1. What inspired you to write this book? This is actually my third published book, and
I wanted to prove to myself that I could produce something more light-hearted
and humorous than what was presented in previous stories. I also really needed
to challenge myself with something different at the time and was certainly
curious to find out just how far my creative outlet could go when unleashed.
2. What exactly is it about and who
is it written for? The Bronson Escapades is about a group of children, five
siblings, who keep getting themselves into trouble and causing scrapes. Each
child has a certain trait, for example, one of them always has their nose stuck
in a book while somehow remaining the most observant of all, and each chapter
in the story follows some combination of the family during their normal
day-to-day lives. I usually aim to write for children aged somewhere between
9-12 years, focusing on simple chapter books for those more confident in
reading alone, and this publication continues to follow suit.
3. What do you hope readers will get out
of reading your book? I am hoping that my
readers will be able to simply relax and have some fun with the witty dialogue,
complete with inexplicable bursts of laughter, while shaking their heads in
dismay or sympathizing with each character as they discover what sticky
dilemmas await them next.
4. How did you decide on your book’s title and
cover design? I used the word
‘escapades’ in the title to avoid the more common usage of ‘adventures’, while
also giving potential readers a broad hint into what the plotline of the book
might include with its similar meaning. I wanted to illustrate a barnyard scene
on the cover to signify where the children live, and then to help convey the
idea that it was definitely a place where people could easily imagine them
getting into all sorts of mischief on the farm.
5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have
for fellow writers – other than run!? Keep trying! It can be a rough road, full of potholes and bumps
on the way, but I think it’s important for authors to be able to write about
topics that inspire them, or that they’re passionate about, and really let that
shine through by staying true to themselves. Write what you know, but keep
challenging yourselves in new ways to get better at your craft. Always set
achievable goals to aim for. My last piece of advice would be to not let anyone
push you around – pursue the vision which you have for your own book and then
search out those that will help you get there!
6. What trends in the book world do you see --
and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I have noticed that general reading and
having physical volumes handy has become far less popular in recent years, but
I believe that books and the written word will always have an esteemed place in
society and that is going to help bring it back into accepted fashion at one
point or another.
7. Were there experiences in your
personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Yes and no. Inspiration for my stories
can come from anywhere and everywhere, but I cannot think of a single instance
that would signify much merely on its own. A lot of it comes down to what books
I have previously read and the knowledge I’ve gained simply from learning
through others.
8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing
similar to? My writing style is mostly narrative or descriptive – carefully
crafting my characters and plotlines to entice readers into their world as if
they were there in person, not merely observers. I usually love writing about
animals, especially dogs, and delving into the various bonds that can develop
between them and humans, but The Bronson Escapades is a little different and is
probably most similar in style and genre to some of Enid Blyton’s works which are
more relatable to middle-schoolers.
9. What challenges did you overcome in the
writing of this book? This is one of the
longest stories that I have ever written, and I found it a little challenging
to keep it engaging while still having to develop multiple characters at the
same time. It was also the first time I switched to using 3rd person
instead of 1st, thinking that point of view would be easier for
readers to follow when attempting to deal with several characters equally. By
mixing up various combinations of children that were portrayed in each
consecutive chapter and adding several unexpected twists, I was able to keep
the story moving forward, while remaining fresh and interesting to the reader.
10. If people can buy or read one book this week
or month, why should it be yours? It’s the best! Really though, I just wanted to write something
that would entertain readers, including adults, and keep them guessing so much
that they just have to turn over to the next page. And then the next…
About the Author:
I've been writing fictional short stories to share with friends and family for
almost as long as I can remember, and always enjoy exploring my creativity when
putting pen to paper - getting published has been a great way for me to develop
those writing skills even further and I am super grateful to have received such
a wonderful opportunity to share my love of writing with others. When I am not
busy writing, I like spending time exploring all the nearby parks with my pet
dog, Smoky. Other hobbies include playing trombone in a local band and working
diligently on my freelance photography business (Ali's Alley Photography) to
build up more interest and support on the side. For more information, please
see: https://www.austinmacauley.com/author/alison-bellringer
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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 3.9 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, BookCAMP, 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.
