Matt Betley, author of OVERWATCH, shares his experience going from the military to publishing through Simon & Schuster. His experience directly contributed to his book, as Betley was a Marine and alcoholic (now 7 years sober!), much like the character in his book (who struggles with alcoholism).
For advice on how to approach writing and incorporating your military and life experience into your writing, as well as publishing with a top publisher, heck out this episode.
About Matt Betley:
Matthew Betley grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, which he considers home after his family moved there from New Jersey, where he was born and which also explains his affinity for the New York Yankees. He attended St. Xavier High School and then Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he graduated with a B.A. in psychology and minors in political science and sociology. He also spent the first semester of senior year investigating felony murder cases as an intern investigator in Washington, D.C., for the Public Defender’s Office, a formative experience that provided countless stories that could fill the pages of a non-fiction book. Upon graduation, he worked in corporate America for five years in Cincinnati before joining the Marine Corps in 1999.
Matt spent ten years as a Marine officer and was trained as a scout sniper platoon commander, an infantry officer, and a ground intelligence officer. His experiences include deployments to Djibouti after 9/11, and Fallujah, Iraq, prior to the surge, both in staff officer support billets.
Finally, and most importantly, Matt is a recovering alcoholic with nearly seven years of sobriety. He credits the Marine Corps with providing a foundation in discipline and personal accountability for his desire to initially seek help. Matt is open and direct about it and has spoken in front of large groups of people with one clear message – if he can get sober, so can anyone. He credits his recovery with providing the authenticity for Logan West’s struggle with his inner demons.
Buy his book, OVERWATCH.
“An electrifying new thriller series for readers who love Vince Flynn and Brad Thor! Former Marine officer Matthew Betley introduces unyielding Marine Logan West in this action-packed, globe-trotting, edge-of-your-seat debut.”
Download the episode here, and be sure to follow us on iTunes and leave a review!
And here’s a link to the ebook also, Military Veterans in Creative Careers! 100% of the proceeds are used to support this podcast