Authors Must Invoke Rocky As It Celebrates 50 Years

Fifty years ago America celebrated its bicentennial, elected a man who would become our best ex-president, and the Eagles launched a classic song, Hotel California. The Big Red Machine repeated as champs in what was then America’s National Pastime and Happy Days was the top TV show. 1976 was also the year of the debut movie of a classic franchise, Rocky, starring the then-unknown Sylvester Stallone.

As a movie buff who used to go to the movie theater to watch 100 films a year as a teenager, and as one who has seen probably 10,000 movies, I can say that one of the best movies ever made, that still rings true today, is Rocky.

It has many messages for authors to embrace, such as:

* Make the most of your shot at success.

* Work hard to seize upon an opportunity.

* Be driven beyond the dictates of your raw abilities.

* Ordinary people can accomplish extra-ordinary things.

* One can overcome huge odds against them.

* There are no boundaries to where your passions can lift you.

* You can’t expect to not take a beating when in pursuit of a major goal.

It is the story of the underdog, about rising to the occasion when you get your one lucky shot, and about the will to persevere in the face of fear, exhaustion, adversity, and pain. It is about clawing and grinding your way to even be in a position to compete. All Rocky wanted to do was go the distance, to stand toe-to-toe with the champ, to show that he belonged on that stage.

Though he fought with a lion’s courage and a gladiator’s heart, he didn’t win the fight, and yet, he was a winner by anyone’s standards. 

Whether you like boxing or not, this film can’t help but motivate and inspire its viewers. The signature song that begins with trumpets awakens something deep inside of you, perhaps bringing out what was long dormant or not even known to exist within each of us.

This, along with a scant few classics, like It’s A Wonderful Life, can be watched countless times over the years and you will still feel inspired and moved —  even though you can practically mouth the dialogue from so many viewings. Why? Because it is the story of the everyman, appealing to our desire to find and live our purpose in life, to fulfill our dream, and to rise up against all odds.

Rock-ee!

Rock-ee!

Rock-ee!

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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 5,400,000 page views. With 5,500+ 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 2026.

 

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