Tell
us a little bit about yourself.
 |
| Author Philip Brown |
I’m a high school English teacher, writer, husband,
father, frozen yogurt enthusiast, book lover, Leo, rock ‘n’ roll fan for life.
What
is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is titled Light Runner, and the book was inspired by the many strong,
resilient young people I have known, kids who’ve had to dig down deep to
overcome long odds. I’ve also been inspired by lots of women—including my own
sisters—who’ve succeeded.
How
would you categorize your book?
Light Runner is a young adult contemporary fantasy, but it’s also
received glowing reviews from adult readers. It is the first book in a three
book series.
Introduce
us to the main character of your series.
What is it about this character that appeals to you as a writer?
 |
| Available Now |
The publisher and I selected the title Light Runner from a list I came up with. The armband in the story—called a Jyotisha—radiates light when it heals wounds. The main character, Dara, is on the run, trying to protect this armband from others who want to take it from her. “Runner” also has a double meaning of messenger.
How
involved were you with creating the cover?
The publisher has their own in-house design artist,
and she created the cover, for which I also had approval.
Tell
us something about your book that isn't mentioned in the synopsis.
Dara has to fly beneath the radar, and she hides out
by becoming part of the burgeoning homeless population in Los Angeles.
Surviving on the streets—with a magic bracelet—is a big part of the story. In
writing the book, I researched homelessness and teen runaways—an eye-opening
experience.
Give
us a summary of your book in a tweet.
A teenage girl…a powerful healing armband…a man who
won’t stop until it’s his. #Light Runner
How
much of your experience is in your book?
Lots. I
drew upon my experience as a teenager and also as someone who’s lived close to
the streets for a time in my life. I drove a taxicab, and that gave me a feel
for the streets and street life. Mainly, though, I drew upon my own experience
of being a survivor, knowing first-hand what it takes to pull through
adversity.
Describe
your writing process.
I get up at 4:00 every morning to write for a couple
of hours. I’m a slow, pain-staking writer—but I stick with it. I’m learning to
do more outlining, but my natural tendency is to do “headlight writing,”
meaning I look as far ahead in the story as a pair of headlights on a dark
highway. I do know where it’s going, how it will end, have different scenes and
characters mapped out. But I find that the act of writing is where much of the
story is created. Also, feedback is very important for me, and I have a regular
critique group of beta readers who look at everything I write and give me
strong feedback—not always positive and sometimes pointing me in plot
directions I could not see myself.
Describe
your writing environment.
Total quiet in the early morning darkness. A small
desk with a computer and a bulletin board stuck with a bunch of 3 x 5 cards
that lay out scenes and story connections. And coffee. Lots of coffee.
How
much research did you put into your book?
A lot of the research came out of my own life. In a
previous incarnation, I drove a taxicab (pre-Uber) on the streets of L.A. and
Hollywood, which gave me a feel for street life at night. I also lived close to
that side of life myself. But when it came to other things, I had to do a lot
of research on skateboarding, homelessness, homeless shelters, and how to to do
a remote TV broadcast. In Book 2, there’s a scene where Dara and Diego ride the
L.A. Metro. I went downtown and rode the same route so I could describe it.
There’s nothing better for a writer than being there and experiencing it.
What
are your interests outside of writing? Do any of these activities find their way into your
books?
I love astrology and have written a couple of astrology books. Cosmic Trends was published by Llewellyn Worldwide, and was a finalist for the Coalition of Visionary Resources award. It's about the astrology of cultural trends - music, fashion, movies, science. I've also studied Vedic astrology and Tarot, and some find their way into Light Runner.
What is the best advice received as an author?
The best writing advice I ever received is to read a lot of good books, and that is the advice I would pass on to any aspiring writers. Absorb good writing. Make it part of your bloodstream. Read lots of books in a wide variety of genres, not just the one in which you want to write.
I love astrology and have written a couple of astrology books. Cosmic Trends was published by Llewellyn Worldwide, and was a finalist for the Coalition of Visionary Resources award. It's about the astrology of cultural trends - music, fashion, movies, science. I've also studied Vedic astrology and Tarot, and some find their way into Light Runner.
What is the best advice received as an author?
The best writing advice I ever received is to read a lot of good books, and that is the advice I would pass on to any aspiring writers. Absorb good writing. Make it part of your bloodstream. Read lots of books in a wide variety of genres, not just the one in which you want to write.
What is the harshest criticism you have received?
Like a lot of writers and artists, I am thin-skinned and sensitive to criticism—so, to me, all criticism seems harsh. Perhaps the harshest criticism is silence, someone who reads my work and says nothing. That’s especially hard because then I don’t know if the story worked—or not. And if not, what missed the mark. If I want to grow and develop as a writer, I feel it is important for me to learn, and in order to do that I have to take in criticism and use it to improve my writing. I try to be teachable. I’ve seen writers flee from any suggestions for improvement because they just want their work to be admired and nothing more. If I want to be a good writer, I need to learn the craft of writing. That takes a lot of hard work and listening to the suggestions of others.
What kinds of books did you read as a child and did they influence the kind of books you write today?
I read everything: fantasy, mystery, biography, sports bios. I especially loved The Wizard of Oz series—not just the first book that was the basis for the movie, although that’s a great story. I loved the Nancy Drew series, and my original concept when I started writing a book was “Nancy Drew on a skateboard” which evolved into something quite different. I also loved stores about underdogs. A writer named Howard Fast wrote a lot of this type of story, and I enjoyed his books. I didn’t really have a favorite genre, although for quite some time I was obsessed with sci-fi. I think a lot of those genres worked their way into the type of writing I do today.
What specific authors or books influenced what you write today?
Mythology is a big influence, and in Light Runner, I drew upon the myth of the wounded healer. I’ve been influenced by so many writers, both old and new. I love Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and dystopian lit like The Hunger Games (but also Brave New World and 1984). I actually love the thriller genre and try to learn about intense plotting from those books. Charles Dickens’ original characters and Jane Austen’s masking of character—not that I’m in their league, or even close—have been influential. I read a lot of books and find myself influenced to some degree by everything I read. Some TV shows have very good writing. They have to hook the viewer fast and keep your attention.
What types of books or genres do you read now for pleasure?
For pleasure I like thrillers, spies, private eyes, Dan Brown. I like to read books where the story carries me along and I don’t have to do too much heavy lifting. It takes a lot of skill to write a believable plot that moves. I also like books that bring to life a real world I know nothing about. The Boys in the Boat did that, as did Michael Lewis’ The Big Short.
What is next for you?
I’m finishing the sequel to Light Runner—and then I’ll start on Book 3.
You can connect with Philip at the following places:
Website: http://www.philipbrownauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightrunnerseries/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/philipbrown1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philipbrownauthor/
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