Is Courage By Authors & Publishers Is Needed In Order To Publish Great Books?

 

 

At a Friendsgiving gathering (friends came with their holiday leftovers) last week at my house, there was a brief discussion amongst two friends, one a self-published author and the other on the verge of becoming one. They lamented on the state of book publishing.

One said publishers don’t have any real clue as to what will sell or why one book is more deserving of being published over another.

He has a point.

There are, however, some great, passionate and intelligent acquisition book editors out there who can recognize a gem and who can polish it further, but the bosses may believe it is not as marketable as other less-qualified manuscripts. The brass may believe an author brand is lacking for the superior book, and would rather align with a good but not great book if it meant more book sales, translation rights deals, or streaming opportunities.

That is the book world today, one increasingly driven by predictive profit metrics and less so by literary standards or the sense of an obligation to serve society. It is greenback analytics.

The other friend said he wonders if most would-be writers won’t even try to write and publish a book if they know in their heart there are so many other great books or classics out there.

I can see the intimidation factor being present but I would also relish the competition. It is a game writers play with themselves. They may ask if they are as good as, or better than, specific great writers, but the only question to ask is: How do I write my best book possible, emanating from my imagination, knowledge, experiences, abilities, opinions, beliefs, and observations?

As for whether new books deserve to be published when matched against the all-time greats, I would make the argument that if everyone stopped writing books after the Bible, there would be no Aristotle, and then no Shakespeare, or Dickens, Orwell, Austen, or Rowling. In other words, you won’t experience greatness unless you and everyone else tries. Every generation produces great writers.

Though it could take a lifetime of intense reading to even chisel away at all of the recommended books by scholars, bestseller lists, and book awards, the world must make room for new books.

Through the competition of ideas, research, experience, and writing styles, we will continue to find great books that are relevant and interesting. Everyone should write their greatest book and not concern themselves that something else exists that may be perceived as being better.

Even when a writer is competing against a genre’s best writer, I say:

* There is room for more voices. Not everyone likes or even knows about the so-called genre leaders.

* We need an update for our times on classic themes, meaning someone can write a classic-type book by incorporating contemporary examples and add in ways of implementing more recent ideas and discoveries. New writing styles or plots will develop, especially as language, technology, and new historical events develop.

* Some books should appeal to a targeted segment of society, too. This means we may need versions of classics that appeal to women, blacks, etc, — the unrecognized and unvoiced of centuries and decades past. I am not saying we need woke classics or that classics aren’t without universal appeal in some respects, but I do recognize that every group needs its cultural heroes and models.

* We also need a variety of thought coning from our books. So, everyone merely reading the same classics — and little beyond them— may put society on the same wavelength, but we will stunt or shun thinking outside of that box unless we each supplement with dissimilar books.

* We ferment new inventions, laws, and ways of doing things by having a mixture of books engage us in a multitude of ways. The book world has room — and a need — for new great books.

Look at other industries. Sports has its underdogs and favorites, but they still have to play the games to see who really is the best. Investors in new companies find Cinderella successes, even when going against industry-leading Goliaths. And, today’s celebrity may just be an answer to tomorrow’s trivia question, giving way to an up-and-comer from nowhere. The book world will have its share of surprise hits this year, as well, so no need to sideline your book.

The world changes and books will need to evolve as well, meaning at some point, some books do become outdated. The imagination has no boundaries and new writers will craft something great for their time, if not for all time. My money is on a newly minted book becoming a classic in the near future.

Readers of today are different than those of yesteryear. In fact, the past, and our awareness and understanding of it, plays a big role in what we read and how we experience a book today. The next great book may become just that, in part, because a changed world now can embrace something it was never open to before.

So, does publishing fail to publish some great books for the wrong reasons? Absolutely.

Do authors fail to write or seek to publish a book because they fear they can’t be as great as the all-time classics? Definitely. 

What’s the antidote? Courage. 

Writers need to write — and publishers need to stand up to publish great books. 

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

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian Feinblum 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 (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four 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, he has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 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 Liz Fahey

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? My inspiration came from my father. He loved spinning interactive stories that kept us laughing, engaged, and on the edge of our seats. His favorite tales were about the NOLO—an 80-foot-tall, three-legged, furry giant who rescued lost kids. He brought these stories to life by encouraging us to shout, “NOLO!” or mimic the “THUMP… Thump, Thump!” of its steps. It was truly magical. My father penned the first draft of this book before he passed.  Because the NOLO is from his imagination, it was critical to me that this story start the series.  The next book, Flood in the Desert (August ‘25), is penned wholly by me. Transforming his draft into a published book was a labor of love. I dug into the NOLO history, finished the draft, took publishing steps, and worked side-by-side with an illustrator for ~5 months to create the creatures, 35+ illustrations, and cover.   

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? Danger in the Hills is an adventure story about a group of young campers who are lost deep in the woods. As they struggle to find safety, the kids show bravery, lean on friendships, and use resourcefulness.  At their lowest, they remember a story from their Uncle Jerry about an 80-foot, 40-ton creature called the NOLO. In desperation, they call for help. Jake, the local NOLO, answers—but they’re unsure if he’s a friend or foe!  The NOLO series is perfect as a bedtime story and as a transitional read for kids ages 5-10, bridging the gap from picture books to chapter books. 

 3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Oh man, I really hope children’s imaginations really fire after reading this.  I used to tell NOLO stories to my kids before bedtime, and it always resulted in them telling one back to me.  I think there is something magical about a creature that’s so clearly not possible, 80 feet? 3 legs? 40 tons? Crazy.  To help this along, I added in pictures of the NOLO species and it seems to be working as I already have kids begging for new books about their favorites!   

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The book title stays true to my dad’s original title.   For the cover and the 35+ illustrations inside the book, I worked closely with an artist for ~5 months. First concepting the NOLO, exploring how they move, act, and live.  Then focusing to really enhance what kids were reading with the images.  I want kids to just go crazy with ideas and I hoped the pictures would help. For the cover specifically, it was important to convey how huge the NOLO truly are.   I wanted to make the colors pop off the page for “shelf appeal.”  Last, we devised NOLO specific iconography in the title, to show off the playfulness. 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Just write.  I have so many friends who want to write, but get stuck on the details before they even start, and then don’t actually create anything.  If you can get the first draft down, even if it’s really not good, then you have something to bounce off.  It’s always easier to react to something then start at zero.   

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? It would be remiss not to mention AI. AI books are flooding the market, whether through adorable but similar cover art or numerous books that feel a bit too familiar. Soon, AI in the market will find its balance. This early “spam” will transition into an enhancement for the creativity of writers, ensuring better-quality self-published books (editors and formatters are expensive!). Imagine a massive fantasy epic like Game of Thrones. George R.R. Martin created millions of story strands. I suspect a ChatGPT equivalent, filled with his stories and lore, could help tie those threads together for a satisfying ending.  

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? Two things.   The first is obviously my father.  Whether it be playing D&D with us as kids, telling NOLO stories, or ones about other creatures… He always kept our creativity firing.  The second is my non-book career, Product Management.  I knew I wanted to do justice to my dad’s legacy.  This means I needed to make mistakes and test my hypothesis.  Thus meet, Pepper the Elephant.  I call it my beta book as I learned all about the process of publishing, working with illustrators, Amazon KDP, copywriting, marketing, and so on.  And oh boy, did I make a huge amount of mistakes, so I am glad I did.   

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? Cheeky.  I love weaving layers into my writing that catch kids in a sort of, “Wait what..??” and maybe inspire a giggle or ten.  My dad tended to slightly break the fourth wall with his humor, i.e. phrases like, “That’s a lot of pressure, if you think about it.” from Danger in the Hills referring to Jake trying to navigate a city without smushing someone. 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Figuring out what a NOLO actually looks like! My dad described the NOLO very differently to us than he did in his draft. I think he was making them more mainstream. I ended up interviewing everyone who remembered the NOLO, then used their varying descriptions to create multiple NOLO concepts.  Then I took those concepts and conducted a survey with kids.  Their favorite was Jake, our Mountain NOLO!  In his origin story, my dad talked about the Fuzz infecting all living things. In the end, I decided it actually enhanced the world to have each NOLO species look different. So, the NOLO species you see at the end are each an ode to someone’s memory from my dad’s stories.  

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Why read the NOLO?  It’s the perfect transition book from pictures to reading.  The book is highly visual with just easy enough to read paragraphs.   The NOLO also really sparks kids' imaginations. As a parent of two, I know just how difficult it is to get kids off screen.  There is something about these massive, furry, oddly good smelling creatures that goes straight to your wonder and your heart.  Heck, even you might have difficulty not running around your house afterwards chanting, “THUMP…Thump, Thump!”    

About The Author: Liz Fahey is a celebrated creative known for her wit, imagination, and storytelling talent. Inspired by her father—fondly called Uncle Jerry—a master storyteller who captivated audiences, especially children, with his vivid, interactive tales. Liz brings the enchanting world of the NOLO he created to life through her illustrative translation of his stories and her own writing. For more information, please see: www.Liz-Fahey.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

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian Feinblum 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 (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four 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, he has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 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 Kellie Mickelsen

 

1. What inspired you to write this book?

I have always wanted to write a book, have started several over the years but life always seem to interfere.  When I sat down and started 'Mia Amata', it just seemed to pour out of me.  It seemed like a story that had to be told.  I wanted to show that people can either be a victim of their past, or a survivor.  So many people have suffered something horrible in their past, but how they choose to deal with it affects their life.  

 

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

'Mia Amata' is about a woman who escapes an abusive relationship and how she decides to go forward with her life.  While I hope the book delivers a positive message for people, I really wrote the book for myself.  I felt like it was something I needed to write, to show that I could write a book that appeals to people.  I was always the one carrying a book around at school and reading every chance I got.  Maybe someday a book I write will be carried around like that. 

 

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

Enjoyment.  I want people to read my book and be drawn into the story and like the characters (or hate them).  Reading can do several things - give a powerful message or give people a way to escape into another life or world.  If 'Mia Amata' gives people a temporary release from their everyday life, then I am happy with that.  

 

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

The title took me longer to come up with than actually writing the book!  When I finished the book and was working on my edit of the material, it just hit me what the name should be.  If I go into too much detail on the title I'll give away some of the book and I don't want to do that.  The cover design was something I found on an artistry site and it just fit the story so well I had to use it.  

 

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

No, don't run!  Embrace it and just do it.  I wish I had written a book a long time ago, but working and raising a family were my priorities.  I have notebooks of unfinished stories that I am hopefully going to revisit at some point.  I would tell others to carry a notebook and pen with you at all times, keep one next to your bed.  Even if you jot down ideas only, you have started.  There are many nights when I have problems falling asleep because it is hard to shut my mind off when I can grab the notebook and make notes.  There are times I wake up from a dream and realize I know how the next part of the story should go.  

 

Just go for it!  Don't worry about what happens after the book is done until the book is done.  

 

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

I love the fact that there are so many people out there who love having a real book in their hands versus eBooks.  I have an eBook reader, love that too, but the fact that real books are not going anywhere is awesome.  I'm pretty new to the publishing side of writing, but the fact that there are many ways for a person to get their book published now is great.  Everyone dreams of having their book picked up by a top publishing company, but for beginning writers having your book even looked at by one of them is impossible.  Even finding an agent is next to impossible.  There are other possibilities for new writers to get their books out there and published and I think that is important going forward.   

 

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

Those that know me well know there are some things in the book that are similar to things in my personal life.  I believe those things helped me be able to write a book that people have been able to relate to. 

 

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

My writing style is still a work in progress actually. As I mentioned, I have started several stories over the years and each one is different as can be from the others.  I've been told that my writing is similar to James Patterson or Nicholas Sparks - if that is true then I'm very flattered as I love their books!  

 

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

I think the biggest challenge I had was feeling that my book was any good!  Personally, I loved the story I wrote and the characters I created - but it wasn't until I let a couple people read it that I started to realize maybe I did have a good book here.  As more people read it and the more feedback I get, the more I am feel confident that I did it!  I wrote a damn good book!  

 

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

I wrote a book that will draw you in from the very first paragraph and make you feel like you could relate to the characters.  You will find it very hard to put 'Mia Amata' down once you start reading.  It also has an ending that no one expects, in the words of my daughter after she finished reading 'Mia Amata' - "Mom - what the heck?!!!"  Trust me, you will enjoy reading my book and become one of the many that are asking me when book 2 will be available - which, by the way, is halfway done at this point!  

 

About The Author: I grew up in Nebraska, where my love of reading and writing was cultivated by my grandmother.  The two of us passed books back and forth all the time.  My grandmother used to write for the local newspaper and also wrote stories from her childhood.  I started writing stories as a child, dreaming of writing a book someday.  I currently live in Wisconsin with my husband of 30 years, Dan.  We have three grown children, Aric, Aaron and Alyssa.  We also have four grandchildren.   I enjoy cross-stitching, reading, writing, traveling to see our family, and outdoor activities with my husband such as kayaking and fishing.  

 

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

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brian Feinblum 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 (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully).  This award-winning blog has generated over four 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, he has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 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.