Seven Broken Souls by Bull Durham is the story of tormented childhood by the abusive parents leading up to the making of a broken human. This memoir makes you flinch with the details and puts you in a place to understand how terrifying things can be. It is a book written with accumulated pain and much candour.
In a conversation with Bookish Fame, Bull Durham talked about his book, his writing, his thoughts on being an author, and his future plans.
- Please introduce yourself to our readers.
48-year-old male, youngest of 7 children all abused by their biological mother and father. Dog lover, rescue/foster dogs, first-time author.
- When did it dawn upon you that you wanted to be a writer?
Once I was able to start processing my past, I realized what I hadn’t seen for 35 years and what I had to do to become healthy for myself. I could no longer compartmentalize my feelings, who is healthy for me to be around and who I still needed to hear my truth.
- What inspires you to write books? What are the things which catch your attention?
When I start seeing success with anything I try and replicate that again. I had a huge breakthrough in my journey to become sober when I was able to reunite with 2 estranged sisters of 15+ years. This is all a process, I wouldn’t have reunited with my sister had I not shared my truth with my mother that her words of hate, fists raised in anger and unwillingness to love did to emotional scar me.
- Tell me something in brief about your book.
This was one of the hardest decisions to write this book and expose things about myself I’m not proud of, but these are things I’ve done, not who I am. I remember taking a walk on 12/24/2019 around a special path and the clouds parted, the sun came out and I was given the strength and courage to write this book. It took me between 45-60 days to write this book initially.
- How do you organize yourself, as a writer, to keep track of the world you’re writing about?
For me, it was a timeline of life ad pretty easy to trace what I was doing back then and how that affected me now. I’m lucky I have a good memory or that the pain was so fresh in my mind.
- How did you approach the writing process this time around? Do you have a set routine or does it vary? And how do you manage it with your full-time work?
I actually had to quit my last job and focus solely on writing. I couldn’t work and keep my anxiety tucked inside any more. I had also uncovered two major anxieties for me that I didn’t know was lurking in my past and I was going to have to deal with them.
- How do you think being a writer has helped you as a person?
In recovery, we state that sharing your hurts, habits and hang-ups cuts them in ½ as its very difficult to share. It helps other people to know that you struggle and are willing to talk about it. I have been able to help others with the recovery program itself create new leaders, train other men to help other men to become leaders and repeat the process. It’s gone from helping people in my recovery program and also friends of 20 years looking inwards to find peace after opening up about their struggles.
- Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?
I don’t read a lot, only for work when I needed to. I tried many times to read books, but my concentration was never there. I read Jack Welch “Winning” & “From Good to Great.”
- Give a shout out to your favourite contemporary writer.
Not sure I have one
- Do you have any writing blogs you recommend?
Yes, mine!!! I’ve just started it in conjunction with my book launch. I m starting with why I wrote the book and what I’m hoping to get out of it.
- What does being a successful author look like to you?
I’m already successful, I published a book all on my own, well sort of, but I went through the process by myself and I learned what I needed to along the way. This is only the first phase, but that’s a success. You need to celebrate the wins in life, we spend enough time thinking about losses.
- Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers.
Stop saying “I should write a book”, just write it, you’ll know if its something you want to pursue as a hobby or devote more time and turn it into a business. With technology and the support you can find with other authors the process isn’t difficult. Look to self – publish and utilize few publishers to keep more royalties
- Are we going to hear more from you in the future?
I sure hope this is just the beginning as I have big plans for this book. Its become my passion and my dream.
*We wish Author Bull Durham all the best for his future endeavors.*
Bookish Fame 