Author Q&A with B. G. Howard

B. G. Howard was born and raised in the small town of Baxley, in South Georgia where he graduated high school prior to relocating to Macon. While there, he attended College at Mercer University, though unfortunate circumstances prevented him from completing his collegiate education. He lived in a number of cities throughout the eastern part
of the United States before finally relocating to Florida and, eventually, becoming self-employed.

The former business owner continues to reside in Jacksonville where he suffered an automobile accident in 2001, leaving him classified as “clinically disabled.” He considers the extensive injuries suffered as a blessing given that it, subsequently, opened the opportunity for him to embark upon his new career as an author.”

A state and national award winner as a newspaper columnist years before the accident, B. G. Howard resumed his efforts at writing an opinion column for the hometown Baxley News-Banner in September of 2015. He also writes philosophy, poetry, and short stories. B. G. admits, “There is so much inside my head writing is simply a mandatory outlet.”

He confirmed, “I want to be a good author who happened to survive an accident, not an accident survivor who became a good author because of surviving.”

Tell me about the first story you wrote

Following the 2001 accident, I underwent more than seven years of physical and psychological rehabilitation. It was during this period when an idea entered my mind that simply wouldn’t go away. After weeks of dismissing the concept of writing it down, I finally opened a Word document and started typing. Oddly enough, the act proved more therapeutic than anything as it served to more-or-less keep me “balanced” through a really dark period.

Fast-forward two and a half years later and I’d finished “something” but had no idea what. Still, several years after that, someone came across the file and encouraged me to do something with the story. That was the very beginning of the effort to pursue the publication of my first novel, “Family Ties: Thicker Than Blood,” which eventually launched on April 30, 2020…some fourteen years after the idea was first conceived.

Unfortunately, the book launch coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 health pandemic, and that stifled any significant marketing or promotional efforts for the title. During the two years that followed, I gained a great deal more knowledge about the process. Though the follow-up, “Family Ties II: Blood Covenant,” has been completed, I elected to apply the information acquired and revised the original.

That brings me to the point of Thursday’s proposed launch, as I’d really like to share what several people have confirmed as an awesome novel with so many who’ve not had the opportunity to experience it. As well, I have to admit that I’m still seeking confirmation of the fact that I meet the qualifications of a novelist.

Do you have a writing schedule?

Since being classified as (I prefer the term) “physically challenged,” I’m obviously no longer able to work. In order to maintain some type of normal structure for my life, it became necessary for me to devise
a familiar schedule. With that, I reasoned the best means was to simply approach writing as a full-time career. Much like the schedule when previously operating the companies, I’ve set my work hours as being from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. During those time periods, I focus on work related to my current WIP, the weekly newspaper opinion column that was resumed in 2015 and writing philosophy.

Oddly enough, the greater portion of my time is consumed with some aspect of the art. I’ve gotten to the point of keeping notes on my phone which is always kept on the nightstand beside the bed. Often, I wake during the night and jot down an idea for another book, pages of original quotations, or a poem. It’s like when the thought comes, I have no choice except to write. Otherwise, I find it difficult to sleep and have even gotten to the point of becoming physically ill.

Do you ever get writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?

It’s peculiar that I’ve never suffered from writer’s block but there’s so much that occupies the space between my ears. The greater challenge is actually trying to find enough time to write everything down. To this point, I’ve completed about ninety percent of what will be my second manuscript in that the Family Ties series came from the
first, and I’ve just started a third. Additionally, there are scripted storylines for another twenty-two novels. I just pray the Lord allows me enough time to finish all of them.

You can B. G. Howard on Twitter

Family Ties is out today! Find out more HERE

Author Q&A with B. G. Howard