Sunday, April 30, 2023

Interview With Author Kristie Nelson

 


1. What inspired you to write this book? I was inspired to write my first book by the loss of my husband. To back track a bit, I was first inspired by a college professor who read a writing assignment I had written, which is currently on my blog, about the medical field. She had messaged me stating how great my work was and that I should submit this to senators and congressmen and that I should write more often. This is when I started my blog site after that I started considering the thought of writing a book and to aid in getting through my grief over my loss of my husband I then started writing my first book.   

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for?  My book is about my life. Childhood inspirations, struggles, falling in love, strife in marriage and adulthood, achievements and blessings and most of all how we made it through all the rough times and then about the loss that turned my life upside down. It's about faith, spirituality, love, and loss.  It was written for others who may have gone or are going through some of the same trials, it is meant to provide comfort in knowing you are not alone, hope that you can survive this or whatever you are going through, and to share my story as a living proof, but also to to provide a permanent story to my children and a guide for them to know they too can make it through any storm.   

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?  I hope my readers will get a sense of connection to the story, a feeling of hope and inspiration. I hope they feel the emotion I conveyed and connect with their own emotions as they read it.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The book's title was based on my childhood, growing up with a family who believed in a spirit world, grandmothers who taught me to have faith and who shared with me and brought me to love as well, their love of daisies and sky blue pink. The book shares the story behind the title. The cover was designed by the publishers, but I told them I wanted it to display the feel of the title.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? I would tell fellow writers just start writing what you feel needs to be written, the rest will all fall in line. Do not focus on the end game, focus on the words, complete that and then think about the editing, the publishing etc. The most important piece is the one you write.   

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?   Well, I see the self-publishing trend, which I did not do, but I admire those who do. I see the audio streaming book and digital books, but I am hopeful we will never let the physical book disappear. To me the value of holding that book and feeling its creation is vital to a reader and a writer.   

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?  I have always loved writing, it was always my sanctuary, so when nursing school engaged us to write it brought that passion back out in me. I used writing as a young girl to express my feelings and today I want to use it to inspire others.   

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?  My writing style is simply personal. I write about what I feel, what I know, what I believe others may be feeling and how I know what guides me through those moments in life. I am a Christian faith writer, I can't cite a particular Author or writer that I believe I am similar too, but many have inspired me.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?  The challenges of others telling me that writing a book and getting it published is a lot of work and takes years to do. I wrote my book in a year and a half and it was published in 6 months. I had to believe in myself that I could do this. Also the challenge of being willing to share my personal story with the world, that was tough for me and my children to accept. Lastly, the financial cost to publish, as a widow, still raising one son and on a single income, my husband didn't leave behind a large life policy or retirement funds, I had to work hard and save for this.   

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? I think it's down to earth realness and I believe people love a personal sense. I know I do.  They will find a genuine feeling from my book and perhaps a sense of hope in a time when the world is lacking a bit of that. 

Kristie Nelson is the author of  A Life Spiritually Guided by Faith, Daisies and Sky Blue Pink. 'I am owner and writer for a blog called Kristabells ponders and possibilities and I am a mother to four incredible children, all boys. I have been a Registered Nurse for the last 6 years and have worked in the medical field for the last 18 years. I recently lost my husband of 27 years unexpectedly in 2020 and the medical field no longer seems to be a fit for me. I most recently started my own business called KristaBells, it is an online store that displays my designs based on photos I have captured that inspire me as well as quotes from my books and my blog writings. I am passionate about my writing and I have a purpose for it. For more info, please se: www.KristaBells.shop.   

 

Need Book Marketing 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. 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 award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.  

 

 

Q&A With Xueyan, Author of the Collection

 

 

Q- What inspires you to write this collection Time Peels All to Original White? 

A- The color of my mother’s hair grows whiter and whiter as the years go on and on relentlessly. 

Q- In a culture where matters of the spirit are not encouraged to be openly pursued, where in your own life or soul do your poems come from? 

A- They just come to me. Like wind touching grass, and the grass just waves. 

Q- As a self-described “free soul”, how do you feel being a poet? 

A- Being a poet gives me a sense of Soul Completion: I know who I am, what I am doing, where I am going .

Q- Your poems’ approach to spirituality blends aspects of western and eastern religions with your own very unconventional, individual perspective. What does this perspective stem from?   

A- I want to create something completely different from anything — but anything has a part in it.  

Q- What does spirituality mean to you? 

A- If I am an ocean, spirituality is the moonlight that shines eternally on me. Spirituality is like air, I take it in every minute. 

Q- Do you think your poems will challenge Western stereotypes of China?  

A- I see what I see and write what I write. China is a nation of 1.4 billion people, I would not say I alone am enough to challenge the stereotypes. I only hope my poems can challenge stereotypes about me, only me. Anyways, I am an individual of a free spirit; I generally don't care about stereotypes. I see and write as I see fit.”  

Q- In a predominantly godless culture, where do you see God?  

A- Seeing God is never about culture; it is about opening your heart to it.  

Q- As a Chinese living in China, your poems also present Western religions from your own unique perspective. What do you hope the impact on readers will be?  

A- I see and write as an individual of a free spirit which transcends the limits of border, culture, race, and belief. I hope you can read my poems as those of a free spirit individual and feel the power of transcendence.  

Q- What are your favorite poems in the collection, and why?  

A- Every one of my poems is unique and special and my love toward them is unique yet equal. But I would love to share two of them during this special time.  

 

Need Book Marketing 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. 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 award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.  

 

 

Writers Poised To Shut Hollywood Down

 

 

The Writers Guild of America, which represents over 9,000 writers in Hollywood, approved of a strike by 98 percent of its members, if a new deal with increased compensation is not reached by May 1, the expiration date of their current contract.

Good for them. Time to pay up and treat the writers with some respect.

On the other hand, a proliferation of streaming studios has not proven to be a profitable venture for every company.  In fact, some streaming services lose billions annually.

Look for this to be a drawn-out war that may not get resolved until the fall.

 

Need Book Marketing 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. 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 award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.  

 

 

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Interview with Holistic Practitioner & Author Linn Aspen

 


1. What inspired you to write this book?

What first inspired me to write was the typewriter I inherited from my grandpa when I was seven. It was one of those old typewriters with round keys on spindly legs, the letters pelting the paper, snat, snat, as they hit—Oh, how delicious! What inspired me to write this book, The Dreamtidings of a Disgruntled Starbeing, is the question that kept showing up in my life: How do I let go of an injustice when the perpetrator has no regrets and seemingly goes away scot-free?  

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for?

It’s about the strength, power, and freedom we experience when we let go. It’s about acceptance and forgiveness and is written for anyone interested in the world and the people who inhabit it.  

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?

My aim has been to write a book with layers so anyone curious enough to look into its pages will find something. My hope, therefore, is that it will be the right book, showing up at the right time, whenever that time is. 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

At first the book’s title was The Dreamtidings of Klara Tippins. Then I realized that, by describing Klara instead of stating her name, the title would be more descriptive, thus I defined her as a ‘disgruntled starbeing.’ The subtitle was added to further clarify the content. The choice for cover design was made with the aim to balance the subtitle, showing that this was not a thriller or horror story, but a story of hope, at times funny and lighthearted.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?

Writing a novel is both impossible and magical and it’s easy to immerse yourself; to have no thoughts to your own life, to forget about food and rest. And so, my suggestion is that you make a deal: x amount of time will go to your characters and x amount of time to you. The time that belongs to you should be all yours, just as the time for your characters was all theirs. Smells, sounds, tastes; make sure to take it all in, to be present and to recharge your batteries.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? 

It took me a long time to write this book, fifteen years as a matter of fact, and much changed during that time. What I see is a great deal of fluidity in the publishing market, where norms and traditions are questioned and new ideas flourish. I think it’s a great time to both be a writer and a reader.  

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? 

Yes, both. Growing up I was shy and always aware of the people around me. Later, I became a holistic practitioner with the privilege of taking part in the many challenges we face. 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?

I will give the honor of describing my writing style to the reader. The writers that have inspired me and who are close to my heart is: Tove Jansson (my first love) who’s writing Neil Gaiman has called “a surrealist masterpiece,” (Neil Gaiman being another favorite of mine,) Margaret Atwood, Fredrik Backman… anyone really, with a big heart and an impish smile.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?

My biggest challenge was to overcome the idea that I could not write a novel because: a) I don’t have a degree in literature, b) English is not my native tongue, and c) I’m not a terribly patient person. Turns out, none of that mattered. 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

I hope those who read it will be entertained and inspired as there is nothing more in this world Klara wants, than for them to take her by the hand. 

Linn Aspen grew up in northern Sweden where the understated beauty and quietness of the landscape fed her contemplative nature. At age twenty, and thirsty for life experiences, she left Scandinavia for the USA. Since then, she has raised three children and engaged in many careers. Most valuable for the writing of her novel, The Dreamtidings of a Disgruntled Starbeing; Life with a Psychopathic Brother, was her work as a holistic practitioner. Working as a hypnotherapist, intuitive healer and channeler, Reiki Master, and Shamanic teacher all gave her intimate insights into the many challenges we face, as well as the innate strength of the human spirit. For more information, please see:linnaspen.com

 

Need Book Marketing 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 over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

Read This!

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https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/what-helps-authors-get-media.html

 

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https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/avoid-these-book-marketing-mistakes.html

 

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https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/whats-media-looking-for.html

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. 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 award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen years, it 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 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.