Erik Fox was a debut author with just 70 sales to his name. Then, one TikTok video exploded to over a million views, turning his psychological thriller Monarch into a viral bestseller overnight. But behind the "overnight success" is a raw story of a failed first project, getting sober, and developing a brutal mindset that refuses to accept excuses. In this episode, Erik Fox reveals the unfiltered truth about his journey. He shares the simple writing habit that allows him to finish books in months, not years, and breaks down the exact moment he realized his fiction had bizarrely predicted a real-life corporate scandal. This conversation is a masterclass in creativity, discipline, and the high personal cost of chasing a dream. 📚 Support Erik & Buy His Books: ➡️ Monarch: https://www.amazon.com/Monarch-Erik-Fox/dp/B0D63B523P ➡️ Gimbels: https://www.amazon.com/Gimbals-Monarch-Erik-Fox/dp/B0FFHCFLD3 📲 Follow Erik: ➡️ TikTok: @erikfoxwrites ➡️ Instagram: @erikfoxwrites IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN: 📈 The strategy behind the single TikTok video that generated thousands of sales. 🧠 The "First 2 Pages" rule: A simple mindset trick to overcome writer's block forever. 🤯 The shocking story of how his unpublished book predicted a real-world event. 🍻 How getting sober with his wife completely transformed their relationship and his creativity. 💡 Why learning from a "bad book" was the most important step to becoming a successful author. 🔥 The power of accountability and why you have to stop buying your own excuses. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - The High Cost of a New Relationship 00:50 - The Genesis of "Gimbels" 06:16 - Deconstructing the Mind of a Fictional Serial Killer 10:28 - The Day My Fiction Bizarrely Came True 11:24 - How 3,000 Non-Fiction Books Shaped My Writing 24:37 - Are You a Red, Blue, Green, or Yellow Personality? 28:27 - The "Terrible Feedback" That Taught Me Everything 38:28 - Meeting My Wife (& The Friendship It Cost Me) 41:06 - Tearing It All Down: Our Journey to Sobriety 50:23 - The Unstoppable Mindset of a Prolific Writer 59:18 - From 70 Sales to a 1 Million View TikTok 01:03:30 - Why I Quit Smoking Weed & Escaping Reality 01:14:00 - The Cliffhanger: A Wild Real-Life Story Listen to the full COS Business Podcast episode: ► Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jSQ8OQSi0rprCcxTGx0KB?si=hpkxA-nkQOWSs6uBf7dYbg&nd=1&dlsi=6a5996bc19e449b4 ► Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-springs-business-podcast/id1492740546 CONNECT WITH US: ► Website: https://cosbizpodcast.com/ ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cos.bizpodcast/ ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/COSBusinessPodcast 🤝 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: Junk-N-Haul: https://junknhaul.com/ EnviroLawn: https://www.envirolawn.net/ Pioneer Rodeo: https://www.pioneerrodeo.com/ Proud American Electrical and Solar: https://proudamericansolar.com/ Bolton Co: For Purpose-Driven Executives. https://www.boltonco.net/ ProLift Garage Doors: Lifting Your Expectations. https://www.proliftdoors.com/ Be Our Guest Getaways: Making Magical Memories. https://beourguestgetaways.com/ Planet Duct: Your go-to cleaning service in Colorado Springs. https://www.planetduct.com/ Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care: Hassle-free healthcare. https://www.pinnacleapc.com Epoch Eyewear: Timeless Quality, Modern Edge. https://epocheyewear.com/ HomeDay : https://gethomeday.com/ Exponential Impact: https://www.exponentialimpact.com/ Fast Signs: https://www.fastsigns.com/ Cars Helping Charities: https://carshelpingcharities.org/ Dream Accounting - https://dreamaccountingsolutions.com/ Awesome Home Services - https://www.awesomeservice.com/ Reveal Med Spa - https://revealmedspas.com/ #Author #WritingAdvice #TikTokMarketing #BookTube #ErikFox