Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Don Owens is president of The Port Royal Society, a U.S.-based non-profit organization promoting the reading and application of ancient books. He travels, speaking about his passion for books, people and business at conferences for different companies, churches, and seminaries. He is also a CEO of an insurance group with offices in Fort Worth, Texas; Campeche and Merida, Mexico; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; and Managua, Nicaragua; he has served within this group for twenty-five years.
An avid outdoorsman, Don enjoys hiking, kayaking, and mountain and gravel biking. He spends a quarter of the year in Leadville, Colorado. He and David Rutherford cofounded The May Club, a men’s fraternity focused on building friendships and sustaining relationships throughout life. The club is in its thirtieth year.
Don has been married to Danae Owens for thirty years. They have two children and one grandchild.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Ancient Friendship for Modern Men”?
The book covers a 20 year process of building friendship and discovering and reading ancient writings. Over this period of time I discovered the value of ancient thought in the application of our relationships today. It was difficult to get men to talk in detail about the deep meaning of friendship in their lives as men are taught to not show too much emotion. Over time I was able to have great conversations and gain insight as the barriers fell and men offered more thoughts on their experiences and feelings.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
The ancient writers are the key ingredient. Seneca, Aristotle, Homer, Xenophon, Cicero and Plato. Their works are just as important today as they were 2000 years and more ago.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Leadville, Colorado. I discovered Leadville in 1996 while traveling through Colorado. The town is mentioned in a Jimmy Buffett song called, “Incommunicado” so I felt I needed to see the town. I returned many times each year for over two decades and eventually bought a home there. The mountains, lakes and seasons are joy. I am an avid hiker and paddler and love the area and the people of Leadville.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Ancient Friendship for Modern Men’?
I had a need in my own life to cultivate friendship and I learned a great pattern for developing friendship. Like me, I’ve watched men lose friendships or struggle to develop new friendships in the business of life. I wanted to share a simple process for building friendship built for ancient wisdom.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Ancient Friendship for Modern Men’?
I spent a year putting the book together and re-reading important material related to the project.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
Amazon.com / Ingramspark.com
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Ancient Friendship for Modern Men’?
The book is designed to introduce people to ancient writings and ideas and show their relevance to our lives today. The cover is the philosopher Aristotle on a motorcycle. Imagine an ancient individual living an adventurous life in modern times.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
The book spends time on the different influences from the past and talks about the many types of relationships to cultivate in our lives. Friends in proximity, casual meetings, spouses, co-workers and others.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A quote often attributed to Ernest Hemingway taught me how to get started with writing, “You simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins, and bleed.”
Buy Ancient Friendship for Modern Men on Amazon
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