1. What inspired you to write this book?
Immigration is constantly in the news. But why has important
information on this topic never made it out of academic journals and into the
real world? We wrote our books to close this gap by discussing
research and real-life examples that are presented in terms a layperson can
understand. Our inspiration comes from our patients, our own and other’s
research, and perhaps most importantly our personal and family immigration
stories. In part, the Kirkus Reviews book review for Immigrant
Concepts said: “ The
authors’ practical advice, combined with their academic backgrounds and
humanitarian empathy, makes for a definitive work on immigration that
convincingly counters the simplistic zero-sum game analysis that too often
surrounds debates on the issue.” That was our objective.
2. What exactly is it about and who is it
written for?
The books address what will help immigrants become successful in
their adopted countries. This includes various personal acculturation
strategies, physical and mental health, career development, and ways to be
resilient. Our target audiences are immigrants, those who work with them, and
anyone who is interested in nuanced and factual information on this topic.
3. What do you hope readers will get out of
reading your book?
Any country can be overwhelmed by more immigrants than it can
handle. But if we develop reasonable policies, immigration can help revitalize
societies. Research from various countries agrees. There are some up-front
costs. But if we’re smart about helping immigrants succeed, we all win.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover
design?
Our covers show views of the Earth from space. Astronauts who
experienced this perspective have often noted an increased sense of connection
to others and our planet as a whole. In short, they have had the privilege of
seeing our Earth from a distance and have come to recognize what humans share
as opposed to what divides us. We believe it is important to remember these
insights when we talk about immigration.
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have
for fellow writers – other than run!?
Run toward, not away. Other (hardly new) advice is: write what you
know. Our books incorporate over 30 years of relevant clinical and
academic experience. But we still did a lot of research in preparing our
manuscripts and learned quite a bit in the process. Starting from
scratch, even on an interesting topic would be daunting. Fiction writers may
have an easier time with this. For example, the successful German author Karl
May wrote a whole series of novels about the old American West before he ever
set foot in the US. (He may have gotten away with it because his mostly German
audience had not been there either.) But even science fiction writers do well
when they combine their imagination with real professional knowledge. An
example is Alastair Reynolds who holds a Ph.D. in astrophysics and has worked
for the European Space Agency.
6. What trends in the book world do you see --
and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?
Advances in technology have allowed authors and “indie publishers”
to create and distribute quality products. So, reliance on traditional
publishing has waned. There is a similar trend in the music
industry. This probably makes the market a bit crowded. But we have all heard
stories of publishing gatekeepers who reject manuscripts that, over the long
run, are wildly successful (think Andy Weir’s The Martian).
Traditional gatekeepers are sometimes way off the mark. Not every aspiring
author will become rich and famous. But emerging self-publishing trends can
help some talented writers who would have been buried in the “slush pile” under
the old system get the attention they deserve. The public that loves books
wins.
7. Were there experiences in your personal life
or career that came in handy when writing this book?
Having immigrated to the US from Germany at age 10, having lived
near the US-Mexico Border for most of my adult life, having the expertise of my
wife, co-author, and fellow psychologist who is also an immigrant all forms the
core of our books. The stories told to us by our clients, many fleeing
warn-torn countries, have had an additional and direct influence. These
experiences are not abstract but make immigration challenges as well as success
stories real and personal.
8. How would you describe your writing style?
Which writers or books is your writing similar to?
My default writing style is a bit academic. That comes from having
spent years publishing in scientific journals. But my ambition is to be
straightforward (less “supercalifragilistic”) so our books are accessible to
the general public. That is, after all, the reason we wrote them in the first
place. Having spent some early-career time as a freelance writer for
a local Gannett daily paper probably helps my style a bit. I can’t say with
certainty who my writing compares to. But I appreciate Dr. Mark Hyman’s ability
to present professional medical information in a way that is useful to the
general public.
9. What challenges did you overcome in the
writing of this book?
A primary challenge has been balancing a full private practice,
often involving lengthy clinical and forensic evaluations, with book writing
time. A second challenge has been learning the mysteries and intricacies of the
publishing game. Our native guide and book shepherd (David Wogahn from Author
Imprints) has been invaluable.
10. If people can buy or read one book this week
or month, why should it be yours?
Few people who address immigration have our combined personal and
professional backgrounds. This is a book for immigrants by
immigrants. In these books, you lean the real scoop.
About The Author: I was born in Berlin, Germany, and immigrated
to the US when I was 10 years old. At present, I’m a clinical and forensic
psychologist practicing in greater San Diego, California, and President of the
Group for Immigrant Resettlement & Assessment (GIRA). In addition, my
academic work has led to publications in peer-reviewed outlets such as Social
Science & Medicine, The American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Ethnicity
& Health, and the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Co-author
Dr. Rodríguez-Reimann immigrated from Mexico at age 15 and is also a clinical
psychologist as well as a GIRA co-founder. She has published in Ethnicity
& Disease, the Journal of Immigrant Health, and other
scientific outlets. For more info, please see: https://immigrantscreening.com/romo-books/
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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.
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