Meet LIZ DUBELMAN | Book Marketer & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with LIZ DUBELMAN and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi LIZ, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always been in the entertainment business. I’ve worked in film, television, music, and publishing. I love books and of all the businesses I’ve worked in, publishing seemed the most ripe for reinvention. My impression is that the major publishers don’t understand they are vying for the same leisure time and income as any other activities. A person could choose to watch Netflix, play tennis, or read a book. So, it’s left to the author to market their own book. I knew I could help. I started my own business because I had a personal goal: make reading cool.

I am an Emmy® Award Winner and the founder and CEO of VidLit Productions, LLC, the world-renowned book marketing and content development company. I also write both fiction and nonfiction. Well over one million people have viewed my short story, “Craziest,” on the Web. I co-edited and contributed to “What Was I Thinking? 58 Bad Boyfriend Stories” (St. Martin’s Press, 2009), based on the VidLit series of the same name. I have deep experience leveraging a variety of internet technologies as well as film, video and animation production, podcasting, marketing, promotion, and I have coached writers about the most effective ways of telling a story.

My digital career includes writing and producing original programming for Carrie Fisher, Bill Maher, David Foster Wallace, Cherry Lane Publishing, Microsoft Interactive, Bill Bryson, and others. I was Creative Director of News Corp’s internet content group and have been a consultant to all of the major Hollywood studios in the area of digital rights and content strategy for over 20 years.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
All my clients are wonderful. I wish I could give them attention 24/7, but since I can’t, my partner Jesse Kanner and I are in the process of producing a book marketing service. It’s called TheWriteKit.com.

As a writer, success can take on different meanings for each individual. For me, it’s about positively influencing someone’s life by conveying a unique perspective or emotion through words. The relationship between readers and writers is powerful, creating a synergy that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Being a successful writer also means understanding the importance of marketing your work. It can be intimidating at first, with thoughts like, “I know nothing about technology,” or “No one will care about my writing.” But it’s crucial to remember that marketing your work is just another form of creative expression. Just as you pour your time and passion into writing, marketing requires specific skills and an understanding of how to connect with people.

My goal is to provide you with everything you need to effectively promote your work without compromising your integrity as an artist. In today’s world, finding and connecting with readers is just as important as the act of writing itself. Whether you have a publisher backing you or are independently publishing, the responsibility of marketing falls mostly on your shoulders.

But don’t let that overwhelm you. With the right strategies and mindset, promoting yourself and your work can be enjoyable and can even result in increased success. I aim to show you authentic ways to reach new readers, while still leaving enough energy and creativity to continue producing great writing. Because at the end of the day, your voice and passion are what make you a whole artist – both in your writing and in your marketing efforts. Embrace them, have fun with them, and see where they take you in this journey as a writer.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The Museum of Jurassic Technology is my go-to for out-of-towners. It’s a museum about museums. That’s all I can say about it without ruining it. It’s very L.A. I met my husband at Musso and Frank’s, the oldest restaurant in Hollywood. And the Secret Stairs of Los Angeles. They are everywhere, you just need to know where to look.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My daughter, Grace Slansky, deserves all the credit in the world. She’s amazing and reads all the time. She is a natural creative thinker. She thinks so far out of the box, she doesn’t even know there is a box.

Next, all of my partners past and present. I believe Norman Lear said something like if you can get your project 99 percent there but you need a partner for that one percent, that partner is treasured and should be treated as such.

And my husband, Paul Slansky, who helped make Grace and who taught me about writing and so much more.

Website: https://vidlit.com

Instagram: @vidlitliz

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-dubelman/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vidlit

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dubelman/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@vidlit

Other: https://thewritekit.substack.com/
https://thewritekit.com/

Image Credits
VidLit Productions, LLC