Brock Booher is a commercial pilot for Southwest Airlines and a published author. In this interview, he talks about flying into enemy territory for the USAF, what it’s like to fly through hail and thunderstorms, and the process of writing and getting published. Here’s a quick summary!

On his journey from Kentucky to Southwest Airlines:

• Grew up outside of a small town of about 5,000 people in Kentucky
• After high school, attended BYU then joined the Air Force as a pilot
• After his time in the Air Force, he became a pilot for Southwest Airlines

On the life of a commercial pilot:

• Commercial pilots do shift work – typically 4 days on, 3 days off (or vice versa)
• Recommends marrying a strong & independent spouse if you’re going to have a family and be a pilot
• Technology has made communication much easier
• Tries to make the most of his time at home with his family
  • Have to be careful not to get distracted when you are at home
  • Need to be disciplined about being present

On his career at Southwest Airlines:

• Grew up flying on Southwest Airlines and was really impressed with the customer service
• Had friends that were pilots for Southwest Airlines and they seemed really happy and upbeat
• There’s a culture of people helping and serving each other, which he really appreciates
• There’s no utopia, but it’s a great place to work
• Believes that the culture helps him become a better person

On crazy experiences flying:

• Flew combat missions in the first Gulf War, which was crazy
• Most of the crazy stories in the commercial world relate to passengers
• Had a crazy experience with the weather while working as an instructor in North Texas
  • Side note – turbulence isn’t such a big deal, thunderstorms are what are really scary

On becoming a pilot:

• Two basic pathways (have to pay your dues both ways):
  • Go in the military (get shot at)
    • Pays for your training, but you owe them ten years
    • Also difficult to get in to
  • Go the civilian route (eat Ramen noodles for a long time)
    • Lots of schools that you can attend
    • The schools are expensive, and the pay at the beginning isn’t great
    • Lots of great “from the beginning” programs
• Go flying 2-3 times first and see if it’s actually something you like – don’t just go once, because you may get sick the first time

On his writing:

• What motivates him as a writer?
  • Sheer arrogance – read a bestselling book that made him think “I can do that” and so he started writing
    • Realized that it was harder than he thought but started writing and learned he really enjoyed it
• Writing has become a creative outlet for him
• It’s a brutal industry and really difficult – you should accept the fact that you and your family might be the only people that ever read what you write
  • But that’s okay, do it anyway
• Tells people that when you write fiction, you have to listen to the voices in your head, but when you write non-fiction, you have to turn those voices off
  • You have to attack both in different ways
• Has to be disciplined about his writing habits – treats it like going to the gym – sets a time to write and holds himself to it

On getting published:

• Start by finding literary agents and publishing houses and picking which ones you want to submit to
  • Then you have to figure out how to submit to them
• Pick 10-30, submit it, and then wait
• Knew he was getting close to being published when his rejection letters began to be nicer
• It’s a brutal process and you have to be prepared for a lot of rejection
• Worked on his first book for a year, submitted it and it didn’t get published
• He started a second book which he worked on for a year, submitted it, and was picked up six months later, and then published six months after that
  • During this time, he completely started over on the first book and was able to get it published
  • In the course of about six years, he was able to get the first two books published
• Every author, no matter how successful, is scared about their next manuscript, even best-selling authors – it’s just part of the process

Following and supporting Brock:

• Check out his website: BrockBooher.com
• Follow him on Facebook: Brock Booher – Author
• Follow him on Instagram: @brockbooherauthor
• Follow him on Twitter: @BrockBooher

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