Life Altering Reads: Author Interview – Brad Cotton @BradCott0n

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Author Interview – Brad Cotton @BradCott0n

Why do you write?

I’m a creative person by nature. I play a few instruments, I try to build or fix things as often as I can, and I’ve even tried my hand at photography and painting. Writing is just the one that comes most naturally. It seems to be where affinity meets aptitude. I don’t have to write, like some people say they’re compelled to do, it’s actually a struggle more than not. I just feel like I have much left to accomplish. Something keeps me arranging new stories in my head. Maybe one day I’ll reach a point where I feel like I’m ready to stop. Then again, maybe I won’t.

Have you always enjoyed writing?

If writing isn’t a little bit painful, you’re not trying hard enough. Of course, there are always good days. I can honestly say that the best part of writing is walking away from the page knowing you’ve accomplished something. I don’t like writing, I like having written.

What motivates you to write?

I motivate me. And it’s not easy. I can be pretty persuasive and there’s often a lot of junk to watch on TV. There’s never enough time to do all the nothing I want.

What are you most proud of in your personal life?

My wife.

What book genre do you adore?

Right now, non-fiction. It’s not helping my writing much, but I’ve been reading a lot on physics and cosmology. Of course, I have a growing TBR pile, too. Most of those books fall under general fiction. I usually stay away from anything too fantastic. I’m not so much into vampires or zombies or erotica between the two.

What book should everybody read at least once?

This is just a tricky way of asking what my favorite book is, isn’t it? I don’t know that there’s one book I would recommend to everyone. Just like I couldn’t recommend one band or one movie. Every recommendation would surely be followed with “buts” and “howevers”. Having said that — Catcher in the Rye.