BIO:
Brian W. Smith is the award-winning, best-selling author of 40 novels. He is also an accomplished screenwriter who owns, The Script Repository (a company that specializes in adapting novels to screenplays). When Brian is not writing novels, screenplays, or ghost-writing books for other authors, he is an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at Collin College in the Dallas, Texas, area.
At what age did you know you wanted to become a writer?
A: I didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer. My goal was to be a successful businessman and to one day be featured in Black Enterprise magazine. In 2003 (when I was 34 years old), I learned that my 17-year-old daughter was not my biological child. In 2004, I wrote my story as a form of therapy. That book, Mama’s Lies – Daddy’s Pain, became a best seller and launched my career. Twenty years, and 40 novels later, I’m still here.
Was your first book published or is it still lurking in a drawer somewhere?
A: My first book, Mama’s Lies – Daddy’s Pain, which dropped in 2005, can still be found in ebook on Amazon and still sells 20 to 30 copies every month.
Who or what have been your most important influences?
A: I can’t really say that I have any “influences” in the literary industry. I’m a Type A personality, so I’m influenced/motivated by success. However, I do have certain writers whose skills I respect: Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Walter Mosley, etc. Their mastery of the craft inspires me to keep focusing on the technical aspects of writing so that my name will one day be mentioned alongside theirs.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?
A: If I weren’t a writer, I’d be a Family Law attorney specializing in representing men who’ve been falsely accused of fathering a child and swindled out of child support money.
What’s your favorite a) film; b) album; c) artist?
A: My favorite film(s): Brown Sugar, Shawshank Redemption, and Life.
My favorite album(s): The Black Album by Jay-Z; Who is Jill Scott by Jill Scott and Kind of Blue by Miles Davis.
My favorite artist: Jay-Z
If you could spend time with any character from your books, who would it be and what would you do?
A: Since each character I write comes from my mind, I’m always spending time with them…they’re a part of me…the good ones and the crazy ones.
What is your biggest fear?
A: My biggest personal fear is having to bury one of my kids. My biggest professional fear is losing sight of my purpose. Where there is no purpose, there is no passion. Not having a passion for anything is equivalent to death. Everyone needs a “Why”.
Do you have a day job when you are not writing? If so, what do you do?
A: I’ve been an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at the college level for 12 years. I purposely stay an Adjunct (which for those who don’t know, is a part-time professor) because it gives me the flexibility to take off semesters. Tenured professors are expected to work every semester (some do get the Summer off). I like to travel year-round, so when I do my yearly schedule in January, I decide whether I’ll have the time to teach throughout the year. Sometimes, I’ll take the entire Spring or Fall Semester off. As an Adjunct Professor, I can do that. If I were a tenured professor, I couldn’t take off when I want to.
List five things that make you happy.
A: The 5 things that make me happy are:
- Taking care of my family
- Being blessed to be able to write full-time
- Traveling to places that require a passport
- Having money in the bank
- When my hometown football team, the New Orleans Saints, win
- What’s the title of the last book you read?
The last book I read was, I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
Favorites:
Favorite scent? Spicebomb (Night Vision) by Viktor and Rolf
Favorite singer? Sade
Favorite meal to cook at home? Collard Greens and cornbread
Favorite ice cream flavor? Praline and Cream
Favorite season? Fall
great interview ________________________________
Thanks.