B.R. Keid served in the Marine Corps, deployed to Iraq in 2004, and now writes military sci-fi that actually feels like the military. In this Veterans Day episode, we talk about his service, what it takes to write authentic military fiction, and how he built an indie career without traditional publishing.
His Autonomous Weapons Division trilogy shows what happens when someone who’s lived it decides to write about it.
In This Episode
Brian’s journey from the Marine Corps to indie author
Deploying to Iraq and processing trauma through fiction
What makes military sci-fi feel authentic vs. fake
Building reader magnets and email lists before launch
Why audio matters (and his plans for simultaneous release)
The difference between buyers and readers
How military friendships translate to fiction
Advice for veterans who want to write
Guest Links
B.R. Keid
Website: BRKeid.com
Autonomous Weapons Division Trilogy
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hTJJtd
Sponsors
Everand - Get access to thousands of ebooks and audiobooks at go.everand.com/nonsensefree
Kristin’s Links
Services & Content
Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com
Newsletter: Fictional Influence on Substack
YouTube: Nonsense-Free Kristin
Timestamps
[00:00] - Introduction: A Veterans Day conversation
[02:15] - Growing up in the Ozarks and joining the Marines
[05:30] - Bootcamp in San Diego and becoming a radio operator
[08:45] - Deploying to Iraq in 2004
[12:20] - Why Marines are different (and why that matters for writing)
[16:40] - Getting the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor ceremony
[21:30] - From military service to software engineering
[24:15] - Why military sci-fi readers can spot a fake
[28:50] - Building an audience before your book launches
[33:10] - The reader magnet strategy that worked
[37:45] - Why books don’t rot (your timeline is longer than you think)
[42:20] - Writing authentic military relationships
[46:55] - Why limited physical description works better
[51:30] - Advice for veterans who want to become authors
About This Podcast
Nonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.
New episodes weekly.
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