Author Interview: The Literary Spotlight with Author William J Bruce III
I’m thrilled to welcome the talented Canadian writer and producer William J. Bruce III to The Literary Spotlight!
William J Bruce III is a Canadian writer, producer and celebrity publicist. As a publicist he has worked with Shawn Harper of the NFL and the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase of the WWE during Ted’s peak in Google Trends.
As executive producer to the compilation album Bridge Wars, he brought together artists such as F.E.R.N (Capitol Records artist produced by DukeDaGod of The Diplomats), and Mahogany Jones (four-time Champion of BET’s “Freestyle Friday’s”). Later in 2016 William became the executive producer and host of the Aussie Osbourne Show. The show featured in-depth interviews with celebrities such as Mike Mullane (former NASA astronaut), Alveda King (niece of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the daughter of civil rights activist A.D. King), and Charlene Li (Harvard magna cum laude graduate and NY Times bestselling author).
His writing has landed him cover stories with former Victoria Secret model Kylie Bisutti, P.O.D front man Sonny Sandoval and the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase of WWE. William’s work in film and his ability to hone the craft of writing assisted him in his role of script revisionist for the Eric Roberts film In the Blink of an Eye. The author of the memoir Penholder, William has also written the introduction to the 150th Anniversary Edition of Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Currently William is completing a novel called “Hate”(working title). The synopsis for Hate reads: “When music promoter Irvin learns of the sudden death of a friend, he is forced to confront the haunting mystery surrounding it. As unanswered questions linger, Irvin struggles to move forward—but could this tragedy have been something far more sinister than it appears?
In this interview William takes us behind the scenes of his writing journey, sharing the inspirations behind his work, the challenges of storytelling, and what it means to connect with readers on a deeper level. Let’s dive in and learn more about William J. Bruce III and his writing journey!
Introduction:
Cyra: Could you start by introducing yourself and sharing how your journey as a writer, publicist, and producer began? What sparked your passion for storytelling and the creative arts?
William: Sure, first off, thank you Cyra for this interview!
My journey as a writer, publicist, and producer has been a series of unplanned twists and turns. My work in film all started while I was attending Kingston College in Niagara Falls. One day we were forced to evacuate the school due to a gas leak which we discovered was caused by a neighbor who dug his yard and hit a gas line. A few years later while working for Byron Jones who is a film producer and was a managing partner for Pure Flix (now owned by Sony) I was asked to represent “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase of WWE.
Byron owned the agency that handled Ted at the time. While acting as Ted’s publicist, I started to write press releases, and later, when a publication wanted to run a story on Ted but didn’t have a writer, I offered to write it. That was how I got into writing. In regards to what sparked my passion; I have always been creative. I was that kid that would draw vs watching TV.
Memoir Writing:
Cyra: Penholder delves deeply into your personal journey of faith, resilience, and transformation. What motivated you to share such a vulnerable and introspective story?
William: I wrote Penholder after my fight with depression saw me in the emergency department at the St. Catharines General Hospital. I remember the internal struggle that I had, both with the topic of depression, and the humiliation my carelessness had brought me that day. My heart was grateful that God had spared my life, and I really wanted to encourage others who may have been wrestling with depression.
Creative Process:
Cyra: As someone with a multifaceted career, how do you balance your roles as an author, publicist, and producer? What does your creative process look like when crafting compelling narratives,whether for books, films, or media campaigns?
William: Balance can be tricky. I’ve just had to prioritize deadlines to make it all work.
How does the creative process look? Well I would say it starts as this abstract idea that I try to recreate. It’s often like putting together pieces from a jigsaw puzzle, I have the picture in my head and my hand seems to find the pieces, so often it’s this dance to get the pieces to fit right.
Writing Influences:
Cyra: Who are some of your favorite authors or literary influences, and how have they shaped your writing style? Are there any books or works that have profoundly impacted your writing career? You contributed the introduction to the 150th Anniversary Edition of Dostoevsky’s Demons. What drew you to Dostoevsky’s work, and how has his exploration of the human condition influenced your approach to storytelling?
William: A couple of my favorite authors would be Ray Bradbury and Robert Evans.
Ray Bradbury has always been an inspiration because of the poverty he came from and the choices he made in order to make everything work. As a youth Ray wore a jacket with a bullet hole in it that he inherited from his murdered uncle, later he wrote Fahrenheit 451 from the library and rode the bus as a newly wed, but as we know today his poverty didn’t hold him back and his sacrifices paid off.
Robert Evans was a huge inspiration to be open in Penholder. Robert was a very accomplished film producer who later wrote a book (The Kid Stays in the Picture) for his son which was later both published and made into a film. It’s an incredible story of how Robert became head of Paramount Pictures and his later downfall where he lost his position and his home, only to rise again and not only get back in with Paramount but also gain his home back too. He was so transparent with his failures it just really inspired me to be more bold.
In regards to my work with the 150th Anniversary Edition of Dostoevsky’s Demons. There were a few things that drew me to his work. I was looking at how all this time had passed but things really hadn’t changed and that this was not just a Russia thing. We all saw the news of what Trudeau was trying to do here in Canada and what it took for us as a nation in 2022 to overturn his nonsense.
Collaborations and Publicity:
Cyra: You’ve worked with notable personalities like Ted DiBiase and Shawn Harper. What have been the most rewarding aspects of collaborating with such diverse talents, and how have these experiences influenced your work as a writer and storyteller?
William: You know growing up I never knew anyone in the industry and so I really never thought I would work in this field. That said getting to know Ted, Shawn and others have really helped to inspire me. Knowing the obstacles they have had to face and are facing and their choice to overcome, well…it grows on you enough to begin to pursue your own dreams.
Challenges & Successes:
Cyra: What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your writing career, and how did you overcome them? How do you handle writer’s block or periods of self-doubt? On the flip side, what achievements are you most proud of (books, projects, etc.) in your journey?
William: My biggest challenge, bar none, has been self-doubt. Self-doubt has had to be stripped away like the layers of an onion. I’ll be honest. Last year, I heard of impostor syndrome for the first time and was like, “Oh wow, so this is actually a term,” and a lightbulb went off, and I thought, “Wow, so I’m not alone.”
I don’t have a cure for writer’s block other than to keep the ball rolling. Regarding the achievements I am most proud of, my answer would be “I love all my children the same”. (William Smiles)
Scriptwriting and Film:
Cyra: You served as a script revisionist for In the Blink of an Eye. What was the experience like working on that project?
William: In the Blink of an Eye was to be honest the hardest script I ever worked on as it borrowed from “Groundhog Day” the idea of a day repeating itself over and over. It can play out nice on screen, but it’s a nightmare to read the same day over and over. You really need to make sure that each day stays consistent with the other days while still allowing for each day to evolve.
Creative Inspiration:
Cyra: Where do you find inspiration for your stories? Are there any specific themes or topics you enjoy exploring in your writing?
William: My biggest inspiration would be two things, life and music.
Editing & Revision:
Cyra: How important is a writer’s editing and revision process? Please share your approach to editing your work. Do you have any suggestions for writers to improve their attention to detail and editing skills?
William: The revision process is vital to the work. I heard screenwriting once referred to as “scream writing” due to the number of revisions, and the same can be said for book writing. But the revisions are the lifeblood of your work.
Advice for Budding Writers:
Cyra: What advice would you give aspiring authors just starting their writing journey? How do you handle rejection and criticism in the publishing world and literature?
William: Rejection can be hard. I remember the first time I had submitted an article that was rejected. The editor gave some suggestions of changes that needed to be made and I remember feeling devastated. But I looked at who he was (former editor for Readers Digest) and the print numbers and thought to myself “am I going to let my ego get in the way of my dreams?” I went back to my computer and hammered away at the changes. The story got accepted and became my first cover story. Don’t get discouraged, you could end up doing more than you thought if you can just hang in there.
Personal Touch:
Cyra: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that readers might not know? Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of writing that influence your stories?
William: I love music. I can unwind and often times find a friend in the lyrics of songs. A friend who won’t judge or belittle me,and I try to bring that friend into my writing.
Community and Networking:
Cyra: How can readers stay connected with you and keep up with your latest work?
William: The easiest way to say connected is through my website: www.williamjbruceiii.com
Favorite Quote:
Cyra: What’s your favorite quote that keeps you going?
William: I’m a big Dr. King fan, so there are many that I could put of his, but for today we will use this one:
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
I still long for the day when this will be true. I long for the day that we stop treating certain races as less important and we learn to love each other and have the humility to learn from each other.
