Interview With Award-Winning Motivational Author Barbara Stone

 

 

1. What inspired you to write this book?   During the pandemic, I needed something to read to get up and going in the morning.  I turned to Seth Godin, Big Panda and Tiny Dragon, etc. to be inspired and living with intention.  If they can do it!  So can I! 

2. What exactly is it about — and who is it written for? Individuals that want to be motivated and inspired in life. 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?  After reading stories that are relatable (even though they are told through the eyes of my Great Danes), they will walk away with wisdom to look at situations in their lives differently.

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?  The title was an evolution of different input from different people.  My illustrator came to visit us and our dogs.  She captured the essence of the dogs and created the cover picture. 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?  It is a journey.  A hard journey as you are always learning at every step and turn. 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? The book business is growing.  The stats on books publish within 3 months compared to years ago is astronomical.  Now the addition of AI, it will be compounded.  The book industry is a completely different animal – get trusted guidance along the way! 

7. Were there specific experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? I have had 25 years as a senior leader in manufacturing; a widow in my 30s;a lot of life lessons have been learned.  I additionally am a leadership development coach helping individuals through life.  I wanted to write about the wisdom learned over the decades of my life. 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?  Simple.  To the point.  Short.  One book that is similar to my is Big Panda and Tiny Dragon.           

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?  Hired a publisher that was horrible – I could go on and on about the bad experience, but I don’t want to waste the energy.  My illustrator’s husband got terminally ill in the last stretch of putting the book together.  Very sad as I almost did not have a book. 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?  It just one the Independent Press Award for the category of Gift Book and the Bookfest – best animal book. 

About The Author: Barbara Stone, an award-winning author, earned her MBA from Syracuse University and built a successful 25-year career as a senior leader in manufacturing. Despite her corporate success, she sought deeper fulfillment, studying resiliency and positive psychology. This led her to become a leadership development coach, where she empowers others to create meaningful change. Barb is also deeply involved in non-profit work, supporting community missions. Certified as a Co-Active Coach CPCC. she holds the PCC and ORSCC credentials, enabling her to guide individuals and organizations toward achieving their goals and making a positive impact. Barb lives in Central NY and spends her free time loving her Great Danes and other animals that have big hearts. For more information, please see: https://barbstone.me/

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 6,200,000 page views. With 5,600+ posts over the past 15 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) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). 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, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, 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