Today we’d like to introduce you to Hunter Blain.
Hunter, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a self-published author and owner of a sports supplement store. Let’s start with why I became an author. The books are dedicated to, and starring, my best friend and doppelgänger, John Cook. He always enjoyed my writing and one day made me promise to write a book about him. We grew up reading authors like Anne Rice, so when asked what he wanted to be, he told me he wanted to be a vampire, but like a Deadpool version with action and humor. I agreed, never to realize the weight of that promise until one Sunday morning, my mother called, weeping. John had died, leaving me without my best friend who had grown into a brother. I still think about that moment to this day. How the morning light crept through the bedroom window while I stared at the ceiling, noticing how the popcorn created jagged shadows. Then everything started to blur as my chest was crushed beneath what I was hearing; each word stacking heavily upon the other until not even sound could escape my throat. Only tears existed and the horrific realization that I had to make some of the hardest phone calls of my life to the circle of friends of which John was the center of. John not only left me but Valenta as well. There was also Nathanial and Depweg who were stricken with the loss of such a beloved character, and when all three found out that I was keeping my promise to John and writing a book about him, they each wanted to be apart of that journey. I asked them all what part they would like to play in this urban fantasy eulogy and each immediately knew what they wanted to be.
The first book has been out just under a year and the series is starting to pick up steam with loads of awesome reviews. All in all, I have five books and one novella out right now, all available on Amazon, with three of them already available as audiobooks. They are read by Audible Hall of Fame narrator, Luke Daniels, who delivers an outstanding performance.
For my nutrition store, it is located inside the Texas Fit Club Gym in Burleson. I have owned and operated the store since 2014 and even have a website with over 4,000 products and custom apparel you can’t find anywhere else. I have helped thousands of customers reach their goals by offering free advice and building custom supplement packages depending on what their individual goals are. Between customers, I can be found tapping away at my laptop as I write the next book in the 13 novel series.
Has it been a smooth road?
The answer is a resounding NO for both companies. As an indie author, I had to figure everything out on my own. Luckily, I was given some great advice along the way by some amazing people. I have also read countless books and watched hours and hours of YouTube videos on what it means to be a self-published author. Being indie means I am afforded absolute control over my vision, meaning I don’t have to take out or add things that focus groups say they want in a series. I can also take risks because I am the sole decision-maker.
Behind the scenes are things like finding an editor, commissioning an artist for the covers, getting copyright’s, doing ads on Amazon and Facebook, figuring that Amazon and Facebook love to take your money without offering results, diving back into said ads after watching 40 more hours of YouTube videos and doing small tweaks, marketing, building a website, growing a mailing list, did I mention marketing?
When I went into this, I thought what most people do: writers write. WRONG. There is an ever-expanding assortment of things to do that demand your attention, daily. The easiest part of being a writer is writing.
As for Empire Nutrition, I have dealt with another myriad of bumps in the road. The top being that the government offers precisely zero help when someone creates their own business. They don’t tell you ANYTHING you need to know until whatever it is you should have done is late and, all of a sudden, you’re looking at a $1,000 fine for something you had no idea about. I get why lawyers get paid so much money now. Amazon, Apple have harshly threatened me, and Facebook for selling completely legal CBD on my website.
I also suffer from degenerative disc disease where my discs are dead and collapsing on themselves. I live in constant pain but have found ways to cope such as exercise, an inversion table, yoga, joint supplements, and CBD oil.
Both things bring me immense joy because 1) I’m my boss and 2) my customers are my friends, both fans of my series and at my supplement store. It also feels purty darn good when someone tells you that you’ve helped change their life for the better. And no one said it would be easy, but they did say it would be worth it.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
For my books, the series is in the Urban Fantasy genre, which is fantasy but typically in modern times. I also like to add that nearly everything is scientifically explainable, furthering the feeling of realism and immersing the reader. Reviewers are calling it “Deadpool as a vampire,” and I am completely fine with that comparison! It is also a unique take on vampires with the most notable being the ability to manifest weapons and armor comprised of his blood, like a bloody dagger. In so doing, I found another way my main character can drink blood without focusing on the neck biting thing that has been done a million times over.
For Empire Nutrition, I am exclusively a sports nutrition store. What that means is I don’t carry things like herbs and whatnot that the bigger corporate stores do. But what I DO have is super strong fat burners, pre-workouts, CBD oil, Kratom, and for the time being, SARMs and prohormones for muscle building. I also have my line of apparel that can only be purchased either in store or on my website, www.EmpireNutrition.com
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
As an author, you can work anywhere! I currently live in Arlington with my amazing wife and two puppies. For nutrition stores, Texas is one of the best places to be because our great state considers supplements to be “raw food” items, and as such, we don’t have to pay taxes. So if you want a protein for $29.99, it is $29.99 with no tax! Good Bless, Texas.
For someone just starting, talk to those who have done it and hire a good lawyer to walk you through things. I can’t emphasize enough how important lawyers are because if you mess something up, the federal government doesn’t care about excuses or ignorance and will make you pay. That being said, no one is handed greatness. Men and women have carved their path throughout history and made the most of our one life on this planet by moving out of their comfort zone and seizing the day.
Pricing:
- eBooks range from $0.99 to $6.99 on Amazon’s website
Contact Info:
- Address: Empire Nutrition
(inside Texas Fit Club Gym)
212 NE Wilshire Blvd
Burleson, TX 76028 - Website: https://empirenutrition.com/
- Phone: 682-812-2256
- Email: hunter@empirenutrition.com
- Instagram: empirenutrition_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HunterBlainAuthor/
- Other: https://hunterblain.com/
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