Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. Absolutely! Thank you for speaking with me! My name is Brian Parsons. I am the author of the Don’t Bee a Prick series, which is a collection of literary works I have developed over twenty years of serving in a multitude of leadership roles to include serving as a U.S. Marine, peace officer, teacher, public speaker, drill instructor, CEO, curriculum and programs developer, parent, and non-profit manager.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book ‘Don’t Bee a Prick’?
A2. Great question! Don’t Bee a Prick was not only in no way challenging, it was so much fun to write! Aside from the contributing challenges every leader experiences over the course of their tenure working with people that assist us in our growth and development, this book series has been an absolute pleasure to work on and I’m so excited to share it with leaders at all levels!
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. I don’t know where I would be without Dale Carnegie’s books! How to Win Friends and Influence People is my earliest exposure to leadership and effective communication. Stylistically, my books resemble Shel Silverstein’s work; and that is no accident. I am a songwriter first and foremost, so transposing my leadership philosophy into short and memorable poems and including my own bee illustrations was not only where I felt the most comfortable but was also definitely a nod to him for all of the enrichment he added to my childhood. I also love absorbing new and interesting perspectives from brilliant leaders like Simon Sinek, David Groggins, and Steven Covey.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. This is such a beautiful country and every place I’ve been holds sentiment with me. No place quite compares or inspires me more than the Oregon coast. Perhaps it’s because I look like a sea captain, but if I have the ocean air in my face, the sand in my toes, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore I am completely at peace.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
A5. Excellent question! For me and my process, it really depends on the book. The first installment of Don’t Bee a Prick was conceptualized, written, illustrated, designed, and published all over the course of three days. The second installment wasn’t much different. Perhaps that is a result of the time I spent gaining the experiential base and credibility to write the books. They were subjects I have spent over two decades gaining an expertise in. My current installment is requiring quite a bit more research and subject matter expert consultation.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Don’t Bee a Prick’?
A6. The first installment was written and illustrated in three days.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?
A7. Thank you! The Don’t Bee a Prick series is available on Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, BooksaMillion.com, and DontBeeaPrick.com.
It is available in paperback, hardcover, on Kindle as an eReader (most economical option), and it will be available as an audiobook on Audible in 2023.
They will also be available in individual prints on Etsy if a certain page or principle stands out to you enough to make you want to hang it in your office, classroom, or home in a frame.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Don’t Bee a Prick’?
A8. I love this question because the book title and cover have garnered a lot of attention! I really just wanted to write a leadership book using a familiar phrase of mine that I’ve used for years and present it like a children’s book for adults. I wanted to hone in on the simplicity of the basic leadership principles that I would be outlining as the main content for the book. The bee illustrations were used not only to draw the parallel between the two definitions of “prick” I was alluding to, but also as an illustration of the leadership structure inherent in bee colonies. This was the book and title that I was most intrigued by, and I wanted to write the leadership book that I wanted to read.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
A9. Great question! This was a primary focus of this book. I always say that I’ve never read a bad leadership book, but I have read some long ones! I have accumulated so many books on leadership over the years I feel like I can furnish a whole library with them. One of the adjustments I wanted to make when I published Don’t Bee a Prick was trimming out any of the author’s unnecessary and self-aggrandizing narrative that would occupy the first thirty pages or so of most of the leadership books in my library.
This book is organized into short memorable poems as mnemonic devices to assist the leader in recalling the most important foundations of the leadership applications and principles that are outlined in the book. Getting right to the point was a paramount focus.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
A10. Yes! There is also a book in the series for parents and children, and teachers and students, to read together that cultivates early leadership principles during early developmental stages through play activity and storytelling called Don’t Bee a Little Prick also available on Amazon. I would love for you to visit my website containing regular blog posts, book deals, and updates on the Don’t Bee a Prick series and I would love to connect with you all on LinkedIn, Instagram @BrianParsonsAuthor, and Facebook at Facebook.com/DontBeeAPrick.
Thank you very much for speaking with me!
Sassy Reviews 