Introduce yourself; who are you and what types of books do you write?
I’m Brad Smith. I write novels with a wide range of subjects. One-Eyed Jacks is set in Toronto circa 1959 and is about an over-the-hill boxer and a torch singer. All Hat is set in rural Ontario, a story about two witless thugs who decide to kidnap a champion racehorse. The Return of Kid Cooper, winner of the 2019 Spur Award for best western, is set along the Alberta/Montana border in 1910. I’ve also written about farmers, carpenters, historians, baseball players, and country singers.
What are your books about?
My books are quite often about underdogs who are pitted against rich and immoral opportunists. They also touch on the world of sports quite frequently and are – I’ve been told – humorous at times. I write mainly about blue-collar characters because that is my background. I’ve worked as a railway signalman, carpenter, insulator, bartender, roofer, truck driver, schoolteacher, farmer, etc. over the years. As they say, write what you know!
What was the inspiration behind writing your first book?
Just to see if I could! I was always a voracious reader as a child and even then thought that I would one day try my hand at fiction. It took me quite a while to learn the discipline required.
What did you learn while writing your second book?
To plan better. I do not rely on elaborate outlines – for fear of losing the spontaneity of the writing – but I have learned to have a complete idea in my head – beginning, middle and ending. The rest is a matter of filling in the blanks.
What is the most rewarding part of being an author?
Dorothy Parker once said, “I hate writing but love having written.” I would not go so far as to say that I hate writing but I do understand the sentiment. There’s a great sense of accomplishment in finishing a job, whether it be a writing project or anything else.
I also enjoy events. Not just readings, but interactions with crowds, Q&As in particular.
What elements do you think make for a good story?
You need character. A good plot goes nowhere without characters to fill it. And vice versa is also true. Characters without plot go nowhere. And I believe that humour is essential, as it is in everyday life. How often does a day pass without a smile or good old-fashioned guffaw?
What is the hardest part of being an author for you?
Once I learned the discipline required, writing became much easier. I used to build houses for a living and writing a novel is a lot like building a house. You just do so much every day until the job is finished. Don’t cut corners and don’t push yourself.
What is your current writing project?
My new book – due out in October/2025 – is BILLY CRAWFORD’S DOUBLE PLAY – a political novel about a minor league baseball player who is coerced into running for office in order to please the owner of his current team. Billy is set up to split the vote and be the “spoiler” in the election. It’s a manipulation that Billy reluctantly agrees to – until he changes his mind and turns the whole exercise on its ear.
What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
I love the Elmore Leonard line – Try to leave out the parts that readers tend to skip!
Where can readers discover more about you and your books?
