Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Interview With Parenting Expert Author Alice Brock

 



1. What inspired you to write this book?

I was inspired by how helpful positive discipline was for me, both personally and professionally. As a parenting coach and a family therapist, you can imagine how scientific my education was, and how much research I read. However, the bulk of research is often done in controlled circumstances and environments. For example, we measure the effectiveness of certain parenting or education approaches not in everyday situations, but instead as a part of projects or workshops. These activities are typically a bit of an event for families, so everyone involved is inclined to act somewhat differently than they normally do: parents are more relaxed and children are more cooperative. Looking at what we base professional knowledge on, I noticed that, except for marginalized, impoverished, and other families going through struggles, there was something specific about research participants, and it was the proclivity toward education and interest in parenting. For the longest time, I was contemplating how we base our perception of parenting on results obtained from parents who don’t live an average life. To set aside time to participate in these studies, and for the topic itself to matter that much, are not typical traits. A few authors measured how helpful their recommendations were in everyday circumstances, and for me, this is one of the major reasons why families still struggle so much, despite the abundance of resources. Not to say that I don’t trust research—I do, but I don’t think that an average parent can read a research-based book or blog post and know how to apply that to real life. So, I wanted to provide my readers with something simple and practical that’s both backed up by science and tested in practice.

 

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

How to Make Your Kids Mind With Positive Discipline is for all parents. Regardless of your age or the ages of your children, your marital status, your spiritual or religious beliefs, or your political views, this book helps you live through a better tomorrow. I specifically worked to account for diverse perspectives, and to only include advice that would not clash with anyone’s beliefs.

 

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

A smile on their face, restful sleep, positive reinforcement, and more enjoyable family life. I really, truly regret that the concept of the modern family has become synonymous with suffering. It doesn’t have to be like that: you get to choose what your life will look like no matter how many kids you have.

 

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

I was aiming to give off a positive, encouraging vibe. The emphasis is on a gentle, loving relationship between a parent and a child that’s reflected in the book, while the title aims to use simple terms to convey a complex topic. The cover design aims at sending the core message that a child who misbehaves is a child who needs guidance. Sometimes, they need help with figuring out what to do, and other times, they need a better way to express their thoughts and feelings. The question mark implies how endlessly curious a child is, but also confused and often frightened. A mind poses the question, and the parent’s best role is to provide the answer.

 

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

Ha ha. :) Run and don’t look back!!! Just kidding. I wish there were more authentic ideas in parenting literature. I’m talking about writers choosing to give their bold takes on a topic, regardless of whether or not their view aligns with popular beliefs. Believe in yourself and believe that your idea is worth exploring.

 

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

I am noticing an increase in “how-to” books and manuals, and it does feel like literature is becoming minimalistic in a way. We aim to provide useful value, no fluff, and I appreciate that.

 

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

I am a mother to two wonderful children who chose not to suffer. I vowed to embrace happiness and not complicate my own life by trying to make it Pinterest-perfect, and I do the same for the families I work with. As a family therapist and a parenting coach, I help parents navigate all sorts of challenges, and I choose to evaluate my effectiveness through the improved well-being of my clients and positive changes in their behavior. I am that person who will sit people down and come up with a strategic plan for what we’ll do to achieve certain results, and that’s how we know we’re doing the right thing. Over time, I became more confident in my results, so I thought it would be helpful to share the knowledge.

 

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

I haven’t given that much thought, to be honest. I write with the reader in mind, and use the tone and style that I normally use when talking to people. I like a more conversational, light-hearted style that doesn’t feel too formal or prescriptive.

 

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

Children’s age groups in particular were a struggle, because I initially structured the book by different areas to work on. Each strategy demanded adjustment by age, so I had to dig even deeper into research than I had anticipated. It was worth it, though!

 

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

How to Make Your Kids Mind With Positive Discipline will help you understand what exactly you need to change in your daily functioning and how to do it right away. You will never again feel as though you can only read a book once your children go to bed, because, after reading this book, you will know how to get them to understand your need for some alone time. Additionally, you will learn how to better steer their energy and focus, and to shape their daily lives in harmony between their own temper and everyone else’s wants and needs. You will get a pretty good idea about what familial happiness looks like, and even better, you’ll know how to get there yourself.

 

Author Bio: Alice Brock, a passionate author, and expert in pedagogy, specializes in family counseling and parent coaching. Her empathetic approach and practical strategies help parents navigate challenges, foster healthier connections, and promote positive child development. Her captivating book combine research-backed insights with relatable anecdotes, empowering readers to create nurturing environments for children's holistic growth. For more info, please see: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Alice-Brock/author/B0C855VMSY

 

"If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten..

COMEDIAN GEORGE CARLIN

 

"The fundamental cause of trouble is that... the stupid are cocksure, while the intelligent are full of doubt."

PHILOSOPHER BERTRAND RUSSELL

 

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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.  

 

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