Meet Louis Spirito | Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Louis Spirito and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Louis, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
As a writer, you hope that your work will make a positive difference in your community and the larger world. Sharing the stories of underdogs who triumphed over long odds – boxer Billy Miske, judo pioneer and Olympic coach Rusty Kanokogi are two examples – offers inspiration to anyone facing a difficult situation, professional or personal. My nonfiction book, “Gimme Shelter”, shone a spotlight on an important, often overlooked issue – how to identify and deal with chronic anger. It also raised money for animal charities and offered an inside look at the challenges and immeasurable joys of adopting a rescue dog, as well as advocating for pit bulls, an amazing breed that too often gets a bum rap.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In my heart, and my work, I root for the underdog, that man, woman, or dog that finds the deck stacked against them. As a karate sensei and longtime martial arts practitioner, these stories embody the philosophy that we should always try our best and never give up, even if the goal seems unattainable. In the dojo, it’s inevitable that you will take some punches and kicks or get knocked down. You learn to acknowledge bruises and bumps, get up, and go back to work. Writing is much like fighting. You sweat and toil, hoping you’ve crafted something truly special (or at least good enough to earn you a paycheck). Then you take it out into the marketplace to often suffer criticism and rejection. You can crumble and pack it in, or you can suck it up, learn from the experience, and get back in the ring.

In my three decades as a writer, I used my love of literature and martial arts training to keep going when the ‘smart’ move would have been to quit and choose a more ‘sensible’, less challenging line of work. I’m proud that, even when I didn’t make a sale or land an assignment, my work has always been well received. I hope to continue growing and improving, both as a writer and human being.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One week – that’s not much time to cover a place the size of Los Angeles. I love hoops so I’d start with a Clippers game. Talk about ultimate underdog story; I guess they top the list. For food, Eataly in Century City is special. I never leave there without buying way more than I planned. Way more. The Farmers Market is great, too. Magee’s Kitchen has the best corned beef. We’d definitely take walk on the beach in Malibu and maybe have lunch on the pier at the Malibu Farm Cafe. Maybe take in show at the Ahmanson or the LA Philharmonic at Disney Hall. Thanks to all the wining and dining, we’d probably end the week at The Grove, shopping for larger pants.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother, an uneducated but fiercely intelligent woman, nurtured my love of literature. Instead of “Peter Rabbit”, she offered up “Treasure Island”, “Tom Sawyer”, and murder mysteries. My professors at Iona College (now University), stoked that fire, challenging me to tackle and savor English and American classics. My wife, Eugenie, gets credit for convincing me to try my hand at writing. I felt I had nothing worth saying but she insisted I did. Ever since, she’s my muse, story consultant and proofreader. Paws For Life K9 Rescue deserves mention for their amazing work saving homeless dogs and helping incarcerated people through their prison dog training program.

Website: https://louisspirito.com

Instagram: louisspirito

Linkedin: Louis Spirito

Facebook: Louis Spirito

Image Credits
Photos by Eugenie Spirito