Novelist GC Brown chats with me about his new crime thriller, SNIFF: Book 1 of The SNIFF, SMOKE, SHOOT series.
Bio:
GC Brown, the quintessential cozy-town Indiana boy, grew up on a farm, where in his formative years, he learned the value of hard work—how to shovel horse shit, mend a broken fence, and milk a cow (because, you know, the stupid cows wouldn’t wait) all before catching the bus to school.
Then—in a move that was clearly orchestrated by the universe to ruin his life—his parents decided to abandon those perfect, breezy Indiana summers for the scorching desert landscape of Arizona. He arrived just in time for his junior year of high school.
The ultimate social nightmare.
After graduating in 1991, aka the Pre-Internet Stone Ages, Brown embarked on a thrilling journey of drifting from job to job, trying to find something, anything, that would stick.
He calls those his Spinning the Wheel Years.
Because the world was missing a mobile home mogul, Brown became the GM of a manufactured housing retail empire in Dallas, Texas, with greatness in mind as his entrepreneurial spirit couldn’t be contained. And he made a killing (literally, maybe) in that niche and then branched out to other various ventures.
Buying and selling mobile homes (because who doesn’t love a good trailer?); led to flipping houses (before it was en vogue); developing real estate (for the sake of humanity); running nightclubs (where the real magic happens); coding software (because who needs experience?); selling flowers online (the ultimate hustle); serving sushi (raw fish and entrepreneurship go hand-in-hand); and, the pièce de résistance—the African diamond trade (because nothing screams”legit business” like blood diamonds).
Shockingly, Brown’s financial wizardry didn’t quite extend to his tax returns (integrity is overrated).
Uncle Sam slapped him with tax evasion, failure to file taxes on time, and wire fraud (just a few minor oversights). When offered a plea deal, Brown, ever the thick-headed rebel, refused to admit defeat (because he’d done nothing wrong in his mind). More charges followed, and, spoiler alert, he blew the trial. And well, let’s just say he’s now an expert on the federal prison system.
“All that glitters ain’t gold, folks.”
Inspired by a magazine article that claimed writing a book was the third hardest thing to do (presumably, after escaping from prison and getting a decent haircut behind bars), Brown, the ultimate thrill seeker, decided to take on that ultimate challenge. He was going to pen a novel while serving his sentence (because, why not?).
GC got to work.
Since 2014, he’s been churning out books like they’re going out of style (which, let’s be real, they probably are).
Two series and nine years later, Brown emerged from the depths of the prison system, ready to take on the world (or at least the literary world). And in a shocking twist, he claims that sixteen-plus years in multiple federal facilities was the best thing that ever happened to him (prison food and jumpsuits withstanding).
“I wouldn’t be the author or person I am today without life behind bars,” he says, surprisingly straight-faced.
Since his release in late 2023, GC Brown has been living life to the fullest. His first novel, SNIFF, is hitting the shelves on November 1, 2024 (feel free to pre-order on Amazon). And, because why stop there, he’s also started UpCup Koffee Company with two other ex-felons, Alex Diaz and Dr. William McArthur III. (Nothing screams “success” like a mushroom coffee venture run by ex-cons.).
Between loads of caffeine and parole meetings, GC Brown is living the dream in both the Arizona desert and sunny California with his new bride and their identical twin boys.
Welcome, GC, please tell us about your current release.
SNIFF: Book 1 of The SNIFF, SMOKE, SHOOT series is my current release. It’s a wild ride. Imagine a bank-robbing guy named David who knows he’s slick in almost every way. Things don’t go as planned though. You’ll have that, juggling a heroin habit, dodging your dealer, and trying to stay out front of a Russian shylock named Yak-off, all because your wife is fighting a terminal sickness.
There’s a whole cast of characters. This book is not just another crime thriller—it’s fast, it’s dark, and it’ll keep you turning pages till the end. Plus, if you’ve ever wondered how a guy ends up with a gun, a bag of stolen cash, and a needle in his arm while the cops close in—you’ll want to read SNIFF.
Book Description:
Talkin’ billionaires into, or out of, shit is what I do.
Some would say I’m slick with the lingo. Other people will tell you other things. I’ve been a wheeler and dealer my entire life. I’ve had some monster wins, and I’ve taken some big hits. You’re going to read about the worst of it.
Of course, there’s a woman involved. Isn’t there always?
Not your thing? Don’t worry. There’s a plethora of other players in the story.
Let’s see, there’s a hooker gone legit and a general who’s in love with her. There are Muslim drug lords, now in real estate. A wannabe pimp with a fetish for green, and a Venezuelan hillbilly who struck it rich, like oil rich. Not to mention an African prince with no shot at ever being a king. More millionaires, a couple of billionaires. Kidnappers and a Russian Shylock I call “Yak-off.” And oh, I can’t leave out The Count. A Frenchy, who fancies himself a mobster…in the Med.
Spoiler alert: He gets whacked.
The “good guys” do eventually show up. Most of ’em in those stupid blue windbreakers, three dumbass letters across the back in case the crewcuts and aviators didn’t make it clear enough.
These stories are going to spin you on your head, but that’s it for the teaser.
I’ll see you on the inside.
—Bank Robbin’ Dave
What inspired you to write this book?
The inspiration for writing SNIFF came from my own wild journey—going from the high life to federal prison. When I hit rock bottom, I picked up a pen and started writing on whatever I could find, including the insides of Saltine Cracker boxes. Life’s chaos, the people I met in prison, and the lessons I learned from my own mistakes fueled this book. It’s gritty, it’s raw, and it’s a real reflection of redemption, love, and the insanity that comes from living on the edge.
What exciting project are you working on next?
At the same time as SNIFF, I’m gearing up for two separate other big projects: the Black Friday launch of UpCup Koffee, a new functional mushroom coffee brand created with two fellow ex-felons, and a silent partner I know extremely well; and the release of the first book Taken by Storm in The Mason Storm Series, coming March 2025.
Both are equally exciting, blending redemption, health, and action-packed storytelling. Stay tuned—there’s more on the way!
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I first considered myself a writer in federal prison. It was during that time, facing my mistakes and with nothing but time on my hands, that I picked up a pen and began to write. It wasn’t just an escape, it became a purpose. Scribbling on whatever I could find it hit me: this is who I am now. Writing wasn’t just something I did to pass the time; it became a way to transform the darkest parts of my life into something meaningful.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
My days are a mix of balancing brand new twin boys, books, and business. I’m up early to sneak in some writing before the twins wake up. After that, it’s full-on dad mode with feedings, diaper changes, and cuddles. In between, I’m squeezing in emails, calls, podcast interviews, and meetings—keeping the book hustle and the UpCup Koffee business alive. I grab all the free time I can to write. Nights are usually reserved for family, but if the inspiration hits, I’m back at it late. It’s unpredictable, but I’ve learned to thrive in that space—it keeps the ideas fresh and the drive strong.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I’d say there are two things: one, I have to have the radio on and blaring…almost to the point the neighbors can’t think. I found this is the best way to block all distractions. It has to be continuous music too. No commercials.
Two, I never know what I am going to write when I sit down. I read what I wrote the session before and take it from there. I don’t have a plan of when to end a scene or how to start the next. I just let it flow. And more times than not, in the end, I go with what I wrote first.
I have read so many books that I know what it takes for a good one. These are the books I write.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child, I don’t think I ever had a clear idea of what I wanted to be as an adult. I am sure there were childhood ramblings similar to others my age, but nothing that stands out. If I’d known this is what it feels like to write books, though, I would have for sure wished upon this. I am amazed something I call work feels like this. I am lucky enough to have found my purpose in life. This is what I was created to do.
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