| Interview with Brian M. Gelinas |
First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com! My
name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out of
your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted
to be a writer?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to write and from my earliest years I’d spend hours in my room
penning imaginary tales. The older I got, the stronger the desire to write became. It’s almost like I have to
write to be a complete person, whether published or not, and if I don’t, it feels like something is missing. For
the most part, I’m drawn to writing true-to-life dramatic stories that I hope will move others in some way.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
It took roughly four and a half months from submission to finished product to get the book published. I did
not submit it to any traditional publishing houses. I went the self-/custom-publishing route with Outskirts
Press Inc., of Parker, Colorado. I felt it important to get it out there, seen and available.
By getting it printed in that way, I avoided the all-too-familiar rejection route most writers often face at first.
Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s good enough to be picked up by a traditional publisher, and I still have that
option. I have a non-exclusive contract with Outskirts. It’s just that I think going this route will open up a lot of
doors a lot faster than following the traditional route.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing
about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
“American Odyssey” is my first published novel. It is written to appeal to both adults and mature young
adults, with the primary focus being on the latter. My intent was to write a straightforward novel that would
speak honestly to today’s youth in regard to some of what they might be going through. After all, while times
change and each generation is affected by the time in which it comes of age, I feel the teenage experience
at its core remains the same in a lot of ways. I believe teenagers who read the book will find and relate to the
fact that the story does closely touch upon certain aspects of their own lives, as well as upon the raw
emotion and uncertainty of adolescence that all teenagers endure and always will.
To reach that realism, the book had to be written in a frank and unapologetic fashion. The story couldn’t be
sugar-coated, otherwise kids wouldn’t buy into it for a minute. This means, of course, there will likely be
those persons who find the novel unsettling, as there is strong language, incidents of violence and child
neglect, teenage drinking, and references to sex and drugs. To those people I would say the reality depicted
is a reality in many ways for a lot of kids today, and to that end the story speaks of an undeniable truth. And
that truth is one that can’t and shouldn’t be ignored, as the novel implies. That’s why I feel it is a book both
adults and mature young adults should read, and I hope they do. And I’m hopeful that progressive parents
with teenagers will be more than open to letting their kids read the book, as I expect the overall story and
characters will, in the end, strike a positive chord with a good many of those kids.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
I find inspiration for my stories in a lot of things. Among them are personal experience, people I’ve known,
the news, incidents I observe, and life in general. As to who has inspired me in my creative writing pursuits, I
can name three important players:
1.) Arthur Marley, one of my creative writing professors in college. I learned from him that the rules to writing
don’t always apply and can be bent and even broken. As an example, what might not seem like a sentence
in and of itself can become a sentence (a stream-lined sentence, he called it) when incorporated into a
paragraph. He also stressed that the best works are often those that come from the heart and strike at a
universal truth that we all share. I remember him also saying that to really hit a home run you had to write as
if you were telling the reader something you could only, or would only, want to tell your closest friends.
2.) John Hodgen, another college creative writing professor. In a way similar to Mr. Marley’s, he boosted my
confidence with his open, honest critique and advice. He also reinforced in me the conviction that I pretty
much always had that the most meaningful and honest works most often result from a true, raw emotion. Or,
in his words, “Writing is hard work…if it’s [going to be] any good, you have to do it and it invariably has to
hurt.”
3.) The late, popular novelist Robert Cormier. I had the opportunity to meet him in 1983 when I was a junior
in high school, and we exchanged a few letters afterward. He told me that as writers our tools are words, and
we need to seek the best ones, we need to read and always write.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
I’m a single guy who surrounds himself with family and good friends, who are all as excited as I am that I’ve
finally gotten my first book published. And, to tell the truth, some of those family members and friends were
actually quite involved in the process of getting this book to print. Several read the original typed manuscript
(and subsequent rewrites) and helped to proof it and offered criticism and advice. It was great having that
interaction with readers and their feedback as I moved along with the writing of the book.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Believe it or not, it’s cold pizza in the morning (or anytime, really).
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Grumble a little, turn off the alarm, and steal another five minutes of sleep!
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
Probably how well-organized everything seems to be in a single guy’s apartment.
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” So I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
I’d have to say blue. It’s the color of the sky, and the sky is limitless. And I believe everyone should try to live
life without limits. It’s the only way to achieve your dreams.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
Does Calvin of “Calvin and Hobbes” count? I love his wild imagination, unbounded sense of adventure and
the seemingly fearless approach he has to life.
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
To the American West about 300 or so years ago. As with Kevin Costner’s character in “Dances With
Wolves”, I’d love to be able to see that part of the country as the American Indians of the Plains knew it back
then – wild, untamed and free.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I enjoy a wide range of music, both old and new. I don’t limit myself to a certain musical style. There’s a lot of
great music out there in all styles, you just have to be open to it. In short, if it sounds good and the lyrics and
tune can reach me in some way, I’ll listen to it.
A brief list of some artists I enjoy: The Doors, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Eagles,
America, Asia, Journey, Styx, Counting Crows, Smashing Pumpkins, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue,
Staind, Disturbed, Shinedown, Godsmack, Nickelback, Eninem, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.
Most times I don’t listen to music when I’m writing. But when I’m listening to music otherwise, I find it can be
inspiring.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you
saw at the theater?
Current TV viewing includes: Sports, classic movies, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel,
History Channel, certain news programs (60 Minutes, Sunday Morning), TV Land. There are few new series I
follow regularly, but I do watch Cold Case on occasion. Classic shows I’ve enjoyed include: M*A*S*H, All in
the Family, Northern Exposure, Picket Fences, Good Times, Seinfeld and Star Trek (original).
Unsure what the last movie I saw in the theaters was. Some I’ve liked and have watched again: Dances With
Wolves, Dead Poet’s Society, Titanic, Stand By Me, Citizen Kane, Rebel Without A Cause, The Outsiders,
Smoke Signals, Good Will Hunting, Reservoir Dogs.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Believe in yourself and have the courage to be true to yourself, as well as to your family and friends, and
follow your dreams. All goals are obtainable; don’t let anyone tell you they’re not.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I have two novels currently in the brainstorming stage. Actually, I’m close to starting one. Both will be geared
towards the younger generation of today, as “American Odyssey” was, and will be just as straightforward in
their telling. The characters, for the most part, and the stories will be uniquely different. However, in one of
the two, a few of the characters from “American Odyssey” do make an appearance.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time out of
your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers and fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted
to be a writer?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to write and from my earliest years I’d spend hours in my room
penning imaginary tales. The older I got, the stronger the desire to write became. It’s almost like I have to
write to be a complete person, whether published or not, and if I don’t, it feels like something is missing. For
the most part, I’m drawn to writing true-to-life dramatic stories that I hope will move others in some way.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
It took roughly four and a half months from submission to finished product to get the book published. I did
not submit it to any traditional publishing houses. I went the self-/custom-publishing route with Outskirts
Press Inc., of Parker, Colorado. I felt it important to get it out there, seen and available.
By getting it printed in that way, I avoided the all-too-familiar rejection route most writers often face at first.
Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s good enough to be picked up by a traditional publisher, and I still have that
option. I have a non-exclusive contract with Outskirts. It’s just that I think going this route will open up a lot of
doors a lot faster than following the traditional route.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing
about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
“American Odyssey” is my first published novel. It is written to appeal to both adults and mature young
adults, with the primary focus being on the latter. My intent was to write a straightforward novel that would
speak honestly to today’s youth in regard to some of what they might be going through. After all, while times
change and each generation is affected by the time in which it comes of age, I feel the teenage experience
at its core remains the same in a lot of ways. I believe teenagers who read the book will find and relate to the
fact that the story does closely touch upon certain aspects of their own lives, as well as upon the raw
emotion and uncertainty of adolescence that all teenagers endure and always will.
To reach that realism, the book had to be written in a frank and unapologetic fashion. The story couldn’t be
sugar-coated, otherwise kids wouldn’t buy into it for a minute. This means, of course, there will likely be
those persons who find the novel unsettling, as there is strong language, incidents of violence and child
neglect, teenage drinking, and references to sex and drugs. To those people I would say the reality depicted
is a reality in many ways for a lot of kids today, and to that end the story speaks of an undeniable truth. And
that truth is one that can’t and shouldn’t be ignored, as the novel implies. That’s why I feel it is a book both
adults and mature young adults should read, and I hope they do. And I’m hopeful that progressive parents
with teenagers will be more than open to letting their kids read the book, as I expect the overall story and
characters will, in the end, strike a positive chord with a good many of those kids.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
I find inspiration for my stories in a lot of things. Among them are personal experience, people I’ve known,
the news, incidents I observe, and life in general. As to who has inspired me in my creative writing pursuits, I
can name three important players:
1.) Arthur Marley, one of my creative writing professors in college. I learned from him that the rules to writing
don’t always apply and can be bent and even broken. As an example, what might not seem like a sentence
in and of itself can become a sentence (a stream-lined sentence, he called it) when incorporated into a
paragraph. He also stressed that the best works are often those that come from the heart and strike at a
universal truth that we all share. I remember him also saying that to really hit a home run you had to write as
if you were telling the reader something you could only, or would only, want to tell your closest friends.
2.) John Hodgen, another college creative writing professor. In a way similar to Mr. Marley’s, he boosted my
confidence with his open, honest critique and advice. He also reinforced in me the conviction that I pretty
much always had that the most meaningful and honest works most often result from a true, raw emotion. Or,
in his words, “Writing is hard work…if it’s [going to be] any good, you have to do it and it invariably has to
hurt.”
3.) The late, popular novelist Robert Cormier. I had the opportunity to meet him in 1983 when I was a junior
in high school, and we exchanged a few letters afterward. He told me that as writers our tools are words, and
we need to seek the best ones, we need to read and always write.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
I’m a single guy who surrounds himself with family and good friends, who are all as excited as I am that I’ve
finally gotten my first book published. And, to tell the truth, some of those family members and friends were
actually quite involved in the process of getting this book to print. Several read the original typed manuscript
(and subsequent rewrites) and helped to proof it and offered criticism and advice. It was great having that
interaction with readers and their feedback as I moved along with the writing of the book.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Believe it or not, it’s cold pizza in the morning (or anytime, really).
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
Grumble a little, turn off the alarm, and steal another five minutes of sleep!
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
Probably how well-organized everything seems to be in a single guy’s apartment.
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” So I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
I’d have to say blue. It’s the color of the sky, and the sky is limitless. And I believe everyone should try to live
life without limits. It’s the only way to achieve your dreams.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
Does Calvin of “Calvin and Hobbes” count? I love his wild imagination, unbounded sense of adventure and
the seemingly fearless approach he has to life.
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
To the American West about 300 or so years ago. As with Kevin Costner’s character in “Dances With
Wolves”, I’d love to be able to see that part of the country as the American Indians of the Plains knew it back
then – wild, untamed and free.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I enjoy a wide range of music, both old and new. I don’t limit myself to a certain musical style. There’s a lot of
great music out there in all styles, you just have to be open to it. In short, if it sounds good and the lyrics and
tune can reach me in some way, I’ll listen to it.
A brief list of some artists I enjoy: The Doors, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Eagles,
America, Asia, Journey, Styx, Counting Crows, Smashing Pumpkins, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue,
Staind, Disturbed, Shinedown, Godsmack, Nickelback, Eninem, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.
Most times I don’t listen to music when I’m writing. But when I’m listening to music otherwise, I find it can be
inspiring.
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you
saw at the theater?
Current TV viewing includes: Sports, classic movies, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel,
History Channel, certain news programs (60 Minutes, Sunday Morning), TV Land. There are few new series I
follow regularly, but I do watch Cold Case on occasion. Classic shows I’ve enjoyed include: M*A*S*H, All in
the Family, Northern Exposure, Picket Fences, Good Times, Seinfeld and Star Trek (original).
Unsure what the last movie I saw in the theaters was. Some I’ve liked and have watched again: Dances With
Wolves, Dead Poet’s Society, Titanic, Stand By Me, Citizen Kane, Rebel Without A Cause, The Outsiders,
Smoke Signals, Good Will Hunting, Reservoir Dogs.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Believe in yourself and have the courage to be true to yourself, as well as to your family and friends, and
follow your dreams. All goals are obtainable; don’t let anyone tell you they’re not.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I have two novels currently in the brainstorming stage. Actually, I’m close to starting one. Both will be geared
towards the younger generation of today, as “American Odyssey” was, and will be just as straightforward in
their telling. The characters, for the most part, and the stories will be uniquely different. However, in one of
the two, a few of the characters from “American Odyssey” do make an appearance.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
| Visit Mr. Gelinas On MySpace! |