Last Chance California was a way for me to stop running from my past and to confront it head on. The book was a healing journey for me.

Brian Price – 30 January 2022

The Back Flap

Last Chance California highlights our world, on the verge of the COVID-19 pandemic, through the eyes of a sarcastic and stubborn millennial who chases his California dreams in an attempt to break his family’s generational cycle of abuse.

About the book

What is the book about?

Last Chance California follows a disillusioned Wyatt Lewis who chases his lifelong dream to live in California after discovering he’s more like his abusive father than he realizes.

Once in Southern California, Wyatt reunites with an old friend, Summer Harrison, while falling hard for the elusive and free-spirited, Leah Murphy. Summer and Leah show Wyatt a dazzling world littered with lavish speakeasies, egregious drug use, and overpriced cocktails. Surrounded by fake glamor and stuck in a terrible corporate job, Wyatt’s escape quickly turns into his worst nightmare.

Overworked, alone, and filled with regret, the aspiring writer spirals down a self-destructive path that forces him to confront the violent past he ran away to California to forget.

Last Chance California showcases some of the glaring deficiencies in our society while also reminding readers of the complexity of families, the imperfections of humans, and the burdens we carry every day.

When did you start writing the book?

I started writing it in a journal while camping in Zion National Park in June 2020. Zion really is something unbelievable. Pictures could never do the place justice. Being there really stirred something up inside of me. I started writing and couldn’t stop.

Or maybe it was the drugs that inspired me.

Either way, it all started in Zion.

How long did it take you to write it?

Eighteen months.

I wrote a few drafts and worked with beta readers and editors. After each draft, I’d take at least a week off before diving back in. I learned that from Stephen King. I don’t know the man, but I read his book. That time off between drafts allowed me to come at the story with fresh eyes. I hated Last Chance California at times. I’d be editing and asking myself why the f*ck am I doing this to myself?

Where did you get the idea from?

A lot of it I drew from personal experience – whether things I’ve experienced, heard, witnessed, or read about it. The biggest inspiration comes from my childhood, which unfortunately, was pretty terrible. Last Chance California was a way for me to stop running from my past and to confront it head on. The book was a healing journey for me.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The middle is a real pain in the ass. There were so many stories I wrote that I had to cut from the story. A lot of great chapters and scenes that I hated taking out. I hope I can find a place for them in the future. At least a place more significant than my thirteen-subscriber blog.

What came easily?

Dialogue and the smart-ass sarcastic remarks from the narrator.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

I plead the Fifth.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Charles Bukowski, Neil Strauss, John Fante, Chuck Palahniuk, Hunter S. Thompson, and Ernest Hemingway. Besides Neil Strauss, I didn’t read any of those writers listed until the pandemic. Reading those writers flipped a switch in my mind and really made me want to write Last Chance California.

I think each of the writers was unique in their storytelling ability, but all accomplished the same goal… I couldn’t put their books down. I wanted to learn how to do that.

Do you have a target reader?

Millennials, for sure. And those who are survivors of child abuse.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I light an Ecto Cooler candle, yeah, there’s a candle that smells like the Hi-C juice boxes. I read famous writers or listen to writers talking about their craft. I throw on some headphones, dance around my house, and once I get a good burst of energy, I sit down and start writing. I usually keep the music on as I write. It’s always too loud if I’m being honest.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I wouldn’t call it outlining, but I’ll write important scenes… and some random ones.  From there, I polish them and turn them into chapters. Then combine them all together and hope it’s not shit.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I edited as I went. Don’t do this. It’s a mistake. It’ll cause the writing process to be longer than it should. And it really brings out the impostor syndrome and self-loathing. At least for me.

My next book, Once Upon a Subway will be edited after each draft is finished.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes. I used Reedsy and had a few editors bid on my work. I ended up working with an editor who completely blew me away. If you’re self-publishing, hire an editor.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

Oh yeah. I make playlists specific to my book or topic. I’ll pace around the house, getting myself fired up before I sit down and start typing. Different moods and scenes require different music. I listen to everything, but it’s mostly 80’s rock that gets me going.

Motley Crue especially.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I did submit to about twenty agents before self-publishing. It takes a lot of time and there’s not much return on investment unless you’re established and have a large social media following, which makes sense. Publishing is a business and publishers need to weigh risk and reward.

And I’m always all risk, baby.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I got a few rejections. Mostly no responses. The process of submitting to agents made me realize that my manuscript wasn’t where I needed to be. Instead of trying to edit the novel, I was spending so much time researching literary agents and creating queries. It felt like a giant waste of time. I figured if I wrote a great book, maybe publishers will catch me on the next one. If they don’t, I’ll keep self-publishing.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I used Canva and did it myself. I’m not sure if it fits the genre I wrote for and what not, but I like it, which is awful advice to say aloud, but I’m a stubborn one and like things my way.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I’ve been in public relations and marketing for about ten years. This prepared me for the book launch and post launch. I had a marketing plan, but I’ve also been flexible. I think it’s important to have at least some sort of plan so you’re not reacting to things and have something to follow.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Don’t worry about a damn thing until your book is finished. At least the first draft. I think if you’re worried about editing, marketing, and/or distributing your book, you’re doing a disservice to the writing. Write a great story first.

While I took breaks between drafts, that’s when I’d learn about indie publishing. I’d take notes, read, and watch videos online to understand the process. However, once it came back to editing/writing the book, I put that stuff out of my mind and focused on the story.

Another thing is to be honest with your words. Don’t try and write like someone else. Don’t try to write something for fame. Or fortune. Write what you want. A story you would want to read. If it comes from the heart, people will be able to connect with the words. We consume so much content every day that people can spot bullshit writing from a mile away.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Southern New Jersey. Smallish town. Boring childhood. Minus the constant fear I felt at home.

Where do you live now?

I’m back in South Jersey. I was living in San Diego when the pandemic hit but got the f*ck out of there when the lockdowns were announced. I drove across the country with all my things, well at least the things I could fit in my little car. Driving across the country while racing against the virus and lockdowns was insane. I heard so many stories of people who took jobs right before the virus, moved across the country and had to run back home because their new jobs were gone. No one was on the road. Mostly. I was doing one hundred miles per hour practically the whole trip. I made it home in less than three days. It’s amazing what adrenaline and fear can do for the body.

What would you like readers to know about you?

Staring the end of the world in the face, I promised myself I’d try to make the most out of this horrible crisis. If the world was going to end, I’d chase my dream. Plus, how many people died too soon from this virus? How many lost their lives from neglectful actions from those in charge during COVID? I had to take advantage of what I could control. And I was fortunate enough to be able to write. And that’s what I did. I sat in a chair and wrote. I think it’s important to do the things we believe in. No matter how hard. And writing this book took a toll on me. I became addicted to drugs. Spent many days in bed, upset at things from my past that I had to write about. It was brutal. But I came out on the other side in a better place.

At least so far.

But in my struggle I discovered my favorite poem ever, The Laughing Heart by Charles Bukowski. I won’t put the whole poem here, but the beginning is my favorite part:

“your life is your life

don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.

be on the watch.

there are ways out.

there is light somewhere.

it may not be much light but

it beats the darkness.”

And also, Fly Eagles Fly.

What are you working on now?

I actually have been working on my second book, Once Upon a Subway. I’ve been trying to write that book for almost a decade. It’s a modern romance novel that tells the story of two ex-lovers who reconnect during a chance encounter on a subway commute. It’s a prequel to Last Chance California that shows more of why Wyatt Lewis is the way he is. I’m really excited to get this out there. I wanted it to be my first novel, but I didn’t have the skills or experience. Plus, I figured I’d give my series the Star Wars treatment – start in the middle, go back to the beginning, and then write the finale. Hopefully, Wyatt’s final chapter isn’t as crappy as what Disney did to Star Wars, but I guess we’ll see.

Once Upon a Subway is scheduled for release on September 5, 2022.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Last Chance California from Amazon US and Amazon UK.