Interview With Author Christopher J. Najera

 

1. What inspired you to write this book?

After 35 years of drinking, I realized how much I didn’t know - the silent damage alcohol was doing to my body, my mind, my relationships, and my future. I had been sold a lie my whole life that drinking was “normal” and “fun,” but no one ever talked about the long-term truth. I wrote this book because I wish someone had put these facts and this reality in front of me years ago. If I had known then what I know now, I could’ve saved myself a lot of pain, money, and lost time.  

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

The Hard Truth: Stopping Alcohol is about exposing the side of drinking no one talks about — the hidden dangers, the lies we’ve been sold, and the damage alcohol does to your body, mind, and life. It’s raw, honest, and based on my 35 years of drinking and what I wish I had known sooner. I also include a 30 Day road map to help individuals understand their relationship and work to give alcohol a break. whether you’re drinking daily, just “socially,” or wondering if it’s starting to take more than it gives. It’s also for families and friends who want to understand what their loved ones are really going through. 

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

I hope they walk away with clarity — the kind I never had while drinking. I want them to see alcohol for what it really is, not what society sells us. I hope it opens their eyes to the damage, the lies, and the years they don’t have to lose. Most of all, I hope it gives them the courage to take back control of their life, their health, and their future. Even one reader deciding, “I’m done with this ride,” makes it worth it. 

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

The title The Hard Truth: Stopping Alcohol came naturally — because that’s exactly what this book is. It’s not sugar-coated, it’s not watered down. It’s the truth about alcohol that no one tells you, and sometimes the truth is hard to swallow. For the cover, I wanted something simple but bold — something that makes you stop, think, and realize this isn’t just another “self-help” book. It’s a wake-up call. The design reflects the seriousness of the message: clean, direct, and impossible to ignore.  

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

Writing a book will test your patience, discipline, and even your confidence. But here’s the truth — if you feel called to write, it means you’ve got something inside you the world needs to hear.

My advice:

·  Write raw and real. Don’t water it down to please people. The right readers will connect with your honesty.

·  Stay consistent. Even if it’s a page a day, keep going. Small steps finish big books.

·  Expect silence. Not everyone will cheer you on — and that’s okay. Write for impact, not applause.

·  Finish it. 80% of people say they want to write a book, but only about 5% actually do. Cross that finish line.

The hardest part isn’t writing — it’s believing your story matters. But it does.

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

The book world is shifting fast. Audiobooks and eBooks are exploding, indie authors are taking control, and readers want raw, authentic voices over polished sales pitches. Social media (BookTok, Bookstagram) can make a book go viral overnight. The future? Direct-to-reader, audio-first, and niche-focused. Writers who build community and speak truth will cut through the noise - while the old publishing gatekeepers lose their grip. 

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

Absolutely. This book is built on 35 years of my own drinking — the highs, the crashes, the health scares, the regrets, and the lessons I wish I’d known sooner. It’s also shaped by my journey of finally stopping, rebuilding my life, and seeing alcohol with clear eyes. Those experiences gave me not just the facts, but the feelings — the mindset, the traps, and the freedom on the other side. That’s why the book isn’t theory or statistics; it’s real life, told from someone who’s been there.

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

Straightforward, raw, and no-fluff. I don’t dress it up or sugarcoat it, I write the way I talk, with honesty and urgency. My goal is to wake people up, not to impress them with fancy words. Similar writers/books? Readers have said my style feels close to authors like Allen Carr (The Easy Way to Stop Drinking/Smoking) or Annie Grace (This Naked Mind) — direct, personal, and focused on breaking through the lies we’ve been told about alcohol. 

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

Writing The Hard Truth wasn’t just about putting words on paper- it meant confronting 35 years of my own drinking and the lies I told myself. I had to face regrets, missed opportunities, and uncomfortable truths I’d avoided for decades. It was emotionally draining, sometimes scary, and often humbling. But pushing through those moments made the book real, raw, and something I’m proud to share. 

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

 Because it’s not another feel-good book or sugar coated guide. It’s real, raw, and based on 35 years of drinking- the mistakes, the lies, the damage, and the truths no one talks about.

 

 

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About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 5,000,000 pageviews. 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