We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Peter Topside a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Peter, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I started my writing journey about twenty five years ago. I always had a deep passion for creative writing and spent decades working on my skills, eventually self-publishing my first work, Preternatural, in 2019. It was all done on my own, with no professional assistance, making me have to learn all the proper ways to edit, format, etc. It was a long and arduous process, but when it was put out for the world to see, I was so excited to have accomplished my lifelong goal. Then, after that, I began branding myself and interacting with many other talented writers, helping them promote their works and doing whatever I could to help my colleagues succeed. I take great satisfaction in making a difference for other writers, because I came up the hard way and know exactly how difficult it all can be. I then wrote three more books and cemented myself as a top Goodreads reviewer for the past few years.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I had a very abusive and troubled upbringing and am also neurodivergent. I also suffer from complex PTSD and a myriad of other mental health difficulties, experiencing a great deal of troubles with them over the course of my life. I was able to funnel all of my trauma and energy into various avenues, i.e. my full-time career as an exercise physiologist, my book reviews, work as an author, and also learning to cook and bake like a professional. I have, and continue to, work extremely hard to hone my skills and, not just share my story with the world, but also encourage comradery and unity among my fellow writers. There is such a deep divide, especially in the horror community, that I hope to improve in whatever way possible. When it comes down to what drives me the most, it’s helping others. Whether it’s through Goodreads outreach projects, working with my hundreds of patients at work, or giving someone who also has mental health struggles a new form of entertainment with my books, I am honored to be in a position to do so.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think that there is such a divide in most aspects of society at this point, which is heartbreaking. Whether someone is an artist, healthcare professional, writer, or coming from any other facet, it should always be a priority to help your fellow man. As I stated earlier, I have seen a great deal of divide in the literary community. Every man for themself, so to speak. And that sets a precedent that results in a lack of opportunity and comradery. I think that, as a whole, society needs to remember that creativity drives everything. And once we start embracing that concept and aiding one another in being successful, there is no stopping that sort of immense momentum. And the possibilities are endless.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a writer, specifically, is being able to share my story. No filters, no one telling me how to act or word my works, it’s just all truth coming directly from me. My stories all reflect personal experiences that I have either gone through myself, or seen directly from close friends and/or family members. I put a creative spin on them, but if someone really takes the time to analyze the characters, plots, actions, ambitions, and examine them closely, there is a multitude of symbolism and hidden gems throughout. And I hope that my audience is able to find either an entertaining ride and/or a really powerful set of stories that helps them in some way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ptopside/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/topsidepeter
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/PTopside
• Other: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peter-topside https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19743489.Peter_Topside