Meet B. Walter Will | Writer – The Yellow Pinto

We had the good fortune of connecting with B. Walter Will and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi B. Walter, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I could answer that with an EMPHATIC AFFIRMATIVE to the role of risk and my career.

I am an addict. Being an addict means every potential move I make can have a positive or negative consequence. I acknowledge I would not be able to live without risk in my life. The Yellow Pinto, my novel, is about addiction to gambling, alcohol, drugs and sex. It deals unapologetically with these issues.

There are great joys and many painful moments living life in this manner. I choose this path because it gives me a modicum of intense emotion like lightning bolts. Perhaps through these experiences, I have become more aware and a better person because of it. I would like to think that if even one person benefits through the tumultuous stories in this book it would be a success.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I think there is a lot of dirty realism in my novel, The Yellow Pinto. I wanted the stories and pacing to be fast and somewhat connected so that the reader is feeling some of the anxiety, pain and pleasure the story reveals. It definitely was not easy writing this piece and/or living this lifestyle. I am an addict and that leaves a person in many compromising situations.

I don’t know if I have overcome the challenges of this disease, however, I am trying to cope with the issue and the words are my own way of coming clean and getting real with myself. I believe anyone is capable of telling a story and everyone has one to tell. I find it encouraging that there are outlets to express yourself – writing is just one of many.

Gambling, drugs, alcohol and sex are many subjects in this novel. Gambling is an avenue often ignored or overlooked, but in my mind is just as dangerous as any other disease. Every other commercial or advertisement in the media has some arm of gambling attached to it. Our biggest Television Event – The Super Bowl – has billions wagered every year. What isn’t being told is that weekly every slot machine, sporting event, card game, fantasy sport is gaining in popularity. I intertwined my relationship with my father, who was very close to me, with our love for gambling. It was in many ways our way to communicate. This disease had dire results with my relationships, self-worth, and career opportunities. The follies in between are why I kept running.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love all the small hidden venues that Los Angeles offers.

Live music here in Los Angeles is very underrated. I love going to small venues and watching soon to be breakout bands and artists that perform. Echo Park, Atwater, Westlake, Downtown, Hollywood and West Hollywood have plenty of these venues. The beach communities have great dive bars that also offer vibrant live music as well as some select spots in the Mid-Wilshire area.

Koreatown and East L.A. are must go-to restaurant spots for me. They offer very diverse food that is spectacular and cozy spots that are welcoming. Thai Town, Little Tokyo, and certain places in Malibu and on the coast are also must tastes.

Santa Anita Racetrack, Norton Simon Museum, LACMA, Farmers Market, HOLLYWOOD east of La Brea…

Final suggestion…It may sound dreadful, but I feel if anyone really wants to see our great city on one ride- take the bus from Santa Monica Pier to the Commerce Casino. The Ocean through the miracle mile through KTWOWN and Downtown then south to Commerce…You won’t see all of the city, but you will get a clue about it.

Last suggestion, any bar that looks scary or doesn’t have a name- or looks terrible from the outside, is a sure bet it’s a great time on the inside.

Shoutout to Ham Ji Park, Myung Dong Kyoja, Yai, Lares, Los 5 Puntos, Annie’s Soul Delicious, Tom Bergins, Burgundy and a Jesika Von Rabbit gig.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Characters! The people we breathe in and out of our lives that inspire, disgust us, disagree, console and influence us. Too many to count if you pay attention. I appreciate those that try against all odds to make the world a better place for all of humanity. It is so important to me because service to others tends to be taken for granted. It is often times an overlooked component.to potential positive changes to the world.

Luckily for me, I have family and friends to thank for many of my stories. Sometimes, they are there and sometimes they are not. I believe we are given challenging and teaching moments in our relationships with all people; even if the relationships do not continue. I would rather take something learned from the experience. I don’t ever want to hate or dwell on anything.

Website: www.theyellowpinto.com

Instagram: @theyellowpinto__ https://www.instagram.com/theyellowpinto__/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Other: Threads @theyellowpinto__ Link: https://www.threads.net/@theyellowpinto__ Link to book on Amazon is https://a.co/d/clXQxjR