Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in Southern California, traveled to Paris when I was 20 to work and live for three years. I then formed my own dance company and toured the world for the next 10 years, gathering experience and discovering new and exciting cultures. Now living in Munich Germany, I write, teach yoga and conduct spiritual retreats and seminars. I have written three other novels to date
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
On Beyond Yoga was inspired mainly by my own yoga practice. In the last 40 years, yoga has gone through a lot of changes, not all of them in harmony with the true essence of yoga. I intended to address these differences in the book and also offer a glimpse into yoga as a lifestyle. A Course in Miracles has been a spiritual inspiration since it was published in 1978 and mirrors a lot of the deeper aspects of yoga philosophy; a perfect blend of Christian mysticism and eastern philosophy and metaphysics. Through the retreats I have conducted in India, I came to see this land as a perfect setting for the ideas I was trying to compound. The characters are based on the hundreds of students I have had the pleasure of teaching.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
The most unusual and least expected was rewriting the original book… 27 times! But, I am learning this is pretty much par for the course, reading other author’s bios. The worst habit I’ve developed is: sitting in doors writing when the weather is glorious.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Everything I have ever read has influenced me, whether good or bad. Authors I admire tend to depress be because they are so remarkable, but I learn so much from their style and story telling. Successful authors who are, in my opinion, not up to par, style wise, keep me inspired by showing me everyone who writes has a public; something not so obvious when the weather is gray and book sales are down to nothing.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a series of books, each taking place in the seventies, each in a new land and culture. It’s interesting to discover how many things have changed in such a short time period, which makes this time in history almost as archaic as the Ancient Greeks. I just finished a book about extreme culture shock in Greece at that time, and am working on a book about the darker side of Paris, before AIDS, Disco, and internet.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
It’s a labyrinth I am still working through. Obviously, self published books depend a lot on Social Media, something older authors are not so savvy with, being born in the dark agents when publishers did most of the selling. Websites like AWESOMEGANG seems to be making things a bit easier for us artists who have and overdeveloped right brain hemisphere.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Decide what you want. If you want dollars and renown, spend more time learning about marketing than writing. If you are passionate about your craft, if writing is a life force you can’t do without, don’t give up because family and friends don’t share your enthusiasm, try not to fret too much that you can’t find a reading public, and keep churning it out. Consistency hones your blades better acceptance.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Not to use so many adverbs, trusting your reading audience to understand more than you think they do.
What are you reading now?
Andre Aciman’s, “Call Me by your Name; Donna Tartt’s, “A Secret History,” and Fredrik Backmann’s, “A MAn Named Ove.”
What’s next for you as a writer?
One day at a time. Getting my books read. Finding my next favorite book to read.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I AM THAT, Shantaram, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal.
Author Websites and Profiles
Eric Brown Website
Eric Brown Amazon Profile
Eric Brown’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile