Join us for a friendly chat with Brian Bowyer, a remarkable storyteller and music composer whose life's journey is as diverse as his creative output. Brian has explored the U.S., working in roles from janitor to banker, bartender to bouncer, and even as a bomb maker for a coal-testing lab. These rich experiences have colored his writing with unique shades of realism and depth. Now settled in Ohio, Brian continues to weave his stories, bringing his unique perspective to the literary world. Let's dive into Brian's world and uncover the stories behind his stories!
Hey Brian. Thanks for this interview. Let’s begin with your book OLD TOO SOON. If I’m right, it is described as a coming-of-age horror novel with transgressive elements. What inspired you to blend these genres, and how did you approach crafting the story?
Hi, Neda! Thanks for interviewing me! The truth is that nothing in particular inspired OLD TOO SOON. I had just finished whatever book I was working on, then moved on to OLD TOO SOON, and now it’s six books in my rearview mirror. For me, writing is serial monogamy. I give everything I have to whatever book I’m working on, then finish it and move on to the next one. I always have numerous characters in my head clamoring for attention, so I constantly have to choose which ones to commit to for the next project.
That's interesting in compare with me. I can't focus on just one project. Mostly working on at least 2 project at the same time. I would like to know in your journey as an author, what have been the most significant challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?
There have been none. Writing is what I love to do, so I’m having fun every second that I’m alive. I wake up excited every morning to get back to whatever story I’m working on, and then I go to sleep excited to wake up the next day and see where the story goes. I write for me, and no one else. If other people like the stories, that’s just a bonus.
You mentioned that all your first drafts are written on your phone. I do the same. Can you describe your writing process further and explain how this method impacts your creative flow and style?
I walk for a minimum of one hour every day, and I write on my phone the entire time I’m walking. After I finish walking, I type everything I’ve just written into its document on my laptop, giving everything I write a second draft almost instantly. I also write throughout the rest of the days and nights wherever I am, which is probably why there’s always a lot of movement in my stories. My characters can’t sit still for very long.
I write for me, and no one else.
This makes me curious about your writing rituals or habits. Do you have any writing rituals or routines that you find particularly helpful in your creative process?
Not really. Reading and writing is all I like to do, so I don’t need any help doing either of those things. I read everything on my phone, too, by the way. I haven’t read a physical book in over twelve years. I left a massive physical library of books behind when I sold my house in West Virginia ten years ago, but I had already switched to digital books exclusively two years before that. I can tell you that when I’m either reading or writing by day, I’m drinking coffee, and then I always switch to whiskey at midnight. For decades, I drank 24/7. Now (and for the past seven years), I only drink between midnight and four a.m.
I see. That makes me think of your protagonist, she turns to alcohol to silence the voices in her head. Can you share the significance of this coping mechanism and its role in her character development?
She begins drinking when she’s eleven, becomes an alcoholic, and then alcohol affects her life in numerous ways from that point forward. To finance her addiction, she turns to a life of crime.
So, her journey involves a life of crime, incarceration, and complicated relationships. What themes or messages do you hope readers will take away from her story?
None. There’s never any message I’m trying to convey. Anyone who reads anything I have written is simply seeing what I was doing to entertain myself at the time I wrote it.
I can't disagree. I do the same. You’ve had a diverse range of jobs throughout your life, from being a janitor to a bomb maker. Kadence’s experiences too include moving through various locations in the United States. How does setting play a role in shaping the story’s atmosphere and impact on the characters?
I have no idea. I have very little control over any of my characters. I just watch what they do, and then write it down. But I can tell you that I spend a lot of time on set design, because they rarely stay in one place for very long.
Well, I recently shared few posts on my Twitter (X) that how the characters in my books take over what I write. In your story, for example, Arianne is described as “the girl of Kadence’s dreams.” Can you delve into the dynamics of their relationship and how it contributes to the overall narrative?
They’re both musicians, and they both love drugs, alcohol, literature, and living dangerously, so they always have a lot of stuff to talk about.
Indeed. Are there any upcoming projects or writing endeavors you’d like to share with your readers or any themes or genres you’re eager to explore in your future works?
I have six books finished that aren’t out yet, and I’m currently writing a novel set in Los Angeles. I don’t know which of those books will be the next to be released, but I can tell you that I had a blast with all of them.
Saying that, how do you balance your writing career with other aspects of your life, such as your day-to-day responsibilities and personal interests?
Easily. The writing comes first. Writing is my wife. Anything else in my life, at the most, is simply a mistress.
I love that :) well, thanks for joining me and inspire us with your words.
Thanks again for interviewing me, Neda!
If you'd like to keep in touch with Brian or purchase his books follow the below links or leave a comment: