We recently connected with Brian Scala and have shared our conversation below.

Brian, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the decision of whether to donate a percentage of sales to an organization or cause – we’d love to hear the backstory of how you thought through this.

Recently, Kalamazoo County in Michigan was rocked by storms and tornadoes. I heard about the devastation firsthand from my friend and fellow author, Samantha Moran. It was a frightening experience. Because of this, I’ve decided to donate all of my May and June Amazon/KDP royalties to the United Way of South Central Michigan. I am hoping my current readers will spread the word to new readers and help out those in need in the Upper Midwestern United States.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an independent author who writes sports fiction with romance. I was inspired to write my first book by reading Belinda Carlisle’s memoir, Lips Unsealed. From there, I thought of a story in which a rock star main character named Sean Mattea tells his own fictional story of fame and fortune. This became the genesis of my first book, Being Made, which was published in 2016. The book also centers around a pioneering women’s basketball player named Billie Shaw, who endured similar highs and lows, before eventually meeting Sean.

After some time away, I decided I couldn’t give up on my passion for writing. I started developing another character named Eddie Fitzgerald, a former minor league baseball player, conveniently named after a famous song by Gordon Lightfoot. When the pandemic ended, I thought of a storyline in which he loses certain family members and must rebuild his life and find his true calling. This became my second book, Eddie The Legend.

So far, I am most proud of Eddie The Legend because it became my comeback and breakthrough as a full-fledged author. My book was named a finalist by the American Fiction Awards in 2023 and the American Legacy Book Awards in 2024.

From there, I started focusing on more “spicy” romance. It started not-so-innocently as a fun, one-off short story called “Dinner For Two.” Two ex-high school classmates named Bryce and Erin meet via social media many years later and discover they have a mutual desire for sinful bliss. There is only a passing reference to sports in the story, as this was meant to be a side project at first. I enjoyed this departure so much I started writing a collection of shorts based on the trials and tribulations of Bryce and Erin, along with a proverbial “third wheel” named Heather. This compilation called “Core Memories” will be available via paperback in September.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to attend several indie author signing events. I’m also grateful for my new author friends and the readers I have met this past year, both in person and through social media.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The most important lesson I’ve had to learn as an author is it is no longer vital to seek traditional publishing. The most important element for an author is freedom. As an indie, I am only bound by my own goals and expectations. I do not have any hard deadlines and I can write what I want when I want, without boundaries.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I published my first book in 2016, I was new to social media. I did not have a large presence on Facebook, Instagram, etc. Nowadays, it is crucial to gain a social media following even before you release your books to the world. Even when I released Eddie The Legend, I was not as active as I am now. I wish I had the opportunity to go back and garner a significant fanbase before releasing my second book, and certainly my debut novel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.brianscala.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bscalaauthor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/869193137916632/
• Other: TikTok – www.tiktok.com/@BScalaAuthor
  Threads – www.threads.net/@BScalaAuthor