I have been a full time novelist for 10 years, and have been published since 2007. On June 5, my new novel, The Fractured, will be released. It is my 33rd novel.
2: What is your biggest life lesson?
The only way to make your dreams happen, is to put in the hard work.
3: What is your biggest achievement?
My kids!
4: What is currently the most challenging part of running your business?
Getting new readers, and getting the word out about my books.
5: What was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome to get where you are now?
I think the hardest thing was proving to myself that I could actually finish writing a novel. For years I would try, but I would abandon stories part way through. When I finally did finish a book, and knew I could actually get to the end, I was off and running. Now when I start writing a novel, I pretty much always finish it.
6: What is your favorite book?
It changes all the time. A couple of my favorites are 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, Fever by Deon Meyer, The Martian by Andy Weir, The Stand by Stephen King
7: If you could have anyone educate you who would it be?
Interesting question…I don’t know if there’s any single person. I believe a good education is a well rounded one, that exposes you to various ways of learning and doing things. So I guess it would be a group of people, ones that believe in the joy of spreading education. I would really have to do some research to figure out who they were.
8: What is your deepest regret?
Pass on this one. Nothing huge, but I’m sure tons of small regrets. But while I believe one can’t forget their regrets, he or she should learn from them and move forward. Have I always been able to do that? No, but I try.
9: What is your favorite podcast?
I am a podcast-aholic. I listen to podcasts all the time. I don’t play the radio in my car, I listen to podcasts. So like with books and teachers, I don’t know if I could name just one. I’m a huge fan of history podcasts especially (but not exclusively)—Hardcore History and Revolutions are both amazing. American History Tellers, Tides of History, Business Wars, Slow Burn (about Watergate) all have me riveted. I also like Science Vs. and You Must Remember This and ID10T (formerly The Nerdist) and…well, I could go on for a while.
10: How people can get in contact with you?
The easiest way is through the contact page on my website: brettbattles.com/contact
11: What is your YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Brett-Battles-152032908205471/
Instagram: ikstterb
Twitter: @brettbattles
12: Who inspires you on social media and why?
Lately I’m most inspired by some artists and photographers I follow on Instagram such as Joanne Nam (inlander), wikidcanvas, Brian Kesinger (briankesinger), Jason Scheirer (jasonscheierart), Steve Halama (steve3p_0), Natalie Nourigat (tallychyck), Agapito Doronio (thirdeyedea), Dawid Planeta (minipeopleinthejungle), paperandflower.
13: What is your favorite tech tool that you use in the your business?
My laptop. It allows me to work anywhere.
14: How would you help people with disabilities?
As a parent of an adult child with Down syndrome, I don’t really think about “helping people with disabilities,” it’s just something you do naturally. That said, one of the most important things, I think, is only help as much as a person needs or wants you to help. People with disabilities are more than capable of doing many and sometimes most things themselves. They just might need a little more time.
15: What is the hardest part of your job that you have to face everyday?
In the first year or two of being a full-time novelist, I would say it was motivation myself to get the work done, and staying on schedule. Now, I would say it’s doing the stuff outside of writing, like marketing and that kind of thing. It’s not something I enjoy, but it needs to be done