Malcolm Brooks is a Montana-based author best known for his epic novel Painted Horses, a sweeping, large-scale tale of life in the American West in the 1950s. Published in 2015, Painted Horses has quickly become a classic among those who love Western literary fiction. Even more impressive, Painted Horses was Malcolm’s first published novel– a truly remarkable feat when you consider the story’s breadth and depth and its characters.
Malcolm’s obsession with writing began at age fourteen when a teacher gave him a copy of Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove during an incredibly formative period of his life. From that point on, Malcolm was laser-focused on becoming an author– so much so that he completed his first full-length novel when he was only 18 years old. Malcolm continued to consistently write throughout his twenties, experiencing moderate success in journalism, but never publishing a novel. When he was in his early thirties, Malcolm decided to go all-in on writing his dream novel– “to go big or go home” as he says– and he began the five-year process of writing Painted Horses. It’s safe to say that his efforts paid off– Painted Horses has been compared to the works of Cormac McCarthy, Wallace Stegner, and more.
Malcolm and I were introduced by another gifted author and past podcast guest, Chris Dombrowski, and we had a wonderful conversation. If you’re interested in the creative process or the ins-and-outs of craftsmanship, you will love this episode. We started out by talking about our mutual love of Lonesome Dove, and Malcolm shares how that book changed the trajectory of his life. We discuss Malcolm’s upbringing, formal education, commitment to carpentry, and artistic and literary influences. We obviously discuss Painted Horses, and he offers a sneak preview of his upcoming novel, Cloudmaker. Malcolm tells a great story about finding an ancient buffalo skull and offers tons of great book recommendations. And finally, he has some wise parting words that I think you’ll find useful and timely.
Thanks to Malcolm for taking the time to chat. Be sure to check out the episode notes for links to everything we discuss. Hope you enjoy!
Photo courtesy of Malcolm Brooks
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EPISODE NOTES
Topics Discussed:
- 3:30 – Influence of Lonesome Dove
- 9:30 – When did Malcolm discover he wanted to be a writer?
- 10:30 – Malcolm’s foray into carpentry and its overlaps with his writing
- 11:30 – Malcolm’s first manuscript
- 14:00 – When did Malcolm first get published?
- 15:45 – How Malcolm first became interested in Montana
- 17:45 – Malcolm’s formal education experience
- 20:30 – Painted Horses
- 22:30 – Malcolm’s self-critique and artistic influences
- 25:30 – Malcolm’s writing process
- 27:30 – Is writing fun for Malcolm?
- 28:15 – Legends of the Fall
- 30:30 – The importance of reading to Malcolm
- 32:00 – The importance of supplementary income for creatives and authors
- 37:00 – Malcolm’s advice for finishing a project and notes on new projects he is working on
- 40:30 – Yellowstone and its impact on American Western-focused television
- 41:30 – What authors does Malcolm admire?
- 48:00 – Slight teaser for Malcolm’s upcoming book, Cloudmaker
- 51:45 – What other art has shaped Malcolm’s world view?
- 53:30 – Malcolm’s most powerful experience in the outdoors
- 1:00:00 – Words of wisdom
Information Referenced:
- Malcolm Brooks
- Larry McMurtry
- Placerville, CA
- Ken Kesey
- Frances Kuffel
- The Flathead, Flathead Valley
- MFA, University of Montana
- William Kittredge
- Thomas McGuane
- Jim Harrison
- Rich Little
- Stephen King
- Larry Brown
- Donald Ray Pollock
- Hal Hearing
- Yellowstone
- Taylor Sheridan
- Steven Bodio
- Tony Hillerman
- Edward Abbey
- Granville Stewart
- Mary MacLane
- Friedrich Nietzsche
- Mark Twain
- Charles Lindbergh
- John Wayne
- Humphrey Bogart
- Orson Wells
- Fancis Ford Coppola
- Martin Scorsese
- Cybill Shepherd
- Jeff Bridges
- Steven Rinella
- Smith River
- Juanita Vero, Missoula County Commissioner
Enjoy this episode? Then you might like these as well:
- Peter Heller – Chasing the Flow
- Hampton Sides, Part 2 – How to Tell a Damn Good Story
- Chris Dombrowski – Words, Water & the West
- Heather Hansman – Demystifying Water in the West
- Chris La Tray – Rediscovering His Past, Writing His Future
- Sara Dant – A Deep Dive Into the History of the West
- David Gessner, Part 3 – A Confluence of Conservation Ideals
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