Interview With Author Brian Starr

  

1.      What inspired you to write this book? 

My daughter is the one who inspired me to brave the journey. I have always dreamed of becoming a writer, and until now, that's exactly all it has been-a dream. When my daughter was born, I went to my father to express that I was finally ready to take writing seriously and chase after that dream, but while holding my newborn (and in front of my wife, no less), he quickly discouraged me by saying I'd never be successful at it and I would be foolish to think anything else. In the kindest words he could find at the time to express his true feelings on the subject, he basically told me I did not have the talent. Deep down, I knew I needed the experience to learn and grow, and I knew I would make mistakes along the way, but it was still a shot to the gut to hear that from a parent. I guess I expected support, at the very least, and hoped for it. But that was not what I received. That was twelve years ago, and he still has nothing nice to say- nothing to say at all, really, not a single comment. He hasn't even read my book. So, while my daughter remains my inspiration, my father's negative words and lack of support sure helped to light a fire. : ) 

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

Martha May McKenzie and The Magic Cake Big Mistake was written solely for entertainment. With everything going on in the world today, I didn't want to focus on anything too serious, so I came up with a fun page-turning adventure I thought my daughter would enjoy and kept it lighthearted and fun-though the second book of Martha is delving into a more serious tone, with more magic and adventure and new characters and new twists-BIG TWISTS-involving Mr. Fergusson of the Tasty Treat and Lucas and Trinity's Father.  

I wrote this book for my daughter. She is the inspiration behind everything I do. She was also a part of the writing process, and she even helped me with some of the illustrations. I love her creative feedback. When writing for kids, I find that their feedback is gold.  

I lost my best friend at a young age, and I still think about him to this day. I tell my daughter of our adventures as young children and all the mischief we would get into and worry we would cause our parents, but I don't have anything of his to remind me of him, only memories. As a writer, whether I make it big or not or am able to turn my writing into a full-time paying job, I want my daughter to have more than just memories of me. I want her to be able to have something that I created, something that was all me so that when she is having a bad day or feeling blue or even wants to remember something good, she can grab one of my books and hold it close and know that she is and will always be loved dearly. I want her to always have a piece of me. My next book, (The Missing Children Of Blackwood) is told by a little girl named DaPhne Planter, and I actually based the character %100 on her. My daughter even came up with the title of my third book (in the works now) titled, The Own Meister. 

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

Honestly, I simply hope it entertains and makes whoever is reading feel something while they read-a smile, a chuckle, a laugh-anything positive will be a win for me. And if a child reads my book and is inspired to become a writer, storyteller, or illustrator because of it or finds inspiration of any kind-well, then wow, I knocked it out of the park!  

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

I went through so many ideas until, for whatever reason, I thought about someone I went to high school with and how his name, first, middle, and last, began with all M's, and it sounded fun to do as a title. So I just had fun with it until it sounded right. As far as the cover goes, I had an image in my head of how I wanted it to look, and I reached out to very talented artists on Fiverr (Dee Nugraha @neosalamana), and she brought it to life. She is amazing! I have used her for all three of my book covers thus far. 

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

I am nobody to give advice. I am still learning myself. But if I were to say anything, I would say stay true to yourself and write what makes you happy (otherwise, it will feel like a job). 

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

I don't really follow any trends, and I have even managed to stay off of social media (against everyone's suggestion that I should absolutely be on social media). 

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

My imagination and sense of fun came in handy when writing this book. My next book, The Missing Children of Blackwood, is told in the first person and written for an older age group than Martha May McKenzie (not much older, but older). And while I enjoyed every minute I put into creating, writing, and developing the book, it wasn't the same as my first. My wife thinks it will garner a bigger audience because of its horror genre and that young kids and older kids alike can read it. But writing Martha May McKenzie was simply pure fun. It was almost as if I, myself, got to be a kid again with every word I typed.  

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

I almost feel like I would be insulting other writers if I compared myself to them. There are so many talents in the world that I don't even feel I compare. That being said, I thought it was beyond a marvelous dream come true that the US Review of Books compared my work to that of none other than Roald Dahl. What an honor!  

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

Honestly, the only challenges I had to face, and still face, were my own self-doubts (Am I good enough? Will readers like it? Will critics like it? Will I get a publisher or agent?). I grew up in a time when having Tourette syndrome was like having leprosy. I myself have always found it to be my superpower, but to my teachers and others who didn't understand or didn't want to understand, I was nothing more than a problem or a weird kid. So, I've never really had anyone in my corner until I met my wife, and we had our daughter. But even with both of their full support, it is hard to get a lifetime of negative voices out of your head and see any worth within yourself. Writing helps. 

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

Why not? : )  

About The Author: Growing up, I had a BIG imagination! I enjoyed telling stories and drawing pictures, and I absolutely loved to make people laugh. That often got me into trouble because I couldn't make everyone laugh. In the eighth grade, one of my teachers found me to be too distracting. She never laughed once. You can bet I was surprised when I walked into class one morning to find that my desk had been completely boxed in, using a large cardboard refrigerator box. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. Seems that teacher thought it would be a quick fix just to separate me from my "audience." True story. But it didn't work . . . I escaped! For more information, please see: www.BrianStarr.com  

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2024. 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 3.6 million pageviews. With 4,800+ 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 director of publicity positions 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 hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, Morgan James Publishing, 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. His first published book was The Florida homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.