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

Daryl, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

Back in 2010, I published my first book. It wasn’t successful in any way shape or form, and I’m certain that at first, the only people who read it were my friends and family. Still, telling stories was in my blood, and I wanted to continue doing it, so I immediately got to work on my second book.

Discouragement quickly set in. I was working a full-time job as a manager at a movie theater, and my inspiration and energy was at an all-time low. Whenever I came home from a long shift, I had no energy to devote to putting a single word on the page. I spent more time playing video games and reading other people’s work, and at the time, I was especially into Chuck Palahniuk, the author of the book “Fight Club” that the movie is based on. I devoured his incredible, mind-bending, soul-feeding books one by one, then wondered if someday I myself could be writing books for a living, just like him. It seemed so laughable, the idea.

Progress on my second book slowed, and I was ready to give up. So I decided to write a vanity letter to Chuck Palahniuk – that is, a letter I never intended to mail. It was more like a therapy exercise than anything. I expressed my discouragement, shared details about my unsatisfying life, and admired him for his unique and daring storytelling style. I pretended he was my best buddy, and I needed a shoulder. Then I printed the letter, read it to myself, laughed, and threw it away. I went to bed, because I had to go back to the movie theater early the next morning.

Something else happened that night I wasn’t aware of.

My mom found that letter I threw away. She did a little research, found the address to his publisher, and mailed the letter without my knowing.

A month later, something incredible happened.

A box arrived – from Chuck Palahniuk. My mom squealed, confessed what she’d done, and then we stood over the box in our laundry room in silent anticipation, no idea what was inside.

Inside was glitter. A lot of glitter. Buried within it were thoughtful trinkets, a stuffed frog, two Chuck Palahniuk CDs, and a box containing a necklace he made himself with my name and his spelled out in letter-block beads. I couldn’t believe he took the time to put this together. My heart was floating above my head and my eyes were full of wonder.

Then I found the letter – a response he wrote to my letter. In it, he commiserated with me about the oftentimes tedious process of writing. “Even I get tired of words sometimes,” he said, yet he took the time to write me this response. Then he applauded me for writing at all; the reward sometimes isn’t what comes of your story, but of the actual telling of the story. He said in a matter of words: Whatever story is in your heart, you must tell it, because you are literally the only person on Earth who can tell it. It’s your responsibility. The world is waiting.

The world is waiting.

What a concept.

I don’t think he knows what his beautiful letter did to me, though I suspect he assumed I’d frame it. (I did. It’s in my office right now, in a cute frame next to the stuffed frog and the box with the necklace in it, signed by him.) But the letter did more than that; it gave me the kick in the butt I needed.

I finished my second book.

Then my third and fourth.

And by 2015 – five long years later – I finally found my stride and made my first serious money writing. And I’ve continued to tell my stories since then, having quit my job at the movie theater to contribute to this amazing craft full-time.

Chuck Palahniuk took his time with me, reached out to a struggling author, and set me on a path. I still to this day wonder how different my life would have been, had I not received that much-needed jolt of magic from him. (I’ve since decided to forgive him for filling my laundry room with glitter.) Had it not been for him, I may not be living my dream right now of telling stories for a living.

When I’m reached out to by aspiring authors and readers of my own, I take the time to respond to each and every one of them. I know now the power of words, and I plan to use them responsibly to put as much good out there in the world as I can. Chucky P, I don’t know if you might someday hear this, but you saved my life, and in return, I’m giving my love to every aspiring author or artist who comes my way, in hopes I can inspire them the way you’ve inspired me.

And even 12 years later, now and then, I still find a tiny particle of glitter in my clothes. I think of you.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m an independently-published author of fiction, primarily male/male romance and fantasy. I’ve been writing books full-time since 2015. All of my work is available on Amazon. I love telling stories that take you on a journey, make you feel good, and leave you feeling happier about life in general. Coming from a theatre and psychology background, I’m very character-oriented in the way I tell my stories and spend lots of time developing my characters. The actor in me spends a lot of time on the thought-work and details, even down to very specific word choices and quirky banter. I want you to really “feel” the story along with the characters, like you’re truly there, living their lives and experiencing every moment and emotion firsthand. That’s always been my aim.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Are you ready for a super annoying answer? I apologize in advance, and here it is: I built my audience by being myself. I’ve heard that phrase ad nauseum since ever: “Just be yourself.” The problem is, I never really fully appreciated what that meant, maybe because I didn’t realize I was constantly hiding parts of myself that I was embarrassed about. I’ve since realized part of growing up is realizing to embrace every single part of yourself, even the parts you hide, or are ashamed of, or think are “ugly” or unrefined. The truth is, people respond to all of that roughness and quirkiness. They identify with the human inside you, even if it’s awkward or weird. The more I learned that, the more I realized there is strength in vulnerability. I still have a lot to learn, and it isn’t always easy to be open about myself, but I’ve learned it’s the secret ingredient to finding followers and supporters of your art who will truly understand you, connect with you, and go along for the journey with you.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I totally underestimated how “heavy” pain and regret and shame can be, and I equally underestimated how helpful and cathartic it was to turn that pain, regret, and shame into art. In the process of utilizing the darkest parts of myself to shape characters and stories that I write, I’ve since learned to turn that pain into something beautiful and meaningful and – most importantly – useful. It’s not that the pain or grief goes away; it’s still there. But now it can hopefully help someone else with similar pain or shame, and make others out there feel less alone with it. Especially as I write gay romances, my hope is that others out there who are not able to be as “open” with themselves can find catharsis in the lives they experience in my books. You are not alone, no matter who you are. If I can reach just one person out there who is alone and make them feel heard and seen, that is the greatest reward of all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.darylbanner.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darylbanner
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darylbannerwriter
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/darylbanner
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/darylbanner
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/author/darylbanner

Image Credits
Daryl Banner