1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?What inspired you to write your book?
I first got into writing when I wrote a couple of memoirs regarding my life growing up with ADD. Those books were quick reads of only about 80 pages. I was testing the waters of the Amazon market to see how the books fared, and to see if anyone cared about the topic. They were not well received, nor were they properly advertised, but at least I could say that I had put a couple of books out there.
What really got me back into writing were two things: I had a friend that was released from prison for manufacturing, and using, methamphetamine and I my wife and I had him on our podcast to tell his story. Well, I couldn’t stop there; I needed to know the full story, so I pushed him to talk-to-text his story out from childhood, to adolescence, to blowing himself up producing meth, to his prison time, to life after. I motivated him by using the other part that inspired me to get back into writing. Another high school friend and just come out with his memoirs of growing up gay, and coming out “officially” with this book, and he snubbed me for an interview to promote his book. I told my recently paroled friend that “If this asshole could write a book, then people would leap over the shelves to read your story!” I would be his ghost writer on the project.
We made it to near completion of his book before his life was taken in a robbery. While waiting for him to complete his story for me to write for him, I wrote about my life as a personal trainer. I filled my book with all of my personal experiences, both good and bad, sexy and non-sexy, and it has worked out. I was motivated by anger and jealousy mainly, I believe, but it worked out well.
2) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
What I hope that readers take away from my writing is that life isn’t as glamorous as we perceive it to be, or how people lead us to believe it to be. In the Personal Training industry specifically, when you see someone who takes care of themselves well, you tend to think that they have it all together. The discipline, the money, the motivation, etc., but this is not always the case. I highlighted in my book several classes of people that trade either health for wealth, or vice versa. If you have ever heard the expression, “Be kind to everyone you meet, because you never know what they might be going through.” That was, and still is me and my life. I struggled, and while I am still struggling, I have a more positive outlook on things than I did after leaving my career as a personal trainer.
3) What drew you into this particular genre?
I was drawn to this genre, personally, because I could recollect the memories very well that made for a good story. There isn’t much imagination and storytelling involved if you live the tale that you are explaining. Plus, I like the idea of shocking people with events and situations that I have taken part in. I have a desire to write fiction one day, but this book required no fiction, as it I made sure to include every aspect that people would enjoy. Recounting a few sexual partners, explaining my attitude(s) on certain types of classes of people, and people in general is a writing style that I enjoy; the human psyche if you will. I didn’t hold anything back…except for actual names and locations- I don’t feel the real names were necessary.
4) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Instagram is where all the eyeballs seem to be these days, although I have put my name and book on Facebook, and YouTube as well. Posting and sharing is tough for me, as I don’t like to talk about myself in casual conversation. I prefer to be asked questions on how I feel about topics and/or situations. So, I am not that guy fretting about daily posts and trying like hell to get attention. I am of the idea that if your stuff is good, then people will seek you out- you shouldn’t have to be jumping and waving in their face every minute of the day. (Although the attention of people these days is just pathetic. This was discussed in the book as well)
5) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
My advice to writers, who are in my genre that is, is write what you know to be true, and what you think should be true. Everyone hides behind fantasy and fiction because they’re afraid to offend everyone with their own, true thoughts. Those people that are so easily offended believe their opinions to be the only truth that people should believe, so why not stake your claim? If you feel as though you need to hide in another genre just so you can say what you truly feel, I guess that you can do that, but who knows, maybe you will get that “negative publicity” from the haters first, but then come out on top because you spoke your mind. David Goggins and Jordan Peterson come to mind. Goggins swears like the sailor he is and says whatever the hell he wants, but he’s just a man; a person who is entitled to their opinion. Peterson was hated when he first arrived on the scene, but now is regarded as a respected intellectual. Stay true to your thoughts and beliefs, but also hear out others who have different views than yours.
6) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
Right now, as for the last 5 years, I will continue to tread water and push projects to completion in the hopes for a safe, and stable, financial future. All my worries and problems stem from lack of money at this moment, but that can’t last forever. I believe that I am never out of the fight, so it will be interesting.
Future projects for me will be to finish my friend’s book about his crazy life. It’s more a collection of stories along a timeline. I thoroughly enjoyed/enjoy writing for him, even after he is gone. When he would send me snip-its of what he would transcribe to a Word document for me, I would decipher his thoughts and attitudes so well that he would compliment me on numerous occasions by saying, “Man, it’s like you are in my head and know exactly how I think.” I know that I’m onto to something there, so I will pursue it, both for him, and his family.
