Gabriel Gadget: Author interview :)

  Many of you come to me asking what books I would recommend for younger readers and where to find them. Here is a series of books that I would whole-heartedly recommend to those of you with children in your life. Click on the photo over there

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and it will take you to the book. Also this book is FREE. Yep. Free, and there are more books in the series. You can click HERE to read my review of this book.

Now on to the point of this post. I can say that, because this one actually does have a point. Gabriel Gadget was nice enough to agree to an interview with us and you can find that below. I am also currently reading his second book with my boys, which you can find HERE

Gabriel is such a wonderful author. He has an excellent grasp on how to use humour to tell a story that will captivate the attention and imagination of a child (and adults too, trust me.) He uses clean humour that is the kind I want to encourage my children to read. His books also teach values and touch on environmental concerns in a way that a children can appreciate. Without further ado and acclaim from me (can’t help myself,) here he is:
Can you tell us a bit about who you are, your life and your current works?

I live with my dog, Admiral Whiskey Bean, in the seacoast region of New Hampshire, centered among the forests, mountains, and beaches (all of which are great inspirations!). I moved here to attend college in 1998, fell in love with the area, and decided to stay. Most of my current writing focuses on “The Green Beans”, which is a series of middle grade novels with themes of environmental conservation, featuring elements of adventure, mystery, science fiction, and the paranormal.

What made you decide to start writing?

I loved reading when I was a small child, and I started creating my own simple picture books, perhaps at about the age of five. I enjoyed getting wrapped up in the stories of other authors, and it was enormously appealing to me that I didn’t have to limit myself to reading the tales of others – I could create my own, as well. Lots of construction paper and crayons were put to use! The magic of reading and creating stories never lost its allure, and I’ve enjoyed writing ever since.

What is your main genre and do you intend to stick with it or venture into others?

For the past few years, I’ve focused on middle grade fiction, which has been great, because it lets me dabble in all sorts of stuff – adventure, mystery, the paranormal, (soft) science fiction, suspense, sports, and more. However, my first four manuscripts were all adult-level novels, primarily in the genre of political satire. Therefore, I feel as though I do poke around quite a bit, and I look forward to exploring even more as I continue writing.

Do you have a current work-in-progress that you can share with us?

I’m currently writing the third volume of “The Green Beans”, which has a working title of “The Curious Conundrum of Pan Gu”. In this adventure, the Beans uncover the long hidden secrets of Ferdinand Magellan, as well as learning of the impact of the discoveries he made on his famous journey.

What is the most important thing you have learned about writing and publishing?

I’ve learned that writing is a very important part of my identity. It brings me peace, happiness, intellectual stimulation, and lots of chuckles. I believe everybody has something in life that can bring them this sense of fulfillment, and they should pursue whatever that thing might be, even if they can only find the time to do it for an hour or two per day.

As far as publishing goes, I think the most important thing nowadays is to remain open minded and flexible. Just a handful of years ago, independent publishing was frowned upon, but it has now become mainstream, and it’s a great way for smaller writers to share their works with others. The world of publishing isn’t even close to done with its transformation, so I feel it’s important to stay on your toes and pay attention to what’s happening. It’s a very exciting time, and I’m embracing the change.

Do you have any regrets? Anything you would have done differently?

There are certainly small things that I would have done differently, but nothing so significant that I would say I have regrets over it. I’m grateful for the life that I have!

Advice for other authors/those considering publishing?

Writing is just like any other skill – you have to work at it. You would not expect to sit down at a piano for the first time and immediately know how to play it. Only by practicing, day after day, and year after year, will playing piano become second nature to you, as opposed to the struggle it once was. The same is true of writing. If you keep at it, I promise you that it will eventually become second nature to you. Through commitment, you will rewire your brain to become that of a writer. It can oftentimes be very hard work, but it should also be fun. And that’s the reason you should be playing music or writing stories in the first place – because it’s something that brings you enjoyment!

Where can we find you?

You may email me at greenbeanbaseball@gmail.com.

Final thoughts:

Ionia, I want to sincerely thank you for inviting me to interview with you. Your passion for readers and writers, your selflessness, and your creativity are awe-inspiring. Your work ethic is astounding, and the amount of reviews you have written and posts you have made is pretty darned mind-boggling, to be perfectly honest. No matter the challenges in your life, it seems that nothing can slow you down! We are all lucky to have you in the writing community.

I also want to thank the readers who have given my books a chance. I’m incredibly humbled when somebody chooses to spend their limited leisure time adventuring with the Beans, and it is my hope that they have as much fun reading the stories as I have writing them.

 

*Gabriel! Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. You are one of the most special, talented people that I know. You make this blog look good buddy. 🙂