Interview With Author D.M. Zultowski

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? I started writing it on the plane returning to the U.S. after touring Italy. The country is gorgeous and it has a sort of spirit to it. The sights, the structures, the people all contribute to its beauty. While walking through it, I knew there was a story there I just had to tell. I could not wait to get home and take the tale seriously!  

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? The story is about a priest, Fr. Maurice Lamoreaux, who has always kept his understanding of the world in the books he read. But when a father and son from his parish invite him to accompany them to Italy, he is apprehensive about stepping away from the shell he has built around himself. While he is in the new country, he meets the photographer, Isabelle, who has her own way of helping him enter the world in a new way. Soon, friendship and love is tested while Fr. Maurice remembers the words the monsignor spoke to him before he left: "That is why our Lord chose Italy for the center of our faith. Anywhere else, and we would die off from boredom."  

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I want them to know that we are always growing. Of course, fear can come with it as well as testing the relationships we already have . But we often find people along the way who can help us along.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? HAHAHA! A friend actually said it to me while we were having a conversation. I was so excited I pointed at her and said, "That's it!"  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Don't run. HAHAHA! I guess a lesson I still learn is that sometimes, what you are writing is not right for you. Plenty of times, I have started writing something, and kept it going for a while before I realized it was not my story to tell. That is not something to be ashamed of. There are a number of reasons why that story may not be right for you. Open yourself up to the one that is. What gets you excited? What feels right? If you love it, if you believe in it, if you want more of it, it's something to pursue.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?  I love the doors Kindles have opened for people. Being able to self publish electronically allows authors to get their work out there like never before.   

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?  I saw the places I wrote about.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I am very descriptive of scenery, people, and actions. I want the reader to see what they are reading. Authors I love are Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens, Jerry Stahl. Wow! So many others. I actually met Jerry Stahl at one of his book signings. I was so inspired and I still am whenever I think about it.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? I had a couple peers reading my final draft so they could give their approval before sending it out. What I said about rejection triples when you are waiting for your friends to tell you the truth.    

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? When I write, I like to give the reader something to think about. I want to write something that sticks. I love my readers, and this is my gift to them.  

About The Author: D.M. Zultowski was born in New Jersey, lived in Brooklyn for a number of years, and currently lives in Philadelphia. He studied Film and Media Arts at Temple University, and holds an M.Div. and an M.A. in theology. His first book "Earl Grey Mourning" was published under the name David Buffum in 2009. D.M. Zultowski is also an artist who works with toothbrushes and ink. For more info, please see: www.dmzultowski.com

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on LinkedIn. 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, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.4 million pageviews. With 4,600+ 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.