6 Things That Help Authors – And They Cost Nothing!

 

 

I get paid to help authors strategically and effectively market and promote their books. What I do for them – or show them how to do – is based on experience, logic, and the marketplace. But one area that I can’t really do for you is to give you the six characteristics most successful authors exhibit. You have to discover, embrace, and live them.

 

The foundation for book marketing success revolves around these six areas:

 

1.      Good Attitude

2.      Think Opportunistically

3.      Be Energized

4.      Stay Friendly

5.      Be Giving

6.      Bright Aptitude

 

Master these half-dozen attributes and you will be unstoppable – unless you stink at writing, of course. But assuming you can produce even moderately decent books, when coupled with the development of these six areas, you will be unstoppable.

 

Let’s look at each of them more closely to see what role they each play in getting your books marketed, published, and sold.

 

1.      Attitude – Be optimistic and hopeful of what you can accomplish. Be confident and believe in yourself. Display that confidence to others. Show resilience and be able to endure rejections, setbacks, or challenges. Be enthusiastic and show it in your voice, smile and energy levels.

 

2.      Opportunistic -- Be able to pounce on the opportunities presented to you. Create your own opportunities that are not so apparent. Be willing to take risks, even make big bets. Be willing to beg, trade with, or pay others to get what you need.

 

3.      Energy – Put in the time and effort that is necessary. Hustle and always be on the move. Be willing to travel, put in long hours, and do some heavy lifting. Do what others won’t or can’t do and go the extra mile.

 

4.      Friendly – You can network your way to getting what you need or want. You act friendly and in turn, people will want to help you. People do business with those they like, so be likeable.

 

5.      Giving – Charity: donate some of your book’s proceeds to a worthy cause. Freebies: give away books or content to building up reviews and word-of-mouth. Offers to help: be helpful to others by being a good listener, offering to assist in some way, or displaying a level of kindness.

 

6.      Aptitude – Your level of knowledge – either about what you write, how to market, or of the world-at-large – will greatly contribute to your ability and skillset to achieve. You can’t change your IQ, but you can learn more about things like social media or where to find book reviewers.

 

Now, once you have developed and mastered many or all of these areas, you are not guaranteed anything. You still need professional help, to be organized, and to be lucky. But the foundation to your success begins with the six areas that are free and accessible to you.

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,000,000 page views. With 5,400+ posts over the past 14 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.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum 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 as the director of publicity 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.

 

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). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

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. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

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.

 

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.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum

When A Good Man Dies, Words & Tears

 

 

Rabbi Akvin Kass died yesterday. To many of you, the name is unfamiliar, the loss seemingly inconsequential. But he was a man who positively touched so many souls.

He was the senior NYPD chaplain for six decades. At age 30, he was the youngest ever appointed to the position. He was promoted to three-star chief, an unprecedented rank for clergy.

I will conservatively guess that several million people have either attended his services, heard him officiate at weddings, hear sermons at bar mitzvahs, listen to his funeral orations, or were counseled by him. They did not just hear empty words or dispassionate sermons when he officiated. No, he was moving, insightful, compassionate, and always worth listening to. He sounded like he knew everyone because he in fact, did.

He was there during the most significant moments of so many lives, from 9/11 and Super Storm Sandy, to my dad’s funeral and my first wedding.

He was also the chief rabbi of the once-vaunted East Midwood Jewish Center, in Brooklyn, for 36 years. I went to junior high school with his son and the rabbi presided over many family and friend events that defined our lives.

One of his patented lines for a wedding service was to tell the bride and groom that marriage is not a 50-50 relationship, where tasks are split equally. He would note that depending on the issue at hand, it could be 60-40 or even 90-10. Everyone has their strengths -- and shortfalls.

He spoke in a gentle way, letting the weight of his words amplify a room. He was not a yeller or a vocally imposing individually. But he spoke from a place of seemingly knowing, of endurance, and of hope. His comforting demeanor during the hardest events and his smile amidst celebratory moments is what made him so special.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams noted Rabbi Kass: “Consoled us through the monumental tragedies and personal hardships.” NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said “His loss is immeasurable.”

Whomever officiates over his funeral service has the unenviable task of conveying who he was when we already know, by word and deed, that he was a good man. Rabbi Kass should be in the Mensch Hall of Fame.

May God Bless Rabbi Alvin Kass.

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,000,000 page views. With 5,400+ posts over the past 14 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.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum 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 as the director of publicity 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.

 

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). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

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. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

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.

 

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.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum

Can Authors Stop Choosing To Fail?

 

Most authors choose to fail. Yes, I said it. They make a clear, cognizant, wholehearted decision to fail, or at least, not to succeed. They are holding themselves back from getting their books sold and read. They sabotage their books like moms who have Munchausen Syndrome hurt their kids.

You may disagree with me, but it is true nonetheless.

You may ask me: “Why do you think that?” It does not matter, though there can be many factors that cause this to happen.

What you should ask is: “How do we reverse this trend?”

Writers write, and when not writing, they think about writing. What about book marketing?

They might say they are one or more of these things:

* Too busy — no time to market.
* Too costly — can’t afford it.
* Not sure what to do — crippled by inertia.
* Unskilled or unknowledgeable on how to execute the marketing campaign elements — and they don’t seek to learn.
* Just don’t like marketing and only want to write.
* Lack confidence in themselves, are shy or just not comfortable talking about their book.

The list goes on, as a mound of mental marketing debt piles up into nothing more than a database of excuses. Authors have a bucket list of marketing mountains to climb, but they have not even strapped on their hiking boots.

Do not take comfort in knowing that your book marketing mindset failure is common and that it afflicts the vast majority of your fellow key-strokers. No, kick yourself i. the ass that you desperately need to get off of. You are missing a golden opportunity—a flood of these books are out there but your competition is only the few who actively market their books. Imagine if you made a choice — and an effort — to succeed!?

Okay, there is a way to turn things around. Here are some suggested solutions:

Change course. Realize that I speak Gospel and repent! Reform your ways and move towards the right path.

See a therapist. Take meds. Unblock yourself so that you can see and act clearly — and in your best interests.

Get marketing help. Hire book professional promotions experts. Make an investment in supporting your book. Borrow funds, trade favors with others, beg for volunteer assistance, or fundraise.

Commit to learning about book marketing and doing more.

Reassess your priorities and goals and shift your schedule so that it is more dedicated to marketing your book — no ifs, ands, or buts.

Or, just give up.

If you have no faith in your book, don’t waste a second marketing it. If you believe it is a good or great book, you must market it.

Discovery in a crowded marketplace and noisy media landscape rarely happens without a push, so if you are not committed to marketing your book, you have made a clear choice: You are killing your book. It is being taken off life support, unfed and untended to, waiting for the organs to just shut down and for it to just wither away and die. Throw your books into the recycled garbage bin or donate them to libraries and non-profits.

Make a conscious and conscientious decision to succeed — not to fail — and take the action steps needed to market your book successfully.

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum 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

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,000,000 page views. With 5,400+ posts over the past 14 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.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum 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 as the director of publicity 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.

 

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). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

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. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

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.

 

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.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum

When Should An Author Hire A Publicist?

 

 

When should an author hire a book promoter?

Notice that the question begins with “when” and not “should.” It is a given that you should utilize a book promoter, but it is a matter of when — and who — that needs to be determined.

How do I know you need a publicist?

Because every author could benefit from utilizing the services of a knowledgable pro. The publicist knows more than the author about the book landscape, has more experience, and has more contacts — as it relates to the world of book publicity and sales.

But, if you hire the wrong person for the job, bring them in at the wrong time, or overpay for their services, then, of course, you screwed up.

Still, you may be wondering, if you need a book publicist. Well, it depends on your answers to these questions:

* What are your goals for your book?

* What needs to be done that you don’t know how — or lack the skill or will — to do?

* What must be done that you don’t like to do?

* What should be done that you don’t have the time to do?

* What type of strategic advice or guidance are you in need of?

* Do you need someone with a network of contacts that you just don’t have?

Ok, so once you realize you need a publicist and you set some parameters, such as identifying specific tasks that you want to outsource and a budget, you will need to determine when to bring the promoter on board.

Here are some points of entry for a promoter:

* 6 months prior to launch. He or she can help you map out an effective game plan, set a timeline for execution, and identify which areas you will need help on.

* 5 months prior to publication you will need a web site designer hired.

* 4 months before you publish, you will need a press kit written and to send advance book review copies out to book reviewers and long-lead magazines.

* 3 months prior to your book’s release, you need to get your social media going and to start drafting blog post content.

* 2 months out and you need to develop a bestseller campaign strategy. You should start lining up bookstore and library appearances that will take place once the book is out.

* 1 month out and you need to begin contacting the news media, both locally and nationally. You may also start to map out what type of ad campaigns that you might do.

There are other flashpoints where you may need the advice or services of a savvy publicist or marketer, which might be when the book launches or it could be three or four months later, when you realize you tried your best on your own and you still need a boost. It is never too late to get help, but ideally you want it sooner than later so as to get the maximum benefit from it.

So, when should YOU hire a book publicist?

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum 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

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,000,000 page views. With 5,400+ posts over the past 14 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.”  Copyright 2025.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum 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 as the director of publicity 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.

 

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). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

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. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

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.

 

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.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum