Inside the Mind - Brett Butler

Ever since I was a kid growing up in the Hudson Valley, storytelling was how I made sense of the world. I was always drawn to the quiet moments—the hidden dramas playing out behind closed doors, the secrets teenagers carried in their backpacks, the complexity of growing up in a town that looked perfect from the outside but held so much tension underneath. What truly inspired me to start writing seriously was a combination of personal reflection and creative urgency. I had stories inside me—about identity, longing, faith, and defiance—that I didn't see represented in mainstream books. Writing gave me a voice, especially during moments when I felt voiceless. My background in digital cinematography helped me visualize scenes vividly, while my MFA in Creative Writing gave me the tools to shape them with depth and honesty. Catholic School Boys in Trouble grew from a desire to revisit those formative years with both raw truth and artistic beauty. I wanted to write something that felt real—messy, vulnerable, and unforgettable.

Absolutely! My latest novel is Catholic School Boys in Trouble: The Book of Blair, and it's the most personal installment in the series yet. This book pulls back the curtain on Blair Cohen’s life before he ever stepped foot inside St. Ignatius. It's about a sensitive, artistic boy trying to survive the chaos of adolescence in a small Hudson Valley town—navigating identity, heartbreak, betrayal, and the weight of being different in a world that expects conformity. Blair was always a fan favorite in the series, and I knew he deserved more than just backstory—he deserved a whole book. We follow him through high school at Clarkstown North, where a painful betrayal leads to his transfer to the Catholic school that changes everything. What I love most is how raw, poetic, and painfully relatable his story is. It’s about growing up queer, misunderstood, and defiant. This book stands on its own, but also deepens the emotional stakes of the larger series. For anyone who's ever felt like an outsider or kept their true self hidden, The Book of Blair will speak directly to your soul.

build my characters through a mix of observation, imagination, and layering. Here’s the process I usually follow: 1. Start with a Spark Sometimes it’s a single trait, a line of dialogue, or even a “what if” question. For example, I might think: What if the most loyal boy in school grew up to be a priest but still wrestled with his first love? That spark becomes the seed. 2. Ground Them in Reality I draw from people I’ve known—friends, classmates, even strangers I overheard on a bus. I don’t copy anyone directly, but I’ll borrow a gesture, a habit, or a contradiction. That grounding makes the character feel human instead of flat. 3. Give Them Secrets Every character has something they hide: guilt, desire, shame, or even joy. These secrets shape how they speak and act, and they create natural tension when the truth threatens to surface. 4. Build Their Voice I spend time writing little monologues or “letters” in a character’s voice. How do they tell a joke? What do they notice in a room? Do they curse or stay polite even when angry? Voice is what makes two characters in the same situation react in totally different ways. 5. Test Them Through Conflict Characters come alive when challenged. I ask: What’s the worst situation I can put them in that will force them to reveal who they are? Watching them react—even in ways I didn’t expect—often pushes the story forward. 6. Let Them Surprise Me Even though I outline, I try to leave space for characters to “make their own choices.” Sometimes, in writing, a character refuses the neat path I planned. Those detours often end up being the most authentic moments.

or me, a “typical” writing day has a rhythm, but I try to keep it flexible enough so it doesn’t feel like a grind. Morning: Setting the Tone I usually start with coffee and reading—sometimes poetry, sometimes a chapter of a novel—just enough to put me in the right creative headspace. Before I touch my manuscript, I’ll free-write a page or two in a notebook. It clears the clutter out of my head and gets words flowing without pressure. Late Morning to Early Afternoon: Deep Work This is when I do my heaviest writing. I set a goal—either a word count (1,000–2,000 words) or a scene I want to finish. I turn off distractions and stay inside the story. If I’m drafting, I focus on momentum rather than perfection. If I’m revising, I’ll work more slowly, line by line, but still aim to move the manuscript forward. Afternoon: Research & Notes After lunch, my brain usually needs a change of pace. I’ll research details for the book (settings, historical tidbits, or character backstories) or sketch out ideas for future chapters. Sometimes I shift to editing or reviewing what I wrote in the morning. Evening: Reflection & Refill I stop heavy writing before dinner, but at night I might reread passages, jot down notes, or brainstorm dialogue. I find some of my best ideas come when I’m walking, cooking, or just winding down. Weekly Rhythm I don’t force myself to write every single day at the same intensity. Some days are about drafting, others about editing, and a few are for stepping back—reading, resting, or gathering inspiration.

he most rewarding part has been the freedom to create stories exactly the way I envision them and to connect directly with readers who find meaning in them. Creative Freedom As an indie author, I don’t have to mold my books to fit a publisher’s expectations or chase trends. I can take risks—whether that’s exploring taboo themes, experimenting with structure, or writing characters that don’t always fit the mold. That independence has allowed me to stay true to the heart of my stories. Reader Connection Nothing compares to hearing from someone who says, “Your book made me feel seen.” Because I handle much of the publishing and promotion myself, the line between me and my readers is shorter. Those personal messages, reviews, or even conversations at a signing remind me why I do this in the first place. Building Something from the Ground Up There’s also a deep satisfaction in knowing I built this on my own terms—learning cover design, marketing, distribution, all of it. Every milestone—finishing a draft, holding a proof copy, seeing my book live on Amazon—feels earned in the best way.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is learning to balance vulnerability with fear. Vulnerability on the Page Writing the kinds of stories I do—ones that dig into identity, love, regret, and sometimes messy relationships—means I’m putting pieces of myself out there. At first, I worried what family, friends, or strangers would think. It can feel risky to be that exposed. Silencing the Inner Critic There’s also that ever-present voice whispering, “Is this good enough? Will anyone care?” It can stall me mid-sentence if I let it. Learning to quiet that inner critic, at least during the drafting stage, has been one of the hardest but most important lessons. Turning Challenge into Growth Over time, I’ve reframed that fear as fuel. If I’m scared to write something, it usually means I’m onto something real. Pushing through that discomfort has led to some of my most honest and rewarding work.

Yes—I’ve experimented with a lot of tools over the years, but a few have really stuck: For Drafting Atticus (or Scrivener): I like having a clean, distraction-free space where I can see chapters laid out like puzzle pieces. It makes structuring a novel less overwhelming. Google Docs: Perfect for when I want to draft anywhere and have access across devices. It’s also great for quick edits on the go. For Notes & Ideas Notion: I use it like a digital binder—character profiles, timelines, research, and even moodboards all live there. Good old notebooks: Sometimes pen and paper are the fastest way to sketch out dialogue or jot down an idea before it slips away. For Editing & Polishing Grammarly and ProWritingAid: They help me catch little slips and overused words, especially in early drafts. Read Aloud tools: Hearing my writing read back helps me catch awkward phrasing and makes dialogue sharper. For Inspiration Pinterest & Spotify: I’ll build boards and playlists for each book—visuals and music keep me immersed in the mood of the story.

I’d tell them three things I wish someone had told me at the start: 1. Don’t Wait for Permission You don’t need an agent or a publisher to validate your writing. If you have a story burning inside you, start now. Write the messy first draft, finish it, and learn as you go. 2. Embrace the Long Game Indie publishing isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon. Sales might be slow at first, but every book you publish is a brick in the foundation of your career. Consistency matters more than overnight success. 3. Invest in Your Craft and Your Book Good editing, thoughtful covers, and professional formatting make a huge difference. Readers can forgive a lot, but they won’t forgive a sloppy reading experience. Treat your book like it deserves to be on the same shelf as anything traditionally published. Bonus: Protect Your Joy The business side—marketing, algorithms, sales—can get overwhelming. Don’t lose sight of why you started: the love of storytelling. Keep writing fun.

Book promotion as an indie author is definitely a juggling act, but I try to keep it intentional and personal rather than overwhelming. 1. Social Media Presence I use platforms like Facebook and Instagram to share not just book links, but behind-the-scenes glimpses—draft snippets, character sketches, even the struggles. Readers connect with the person as much as the product, so I focus on being authentic. 2. Community Engagement I reach out to LGBTQ+ reviewers, indie book bloggers, and local bookstores/libraries. Building relationships one at a time feels slow, but those connections create real champions for my books. 3. Email & Website Having a central hub (a mailing list and a simple website) makes a big difference. It’s where I can share news, bonus content, and future projects without relying on algorithms. 4. Creative Extras I like experimenting—book trailers, comic adaptations, even toy photography tie-ins. Those creative promos not only stand out but also let me showcase the multi-media side of my storytelling. 5. Consistency Over Spam I’ve learned it’s better to post consistently in small doses than to flood people with buy-links. A steady rhythm of updates, paired with occasional big pushes (like a release week), keeps things sustainable. 👉 The hardest part is balancing promotion with writing time, but I try to treat promotion as storytelling too—just in a different medium.

Absolutely—I always have something brewing. Currently on My Desk Right now, I’m continuing my Catholic School Boys in Trouble series. The newest book, The Book of Blair, just released, and I’m already mapping out the next installments that dive deeper into the lives of characters readers have been asking about. Each one explores love, identity, and second chances through different perspectives. Side Projects I’m also working on The Green Marble, a 1990s-set novel about a nurse in Florida navigating identity and love while working in a rehab center. It’s got a mix of romance, raw honesty, and that sense of finding community in unexpected places. Looking Ahead Beyond that, I’m developing comic book adaptations for some of my stories, because I love seeing the characters come alive visually. And yes—I’ve got a few secret projects in the brainstorming stage that might surprise readers.