Interview With Author Nitki’s Dad

 
 

1. What inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired to write The Warrior Within after a series of events involving Molly Sandén renewed a sense of life within me, something I hadn’t felt in a long time.  I watched an interview she gave about owning her own story.  I don’t speak Swedish and it didn’t have subtitles but I could easily sense her strength and courage. Feeling compelled, I wrote and then mailed her a letter.  That letter would become the roadmap I would used to write my own story and it allowed me to put pen to paper, affirming who I am and who I would continue striving to be.  In writing Dear Molly, the other events that happened in 2021 also inspired me and I wanted to share that so others might be encouraged to open their eyes, hearts and minds to things they may not have considered before.                

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

The Warrior Within is my story, my affirmation to the universe that it won’t change me, even though I may fall short on occasion, it’s a journey, not a destination.  Initially it was only going to be for a potential significant other so I wouldn’t need to revisit the emotional aspects that helped me define who I am, or why I would strive to continue to be.  Connecting with others along my path and sharing some of these stories with them, a connection was made even if it was briefly that appeared to help them on their journey, so publishing it seemed to be logical next step.  Life is a struggle for most but it only within that struggle where we find out who we really are or who we are meant to be to fulfill our purpose while living this spiritual life as a human being.   Dear Molly is all about the people, places and things that happened during 2021 that also inspired me, even those things I looked back on, which allowed me to see them again from a different perspective.  It’s about the inspiration which can come from anyone, anywhere and at any time, moving us in a way that once seemed unimaginable so we shouldn’t dismiss a gift because it isn’t packaged the way you think it should be. 

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

I hope readers will be able to connect with the healing and inspiration elements within these books.  To rise above anything that might be holding them back from living their best life and then pass on what they have learned so that another might avoid the same or similar mistake or situation.  There are 2 places everyone should go.  The first is a place that heals you.  The second is a place that inspires you.  Neither of these places has to be a physical location but could be an emotional, mental or spiritual state of being.  We need to be brutally honest with ourselves about the reflection we see in the mirror so that we can figure out if there is something in our past or present that is preventing us from living today or from fulfilling our dreams of tomorrow.  In order to do that, we typically need to be inspired in some way that gives us the strength, courage and resolve to take a step in our heart’s direction. 

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

The Warrior Within title was to emphasize that the warrior spirit and purpose, which lies within each of us.  Warriors are not always the fastest or strongest people.  Warriors are those who choose to stand between their enemy and all that they love and hold sacred.  The cover design was to show that we have the strength to rise above the storms of life, we need only the courage and resolve to do so and then take the necessary steps to do so.  A phoenix rising from the ashes to overcome the storms of life.  Dear Molly is how my writing truly began and I wanted to encourage the reader to discover whatever it takes to motivate them to take a step in their heart’s direction, find it, reach for it, embrace it, and then share it with others.  The silhouette is of Molly from her performance from the Oscars pre-show in 2021 in Húsavík Iceland, enhanced northern lights and the church in the town.  

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

The best advice or words of wisdom for anyone and everyone is to discover and define who you are, do not allow anyone else to hold the pen as you write your own story.  Most know what they want but fewer probably know what they need, so strive to live your life, not merely exist in it.   Don’t be afraid of the storms of life, the only way to get through something is to get through it.  What you deny or ignore you delay; what you accept and face, you conquer. 

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

I don’t know of any trends in the book world and have no idea where the book publishing industry is heading.   

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

The experiences in my personal and professional life all came into play as I wrote these books.  Primarily the project management skills that confront the problem or issue, determine the root causes and then develop solutions to solve.  The best will take the lessons learned from the projects and share so other might avoid the same or similar situations.  It’s a cycle that we need to repeat in our lives in order to improve.   

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

I write how I typically speak.  Most of the areas in the chapters where I may seem to jump off topic, is really a side note to the main points.  In reviewing The Warrior Within, I had those sections begin with “On a side note….” But removed them at some point during my reviews.  I don’t think my style is similar to anyone else, which may be a blessing or it may be a curse.     

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

The challenge I most faced was going in depth on some of the emotional aspects that probably boarded on abuse.  The pain of losing Nitki and reading what I wrote when it comes to him and what he means to me, still gets me choked up.  

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

So much in the country and perhaps the world is at odds, sometimes intentionally by those so-called elected leaders who are only interested in grifting off the fear and division.  If we can see it for what it is and not how they like us to emotionally react to it then we can overcome anything.  We have so many ways to connect with each other but seem to be less connected than ever before and that is the desired intention by those elected leaders who are only interested in obtaining power or keeping it, regardless of what it does to this country or the world.  

Nitki’s Dad grew up in a large family in Northwest Ohio, active in sports, a friend to all he met and aware of a spiritual path in his teens but it would be decades later when he discovered its name, he was “Walking the Red Road”.  As a US marine, his spiritual growth took off with a set of principles and values that would strengthen his foundation, and see him through a few dark times, including some that were long after he no longer wore the uniform.  With his warped sense of humor, he acknowledges he is not perfect but jokes that he is better than most.  He owns his story--from hellish to heavenly and all points in between.  Life is not the same for everyone but it isn’t meant to be a spectator sport either.  He strives to live it, not merely exist in it. He does not compare his path to another and is only trying to be better than who he was yesterday.  His spiritual journey as a human being continues and in sharing his experiences and lessons learned, others have found a connection that helped them find strength, courage, and resolve to rise like a phoenix, overcoming whatever it may be that was holding them back so they could pursue living their best life.   for more information, please see: https://nitkisdad.com/

 

 

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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.