- What inspired you to write this
book?
I wanted to write a
book about an older woman who restarts her life after a great loss.
- What exactly is ir
about — and who is it written for?
It’s about Nan, a sixty-three-year-old woman who loses almost everything in the 2018 Paradise, California fire. The book will probably appeal to middle-aged or older women.
3. What do you hope
readers will get out of reading your book?
That it’s never too late to start again, even after suffering from a great loss. That true friendship and creative expression can be life-enhancing.
4. How did you decide
on your book’s title and cover design?
The book’s title is significant in a couple of ways. Nan is a former marathoner, and tries to outrun the Paradise fire. She is also running away from herself until she recovers from her losses and gains a new awareness of herself. I wanted the cover design to reflect the California setting.
5. What advice or
words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?
Never give up! If you have a story to tell, keep at it until it’s told.
6. What trends in the
book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?
I see more novels being written about older people. I hope the publishing industry keeps publishing authors who write creatively without AI.
7. Were there
experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when
writing this book?
I lived in California for many years and I used the setting in the book, though I never went to Paradise.
8. How would you
describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?
I try to make my characters interesting and I use a lot of dialog. I’d love to think my books are like Ann Patchett’s because she can say so much without resorting to drama, but I have a way to go in that regard.
9. What challenges did
you overcome in the writing of this book?
Learning about fires. Tying up the sub-plots (always a challenge).
10. If people can buy
or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?
The book is due out in June, 2027. My book is uplifting.
I believe Nan is a sympathetic character. You can learn a bit about painting
and Grandma Moses.
About The Author: Linda Stewart Henley is the author of three
award-winning novels. She lived in California for many years and presently
resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. For more information, please
see: www.lindastewarthenleyauthor.com.
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
11 million page views. With over
5,700+ 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 2026, 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
