Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brian Lau. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Brian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.

With my book, Inferno City Firehouse, because it’s dealing with true stories of the serious mental struggles firefighters can go through, we are fully dedicated to HELPING all who are struggling with PTSD and/or depression. First, by donating 20% of all profits to several PTSD and depression treatment centers. Secondly, by bringing awareness to the problem, in hopes to lessen the stigma associated with these conditions.

Inferno City Firehouse takes you inside the lives of real Detroit firefighters – true stories fused together into a breathtaking narrative! Firefighters come into strangers’ lives at their most desperate times. Doing their best to rescue, protect, and help in any way possible, but what happens to these strangers as they hand them over to the police or EMS? It would be too heavy of a burden to follow up with all of the people they risk their lives for, day in and day out, but sometimes these strangers become important parts of their personal lives and their healing.

Brian, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations.

After graduating from Macomb Community College as a Graphic Artist I started entering my work in an art contest held at Motor City Comic Con which caught the eye of Matt Martin who was working on his series Vortex by Hall of Heroes. He then asked me to color the covers for Vortex. This started my career in the comic book industry as a cover artist for Hall of Heroes. The independent comic book company where artists Ethan Van Sciver and Trent Kaniuga also started out. I’ve also worked in the automotive industry, as a graphic artist, co-writing music, & dabbled in animation.

I’m the creator/writer/artist/letterer of the Inferno City Firehouse, a 76-page original graphic novel that takes you inside the lives of real Detroit firefighters, and Staunch Ambition, a 128-page science-fiction graphic novel, what happens when human innovation transcends its physical limitations and enters the supernatural?

Inferno City Firehouse – true stories from firefighters fused together into a breathtaking narrative! Firefighters come into strangers’ lives at their most desperate times. Doing their best to rescue, protect, and help in any way possible, but what happens to these strangers as they hand them over to the police or EMS? It would be too heavy of a burden to follow up with all of the people they risk their lives for, day in and day out, but sometimes these strangers become important parts of their personal lives and their healing.

I’m an independent creator working hard to make sure the level of production is as good as any of the major publishers. Only possible due to the amazing talent I have collaborated with from Image, Marvel, DC, Disney, and more. Artists Clayton Crain, Freddie Williams II, Khoi Pham, Erwin J. Arroza, Neal Anderson, Hallea Jones, Jay David Ramos, Jay A. DeFoy, and others.

My work and I have been featured on The Babylon Bee Podcast and in Panayioti Yannitsos’s short film for Florian’s Knights the Movie – a documentary about firefighters who ride motorcycles to cope with PTSD.

I also have professional original music written specifically for the books. Which are featured in my trailers and offered with the purchase of my books. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with Hallea Jones on the beautiful song called Sunset Shadows. Hallea is best known for playing Eden Hawkins on the hit show Locke & Key.

I am currently working on my next graphic novel called Blood of the Baptist about John The Baptizer – The Historically Dramatic Life of A Radical.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I tried to do my comic book back when I was in college by collaborating with other starting-out artists. Not having money to pay, the incentive would be to have something to show for future work. This is how I got started in comics. The first two covers I colored for Matt Martin’s Vortex I did for free, but later when Matt and I were hired to do a poster for the Detroit Fire Department, Matt did the pencils and inks for free and I took the pay for my work. This approach never worked out in getting my book done back in my college days. It would always fall apart in one way or another.

I stopped trying, got married, had kids, and focused on my day job as a technical illustrator. These kids wanted to eat! Years later, I decided to work on a new piece of art of the main character. A much more serious and detailed version just for myself. From this, I started to build a whole new more mature story that would not let me go. I just had to keep writing it even if I never made it into an actual book.

At that time my dad’s health started to deteriorate due to his struggle with diabetes. Knowing that he was going to die soon he told my brother and me that he was going to leave us some money. I was not expecting this at all thinking he was just living week to week. I told my dad to not worry about that and to just take care of himself and that he might need the money for medical bills, but I looked him in the eyes and told him if he did end up leaving me some money that I would use it to do this graphic novel I’ve always wanted to do. He was so excited and proud to know this before he died, and I thank God he told me ahead of time so he could know. My dad’s name Dennis P. Lau is in my book as one of the producers.

This helped me get the book started and from there I started a love-hate relationship with Kickstarter to help fund the rest of my books.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative?

I remember the years I worked trying to publish a book and then when I actually started to, thinking to myself will this book ever be done. Now, almost 10 years later I have two complete graphic novels. Staunch Ambition and Inferno City Firehouse with original music. It is a ton of work (that I do not get paid for at this point) but, I did NOT want to look back and kick myself for not trying.

Not only is it extremely gratifying to look at all the work I have been able to self-published, but I’m very happy with the quality I’ve been able to achieve. I’ve worked with some of the greatest artists working in the industry and have been fortunate enough to be on so many amazing podcasts.

Now I’m looking forward to the day when I can say the book I’m currently working on, Blood of the Baptist is complete! When Lord? When? :)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brianearts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianearts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianEArts
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-lau-b8688679/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianEArts
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1lpIZGcnD7QqeKUypzymsQ

Image Credits
Art by Brian E. Lau, Erwin Arroza, Neal Anderson, Jay A. DeFoy, Emily Zelasko, and Bill Embil.