Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
This is my first book, but I have been a professional storyteller my whole life. Film and television / Communications and PR / Branding and messaging, telling stories has been my passion my entire life. I love to take messages and shape them.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Very Best Bad Idea: Innovation, Creativity, and Making friends with the Mouse was a product of years of watching brilliant people hide their best ideas because they were afraid of looking stupid.
I wanted to know why we care. So, I spent years researching, interviewing, and collecting stories about it. This book is about the history of thinking, society, communication, and the difference between innovations and inventions.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure I’d call them unusual. I write best/most late at night to early morning. 11pm-5am, I’m somewhat fueled by caffeine and exhaustion.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Its a relatively long list. Scott Galloway, Adam Grant, and Chris Voss were loud voices in my head during this endeavor. On the fiction side, Neil Gaiman and John Green are big inspirations and styles I love.
What are you working on now?
As a lifelong filmmaker, I’m crafting this book into a series of shorts/documentary to make the content more easily accessible
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find I really like my audience and engagement on Linkedin.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author. I don’t know that anything I could offer would be valuable. I am already outlining my next book and just want to use what I learned to apply it… don’t even know myself if it’ll work better on round 2.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Stop trying to write “your book.” Just write a story 500 words at a time. Don’t worry about connecting them, or structuring them, or writing “your book”. Just write 500 words.
What are you reading now?
A history of Video Games in 64 Objects.
What’s next for you as a writer?
While writing “The Very Best Bad Idea” I stumbled upon a theory and concept that has inspired me greatly. I’ve been collecting tidbits and background, and soon will turn it into my next book.
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?
Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
Scott Galloway – The Four
Tony Mendez – The Master of Disguise
Author Websites and Profiles
Kirk Westwood Website
Kirk Westwood Amazon Profile
Kirk Westwood’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account