Interview With Award-Winning Writer David Finkle

 

"Finkle is that rare writer who achieves great effects without seeming to try." -Roger Ebert

"Lovely writing, smart and insightful." -Avery Corman, author of Kramer Versus Kramer

"Finkle's writing can be enjoyably playful, even within the constraints of his chosen genre."  -Foreword Reviews

"Finkle's prose is lean and energetic, and he thankfully wastes little time attempting to establish a sense of verisimilitude." -Kirkus Reviews

1. What inspired you to write this book? A: I once knew a brilliant, depressed woman who drank herself to death.  I knew something of her plight but somehow missed its tragedy.  The story and my failing to take it in until it was too late is a story I couldn’t resist examining in hindsight.  

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for? A: It’s about how often we know the people in our lives but so frequently turn out not to know enough and possibly must accept we never will.  

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? A: New insights into human behavior, the pleasure of reading an author they will read in the future—or catch up with in previous books.  

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The four words of the title are the most succinct that describe what the book is about.  My publisher asked the designer of my previous novel, The Great Gatsby Murder Case—a cover I liked very much—to submit some drawings.  We liked them and chose the one with the color scheme we liked best.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? A: I encourage paying attention into what Edmond Wilson said: A writer writes.  Also the old saw: Write about what you know.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading?  A: Apparently, a strong current trend is romance. I’m aware that many publishers are convinced literary fiction has trouble finding readers nowadays.  I have no idea where fiction is heading now or when it will get there. 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?  A: Every experience in my life has been material.  Write about what I know.  Again, a writer writes.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? A: My writing is straight-forward, conversational, often includes natural humor.  I’ve been influenced by many writers and eventually realized I needed to find my own voice among theirs.  I’ve done that.  I hope my writing is similar to the best writers, but it’s not for me to say.  

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? A: The challenge to make certain that when I finished the many drafts and rewrites, I’d done the best of which I’m capable.  

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? A: Because I just reread it, and I think it’s extremely good, memorable.  

About The Author: David Finkle is an award-winning NY-based prolific gay, Jewish author, journalist, and theater critic for New York Stage Review. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Nation, and New York Magazine. He is the author of multiple novels and story collections, including the award-winning Humpty Trumpty Hit a Brick Wall. His latest novel, Dorothea Through My Eyes, publishes November 15, 2026.

 

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