responsibility blogs (CSR) by Market Inspector based on spreading awareness about
sustainability and CSR (https://www.market-inspector.co.uk/blog/2015/09/30-
exceptional-csr-blogs). Dr. Mintz is the recipient of many awards for his work as a
college educator and researcher including the prestigious “Accounting Exemplar” award
given by the Public Interest Section of the American Accounting Association.
Link to website: https://www.stevenmintzethics.com/.

PLEASE CONSULT THESE TIMELY RESOURCES

How Do Authors Promote Books When The Media Is Corona Centric?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-do-authors-promote-books-when-media.html

Advice to Authors From A Book Promoter of 30 Years

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/advice-to-authors-from-book-promoter-of.html  

How Are Authors Selling Books Through A Pandemic?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/how-are-authors-selling-books-in.html

A Book Marketing Pandemic Playbook

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-book-marketing-pandemic-playbook-for.html

What Types of Books Can Get Media Coverage Now?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/03/what-types-of-books-get-media-coverage.html

The Bestseller Code For Book Marketers & Authors

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-bestseller-code-for-authors-books.html

What Should You Do to Market Your Book?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2020/02/what-should-you-do-to-market-your-book.html

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 ©2020. 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.

Interview with Author Harvey Havel

A Rumination on the Role of Love During A Condition of Extreme Conservatism and Extreme Liberalism: A Political Essay

Independence Educational Publishers

1.      What inspired you to write your newest book?

I usually pay close attention to the news (television, radio, internet, and print), and ever since the Vietnam War, there has been polarization between conservative and liberal positions.  It started during the 1960s and really gained steam during the Clinton Administration, only to rear its ugly head now during the Trump Administration.  Honestly, I have followed politics closely for most of my life, even as a young child when Jesse Jackson ran on his “Rainbow Coalition” platform, and I’ve never seen it get as bad as this.  I have never seen a polar split so wide between two opposing ideologies.  I knew that something had to be done about it.  But what could I do?  I am only a humble writer after all.  And meanwhile, I had close friends who refused to discuss politics because of their deep-seeded animosity towards the opinions of those they opposed.  As a result, I could not discuss how I felt with anyone.  I wanted to propose solutions to the mess that we’re in, or at least attempt to persuade others to head in that direction instead of miring themselves in a battle that has no real victor and is dangerously close to spinning out of control, especially now that we are closer to November 2020.  And this is what inspired me to write this book: my simple, impartial assessment and response to our current political climate in the hopes that we may steer clear through this storm to a better, more harmonious union among our citizenry.

2.      What is it about?

Basically, it builds on Dr. Martin Luther King’s study of Aristotle and his three forms of “Love”, which are Eros, Philia, and Agape.  Using each of these forms, I try to show how extreme conservatism and extreme liberalism, at their very least, have Eros, Philia, and Agape in common, and those commonalities of love can be used as starting points for better relations between the two polarized parties at this time.  It is a strong argument for détente instead of conflict, a strong argument for the use of non-violence and elements of persuasion, rational, level-headed discussion and debate, and a return to the more traditional forms of conservativism and liberalism – not tearing each other’s throats out – but discussing our issues among colleagues of differing points of view to hammer out solutions to great divide our country finds herself in.  To do this, I propose relying on the discipline of political science and public choice theory as well as the newer generations and their incredible imaginations to create new governmental systems that function much better than our old binary form of democracy.

3.      Politics seems to turn off half the country—why?

Because half of the country that tunes it out of their lives is much better off and even much smarter, if you think about it, than the ones who pay close attention to it, like me!  Stare at this stuff too long, and you will find yourself in an insane asylum.  Ignorance is bliss in this case, and I really couldn’t blame any of them at all for the way politics affects them  It is much better to stay away from politics than to pay attention to it, there is no question.  But somehow, just like a tractor beam, it pulls you back in.  Whether you glance at a newspaper in the check-out line, watch a news break during your favorite program on television, or are hit with reminders of political life when you watch a movie, it is always there waiting to sink its teeth in again and again.  I respect and admire those who are turned off by it, for they are the ones who probably care the most about how terrible our country has been split apart as of late.  Ultimately, though, they will have little choice but to deal with it as we head deeper into this election period.

4.      The half that takes an interest is fiercely split along party lines. How do we break the deadlock?

We have to find things that we share in common.  We have to find policies that both parties believe in.  And most importantly, we have to put the well-being of our own country far ahead of our own self-interests.  This is very hard for anyone to do, but it must be done if we are to save our country from breaking apart in future, should this scenario happen multiple times in future.  We do, indeed, have a crisis in our democracy, and it is no one’s fault, and it is all of our faults.  I think we do have to rely on the best minds of political science to find that bridge, or at least imagine one where there is no bridge now.  We have to employ the colleges and the universities, not to bicker and argue about what policies are best, but to mend fences, finally, and to bridge gaps among deeply entrenched political positions so that consensus can be reached.  Once we get close enough, then we bring it to our public servants to implement these solutions within the policies they write, no matter how unexciting or compromising they may be.  We must remember that “compromise is not a dirty word,” especially now.

5.      Does President Trump get booted by Congress? Will he get re-elected?

He has already been impeached by the House, as we know, but I don’t think he will be convicted in the Senate.  I really don’t know if he’ll be re-elected.  If the economy continues to roll along as it has been as of this interview, he has a good chance of being re-elected, yes.  But really, I don’t know.

6.      What are five reasons someone must read your book?

I will try to come up with five, and thank you so much for the opportunity.

1)      To redirect the reader’s attention away from self-interest and towards a more collective interest that has the entire country in mind.

2)      To return to some ideas that have worked in the past regarding the forming of a more harmonious union rather than a union that is constantly at war with itself.

3)      To insist that even our greatest leaders were also human with real human problems and real human needs, and therefore, we need more humane solutions to the problems of today rather than the fierce vitriol and rhetoric that dominates our public discourse and the fierce reactions to real human social problems.

4)      To remind the reader of some of the things that have plagued all nations when times become difficult – such as bigotry and scapegoating and the need to blame “the other.”

5)      Finally, to give the reader much hope that there are people who are working on the problems that our country, as an entirety, faces, and that even though the reader may never hear of them or from them, there are indeed those out there who are working tirelessly to pull this country together instead of ripping it apart, either in a conscious or unconscious manner, despite the fact that this upcoming election does have to have a one-party victor.  In other words, there is still hope that we can get out of this alive, provided that we find things that we have in common and that we are willing to compromise.  When it comes to our condition, there is no winner or loser.  There is only the choice between existence and non-existence.

7.      What challenges did you overcome to move away from penning fiction to writing about politics?

I have always been interested in politics, so it wasn’t very difficult.  Plus, I studied a lot of political science and public choice theory in the school that I went to, so it has become second nature to follow the news and current events as well.  Currently, I am working on a book about September 11^th and the events that led up to it, and this work is incredibly political.  I guess it’s something that I need to write about, despite how unpleasant the subject matter is.  I have written many essays on politics and current affairs as well, so it just makes sense at this time that I would blend the two fields of fiction and politics and hope the reader will find interest in what I am working on.  My other fiction has been mostly about unrequited love and the longing for a woman and things of that nature, so politics is a much welcome diversion from the every day.  Hopefully, I won’t have to return to my former subject matter, assuming all goes well!  I have hope that things will go well.

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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 ©2020. 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.