1. What motivated you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and turning it into this book? As a career investment advisor, I have had a longtime interest in financial history. I believe Niall Ferguson said it best “financial history is the backbone of all history”. By analyzing prior booms and busts, I have been able to develop tools that have made a significant difference in my client portfolios. As a longtime fan of emergent technology, I was an early adopter of Bitcoin & Ethereum. I recognized both the potential for blockchain but also the environmental context that allowed them to become so popular. In many ways, the rise of crytpo is a pushback against the central bank dominance that has largely defined the past several decades. I feel that this is a story that needs to be shared because I think the interaction of these forces will define the decades to come.
2. What is it about and who is it for? So many people are wondering what all the fuss is over Bitcoin and they’re not alone. Cryptocurrency has clearly come to dominate the news over the past few years and yet, only a handful of people actually understand what is really going on. My book aims to explain both what cryptocurrency is and the reason why it has become so mainstream. Most importantly, I want to share with readers that the underlying technology is much bigger than just Bitcoin. Blockchain will change our world in more ways than just money. This is only the beginning.
3. What takeaways might the reader will be left with after reading it? There are three primary themes that I hope readers will walk away with. The first is that money itself has an outsized effect on our lives and indeed our minds. The second is that the rising discussion about “what is money, and who controls it?”, is not a new fringe discussion. Instead, this discussion of money is one that has been with us since the technology’s invention two and a half millennia ago. In many ways it can be stated that this discussion is our inherited responsibility. The final and perhaps most important point is that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies may or may not fade in popularity, but the underlying technology of Blockchain is here to stay and will certainly change our lives. This is why a book like this is critical. Readers cannot afford to ignore this digital revolution!
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? I worked with a great team including my publishers Eland Mann & Keith Farell to find the right name that captures both the spirit & scope of the work. For the cover design, I worked with graphic design artist George B. Stevens. In fact, we released an entire series of NFT’s inspired by the leading cryptocurrencies on OpenSea. George is an exceptional designer!
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? I would offer two bits of advice. The first is write about your passions. I live by Warren Buffet’s quote “follow your passion and you will never work a day in your life!”. A book may seem intimidating, but really they are built off of 1-3 pages a day. If you love your subject matter you will find yourself eager to knock out a few pages a day. Before long, your work is done and the real work of editing begins. This leads me to my second recommendation: engage an editor/publisher early in the process. I waited until the book was completely written before engaging with an editor and that was a huge dis-service to myself and the work. A good editor can help you stay on point and reduce your likelihood of having to discard thousands of words. More importantly, the publishing process takes time. Waiting until your manuscript is completely done and then starting the publishing part will set you back months or years. Find and build your team early.
6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? Like most industries, technology is affecting publishing. In my opinion, the industry is becoming more approachable. This is critical as it allows for more voices to participate and accelerates knowledge transfer. As we know from history, increased access to information enables society to flourish. I am very excited about where we are going.
7. What challenges did you overcome to write this book? The greatest challenge for this project was tackling the subject of disruptive technology given the speed at which the space continues to evolve. This is especially significant with Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies as there is literally an explosion of activity almost daily. Given the long production cycle inherent in publishing, staying relevant with a topic like technology is no small feat.
8. How would you describe your writing style? In a word, approachable. I pack a tremendous amount of information into my work and need to keep the reader engaged. My hope is that the reader finds the text both enjoyable to read and a fascinating journey through time.
9. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? This book is an enjoyable read that will quickly bring readers up to speed on an important conversation so that they can protect their family’s nest egg!
We are at a pivotal moment in history. Technology and Money are coming to a crossroads and our future will be defined by how we handle some tough questions. As governments around the world attempt to emerge from Covid-Crisis era policies, money, markets and the global economy will be significantly affected. Cryptocurrencies play an important and disruptive role in how things will play out. Meanwhile, the underlying technology of Blockchain is similar to the dawn of the internet in terms of how much it will influence our lives. It is a topic that readers really need to get familiar with. Both subjects will become increasingly intertwined and simply cannot be ignored.
About the Author: Shaun M. Rowles is an
institutional consultant and portfolio manager with two decades of experience
and specialization in risk management. He is an author, founder, and guest
lecturer in applied macroeconomics at the Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate
School of Management. He has a passion for financial history with an emphasis
on financial crises and fintech disruptions. An avid conservationist, he’s a
supporter of socially responsible ESG-themed investing. He lives in Nashville,
TN with his wife and four children. Rowles recently hosted the first Blockchain/NFT
Disruption Panel at Reed Pop's MCM Comic Con London October 2021 where he
assembled at top-tier panel of diverse experts. To learn more, visit www.ShaunRowles.com
Contact For Help
Brian
Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell
their book, and grow their brand. He has 30 years of experience in helping
thousands of authors in all genres.
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About Brian Feinblum
Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This
is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2021. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he
now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab
rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and
IBPA’s The Independent. This was named one of the best book
marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018
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for Book Expo America. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.
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