Are Authors In Book Marketing Prison?

In The Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman, as Ellis "Red" Redding, delivers a famous quote, "These walls are funny. First, you hate them, then you get used to them. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's institutionalized." 

 

He referred to how a long-time prisoner, once released, struggles with being on the outside world. He simply can’t acclimate to society and its ways. Well, similarly, authors struggle with marketing their books. They live in a bubble of thinking that their work of art will be discovered and embraced by all, when the real world does not work that way.

 

I am here to tell you Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman’s character is providing a lesson to authors: Adapt to your circumstances and go with the flow. Your world on the inside, the one that exists within you, is plagued by your ego, emotions, and insecurities. You need to engage the outside world on its terms if you are to survive. 

 

Limiting thoughts create limiting actions. Conversely, bigger thinking can create bigger results.

 

We can’t always just wish or demand something to become true, but nothing big happens until we at least think it is possible and take the steps to make it so. 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, 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 4.5 million pageviews. With 5,300+ 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 2025.

 

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 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

Great Book Marketing Resource Here!

 

 

Dear Author: 

I have been successfully promoting thousands of writers and books of all genres for over 30 years. I offer lots of free, insightful, and inspiring book publicity advice on my award-winning blog of 14 years, with 5,400+ posts, and nearly 4.5 million page views.  

I do hope you enjoy reading it:

www.bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com  

In these posts, you are sure to find: 

* Proven strategies to help you break through and not break down.

* Inspiring ideas to motivate you to market your book.

* Useful resources and action-steps to grow your readership and book sales.

* Helpful ways to get your message heard by the news media.

* Best-seller tips for struggling authors.

* Interesting commentary and insights on censorship, literacy, language, free speech, and the power of books. 

Whether a seasoned author published by the Big 5 or a newly-minted author via the self-publishing route, I guarantee that you will learn something new with every post. 

Please enjoy and feel free to reach out if you have questions or need professional book marketing help. Remember, you wrote your book for a reason. Now you have to market it for the same reason. 

 

Best wishes, 

 

Brian Feinblum

brianfeinblum@gmail.com

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, 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 4.5 million pageviews. With 5,300+ 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 2025.

 

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 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

Market Your Book Like You Don’t Give A Sh*t

 

Whenever an athlete finds themselves in a pressure situation, they find a way to relax and stay loose. As important as the moment may be, they need to diminish the power that the moment can exert on them. They must downplay what is at stake and even say to themselves this is no big deal. We must downscale the moment and just execute in a tension-free way. You have to say you jhsg don’t give a shit.

So, too, should be your approach to book marketing.

How does one do that, you ask?

Basically, you just tend to the task at hand. Don’t add the weight of the world to what you are doing. Focus your brain cells on the mechanics of what you are doing and don’t keep reminding yourself how important something is.

Stop thinking of past failure or disappointment. Each day is a fresh start. You don’t get credited nor penalized today for what you did yesterday. All that counts is now, one task at a time, one step at a time.

Just be in the moment. Seize the opportunity before you. Don’t assume anything nor be burdened by any negative thoughts.

Simply put your efforts into the core tactical parts. Focus your energy on the doing, not the worrying; the acting upon and not the thinking upon. Just do it!

Don’t get me wrong here. You can’t be lazy, cavalier, uninformed, unprepared, or uninvolved — nor can you overly stress the importance of what you are doing. Have the will and determination to execute successfully but don’t act out of a feeling of desperation or like you have to be perfect.

Just do your best and stay loose.  Be laser-focused on the task and declutter your brain from anything else. Be single-minded in what you are doing and think not of the potential outcome but only the process that is needed to get the job done.

Too often, people approach something with a defeatist, loser attitude. Stop that. Believe that you can achieve and have faith in yourself. Then, purely zero-in on what you need to do and not on what-ifs.

When the moment is most tense and stressful, step back, and regain your composure. Take the perspective that you don’t give a crap, that your life’s fortune does not depend on this, and then just see if you can accomplish one small thing at a time. Don’t look beyond the task at hand.

You’ve got this.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, 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 4.5 million pageviews. With 5,300+ 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 2025.

 

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 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

How Do You Get Better Results From Your Book Marketing?

  

For authors who are actively marketing their books, they may feel any or all of these things: spread thin, disorganized, uninformed, lazy, or unskilled. You get discouraged from a lack of results and frustrated by the amount of time and money you invested to sell all of 50 copies.

It does not have to be this way.

When marketing a book, a lot is on your plate. You are likely:

* Attending seminars, reading blogs and magazine articles, watching videos, and reading books about marketing and publicity.
* Experimenting with how you promote your book.
* Planting seeds and handling multiple marketing pursuits on several levels.
* Getting ahead of the curve by being informed, thinking ahead, and staying organized.
* Learning of, and researching, ways to sell more books.
* Evaluating these potential methods.
* Developing marketing plans.
* Prioritizing what to do overall.
* Seeking to schedule your week and today.
* Needing to rest.
* Asking others for help.
* Buying things like book reviews and ads.
* Wanting to escape to do something fun.

So, how do you manage it all?

First, make sure that you are always taking action. Less thinking, debating, pondering — more action. Avoid paralysis by analysis.

Second, stop thinking that everything has to align in order to move forward. Resist waiting for ideal circumstances and just act.

Third, stop waiting for a savior — it is you! Take ownership of your book marketing. Random discovery of your book increasingly happens when you do things to drive it.

Fourth, stop making excuses or dwelling on setbacks. You go to war with the soldiers you have and engage in the battle with the tools at your disposal. Things are never fair and always far from perfect.

Fifth, ask for help. Beg, pay, or trade for assistance. Figure out what you can offer to another to get them to do something for you. Figure out what you need, what that person is capable of doing, and then make a targeted ask.

Sixth, live by deadlines, whether they are set by others or yourself. We all need structure and accountability. Strike the right balance between feeling burdened and over-scheduled with being uncommitted to anything.

Seventh, know your why and be mission-centered. Why did you write your book? Why are you marketing it? Set your priorities, feel empowered, and be driven by your goals, needs, and wants. Stay grounded and focused.

Eighth, remember the majority of your efforts, resources, and mindshare should be devoted to the things that pose the greatest payoff, which typically involve:

* Having a web site
* Being active on social media
* Pursuing speaking engagements
* Securing more book reviews
* Getting news media exposure
* Submitting to book awards and writing contests
* Networking
* Having your own blog or podcast

Ninth, you must identify who your likely reader is and figure out where it is that they congregate and communicate, both in-person and online. Reach out to them with a targeted message , and an incentivizing offer.

Lastly, stay hungry, disciplined, and strong. Know your limits, keep pushing forward daily, and remain resolved and committed to your mission. 

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, 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 4.5 million pageviews. With 5,300+ 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 2025.

 

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 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

How Vibrant Is The Book Ecosystem?

 

 

The book ecosystem consists of anyone or any entity that contributes to getting a writer’s creation into the hands of readers. That system could involve many, many people and groups, including but not limited to:

* Libraries
* Bookstores
* Authors
* Illustrators
* Photographers
* Publishers
* Acquisition Editors
* Literary Agents
* Rights Sales
* Literary Thinktanks
* Researchers
* Printers
* Marketers
* Readers
* Advertisers
* Book Awards
* Distributors
* Wholesalers
* Writer Conferences
* Book Reviewers
* Literacy Tutors
* Free Speech Advocates
* Publishing Trade Associations
* Writer Conferences
* Funding Access
* Book Bloggers
* Publishing Podcasters
* Book Fairs
* Book Clubs
* Alternate Retailers
* MFAs
* Book Donors
* News Media
* Intellectual Property Lawyers
* Government Agencies
* Social Media
* Spin-Off Product Providers

The basic questions here are:

* Are each of the components of the ecosystem accessible to all?

* Are these elements affordable?

* Do we have book format choice readily available?

* Are we increasing the rate of literacy?

* Is free speech flourishing?

* Do we have fact-checked, edited books that clearly state and identify as an opinion or fact-based text?

* Do our books provide a wide variety of subject matter/genre choices for readers?

* Have we clamped down on copyright piracy and trademark infringement?

* Is their author diversity in terms of their backgrounds, beliefs, and geographic perspectives?

* Do members of this ecosystem compete, conflict, complement, and/or cooperate within their area of expertise?

* Are all key areas interacting synergistically!

* What common goals can we establish and pursue that will best serve the literary community?

Ok, I just wanted to get this conversation going. Start talking.

 

Do You Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, with over four million page views, 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 4.5 million pageviews. With 5,300+ 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 2025.

 

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 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