Interview with Brian Pratt

"Age is only a factor when you're dead."  I love that quote and it comes straight from Brian Pratt, one of the new eauthors that are reshaping the publishing industry.  Rather than going through traditional publishing houses, Brian Pratt self-publishes his enovels through Amazon and other ebook publishers.  And he is doing quite well, thank you, selling his novels by the thousands with an ever-increasing fan base.

What is just as remarkable about Brian is that he started writing his first novel in his late thirties and living in relative poverty.  He completely reinvented himself in middle age and has never looked back. Some say publishing will never be the same, because of this rising cadre of eauthors pumping out self-published works. For example, Brian has a brilliant strategy: he will allow anyone to download the first quarter of most of his enovels for free at his site Brian S. Pratt Books. 

This gives potential readers the chance to find out if they're interested before they make a purchase.  We can only say, "It's about time!" 

Brian was nice enough to grant an interview and I think you'll appreciate his comments about life and starting over:  

Q. According to my calculations, you were about 38 when you started writing. Why did you wait until middle age to start your lifelong dream?

My wife left me the year before. I had nothing and got to thinking that retirement was coming up fast and I had nothing saved. In my situation, living day to day, I couldn't. So I gave my life a long, hard look. I hated the idea that when I went to work, when I came home, the money stopped. Or if I got sick, no money was coming in. I wanted a way to keep the money coming in no matter what turmoils my life may be experiencing. And so I thought about writing. You put a book out and if it's good, will make money 24/7. I had always been a reader so thought I could put out a pretty good story. It would seem that I had.

Q. Do you think having started writing near 40 had its advantages? Did that additional “life experience” make you a better writer somehow?

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When you are young, you are more prone to give into temptations, discouragement, and are just plain impatient to have everything start NOW! Being older gives one perspective, an understanding that seeds must be planted, nurtured, and cannot be harvested until it is time. Same way with writing. I didn't go into it expecting to make a million the first year. I merely wanted to make more than I put into it and have gradual growth year after year. I did that. As a younger man, all the critics would have stopped me dead in my tracks, and my lack of immediate success may have done so as well. But being older, you can handle things better and you are more adept at taking the long view.

Q. You are known for your creativity and productivity. What are you working on now? And any bites in Hollywood yet?

I've got 5 books across 5 storylines that are in varying degree of completion. As for Hollywood, I signed a "shopping" contract with a producer. All that means is that he has exclusive rights to approach studios and try to get them to make a movie. Nothing more. If no one says yes, then it's not going to happen. But there has been some interest. After Harry Potter and his seven books, they see me and my series The Morcyth Saga of seven books possibly having a similar return.

Q. A lot of guys that end up on my site have struggled for years with health issues and are looking for a new life in middle (and even senior) age. Any words of encouragement for them?

Never give up. Plain and simple. A handicap is only a handicap if you allow it to be. No man can do everything. Each must find that niche suited to their own abilities and work hard at being successful at it. You can't lose unless you give up.

Q. I notice that you’re a family guy. How have your kids been an inspiration and motivation for you?

Definitely. College funds are growing and daily spending is a never ending siphon. Got to do something to pay for those Nikes. My oldest are teens and the youngest is 11, so thrift stores are a thing of the past. My oldest daughter alone is close to putting me in the poorhouse again. :)

Q. So you write 1,000-1,600 words per hour? Good night! Were you considered a "brainiac" in school?

I can write that much, and did the early years.  Now other things take up my time. The more you have published, the more your time is spent dealing with non-writing enterprises regarding them, like interviews, which I love. Yes, in school, I was considered one of the smart ones. In English, since I read all the time, whenever a book report was due, I just took out a piece of paper, pulled a book off the shelf, refreshed my memory, and wrote it out. My firends hated [it] when I did that.

Q. It sounds like you were under a lot of stress when you started writing being a single dad at the poverty level? You clearly overcame any anxiety and were downright prolific during that time period. Any tips for those in similar circumstances?

Find out what's important to you and do it. People always do what's most important to them. If you say you want to do something, but always find reasons why you can't, then it isn't that important to you. You 've got to get rid of excuses and do it. Excuses as to why you can't do something are the biggest killers of dreams. We do it to ourselves. Like me, sometimes I say how tired I am and so can't write. Only ahve a half hour so shouldn't write casue what's the point? Things like that. I'm a writer so I better be writing, or announce I'm done and leave it as it stands. I have no intention of doing that, merely using it as an example. I love to write.

Q. I’ve got some young readers in my family. Are all of your books appropriate for junior high and high school readers?

Yes. I set out to make a story suitable for the entire family. It's written at 5th grade level, no profanity worse than damn, and sex isn't in it at all. Maybe a couple scenes skirt around it, but nothing graphic. Very PG-13. The worst iolence is sword fighting. That can get a little gruesome, but nothing that bad.

Q. You wrote 17 books in a little over five years. Middle age clearly hasn’t slowed you down a bit. What keeps you in good shape working day to day for obviously long hours? Any health tips for us?

I live in the country and go out and cut wood, or walk, or somethingn every day. I'm still overweight, a bit of a chubby guy, but I exercise daily. Makes you feel good and keeps your ability to get things done in high gear. If you don't exercise, you have less interest in doing anything.

Q. How many people told you, “You can’t start writing at this age!” And how did you overcome the naysayers?

Actually, no one eve said that to me. My critics all said, I couldn't write that I was butchering the English language. And since I have had no formal training at writing outside of high school, they're probably right. But age shouldn't be an obstacle. A person with drive and ambition, can achieve anything no matter the age. Age is only a factor when you're dead.