Meet Lonnie Mounts – Bold Journey Magazine

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lonnie Mounts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lonnie, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

I really don’t deal with writers block. However, being an Indie Author, I deal with ‘Lack of time to create/write.’ The biggest difference between an Indie Author and a traditional Publishing is the promoting. I’ve had four different publishers from 2000 to 2018, and I’ve been independent since 2020.
When promoting as an Indie Author, it’s pretty much in our hands and when you work a full time job, working approximately 55 hours a week, plus a wife with two kids still at home, plus the responsibilities of the upkeep of home and everything that comes with it… self promotion is a little tuff at times. Taking all that into perspective, now I have to fit in the time to write and create plots and characters. I’ve had many of nights of ‘bobbing for apples’, so to speak, at my computer.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I may not be your typical author. I may actually be one of the most non-traditional authors you will ever meet! I’m a high school educated, down to earth, southern-born, northern raised, United States Army veteran who earns a living driving a trash truck. Imagine – a trash truck driver who writes books; which is how I became known as “The Blue Collar Author”. I was a carpenter most of my life but went to truck driving in 2012 for a better way of life and it was the 2nd best decision I’ve ever made. The best decision I’ve ever made was to pursue my dream of writing. I’m living proof that you’re never too old to chase your dreams. I wrote my first book, ‘Doctor’s Orders’, while serving in the U.S. Army, in 1993. I sat on it for a few years and then I decided to try and get a publisher. Unsuccessful for a few years, I tried a different approach and started looking for a Literary Agent. No one was interested. I even had an agent tell me I made the biggest mistake of my life by joining the Army instead of going to college to become a writer. I was a little devastated and did nothing with it for two more years. Everything changed in 2000, when ebooks started to become popular and I submitted my manuscript to an ebook company. I was offered a contract and that started my Literary/publishing journey. Fast forward to 2025, after four different publishers and now an Indie Author, I’m proud to say that I’m finally seeing success! Never stop chasing your dreams! I’m 54 and I’m still chasing and climbing!
I’ve expanded my genre in my writing as I am not only an author of Action Mysteries, I also write Suspenseful Romance.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Perseverance is the biggest quality thay I can honestly say has helped me in my Literary journey. I’ve been writing stories, songs, and poems since I was a kid. It wasn’t until I started serving in the Army that I decided to write a book. We were in the middle of death valley, outside of Ft. Irwin California, conducting desert training, and I couldn’t sleep one night. I pulled out my notebook and my first book “Doctor’s Orders”, was born.

Self discipline is a big trait to have while pursuing a writing career. You will always make the time for family, self-care, work, rest and for life’s activities but you will learn to make time to write. I’ve learned over the years that you have to be disciplined if you want to pursue a writing career. Like my fellow colleagues always say, “Your book isn’t going to write itself!”

And one of the biggest traits that has helped me to succeed was I made the decision that I was going to continue to write, even if I didn’t succeed as a published Author. When you decide to try and make a career out of a skill you have and love, you need to be willing to continue to do it, even if you don’t succeed. If you don’t succeed and you quit doing it… did you really love it at all? This will take a lot of pressure off of you if you make this decision.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

There’s been many supporters of me and my writing career. Of course I wouldn’t be anywhere with the support of my number one fan, my mother, Judy Chapman. She is a strong Southern woman who wouldn’t except anything less than my best! My father, Lonnie Mounts Jr, was a Marine in WWII and was also a coal miner in West Virginia. He was also a writer and had a few stories published in some 70’s magazines. He and my mom opened a successful clothing store and shortly after, he passed away. My mother remarried a few years later. My step dad, Mahlon Chapman, was also a Marine in Vietnam. So growing up, I had a work ethic instilled in me that is a big reason for my success. I’ve had recent spurts of success from many supporters but I really have to give thanks to my Wife, Andrea Mounts, and my kids, Ashley, Wyatt and Alexa. My kids aren’t to thrilled that I started writing open-door romance, but they still support me. My past editor, who is only known as ‘Sassy’ was a big help in my Indie Author start and will always be grateful for all she did… always. But this next level of success that I am experiencing, wouldn’t be possible without the help, support and work of Amy Garnet from Six Feet Under Books blog and Author Ivy Blacke. I also have great support and great mentors in fellow authors K. Iwancio and Mary Walsh. As an Indie Author, you need people like them in your life. These ladies are a huge reason for my recent surge of success… and we’re just getting started!

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