What Will Be In The Word Museum Of The Future?

 

  

Every year brings us new words, often reflecting the changes and transitions of culture, technology, and invention. Ebonics, Spanglish, textspeak, and GenZisms sprout new ways to say what we feel, think and do. These words reflect the acts, beliefs, norms, and knowledge of the day. So, for all of the new words coming about, what becomes of the words from the past that no longer are in use - where do they go? 

One author, Jeffrey Kacirk, has found a home for them in his published book, The Word Museum: The Most Remarkable English Words Ever Forgotten. The book was published in 2000, nearly a quarter-century ago. Think of how many new words have come about since then with the Internet, social media, diversity, globalization, and the smart phone. 

Now think about words that got displaced over that same time period. There’s little reason to keep around words that reflect things that are no longer in use, that no longer capture the views and feelings they originally elicited, and that would seem to be lost in today’s society.  

Words are always behind the times. They come after the thing they define existed. For instance, you didn’t have a word to describe a skyscraper or a motorcar until such things came to be. Any resulting behaviors or related objects and inventions would need new words to describe them, too. Whole professions and industries would develop as a result, fostering the need for new words to adequately reflect the expanded landscape.  

There are still many things and concepts that will need to be labeled and named. Perhaps the size of our dictionary will double over the next century. Think about that. For this to happen, it would mean we may only know half of what the 100-year future holds, or does it simply mean that each generation knows the newest version of the world but lacks a practical capacity to retain knowledge or know of the past, just as we today, would not know from many of the words in The Word Museum. 

Some words go out of use simply because they reflect things that are no longer in use. Others describe things that do exist today, but perhaps got replaced by a different word. Why did “haggersnash” disappear?  It means “a spiteful person.” We still have such people, don’t we? 

Admittedly “slut” sounds better than the outmoded “hurrion.” 

One word, “lant,” which is used to describe “stale urine,” is an odd concept to begin with, one seemingly not needing a word. One word that should come back, describes being over powered by fatigue: “quanked.”  

One word that could describe me well, “quidnune,” means “an inquisitive person, always seeking for news,” but it is no longer in use.  Same goes for “one who talks or disputes on any object, “a quodlibetarian.” I also like “ramfeezled,” to describe one who exhausts oneself with work.  

Many words that are no longer in use seemed to revolve around drinking alcohol or matters pertaining to marriage and sex. For instance: 

methomania = an irresistible desire for intoxicating substances

adulteine = a child born of an adulteress

barley-child= a child born of wedlock but which makes its advent within six months of marriage 

bedswerver= an adultress, one who swerves from the fidelity of the marriage bed

bleezed= signifies the state on one whom intoxicating liquor begins to operate 

blinked-beer= bad beer

brandy= checks the palsy in the leg in consequence of hard drinking 

buckswanging = a punishment used by grinders and the other workmen for idleness and drunkenness 

clamberskull = a heady liquor (quite strong)

potvaliant = heated with courage from strong drink 

minnock= a favorite darling who is the object of one’s affection  

Some words no longer in vogue seem perfectly relevant for today, such as these: 

jack-at-a-pinch = a man whose services are used only on an emergency  

cabobble = to mystify, puzzle, or confuse 

cag-mag= unwholesome or inferior meat

ninnybroth = popular name for coffee 

gutterblood= those who have been brought up in the immediate neighborhood of each other  

One word, pornocracy, struck me as one ahead of its time. It describes how prostitutes and the dominating influence of courtesans impacted the government of Rome and elections to the papacy throughout the first part of the tenth century.  

Here’s a word whose time hopefully has passed, used to describe a custom of certain cannibal tribes that prohibited the eating of persons of their own tribe; exophagy. 

And finally, here’s a word that faded from its historical reference to be co-opted into today’s slang: glory hole. 

It used to be “a place for rubbish or odds and ends, as a housemaid’s cupboard or a lumber room.” Now it’s just a crude term for one’s ass. It’s interesting to see how language evolves and morphs into relevancy or obscurity. 

Wordsmiths will enjoy The Word Museum. Many of these linguistic fossils reflect a time and place in culture and history that should not be forgotten so quickly. These expressions and phrases offer a deeper understanding into how life used to be and allow us to see the nature of how language illustrated the customs and inventions of days long gone.  

You can see how our present and the immediate past will be obliterated by the future. There may come a time when generations of other centuries forward will have little capability to really feel for what life was like now. As we march towards the technofication of humanity, where more robotic parts, laboratory cocktails, and new elements invade our body, the very notion of what it used to mean to be human will sound so foreign to the 22nd century world. We will seem like cavemen compared to what the new hybrid humans will be like. They will be bigger, stronger, live longer, smarter, and more agile. They will be a blend of human and manufactured components, mixed in with drugs that will cure what kills us now. 

This book of abandoned words stirs great feelings inside of me. It shows me how the past gets extinguished and how such worlds are becoming harder and harder to be understood by present and certainly future generations. Language shows us our limits. If we don’t have words to define and describe all that there is or could be, we are not progressing as fast as we could or should.  

We should create a dictionary of imagination, to describe the uninvented. This bookkeeping of concepts, theories, and dreams will help us convert the imagined into the real. Many people thought of traveling to the stars many, many centuries, perhaps millennia, before we landed on the moon in 1969. In order to create something, we have to at least visualize its possibility. 

There will also come a time when what we visualize comes true and then unimagined offshoots or combinations of offshoots will then yield even more inventions, each bringing in a tidal wave of new behaviors, beliefs, and activities, all of them needing a word to describe them. 

Perhaps the best inventions and discoveries come by accident, from miscalculations, and from outright failure of some other intended consequence. There should be a word to describe that. 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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 5,000+ 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.

 

Interview With Author Bret Cargile

 

  

1.What inspired you to write this book? Ambition. I am a creative person. From childhood I was encouraged to be so. I was taught that creativity was immensely desirable and was a valuable commodity in its own right. Perhaps my teachers were naive. This book (the first of two in series) took me about twelve years to complete. Not that I could not have finished something sooner, but that I picked a nonfiction genre that demanded a declarative poise or sang·froid. This choice forced me to do a great deal of research into subjects with which I was unfamiliar. One question would lead to another, then another. My approach was often autodidactic. But learning was the fuel that fed the flames of writing.  

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? It's about rounding out an individual in ways to ensure his or her comfortable survival; potentially a reference book for use in an upcoming age of chaos perhaps. Navigation, food preservation and plant chemicals, in this 1st volume. It's partially about teaching self-reliance. High School equivalency youth is the target audience. It was envisioned as a textbook, similar to a cross between a BoyScout Manual and an Army Field Manual. Both manuals were once full of images and understandable explanations.  

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Respect for responsibility. Self-reliance. Their own survival.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? Since I am somewhat of a graphics artist, the cover design came easy. The general layout was done over a decade ago and I have on display @ my website, the evidence to prove it. From time to time in the succeeding years I would spend some evenings tweaking the images with the computer. Deciding upon a decent title however was just the opposite. It took a decade to decide on the title. (Also explained on the Intro page of my blog).  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers– other than run!? Keep the faith. Keep pouring love into your project. Take it easy on the sipping wiskey. Avoid AI like a plague. I've no personal experience with AI but I suspect that touching it once will lead you down a stray path and cause your integrity to wither. Like smoking that first cigarette can lead to an addiction that can't be stopped.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? AI. I hope it never comes to pass, but I perceive that artificial intelligence will wipe out creative writing. Many people in the modern writing world are already leaning heavily upon crutches like ChatGPT. That's cheating; that's wrong. These people have thrown the thesaurus out the window. They have neither ethics nor pride. Others are compelling a new generation of aspiring writers to embrace AI. The algorithms are improving daily. Today while only a portion of someone's writing might be AI generated; tomorrow it might be all. Who desires a book that was written by an inanimate machine?  

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? In my early life, I was surrounded by educated people but far from any town or city. I came from a family of educators and they had educated peers for friends, that visited. Long ago and far away I payed off part of my tuition by working as a student librarian. That university at the time possessed one of the larger libraries in the nation with over 10 million books, housed in eight different buildings around campus. The branch that I worked in mostly, was like a three story Walmart Super Center. If that allusion misses the mark, then imagine three floors with 2-3 acres of floor space each, crowded with bookshelves packed from floor to ceiling. Literally millions of books in the same room or building; almost as far as the eye can see. (The British Library and Library of Congress both, catalog more than 170 million works each). An additional estimated 2.2 million new titles are published worldwide each year. It's depressing. It is dispiriting to realize the enormity of it all. That there is so much creativity and human cognition already in print, that you can never see nor fully appreciate, let alone compete with it all. And yet we try. I was brought up as gentry almost, on an isolated cattle ranch. I've lived in a few cities over the years but utterly despise the congestion. My attitude derives from an expectation of privacy I suspect. When leaving home to enter the job market, I was attracted to the most exciting & most dangerous outdoor activities that I could find (outside of joining the military that is). This experience comes in handy when writing my type of book. But blue-collar occupations also lead to the parroting of fowl language and the conducting of mundane conversations sometimes.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? I am attracted to many ideals of the stoic philosophy. I've read several Earnest Hemingway novels, practically every western dime novel that Louis L'Amour ever wrote and practically nothing that Winston Churchill wrote outside of several of his famous quotations. I know very little about literary science or literary studies. Yet I perceive that these aforementioned men advocated the use of short words, brevity of speech and terse prose. I can only aspire to do as well.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Learning the intricacies of a complicated word processor, was an aggravating challenge to surmount.  

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? I'm biased here. If society were to collapse tomorrow (from potential reasons mentioned in the book) city people (as I like to call them) are toast. They are unlikely to endure (for reasons mentioned) and therefore have no need for survival advice. But one third of the 500 page book is dedicated to sorting out both lawful and licit psychoactive drugs. 'Big Pharma' has scandalous power and resources. The history of medicine is replete with chemical concoctions extracted solely from natural plants. Subjects that should appeal to some city people. The information won't waste a reader's time.  

About The Author: Not discussing my biography is a hallmark of my website and a gimmick used on the back of my book. I ignore social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reedit, Twitter, WhatsApp, Pinterest or LikkedIn. However I have created and maintained my own Web pages for over 30 years now. I have also participated long term in a forum or two. I took computer programming classes in 1972 and bought my first PC in 1978. About 6 months ago the local landline - phone service became so bad that I was forced to buy my first cell / smart phone. I still don't know how to use it. Website: https://cactusbush.wordpress.com/

 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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 5,000+ 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.

 

Interview With Author Rachel Gladu

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? While sorting books to donate with my children, I commented to my daughter, Tayler, that a lot of her novels were the same story just rewritten. She found this insulting, since she loved all of her books. Tayler then challenged me to write an original story. Three days later, I told her about my idea for Secret of Silphium, and she loved the idea. Tayler pushed me until I finished the story. 

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? Secret of Silphium is a fantastical story about a nymph discovering humanity. And as she discovers the secrets of humans, she discovers some of the secrets of the plant she represents and protects. Silphium, being the symbol of love, means the story is a love story, but not just a romantic love. Secret of Silphium is not just for fantasy readers. The history that is woven into the tale makes it an interesting story for any reader.  

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Readers will get a chance to look at humanity from an outsiders view. The characters show the reality of choices and consequences.  The significance of the ancient plant, silphium, is revealed throughout the story. Readers will be surprised at the lasting impact silphium has had on societies.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?  I struggled with finding a title until writing the last few chapters. The title seemed obvious after I wrote it down for the first time. Silphium has so many secrets, both the plant and the nymph. For the cover I chose the seed of the silphium plant. Silphium has been a very important and influential plant throughout history. Its most lasting contribution has been the seed’s shape; the symbol of love.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?  Take advice and words of wisdom with a grain of salt. Every writers journey will be unique. What worked for one writer will not for all.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?  elf-publishing has let more authors have their work available to readers. This has lead to a huge increase of new books being available. It is great to have so many voices, opinions, and stories that readers can experience, but it can also be overwhelming to a writer trying to find a place for their story to be heard.  

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?   My children love being told stories. I have many memories of them asking for a story, but would give me a list of characters or events that needed to be in the story. These requests would come while shopping, or waiting in line at a bank, and of course at bedtime. So when I was asked by my then 18 year old daughter to come up with a story I had some experience.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?  Secret of Silphium is written in an omniscient third person style. While writing my book I tried to write without any specific influence and just write with my own style.   

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? When I was in high school, I had an English teacher who told me that I was just not worth her time to teach. She made me question myself in many ways. I had great teachers before her that helped build my confidence, but she seemed to destroy it as I finished my senior year. The hesitation to put the story I had in my head onto paper made me face this insecurity twenty years later.   

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Secret of Silphium is a great story that will sweep you along. It will make you look at humanity from a different point of view. Learning and discovering the secrets of the ancient plant will have you surprised until the last page.  

About The Author: I am a proud mother of six children. I enjoy the way they challenge me. It was one of these challenges that gave me the idea for my first novel. Reading and storytelling have been a big part of my relationship with my children. My husband has supported me throughout our marriage, giving me the opportunity to spent so much time with our children. For more info, please see: https://fultonbooks.com/books/?book=secret-of-silphium  

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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 5,000+ 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.

 

Do Kids Fail To Thrive As Readers Because Teachers Ignore What Works?

 

Do you want the good news first – or the bad news? One is linked to the other when it comes to America’s children and their ability to read well. 

Ok, I can’t resist. First, the bad news. America is raising poor readers. 66% of students who took the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress fourth-grade reading exam failed to achieve proficiency. Think about that. With all of the money poured into our education system, and with all of the awareness and supportive non-profits out there that help children to read and learn, America has failed an entire generation. 

America has lots of tutors, teachers, libraries, and supportive tools online. Why is today’s kid not reading better than a generation ago?  

The Internet had forced everyone to be a reader. We go online for emails, social media, research, to get our news, read books, and interact with words constantly. How are our kids not grasping the reading function?  

Well, apparently, the education industry outsmarted itself. In the pursuit of overhauling the way kids learn to read, the “experts” overplayed their hand and took what worked and broke it for no reason other than to try to remain relevant and to capitalize on ushering in a new system. It failed miserably. 

Last year, a third of our states enacted laws to implement policies that encourage schools to actually adopt the science of reading. Well, what is that? Use techniques like phonics, attaching speech sounds to letters. How novel! This is how I learned back at P.S. 199 in Brooklyn during the 1970s.  

America is getting dumber. This can’t be tolerated. High school graduates often struggle to pen a proper letter, free of grammatical errors. When they become adults, they will choose many activities over reading books.  

We need to teach the skill of reading early, often, and correctly. Follow the damn science. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel. Then, once children can employ the basic skill of reading, teach them to love reading and to be book-centric as opposed to book-avoidant.  

Of course, this problem is complex and many factors are involved, including the role of parents, grand-parents, babysitters, etc. It takes a village. But it is so clear the main foundational principle behind reading is phonics and all children simply need to be taught the basics by their teachers. Nothing else matters. Kids not only need to read proficiently but they should enjoy the act of reading enough to become book lovers.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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 5,000+ 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.

 

Interview With Author Matthew Johns

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? This

Nearly dying was the catalyst for writing the book which is, in fact, one book split into three, with this book being the first of the soon-to-be-three ‘Angel O’Clock’s, as it were,  with another, say, two books ready to be typed -up on top…In addition to an ever-increasing sense of spiritual intuition, the book was, at least in part, born out of a sense of betrayal by some of those closest to me…Along the way, I found that my nearly dying, and everything else that’s ever happened to me, was, in fact, not happening TO me but FOR me - 23.23, I now see on my iPhone clock as I type this - Confirmation! - God always knew that I would write this book and what would need to happen FOR me in order to create the author -come-conditions needed to create the book before us…forgiveness is the answer!  

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

As well as many other forms of spiritual guidance mentioned in the book, the name‘Angel O’Clock; A Language of Confirmation’ was born out of how time, I have discovered, is not a man-made construct, but God’s…The book also explores free-will, fate and family, synchronicity, tarot and time…  

The book is for Jesus, God, and you and me, proving thoroughly therapeutic in the process though, as I felt compelled by Spirit to keep pushing through, it is also to glorify His name and works…Furthermore, I suspect that this book and the books to come will provide insight, for those who ‘know’ me, as to my thoughts and feelings; my side of the still-to-come-story…  

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

I hope that the book will strengthen my readers’ existing belief in God and/or birth the beginnings of belief for those, say, less then sure by way of documenting an overwhelming number of examples of ‘there’s something going on! It’s just too weird!’ Ask God for a sign! He will not let you down! Once you have a sign and have a line of communication with your Spirit-Team, you can begin to build on that; you can tell ‘Them’ what signs you’re looking for or what ‘They’ should do to make it clear and obvious…  

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

Some say there is power, signs and messages in numbers, in what they ‘mean’…Angel numbers can be interpreted to take meaning and, at least with me, even provide instruction and/or confirmation.. or, perhaps not, as the case may be…God speaks through us every day and, often is the case, at least with me, words or thoughts of significance can be confirmed, as it were, when said at an Angel O’Clock…when the time, at the time, includes an Angel number. Having said that, it is worth saying that everyone’s intuitive relationship with the Divine is, no doubt, unique and different. Spirit knows EXACTLY what you’re thinking and EXACTLY how you’ll react to anything that could ever happen in eternity… 

I stumbled upon an old photo one day, after I had nearly died a few years back now, that seems to show Spirit, in various forms, both present and communicating with me, through the photo, from the past, but speaking to the present as though They always knew I would see the photo, Them and their messages…which I do explain in depth in the book. The main ‘sign’, that initially grabbed my attention is, what I am convinced is the face of an Angel looking right at the camera from inside the TV screen… 

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

I guess I got ‘lucky’, if you will, in that I am extremely passionate about what I am writing about…Easier said than done, I know, but perhaps writing about what you are passionate about is the way forward…? 

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

In all honesty, my knowledge of the book world is somewhat lacking, however, I would imagine that books of a spiritual nature are on the rise as authors and readers alike have been Divine-design-forced to go within, as they say, in an attempt to find mind, meaning and more… 

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

The book is centred around personal experiences with many, many mentioned and more missed out…Events, emotions, interactions and experiences were fuel for the Jesus-driven vehicle I’m enjoying… 

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

I’d like to think my style will make the more complex concepts and theories fun, more accessible, digestible…understandable…to the masses and the average Joe… 

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

All my relationships were affected; shaken, some destroyed…writing the book pushed me and others apart which only served to make me write more which further perpetuated the cycle…all the while I’m being told that I was going to fail…I forgive those who doubted and worse, if not thank them, for they have pushed me further than I ever thought I’d go…all by Divine-design, they weren’t supposed to know!  

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

I know that God helped me to write this book…I just know that there’s a message in there for you! He knew you would read it! The next books are even better, I feel, so you might as well hit the ground running…but I’m not telling you to run!… 

About The Author: Nearly dying was the best thing that ever happened to me. Somewhere along the way, I realized that things I had previously thought had happened to me had, in fact, happened for me; for my own good. This journey took a turn for the spiritual ever since I saw my soul mate; the catalyst for much of who I am today. This second chance at life; this process of death and rebirth has brought me closer to The Divine and, with an ever-increasing psychic vocabulary, I have begun to develop the language with which to have an intuitive conversation with Spirit; The Divine. My relationship with Angel Numbers and numerology has led me to the epiphany that Time is a God-made construct with which to live out our earthly-lives to a Divine timeline; a timeline within which 'coincidence' is Queen but synchronicity is King. The knowledge, love and support of The Angels and spirit-realm will always be available to you and I when we embrace Their existence and willingness, if not desire, to inspire, guide and protect us along this energetic journey; a dance with The Divine; danced to the rhythm of Divine-Design, pre-destiny, spiritual partnership and co-creation. Trust in your Spirit-Guides. Ask Them for a sign! They are always right beside you! Please take a look at: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKYe2aGVC4NhfCfhaX7ZWWNgYfmeuiK2y  

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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 5,000+ 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.

 

Interview with Author Anne Marie Fitzwilliam

 

 

1.What inspired you to write this book?

I was not inspired, I was compelled. Ideas woke me at night, hounded me by day. In the end, they led to the writing of When Lily Ponds Ripple.

 

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

It is about the unequal twins, brooding Florence, and flamboyant Charlotte Montague. The revelation of a family secret forces them to question everything they have taken for granted. The sisters leave their sheltered home and go abroad to England and Germany respectively. Despite their geographical separation, they cannot deny their close bond, nor forget their shared past. A phone call causes Florence to end her years of exile and return to the island of her childhood.

The novel is written for everyone who likes a fast-paced story full of secrets and surprises, but especially for female readers who love complex, endearing protagonists.  

 

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

I hope to show them that leaving our home country is sometimes the only way to discover who we really are. I aim to entertain my readers with a tale full of humour, laughter and characters that remind us that friendship can heal most wounds. I wish to describe the exotic beauty of Barbados in the 1970’s and later, to portray a Germany still struggling with the trauma of World War II.

 

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

The title, When Lily Ponds Ripple, mirrors the ripples in the lives of my protagonists, Florence and Charlie. Every action causes a reaction, like throwing a stone into a pond. The cover design is similar to the gardens described in the novel. The scene symbolizes the characters’ carefree life before the revelation of the family secret.

 

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

I think doubt is part of the writing process and pushes us beyond our comfort zone. Welcome it!

 

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

I think that print media and social media are intertwined. Furthermore, social media has become invaluable for book promotion.

 

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

Being a twin, I was able to understand the symbiosis, but also the rivalry, between my protagonists. In addition, my relocation from the West Indies to Germany helped me understand the losses and gains of leaving one’s homeland.   

 

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

My style is old-fashioned in that I like a story well told. I appreciate clarity and a plot with a fast pace. That said, I employ colourful adjectives and metaphors when they are called for. The works of Kate Morton have always inspired me.

 

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

Doubt! Some days I felt euphoric. On others, I deleted everything I had written the day before. It was a tug of war between frustration and satisfaction. I also neglected family and friends to write my novel.

 

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

If you take the trip with Florence and Charlie, you will laugh and cry, agonise and cheer. This cast of characters will stay with you long after the last page is turned. 

About The Author: My twin sister and I were born in Trinidad. When I was eight, my father relocated his solicitor’s office to Barbados, and the whole family moved to that neighbouring island. At the age of twenty-one, I got married and moved to my German husband’s home in Frankfurt. After attending a language college, I read English and German at the Wolfgang Goethe University and attained degrees in both subjects. Though Germany has remained my home, I often visit my close-knit family in Barbados or fly to South Carolina to be with my twin. For more info, please see: https://www.anne-marie-fitzwilliam.de/

 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing & PR Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over 3.9 million page views, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your 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 5,000+ 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.