Author Interview: Earle E Van Gilder

Today I would like to welcome author Earle E Van Gilder to My Reading Room.  I will be reviewing Earle's book, Said the Spider (Outskirts Press) later today, but first, let's hear about the book and the author.

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?

Annie and I went to bed early and watched a re-run of Frasier.

What inspired you to write your first book?
My natural incliniation to write and the request of friends and acquaintenances who wanted me to share my stories with them.

 

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

I’m egomaniac enough to think it’s interesting, different and written in a way the reader will enjoy it.

Tell us a little about your main character? Is he/she someone you’d like to meet?

I’ve already met the main character---it’s me!  

 

Can we have a snippet from the book? 

The book can be reviewed on Amazon.com.  It’s fiction but based on actual experience concerning industrial espionage, white collar crime, and the characters on both sides of that equation.

 
How much of your work is realistic?
It's of course fiction, but based on experience and actual occurrances over many years of living.

 

How did you come up with the title for your book?
Said The Spider seemed to fit the antagonist character of the story and those infected and affected by that purpose.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?

Sitting down and taking time away from so many other things is the discipline I need to improve on in writing.  The easiest is dreaming up the characters and story.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
My favorites are Larry McMurtry, John F. Ross and Allan W. Eckert all of which cover the early history of America in a form and style that makes that time very real.

What are you working on now that you can talk about?

I have completed (both unpublished) Gumshoe Diary-The Month of May, and Point of Connection.  They are related to the original book (Said The Spider) with many of the same characters, but new adventures.

How long does it take you to write a book?
The first book took me eleven years to write, re-write and re-write, the last two were finished in less than one year.

Do you have a writing schedule?

None at all.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

“He Did What?”

What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?

Frasier (every night).

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be?Anyone of the characters in Lonesome Dove.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?St.Pauli Non-alcoholic beer, some yogurt, a couple pieces of pizza, I know there's some ice cream, hey wait a minute, you're not coming over for dinner are you?

Thank you for joining us today Earle. I will be reviewing Said the Spider a little later today, so stay tuned for that.