“A Misfortunate Misfit” was the winner in the Psychology/Mental Health category of the 2025 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Karl Sebastian.
I wrote this book for a simple reason. I went through an experience that very few could truly understand. I survived a life that most couldn’t imagine. I beat nearly impossible odds to just be standing here today. While all of those statements, in going through my experiences I learned things that I think every single person could benefit from. I wanted to share those things and to show people how even the most hopeless of us can overcome.
I never imagined getting any notoriety or appreciation for the book. I just wanted it and it’s message out there for people to find. Winning this award is an honor and greatly helps the chances of someone getting my message. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading my book and awarding it.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The name of the book is “A Misfortunate Misfit” and it was first published in placeholder form in June of 2023. Current form was April of 2024.
What’s the book’s first line?
In 42 years on this planet, one of the few things that I have learned for certain, is that I am not like most people.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Although most might want to boil down the book to a seemingly impossible story of overcoming extreme obesity. At it’s base value, the book is a story of my life. Destroying it until it was nothing but one person in isolation weighing over 750 pounds. Then, what it took to fight back from that.
To me, it is really about what life both with and without hope can be. The extreme destruction of everything until there is nothing. Then trying to find a way to build something new, even though there was no reason left to do so. I wanted to share all that learned in going through that experience and relay it in a way that many can connect to and learn from. Hopefully I succeeded.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I had gone through so much on a personal and physical level, but it never occurred to me to share my story. All I had known was solitude. When I finally emerged from nothingness and sought medical care, all that I heard was an overwhelming chorus of medical professionals telling me that my story must be shared.
I had never written, nor had I ever really cared for English classes. But the non stop calls to tell my tale pushed me to begin writing intermittently during my medical issues. So, on an old tablet paired with a terrible Bluetooth keyboard this journey began.
When I was finished, I put the keyboard down, shut down the tablet and honestly never thought there would be anything more to it. How we got from there to the book winning awards and being out there in the world is another tale for another day.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
This is a very difficult question to answer for me. I suppose the most distinctive thing about the main character is their determination. I think that their ability to go on, find a way to improve despite all the reasons to give in, is something many pick up on.
The character is me, so that is who they remind me of.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
I believe the main reason to read the book is two fold. It is perhaps as much a source of hope as one could ask for. If you think you are down or that you feel lost, the book is perfect example of how terrible life can get. But, perhaps more importantly, it is a shining demonstration of how far someone can improve their lives and their physical and emotional states with nothing more than themselves to work with.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I have been told that the book would make an excellent film. It would be difficult to actually portray. To me, the ability to relay the emotions and impact is what is important. Specifically who is not. In fact gender, race, physical attributes do not matter to me. The message and sharing that is what is important.
When did you first decide to become an author?
It was not a decision that I feel that I made. A bombardment of other people telling me that I must share my experiences pushed me in that direction. I felt compelled to comply and in doing so, I realized that I enjoyed the creation and way of communicating that only comes from writing.
Is this the first book that you’ve written?
Yes, this is the first time that I’ve picked up the proverbial pen. I’d say that it probably won’t be the last.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I have primarily worked in two fields that I don’t especially enjoy. Software engineering and product development.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Not as much as one might think. I have a very good memory, so I tend to hold images of my writing in my mind and kind of alter them in memory. I tend to think about it during physical activity like long walks. I don’t count that time as writing.
The actually writing part is fairly minimalist. I’d estimate I wrote entirety of thus book over a course of a couple of months. Stretched out however over a considerably longer period of time.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part is that there is zero interference. Nobody telling you it should be this way or that way. It is creative freedom at it’s most pure.
In my case however, the bad side of being an indie is, that there is no real way to be seen or have your message heard. It’s a money driven industry and no matter how interesting or important what you have to say might be, without resources to let people know your work exists, it is a difficult road.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
In all honesty, yes, absolutely I would go traditional if the opportunity arose. It is a personal decision for any author. In my case, what matters to me is sharing what I’ve learned and my message of hope. As long as that stays largely intact, the massive increase in reach that a publisher would bring would be welcome.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
While it would be fantastic to improve my financial freedom, what motivates me is sharing my message. I’ve been through things that very have and many of the few that have, have ultimately lost their personal battle or their lives in the process. I believe that because of my experiences, I can offer people a perspective and some encouraging words that very others can. Getting that to the people that can benefit from it and use it to improve themselves us what motivates me.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
I have always had a deep admiration for authors that can pull you into a story and make you feel like you are inside that world or story. Well known writers from my youth would be Stephen King and JRR Tolkien. Largely pure fiction writers. I suppose that while I write about real life and completely factual tales, I wish to emulate their ability to pull you into story.