BookMarketingBuzzBlog: April 2024

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Interview With Inventive Children's Book Author David Armitage

1. What inspired you to write this book? The story evolved from a rather sad time in my son’s life, and through a simple comment one lockdown evening. My son and I had enjoyed many a story together as I had read to him almost every bedtime since he was born. One night, the little one stated that he didn’t want a story, his books were boring, and he just wanted to go to sleep, before turning and began staring at the wall. I was heartbroken and knew I had to do something. Through our love of stories, I suggested that perhaps I try to write a story, just for the two of us, with his name as one of the characters. This is where it all started. With a pen and paper, I began to create some ideas but also wanted to try and discretely incorporate some of the things he liked into the story. As he liked ‘The Avengers,’ I wanted to have a superhero theme. He also loved our dog, so a four-legged friend got included in the mix of ingredients which I then tried to put together to create an imaginative tale. It turned out that he really liked what I started writing so I carried on and slowly, my son began to smile again.

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? An adventure of a cornflake who was thrown out for being different but, it turns out he was special. Saved by a walking stick wielding, ninja granny, he is introduced to a team of other special cereals who must battle adversity to overcome ‘Colonel Cereal’s’ evil plan, and his crispy robot army, to save children from a world of boring breakfast. As the story was originally written to try and bring a smile to my own child, it is written for children to either enjoy reading themselves or, as I did at the time, have read to them over a few days due to its short, action packed, chapters.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Quite simply, I hope the story will bring a smile to another child’s face.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? Due to the nature of how I started to write the story, I wanted to make a character with the name of my child in it. As such, I began trying to associate the name ‘Connor’ with something. The character was where the whole story derived from and, as he had cereal for breakfast every day, ‘Connor the Cornflake’ had a ring to it and was something that I felt I could get creative with. As for the front cover. I wanted it to be bold, to stand out, and try to present a fun snapshot of the story between the covers which is why it contains the ‘Mighty Variety’ team, the flying cereal box powered by sugar cubes, ‘Colonel Cereal’ and, ‘Softie’ the dog. The hope was that it would draw the curiosity of both children, and adults alike.

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

As someone who never intended to write a story for the world to see, the advice is simple. Whatever prompts you to write something, believe in yourself, let your imagination flow; if you feel it, roll with it. You never know who you might inspire.

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? In a world speeding towards a reliance on AI, I fear this could lead to the prevention of future generations from fully utilizing their imagination, and stories becoming less humanized as a result. Children have the best imaginations; they can create a whole world of play through the simplest of things, they need to be nurtured and encouraged to express themselves, not funneled down a path of relying on processes designed to minimize human effort.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? ‘Connor the Cornflake’ was a culmination of experiences. The first being that I knew something was wrong with my child but, I had no idea as to how to help him. Through a mutual love of stories, I began thinking of what he enjoyed doing. He liked ‘The Avengers,’ LEGO, playing with toy soldiers, his dog, football (soccer), and numerous other things. How many of these could I include in the story so that when I read it to him, he would be able to connect with it? As I was going to read it to him, I also had to think of how I could make it something that I, as an adult, would find engaging. My challenge was to try and aid my child through his troubles, so I had to give it everything I had. If I was not able to get into it, how could I expect him to? This led me down a road of thinking of things that are enjoyed by both children, and adults. ‘Toy Story’ sprung to mind, something that children like but, also contains enough, subtle, adult humour that captivate even the biggest of kids.

All these things came together to try and make a story I hoped, would bring a smile to child’s face.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? Now this is an interesting question. Before writing the book, the last story I wrote would probably have been when I was at school. I had no creative writing experience, knowledge of the publishing world or, any idea as to where to start. As I do not take myself too seriously, I would have to put my writing style into the category of amateur, and that of a child. I mean the child element as a positive as my aim was to write something a child could understand and create a world of imagination therefore, I had to put myself in a child’s shoes (not literally of course). I think it would be disingenuous of me to associate myself with the writing styles of far superior children’s author’s, I am just a simple dad who tried to do something to help his child through a difficult time.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? The biggest challenge I had was myself. Having told my child I would write a story to try and cheer him up, I knew I had to get over the realization that I had no idea what I was doing or, where to start. I just had to open my mind, use my imagination, and start writing. Like many things in life, the more I wrote, the more confident I became. When I was ready to read my initial ramblings to my son one bedtime, I was even able to take criticism for the overuse of a name, or phrase, which was something he had learnt at school. I had to chuckle but, it was true. The result, however, was that he was totally engaged, immersed in the story, and by the time it was complete, thought it was the best story he had ever heard which of course, is a very biased opinion but the reward was the smile on his face. Good, bad, or indifferent I had completed what I had set out to achieve and in fact, there was a bonus in that it inspired him to start writing stories of his own. The first of his original creations, ‘The Adventures of Connor and Sparky,’ is due to be published on 26^th April, 2024.

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

Who wouldn’t be curious to know how a group of cereal ‘Avengers,’ led by a walking stick wielding, ‘Granny Granola,’ who fly around in a sugar cube powered cereal box, overcome a crispy robot army, and save children from a world of boring breakfast? A fast paced, action-packed adventure, that has brought a smile to at least one child’s face.

About The Author: Having read to his son at bedtime virtually every day, David Armitage wrote ‘Connor the Cornflake’ to try and help the child through a difficult time in his life following the loss of his grandmother, and COVID lockdown’s. A volunteer football (soccer) coach who enjoys dog walks, eating ice-cream, building LEGO, bike rides, and one day wants to tour the U.S. in a camper, David is simply a father who wants to have as many adventures as possible with his son before the day comes when it is no longer cool to hang out with dad.

For more info, please see: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552922877508 and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0CSG2NDLB

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Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with 3.6 million page views, 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!

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 3.9 million pageviews. With 4,900+ 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.

Interview With Author Brenda Helton

1. What inspired you to write this book? Since my book is based on my mother's family, she, along with my siblings, inspired me to write my book. Ever since I was a young girl, my mother would tell us stories of her family and childhood. The stories were eye-opening. She raised my sisters and I completely different than the way she was raised. She often told us that was purposeful. She never wanted us to grow up in a household like hers. She strived to do things differently (following traditions, importance of education, and general household atmosphere) than how she was raised. In 2010, I traveled to different cities in the U.S. to interview my mother's siblings. Of the six children, four were still living. I recorded each interview. At the time, I was in the second year of my Master's program, still had three teenage daughters at home, and was teaching full time. Consequently, the book got put off for several years. I kept promising that I would begin writing the book when I retired. However, when I retired in 2014, my first grandchild was born. Again, I put off writing my book. I went from teaching high school, to babysitting grandchildren for the next seven years. My mother, my aunts and uncles, and my siblings were a constant reminder that I needed to move forward with the book based on their family. They had a strong conviction that the story of my grandmother Grace, and God's Grace that covered the family, needed to be broadcast for the world to read, and be encouraged.

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? If It Hadn't Been For Grace, is a novel with a key. In other words, it's a novel based on a true story with a fiction overlay. It's a historical novel, covering 40 years (1918-1958), of an Italian family living in the Midwest. Grace is a young, timid, girl of fifteen working in her parent's boarding house. One summer, an Italian immigrant, Gio Rivia, arrives at her family's boarding house to rent a room. Grace and Gio fall in love, and marriage quickly follows. Gio is a strong-willed, visionary type of man. He's bold, knows what he wants, and aggressively moves forward to reach his goal. Not much stops him. Initially, all of these strong, confident, characteristics attract Grace to Gio. She loved that he was everything she was not. Until, she matures, and his boldness overwhelms her. Grace becomes ill. She can no longer take care of the house, and children as Gio demands. Without Grace's consent, Gio moves his widowed sister into the house to help out with cooking, cleaning, and caring for the children. Sophia is as bold and demanding as her brother. Together, they rule the household. Grace, nor the grown children, have any input. Sophia's indiscretions complicate the already scrambled family. Twists and turns in the household occur as Grace becomes more and more ill, and ultimately bedridden. As she listens and watches her family falling apart from her upstairs bedroom, all she has the power to do is pray that God's grace covers her children into their adult years. This book is written for adults.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope readers will walk away feeling encouraged that God's grace will cover you in times of difficulty. Prayer is important, and powerful. Continue to pray in the good times and the bad times. God is listening, even when you don't think He is.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? I decided on the book's title because Grace was the name of my grandmother, and the book is about God's grace that covered her children when all she could do was pray for them while up in her bedroom, bedridden. I chose a cover design with a reflection of the word GRACE to emphasize the double meaning of the word Grace.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? My advice is to keep going. Try and try again. You are never too old to try something new. If it's your passion, go for it. Let it lead and motivate you. Make it happen. If you are stuck, or confused about a direction for your book, take a twenty-four-hour break, and come back to it. You'll see a difference when you return to your writing.

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I see more and more people reading electronically. However, there are still "paper-turners" out there that like to dog-ear pages, and use a book mark too. I think both realms will continue. Afterall, publishers need to satisfy all the various types of readers.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Yes. All the years I listened to my mother's stories of her life growing up with a bedridden mother, and an indiscreet aunt in her home all came in handy when painting the picture and tone of my book.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? My writing style includes focusing on a character, or a family, and following them through decades of their lives building a true bond between the character/family and the reader. I often hear responses from my book's readers saying that they didn't want the book to end. They wanted more time with the character/family. They felt the bond that I was trying to capture.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? The biggest challenge in writing this book was changing the real names to fake names. The whole set of names, places, cities, states, schools, and colleges had to be changed three times. It's a long story, but in doing that, typos in the draft were made. Fourteen to be exact. The original edited draft was fine, but once all the name changes came about, other words became incorrect. I am glad my second book had no names to be changed. The editing process was much easier.

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

People should buy my book because it's a true story. True stories are a gem on the bookshelf. It's real information that someone somewhere lived and survived. It's an interesting read when you read it with the idea in your mind that what you're reading really happened.

About The Author: Brenda Helton is an author of encouraging Christian fiction generated from personal life experiences of love, loss, and lessons learned. Born and raised in the Midwest, Brenda is a retired school teacher that dedicated thirty-five years of service in the public-school setting. She started writing books ten years after she retired. For more info, please see: http://www.christianfaithpublishing.com/books/?book=if-it-hadn't-been-for-grace

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Interview With Author Dawn House

1. What inspired you to write this book?

When I purchased a falling-down cabin, I had no idea of the extraordinary stories that lay buried in its walls. My research centered on old documents that had once papered the walls and ceilings. I had planned to build a new home in Torrey, the gateway town to Utah’s Capitol Reef National Park. I decided to restore the cabin instead, after learning about the people connected to the town’s original home: A frontier scout who nearly died leading a wagon train into wildlands near Monument Valley, the iconic site of several Western movies. A man who had fought in the Civil War under George Armstrong Custer. A woman married to a horse thief killed in a prison break. And an old man who risked his life to stop one of the largest massacres in U.S. history. Their forgotten stories needed to be told.

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

The book is for anyone fascinated with the Old West. Settlers’ stories tell of rugged red-rock county in the Colorado Plateau – which encompasses four states, and includes the Grand Canyon to the south, Zion National Park to the west, Canyonlands National Park to the east, and to the north, Capitol Reef - one of Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks. The settlers’ stories are important to our understanding of this red-rock country. The great Western writer Wallace Stegner wrote: “The land is not complete without its human history and associations. Scenery by itself is pretty sterile.”

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

Only 1 million people live in the Colorado Plateau, a tiny minority that can easily be overcome by big money interests connected to oil, mining and development. I’m hoping people will learn about our parks and national monuments, visit them, and help protect these wondrous – fragile lands.

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

The isolated hardscrabble outpost, later named Torrey, was originally called Poverty Flat. Pioneers labored to farm its alkaline, rocky soil. Many gave up and moved on. It was a familiar story of the Old West. Settlers moved often to look for better grazing, more water, and a better life. Those who stayed in Poverty Flat remain poverty stricken, but overhead they were surrounded by towering stone mountains that lifted souls. The renowned Utah artist, Ken Baxter, painted the cabin before I had restored it. He graciously allowed me to use his painting for my book’s cover.

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

Look for answers to satisfy your curiosity. When I purchased the historic cabin, the town had lost the memory of its early settlers. It took several weeks of research to discover who they were – and years to uncover their stories. Friends told me before I began writing that I needed to get accustomed to rejection and I shouldn’t plan to make money. I wrote for the joy of learning about early settlers and telling their journeys of discovery.

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

Utah is a tiny market, with few publishing options. I turned to Amazon and took advantage of several workshops to learn about the publishing field. Today’s publishing world has dramatically changed, with its preference for established writers, politicians, and celebrities. Now, many new authors must fend for themselves. I found support, however, at bookstores, such as Barnes & Noble, which agreed to stock my books, and to sponsor book signings.

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

The Utah Territory could be a violent, unforgiving, and ruthless place. I worked the crime beat at the state’s largest newspaper, The Salt Lake Tribune, for 30 years. I wrote about some of the stories on my beat for my book, showing how the state’s early beginnings laid the groundwork for modern-day Utah.

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

My style is my own. I am a trained journalist: I strive for clarity, to quickly get to the point, and to weave together threads for an interesting story. My goal is to allow the facts to speak. My inspiration as a writer comes from my good friend, Tom Zollner, winner of the 2020 National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction and Finalist for the Bancroft Prize. Tom is a master storyteller.

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

The most difficult part of writing the book was including my personal stories. My father drowned trying to save a man’s life. My brother was a police officer killed in the line of duty. I had to revisit some of my most painful memories. I also remembered the loved ones who patiently stood by me in those dark times. I resisted writing about myself, but people I trusted told me that if I didn’t, my book would never be published.

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

My book describes the importance of the Colorado Plateau, the last and largest dark sky region in the nation. People from around the world – many who have never seen the starts – travel here to see the Milky Way and our universe. At the same time, Western politicians are pushing to downsize or eliminate federal public lands. There’s hope: President Joe Biden restored boundaries to the massive Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument – after President Donald Trump drastically reduced its size. Today, we need knowledgeable, caring friends.

About The Author: Dawn House graduated from Brigham Young University, studying English and history, and completed graduate classes in communication at the University of Utah. She was a University of Utah adjunct professor and Journalist-in-Residence at Utah State University. House worked in the newspaper business for 35 years, including 30 years at Utah’s largest newspaper, The Salt Lake Tribune. She was a reporter and editor, covering courts, crime, and politics. She received a Pulitzer nomination for her coverage of the forger/killer Mark Hofmann. For more info, please see: www.TorreyTales.com

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Interview With Author Chris Appleby

1. What inspired you to write this book? Initially I was planning on producing a cartoon series about a chef. I drafted up the comic strip where the chef makes a giant mud cake and then falls into it… after that there was no coming back and the comic strip came to a halt or you could say it became death by chocolate! I remember eating a meal at a restaurant and my wife went to the bathroom upon returning she commented that the chef left the bathroom without washing her hands. I mentioned that I had noticed on many occasions when I was washing my hands guys would walk in and walk out of the bathroom without washing their hands. One of my heroes the cartoonist, Gary Larson from Far Side did a comic of a clown walking out of a bathroom and everyone in the restaurant turned around to look at him because of the big alarm and lights on the bathroom door had alerted all the patrons that he didn’t wash his hands. A few years later at the start of the pandemic we were in ‘staycation’ and I came across my collection of drawings and noticed my sketches of chefs … it developed into a passion to produce a children’s book.

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? It is about two chefs. Chef Burt Oast’s friend Henri Feta forgets to wash his hands. Chef Burt and the wash force team show how to wash our hands correctly! Readers are encouraged to follow the eyeful butterfly and help remind Henri by saying, “Whoa Wash Your Hands” every time he forgets! There is a simple card game at the back of the printed book for children to play to reinforce the learning. The book was written for children around 7 years of age. My grand daughter, Tilly was this age when I wrote and sent the initial draft for her and my daughter to read.

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? I hope that parents who read the story to their children and children who read the book will remember when and how to wash their hands correctly. Hopefully it will instill a culture of hand washing in years to come. Washing hands will reduce infection and disease.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? Deciding on the book’s title took a lot of pondering, I tried different titles … Stop Wash Your Hands, wasn’t working for me … but when I came up with Whoa ! I thought it was more powerful and it gave me the idea that I could use it to write several titles of ‘Whoa… books. The cover was intended to be my take on the ‘famous Uncle Sam’ poster …. We want you for the armed services.

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Haha .. yes run crossed my mind! or ‘Become a hermit for awhile!’ Lock yourself away and enjoy writing/illustrating without distractions. On a more serious note; read and listen to advice of others, be patient, persist, have confidence in what you write but at the same time be a little critical, question how you can do it better (I still think that I would change things even though this book is published) Dedicate time after writing the book to follow up and connect with stores and social media… (I know I need to dedicate a lot more time to these things!) It also really helps to have a partner/wife who is understanding that you need to ‘hermit-a-fy’ yourself to get working on your book/s or keeping your website up to date. Additionally, I am really fortunate that my wife is my best resource for proof reading and talking about crazy ideas! Find an audience, for my children’s books I test my ideas out on my grand-children. They are the best critics. Sometimes you find yourself surprised or inspired. I received a photo of a young boy from Geneva Switzerland reading my book and it looked like he was enjoying it…and having others connecting with you about your book in a positive way this gives me a ‘buzz and encourages me to want to pursue my ideas for other books.

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? To be honest, I could be better informed or research the trends on where the book publishing industry is heading. What I have noticed which drives my passion for physical books is, that children’s books are trending towards physical and away from device reading. The hands-on approach to books, that have multiple messages and some interaction to promote imagination and critical thought, seems to be trending in the book and early educational world. Knowing what interests my readers or potential readers are interested in would be a benefit. There is lots of competition and I think from observation lots more books for children available than when I was child. I am glad that more bookstores are starting to appear again. There was a time when many bookstores had closed down due to the popularity of online books. I remember my wife and I really enjoyed walking to the local book store in the city, and enjoying a very large book store with a cafe and it was great to get a coffee and browse the shelves, particularly on wet afternoons. We look forward to our trips to the bookstore again.

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? I teach a smorgasbord of subjects over the years and still do.. ranging from Food Studies, Graphic, Industrial, Architecture Design, Photography, Art and Digital Literacy. I think some of the skills I have acquired have helped. I had a friend many years ago who wanted me to write an art book but I created and produced a board game instead This gave me some idea of the effort required in the production of a book.

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I think my writing style is light hearted with a message! When writing I have a tendency to have a series of flow charts in my mind… questioning myself about my characters and the events that take place… e.g. if this happens, then the story could go down this way or on another path. I tend to think ahead a whoa series. … Whoa What’s Going On Your Plate, looking at what is healthy to eat, Whoa That’s Not Safe, encouraging safe play, Whoa That’s Very Good, about being a good friend and a kind person. I have always been a fan of Dr Seuss - an oldie but a goodie. However, there are many great children’s books out there…the author Giles Andreae - Giraffe’s can’t dance. Is a favorite.

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Finding a publisher. We have a saying down this way .. ‘Don’t give up your day job! It is normally used in sarcasm e.g. when you hear someone singing and they aren’t that good! So, a challenge was to have faith in what I had written and illustrated to move forward and find a publisher.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? I would like to hope that people want to read their children or have their children read a book with a message. Hopefully parents will appreciate the importance of washing hands and see my book as a bit of fun, maybe one day, Whoa Wash Your Hands! Will be a catch phrase like Homer Simpson’s ‘d’Oh!”

About The Author: Chris Appleby lives on beautiful Phillip Island in Victoria, Australia. He has been a Graphic Design and Food Studies teacher for many years. He is currently working on several books for children. Chris is a practicing artist and designer. Several years ago, he produced a board game called ‘Forgery’. He can say that he sold forgeries to art galleries. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, cooking and riding motorcycles and hopes that his adventures can soon be the imaginative adventures of the children he hopes to entertain. For more info, please see: Https://chrisappleby.ampbk.com/#author

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Monday, April 29, 2024

When Book \Marketing Is Taxing

Having recently filed my taxes, like millions of Americans, I feel dread weeks and months leading up to it — and then relief afterwards. I realize a lot of authors must feel the same way about marketing themselves and promoting their books.

Here is what helped me get through the tax process — and what could be done to assist you in surviving, maybe even thriving in the book publicity arena:

1. Outsource — Just as you hire a CPA to do your taxes, utilize a professional book marketer with a sound reputation. Both may have good advice on how to plan for the future.

2. Research — It is good to learn about tax breaks and laws so that you know what to do or ask for. Same with book marketing. Read up on what you can. Knowledge is power.

3. Advice — Ask your friends about who they use for their taxes or about any unique strategies and approaches taken. Similarly, ask other writers what they are doing to publish and promote their books.

4. Gather Documents — One way to feel empowered when doing your taxes is to make a checklist of the documents and information that are needed to get the job done. Same for your book marketing. Get your press kit, website, and social media links in order. Gather your lists of people that you plan to approach, such as bookstores, news media outlets, influencers, and libraries.

5. Set Goals — Remind yourself of what you are trying to accomplish — overall and each day. Stay focused on them. Identify hard deadlines and mini-deadlines leading up to them.

6. Demystify — No need to feel overwhelmed. Plenty of idiots market books and get their taxes done. You’ve got this. Don’t stress over the unknown or unfamiliar. Ask questions and get help.

7. Avoidance — We all run to distractions and addictions, from food, booze and vaping to social media, gambling, or shopping, to help us forget or ignore what really needs to be done. Recognize what you are doing and simply stop undermining yourself. Do one thing that will help you. Then another. And another.

8. Sleep — You need to sleep well. The key is to not worry and focus on fears of what needs to get done but rather to just spend your energy, time, and mindshare on actually doing things.

Though death and taxes are inevitable, for writers, so is book marketing. Do your best to overcome the things that beat us up but don’t have to.

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