“Hello and welcome to another chat among bloggers. Guest of the month is Brian from https://writingfromtheheartwithbrian.com/. I have not been following Brian’s blog for long, but it was love at first sight.
Brian has a peculiarity, he thinks neither his blog nor himself is that interesting, but I believe exactly the opposite, and you are just about to find out that I am right !!!
Now, you know the drill: Sit back, relax and enjoy the chat.
O- Good day, Brian and welcome. Would you like to introduce yourself?
B- Oh, I’d love to!
I’m Brian. If you look at my background, you’ll see the professional wrapper: a senior leader specialising in corporate communications and helping business leaders solve problems. But if you strip away the professional exterior, you get to the good stuff.
First and foremost, I’m a family man. I’ve been married to my best friend for 32 years, and together we’ve raised three incredible kids and transitioned into the rewarding, busy world of being empty nesters.
I’m a storyteller at heart, a lifelong runner who has crossed marathon finish lines, a big sports fan, and a history buff who loves writing about everything from unique cultural trivia to sports lore. I have a massive sweet tooth inherited straight from my mother’s Amish heritage, a deep appreciation for a crisp autumn afternoon, and a love for finding a local vineyard to relax and listen to live music.
Ultimately, whether I’m helping an organisation through a season of change or writing a piece for my blog, I’m someone who believes in people, roots, resilience, and the power of a great story.
O: We started blogging for similar reasons, like our love for writing and the will to tell everyday stories and show the beauty of life. As for the WordPress community, what did you do, and what made you stick with blogging over the years?
B: I created my blog — Writing From The Heart with Brian — because I had something to say. It began with just one post, then another, and another—and this coming September will mark my 11th anniversary. I’m as surprised as anyone that it has lasted this long!
What keeps me sticking with it is the creative outlet. I love having a dedicated place to put my thoughts, stories, and the life lessons I pick up along the way. While I initially focused just on the writing, I was delighted to find on WordPress a community of friends, supporters, and like-minded writers. That was definitely a wonderful bonus.
O: In your about page, you mentioned two half-written novels in your desk drawer. Are they still halfway through their end because of a lack of time, or because you do not lack inspiration, or because you are happy and content exactly where you are with your writing and blogging for the time being?
B: Oh, I’m still working on them. I’ve had to put them aside right now because of life. Adulthood and all the obligations and responsibilities that come with it have temporarily slowed me down. You know what I mean—things like paying the bills, keeping a roof over your head, taking care of family, crazy stuff like that.
O: lol, yes, it sounds familiar, but I’m sure we will be holding those books in our hands sooner than later.
Oh, yes! I will finish them. The inspiration is there. The ideas are there. I just need to get through this period, and then I’ll get back to my novels. I have to add, though, that it’s been incredibly motivating to see so many of my WordPress friends published. There’s been a bunch of them lately, and that has kept the fire lit inside of me.
O: What role does faith play in your life?
B: You’re an intuitive reader. I do tend to touch on faith at times in my writing because it is incredibly important to me. It helps me get to the emotions I’m feeling inside, and I think it helps keep my writing authentic to who I am. Ultimately, my faith plays a foundational role in my life.
Saying all that though, I’m also very much human—my faith has its ups and downs. I have my moments when I’m passionate about it and feel it deep inside of me, and then other moments when my arms are outstretched, and I’m like, “Hey God, remember me, it’s Brian? Think you could step in and help a guy out?” I suspect most folks feel that way at one point or another — except maybe the Pope or the Dalai Lama!
O:That is a good feeling to have, Brian. Also, I pretty much believe both the Pope and the Dalai Lama outstretch their arms on certain days.
O: And humour? As it is pretty obvious from your posts that you always try to smile at life and find the funny side of things. That, I suppose, is another reason I immediately connect with your blog.
B: Oh, thank you! It’s so nice of you to say, and I’m thrilled that you get my sense of humour. When I include something I think is funny in my writing, I worry about it rubbing people the wrong way, because it can be full of sarcasm and even include a touch of gallows humour. But safe to say, laughter keeps me going.
I have a favourite quote from former college basketball coach Jim Valvano, who said before he died that you need to think, laugh, and cry each day. It means spending a little time each day in deep thought, sharing a good laugh, and letting yourself be moved to tears by something emotional. If I can fit in all three, I feel like it’s been a good day.
O: I love coach Valvano! And to me, that kind of day sounds more like a brilliant day , also maybe not too hard to have, looking at things the right way.
O: As a writer, are you also a voracious reader? Any favourite genre?
B: I’m an incredibly slow reader, but I usually have a book on my desk or in my work bag. It really just depends on what else is happening in my life, but the funny thing is that my “To Be Read” pile is getting dangerously high. I stack them on my nightstand, and I honestly worry that any day now they’re going to tilt over and bury me in my sleep. Firemen are going to have to come and dig me out from underneath a mountain of books. Yikes! I guess I’d best start reading.
As for genres, I like a little bit of everything—fantasy, thrillers, historical fiction, romance, memoirs, and biographies. Ultimately, I just love stories where the characters feel like real people with real people problems and challenges, and they overcome them.
O: Do you re-read books?
B: Oh, I love to re-read books. It’s like catching up with an old friend. There’s a wonderful comfort in returning to a world where you already know the characters and how their story unfolds. When life gets chaotic or busy, slipping back into a favorite book feels like coming home.
Some of my favorite books to re-read over the years include Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, Wish You Well by David Baldacci, The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, Once a Runner by John L. Parker Jr., and children’s classics like Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney.
There are many others, but those are a few that always seem to draw me back.
O: Is there a book that left a mark on you? Or simply do you have a favourite book?
B: This one is almost too hard because I love so many books! But if I have to narrow it down, “Wish You Well” by David Baldacci holds a very special place in my heart. He is famous for his thrillers, but he completely shifted gears to write a beautiful story about a family in Southwest Virginia, the tragedy that hits them, and finding strength in their roots. When I read it back in 2000, it forced me to look back on my own roots with a newfound respect, and it really helped me come to grips with who I am.
Going back even further to when I was a kid, “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien and “Ivanhoe” by Sir Walter Scott left indelible marks on me. The worlds in those two books were night-and-day different from my own reality, but they gave me the courage to fight my own adolescent challenges. They gave me the courage to stand up to the bully in the middle school hallway and other bullies in my life. They showed me that I could speak up when someone was disrespecting me. In a strange way, I found a kind of kindredship within those pages.
Again, I could go on and on, but those are three that truly left a permanent mark.
O: Three songs that you regard as masterpieces?
B: I could spend hours on this one, but if I have to narrow it down to three absolute masterpieces, these are the ones that stick with me:
- “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry: It is the ultimate blueprint for rock ‘n’ roll. It’s just pure, undeniable energy.
- “Desperado” by the Eagles: The storytelling and vocal harmony are flawless. It’s a beautifully written ballad that hits me right in the gut every single time I hear it.
- J.S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major (Prélude) performed by Yo-Yo Ma: There is a profound, soulful emotion in this piece. Yo-Yo Ma plays it with so much heart that it feels less like notes on a page and more like a conversation with the soul.
If I could add one more bonus song, I’d probably throw in U2’s “Beautiful Day.” Their anthem about maintaining hope and finding joy even after losing everything gets me every time.
I could easily name fifty more, but these four represent perfection in their own unique ways.
O: What really annoys you when it comes to bad manners?
B: Rudeness. For me, it usually comes down to a lack of basic situational awareness—like people who stop dead in the middle of a busy grocery store aisle, or don’t hold the door for the person right behind them. It takes so little effort to be mindful of the space you’re sharing with others.
O: So true!
O: Do you believe in second chances?
B: Oh my goodness, yes. I know I need second chances. I stumble, I fall, and I make mistakes all the time. I think we all do—it’s just part of being human. If we didn’t have second chances, we’d all be stuck defined by our worst moments instead of growing and doing better.
I’m struck by that idea—the absolute terror of being defined solely by my mistakes. It reminds me of a powerful quote by author Bryan Stevenson, who wrote, “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.”
I can’t even imagine living in a world where that wasn’t true. Second chances are what give us our humanity back.
O: And now let’s get into your private affairs:
a- What’s your favourite season?
B: I love autumn. I love the transition—the leaves changing colors, that crisp chill in the air, and the fact that winter’s arctic cold hasn’t quite taken over yet. There always seems to be something going on too. I just love fall; I love how it makes me feel.
O: Ah you are fall soul like me!!!!
b- Sweet or Savoury?
B: Oh, I have a massive sweet tooth. I completely blame my mother and her Amish heritage! I grew up on homemade apple and cherry pies, rich chocolate cakes, and thick icing. Oh yes, sweet all the way.
O: Thats an other thing we have in common; I was born with the same condition, but i inherited from my grandfather along with my vampire tooth.
c- Beach or Mountains?
B: I’m a beach person at heart. There is nothing like closing your eyes and listening to the steady, rhythmic crash of the waves. That said, I grew up in a large mountain valley and the mountains still speak to me. I love the simple way of life, the kind people who live there, the fresh air, the calmness of the forest, and the way the morning sun peeks through to start the day. It’s a very close second.
d-Tea or Coffee?
B: I actually came to coffee later in life. I somehow survived college all-nighters and the newborn phase with my kids without a single drop of coffee! Oh, I had lots of caffeine—I’m a big soda drinker, which I’ll get to in a second—but not a drop of coffee.
I started drinking coffee a few years ago, and now I’m hooked. I prefer moderate blends to darker roasts, and I’m strictly a one-cup-a-day guy. You’d think that restraint would be a good thing, but unfortunately, my real weakness is soda. I love my Diet Pepsi—it’s a tough habit to break when you have a sweet tooth!
O: pretty much the same here, I love my Diet Coke, at times with some whiskey in it, but I am more a kind of one-cup-a-time gal, lol.
e- Wine or Beer?
B: I like both. But now that we’re empty nesters, my wife and I love to spend our free time checking out local vineyards. Now, my wine knowledge is very limited — I tend to gravitate toward Rieslings and Niagaras — but it’s always such a fun excuse to get out, listen to some live music, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon together.
O: OH, that sounds lovely and romantic.
Now, unfortunately, this marks the end of our chat with Brian, whom I once again thank for being my guest today to share a bit of himself with my readers and me. It was such a wonderful and interesting chat, I loved it and hope you all did too.
Much love to you all, and don’t forget that you can catch up with all the interviews simply by clicking the link below or through the blog main page.
