Douglas A. Burton

Douglas A. Burton is a speaker, author, and expert storyteller whose work depicts heroic figures and their deeper connection to the human experience. He grew up in what he describes as “the heroic boyhood culture of late Generation X” that has gone mainstream around the world. Doug blogs about heroes, heroines, and villains in pop culture and believes that fiction does much more than merely entertain us. He also shares strategies with fellow writers for writing compelling heroic characters in fiction.

Burton’s forthcoming novel, Far Away Bird, which centers on the early life of Byzantine Empress Theodora, won the 2019 Manuscript Content for Historical Fiction from the Writers’ League of Texas as well as Historical Fiction Book of the Year (gold medal) and Best Debut Novel in Historical Fiction (bronze medal) from the Coffee Pot Book Club. The novel will be published February 6th, 2020.

Douglas recently began outlining a breakthrough storytelling model that reveals a fascinating “heroine-centric” model for story structure he calls The Heroine’s Labyrinth. He believes that greater attention should be given to the powerful heroine archetypes across film, literature, and fiction. To join the conversation, follow the author page of Douglas A. Burton on Facebook!

I’m so excited for you to connect with Douglas, check out his new book, and follow along as he continues to explore the universal phenomenon of heroic men and women in stories through inspired study, public engagement, and always, always through quality writing.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

My name is Douglas A. Burton and I’m the author of Far Away Bird, a historical fiction novel about Byzantine Empress Theodora. The novel won several awards and I’ve been busy trying to promote the book and woman the book is about! I’m also working on an exploratory theory about heroic women in fiction, a narrative structure I call the ‘heroine’s labyrinth.’

How did you get started?

I’ve been writing my whole life. I tried writing a full-fledged novel in Byzantium back in 2009 but came up short. I tried again in 2015 and the result is Far Away Bird.

What inspired the work that you're doing?

I became a Byzantine enthusiast way back in the 1990’s when I took out a book from the library. I learned all about the Byzantine Empire and fell in love with the culture, the history, and the many historical figures that peopled its many centuries. I always wanted to write a fiction novel about these characters.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

I do. I love writing and storytelling. I hoped that one day I’d get to the point where I could write a full novel and now that I’m here, I have to keep writing! But more than just writing, I’m attracted to the underlying archetypes and meaning behind a story, the ethics of a story, etc. I spend a lot of time thinking about those topics and studying them. So, yes. This is my passion and I’m certainly glad that I get to live this out.

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

My blueprint is always baked into my habits. Whatever my goal is, I always try to design the right habits that will help me reach my goal. Time management and the will to see it through is the absolute secret blueprint that I follow.

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

My family. My wife, Crystal and my two boys, Jacob and Lucas, are the main reason I’m able to get so much accomplished on a daily basis. I always make time for my family and that alone keeps the right perspective.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

My younger self would be overjoyed. He’d be very excited to hear that I did publish a book about Empress Theodora and that the book won awards! I hope to keep up the stream of good news for my younger self.

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

“No regrets.” I first started using that mantra back in high school for track competitions. The idea was to commit to my best possible performance every race and to leave nothing on the table, to never regret anything due to fears, insecurities or self-doubt. I still employ that mentality in all I do. Act in a way that you went for it, you gave your best effort, and you did everything possible in terms of practice and training to put yourself in a position to achieve whatever goal you set.

What is your biggest dream?

My biggest dream would be that my stories or books are made into films or a series that go on to inspire a greater understanding of the world in which we live.

To learn more about Douglas, his work, and his new book visit his website www.douglasaburton.com and on Facebook @DouglasABurtonAuthor Twitter @DouglasABurton and LinkedIn here

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Douglas A. Burton - Author, "Far Away Bird"