Imagine being a zoologist and getting an email from a guy who wants to know how a man could fight a black bear.

That riducoulous was picture in my head when Jon Finkel told me about researching his new novel, Bear Brawl.

Jon has spent years writing about professional athletes. He’s interviewed UFC fighters and some of the strongest men on the planet. For this book, he needed the bear side of the equation, too.

I asked him about the awkwardness of that conversation. How do you get someone who studies animals for a living to entertain a question like that?

“You’ve gotta own whatever it is right up front,” he told me.

It’s Jaws meets Rocky.

I liked that.

I think we all have some idea of what a guy our age, with our job and our responsibilities, is supposed to be interested in. And sometimes we get so used to fitting that description that we barely notice we’re doing it.

We talk about the things we’re supposed to like. Then something actually gets us excited, and we feel the need to explain ourselves.

Jon wanted to write a book about a guy fighting a bear.

He knew how it sounded. He was excited about it anyway. And he was willing to bring other people into that excitement, even if it meant asking a zoologist a ridiculous question.

I wonder how many interesting conversations we miss because we give people the version of ourselves that fits the box.

Sometimes it’s worth saying, “This might sound ridiculous, but I’m really into it.”

You might find out they are, too.

In Jon’s case, it became a novel about a former fighter going after a black bear.

In the spirit of admitting what you’re into: I really like Yanni’s Sensuous Chill album.

I discovered it about ten years ago while trying anything to get my three-year-old son to sleep.

It didn’t. But somewhere in the process, I realized I liked the album.

Ten years later, I still enjoy the album. And I’m still trying to figure out how to get that kid to go to sleep.

A former UFC fighter goes after the black bear that tore his family apart.
No guns. No knives. Just revenge.

Come on. That sounds awesome!

I haven’t read Bear Brawl yet, but talking with Jon made me want to. I’ve already preordered my copy, and the early endorsements aren’t making the wait any easier.

Read some endorsements here.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Jon pulls this off.

Bear Brawl comes out November 10. Preorder your copy at BearBrawl.com.

Until next time—
🔥Keep the fires burning,
— Clay

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