This week, we welcome back Brendan O’Meara, a seasoned journalist, author, and podcaster to celebrate the release of his new book, The Front Runner. Brendan discusses his extensive experience in the world of narrative non-fiction, highlighting his works on Six Weeks in Saratoga and The Front Runner: The Life of Prefontaine. He delves into the process of writing unauthorized biographies, including dealing with uncooperative subjects, the importance of thorough research, and the emotional investment in crafting a detailed and respectful portrayal of his subjects. Brendan shares his unique journey of writing about Steve Prefontaine, the challenges he faced, and the editorial rigor involved in bringing a biography to life. Plus, he spills the tea on his book advance and the schedule/timeline for his payments. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to write narrative nonfiction, you’ll want to hear this!

00:00 Welcome to the Hungry Authors Podcast

00:50 Meet Brendan: Journalist, Author, and Podcaster

01:28 Brendan’s Books and Boston Presentation

03:55 The Unauthorized Biography Explained

07:25 Challenges in Writing an Unauthorized Biography

13:46 The Research Process and Proposal Challenges

19:19 Crafting a Narrative Nonfiction

33:17 Reflecting on Biographical Writing

34:28 The Emotional Journey of Research

39:13 Pitching and Selling the Book

40:00 The Writing and Editing Process

47:16 Managing Book Advances

54:19 Balancing Freelance Work and Stability

54:56 Acknowledging Support Systems

59:12 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude

Brendan O’Meara is the founder and host of the Creative Nonfiction podcast. As a sportswriter, he’s covered a wide swath of events including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, as well as several local and professional sports for Trail Runner Magazine, Bleacher Report and the Associated Press. His essays and craft pieces have appeared in Writer’s Digest, Brevity, Creative Nonfiction Magazine, and Longreads. He lives in Oregon.