Interview With Award-Winning Inspirational Author Sieglinde C. Othmer PhD

 

1. What inspired you to write this book? One morning I woke up and I was 80. Eighty! How in the world did that happen? My children lived far way. And my husband of 55 years had just died. What was I going to do with the rest of my life? Then Covid hit and I went gray. Silver gray. I remembered my younger self, learning, traveling, exploring - enjoying my independence with gusto. So I sat down and did the research.  

2. What exactly is it about? Who is it written for? I am busting the myth that aging is shameful. Instead, it’s a badge of honor. My readers? That was the surprise. I intended to help my fellow octogenarians, but found out that my book appeals to ages 60 and up. Even younger folks. 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Motivation, inspiration, enrichment of their lives. And more joy. 

4. How did you decide on your books’ title and cover design? Tremendous help from the Steve Harrison Group. Amazing people.   

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? Write every day, at least ten minutes. Your subconscious will help you along. Even through the night. 

6. What trends in the book world do you see? Having experience from academic publishing in the 80’s and 90’s, I chose self-publishing because I was impatient to hold the book in my arms. Maybe self-publishing is the growing trend. 

7. Where there specific experiences in your personal life that came in handy when writing this book? Being a refugee from communist Germany and an immigrant to the US taught me to never, never give up.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Brief. A bit funny. My book is the shortest book on longevity you’ll ever read. Which writers or books is your writing style similar to? Ginger Rothhaas: Being Human. 150 Practices to Make it Easier.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? Language and grammar. I’m not a native speaker. Still working on it.   

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? To practice joy as a choice for a long healthy life. At any age.  

About The Author: Sieglinde Othmer PhD earned her doctorate in Social Sciences at the University of Hamburg, Germany. A refugee, immigrant, academic, administrator, researcher, and gardener, she raised three children and three dogs, and has traveled to over 40 countries. In this book, she shares the wisdom she acquired in 80 years of living. She was a board member of the United Nations Greater Kansas City chapter. She resides in Parkville, Missouri, on a lake where Canada geese fly over, where Blue Herons fish, and where Great Horned Owls keep night watch. Her purpose is to help people feel good about their age. At any age. For ore information, please see: www.joyouslongevity.com 

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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