Featured Interview With John Weiler
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’m from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Wauconda to be specific. Grew up in that area, then went school in Southern Illinois, moved to Seattle after that and now I’m all the way over in Bangkok, Thailand – for 3 and half years now.
I’ve been writing professionally for 8+ years. Started out in reality TV, writing for shows like Nat Geo’s Alaska State Troopers and the Bio Channel’s Biography series. Later on I transitioned into copywriting and book writing.
No pets, but I love dogs.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I became interested in books in my late teens. My first love was non-fiction, as I was amazed at how many things I could teach myself by just reading books. Ironically enough, some of the first books I fell in love with were on the topic of meditation (which is the subject of my most recent book).
As for when I started writing, I’ve always loved it. Even in grade school I was always writing stories, and English was one of my favorite subjects. Later on, I decided to study film in college with an emphasis on screenwriting. My first screenplay, also my college thesis, won first prize for best student screenplay at WorldFest Houston back in 2007. From there I didn’t start writing professionally till I was about 25 (in 2009), which was the beginning of my television writing career.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
To this day, I’m still a non-fiction junkie, and I rarely crack a fiction book. I’m not loyal to any particular author; I’ll read anything that is highly recommended by a friend or that fascinates me.
As for writers who inspire me, Tim Ferris and Jon Morrow. I’m more inspired by Tim’s lifestyle and the way he makes a difference in the world than his writing. As for Jon Morrow, I’m inspired by both him as a person and his writing. He is one of the most genius copywriters I know of, and I have learned so much from him.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book is titled “An Ordinary Dude’s Guide to Meditation”, and it basically is what the title says: a meditation guide for ordinary dudes. I’ve been a long time meditator (13+ years) and I wanted to write something different. So many meditation books are written for aspiring buddhists or hippies, and I wanted to write something for all the rest of us out there – the ordinary folks. That’s who I am, and I know there are a lot people out there curious about meditation who are turned off by all the hippie and religious stuff. This is the book for them.
Also, I know meditation can have a major impact on people’s lives. For me personally, it helped clear up my anxiety and panic attack issues in my late teens. I know meditation can do the same for others, for the ordinary folks, but they first have to get past the hippie and religious stuff, which is a barrier of entry for so many. It shouldn’t be.
I encourage all who are curious about meditation to give it a try. Just because you meditate doesn’t mean you have to start saying Namaste to people and start practicing yoga. You can still go out and knock back some beers with your buddies (I do quite often). You can still smoke, you can be a republican or democrat, and basically you can just be you. That’s who this guide is for and that’s who I’m trying to reach.
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