Interview With Inspirational Author Lana Shabdeen

1. What inspired you to write this book? 

My personal experience and what I went through. When I searched for answers I couldn't find a book that talked about what I was going through, no blogs, nothing... So I felt alone and crazy. Once  I figured it out I wanted to publish my book in hopes to help another reader not to feel alone. 

 

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

When I was about 38 I went through a rollercoaster of emotions but I didn't know what it was at first. I spent some time working with myself and trying to figure out what those emotions were all about.. After jotting down all that I felt I realized it was about me getting older, and we are not talking about 60s or 70s..  I was afraid to turn 40! This book for women that are nearing their 40s and that are going through those emotional changes and feel like the age is something very scary.  “Perfect 40!” is a book about women and the crazy emotions we go through at around 40 years of age. As I researched for support during this momentous life transition, I realized that while there are books out there on menopause and the physical changes we go through after 40, authors don’t talk about our emotional worlds – our fears, our insecurities, our anxiety. Perfect 40! discusses my emotional changes, how I navigated them, and how I learned courage in adversity – and how readers can, too. 

 

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

I hope my book provides that support that is needed. In the book I give readers “food for thought” so they can evaluate where they are at, what scares them, what they want to change, how to let guilt go, and more. This is a handbook for Millennial women who want help and encouragement during midlife trials and tribulations.

 

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

40 is a perfect age to do anything you want. It is not too late for anything!

 

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

Do your research, watch videos, read blogs, make your own choices! Don't waste your time. Be creative.

 

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

Audiobooks, ebooks are... Book publishing has changed a lot in the past 5 years. I think Publishing agents will eventually be gone as there is so much you can do on your own nowadays.

 

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

The book is my experience... Other than that experience which I discuss in my book, nothing came in handy from my career and past experiences. I had to learn all about writing to publishing to marketing a book all on my own. 

 

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

My writing style is very simple, it reads like I am talking to my friend. My goal is to connect with the reader and you cannot really do that if you complicate your writing and use a lot of big words. I don't compare myself to anyone really, as we all are very different. 

 

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

Learning the process. There is so much more than just writing down your story. There are so many details and so much you have to know if you want to take that story from a word document to a book!

 

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

Even though my book is mainly for Millennial women, I had men and women of different ages read it and absolutely enjoyed it. There is so much to read and get inspired from no matter who you are, how old you are and what you are going through. 

About The Author: Self-help and personal improvement have always been some of Lana Shabdeen’s deepest passions. As an ever-growing individual that never ceases to discover new aspects of herself, Lana devotes a significant part of her time and energy to searching for new ways to help people love themselves. Born in Uzbekistan, she came to California with her family at age 16. Since then, her life has been a rollercoaster of adventures and experiences. Before she gave in to her passion for literature and wrote her book, “Perfect 40!”, she had worked in customer service, medical and hospice care, and the legal sector. Her interactions with the world helped her develop an insightful look into people’s feelings, fears, and life perceptions. In her book, she combines all these experiences gained and lessons learned during her life to help others move forward, make peace with themselves, and thrive. When she is not searching for another of her blog posts, Lana loves spending quality family time with her husband, their daughters, and their cute dog at their home in California. For more info, please see:  www.lanashabdeen.com

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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 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.