Gerald W. Darnell
Sanford, Florida
USA
Good morning, Gerald, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the place for art and books and the people who love them. What have you written?
17 novels in my Carson Reno Mystery Series, 2 novels in a series I call Jack Sloan, 1 non-fiction book about myself (Don’t Wake Me Until It’s Time to Go), numerous short stories and several articles for outdoor magazines.
Your Carson Reno series looks fantastic! I can't wait to read it. What is your favorite genre to write?
Mystery/Suspense (of course)
Favorite food.
Steak – preferably cooked on a charcoal grill.
Tea or coffee?
Depends upon the time of day. Hot tea or coffee in the morning, iced tea in the afternoon (unsweetened).
Pizza or ice cream?
Pizza – rarely eat sweets
Wine or beer?
Beer, but Bourbon is my preference. I have been known to be allergic to wine…meaning that a little for me goes a long way. J I have been known to enjoy an adult beverage along with my keyboard. I often say, “a little libation never spoiled a good story.”
Where would you like to visit?
Aruba
Oh, go. Now. Don't wait. I LOVE Aruba. Stay on Palm Beach. Go in September if possible. High season starts October 1. You might run into some painting or new awnings going up, and they might try out some new shows on you or a new recipe in the restaurant, but you'll get a great deal. It truly is One Happy Island. You will love it.
Favorite musical artist. Do you listen to music when you write?
I don’t really have a favorite. My preference is country music or oldies (50’s 60’s). When the mood strikes I enjoy jazz. No, I don’t listen to music when I write.
What makes you laugh?
Stupid signs or slogans – I’ve collected many of them over the years. Some are published in my autobiography.
Favorite work of art or sculpture.
Vietnam Wall
How old were you when you started writing? High School – somewhere around 16. But I really got serious about it after retirement in 2004. Most of the earlier stuff was for school papers, magazines etc.
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
I do make notecards (sometimes waking up in the middle of the night and jotting down a thought). However most of my work comes from listening to my characters and having them tell what to write.
Describe your perfect evening.
My computer, a good cigar and a glass of bourbon – with those I can ignore everything else.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Good question and I have NO idea where my ideas come from…they just come. My friends are always asking me “Where do you come up with all this stuff?” My answer is the same – “I have no idea.” Maybe I read too many books while traveling for work and the thoughts are stuck up there until I put them on paper.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
Go get on my boat, have a few cold beers and catch a few fish. It always works…at least it has up until now.
Who is your favorite author?
Agatha Christie
Best book you ever read.
‘Tortilla Flat’ by John Steinbeck
Yes, that was a really good book. Last book you read.
‘The Partner’ by John Grisham
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
Writing for me is a hobby. I retired from the computer industry after 35 years and millions of miles on airplanes and in rental cars. My collection of books contains hundreds of boarding passes used as bookmarks. I occasionally will look at one of the faded documents and try to remember when, where and how.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
A fellow named Ed Sharp. He was a mentor early in life and taught me more than enough to be successful. I think about him often. However, I would not be telling the truth unless I included my father. I once told him, “the older I get the smarter you get.” He never forgot that statement. I miss him every day.
If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?
I’ve had a lot of great conversations over the years with some famous and inspirational people. But if I had to pick one I would say John F. Kennedy. I’ve read numerous books about him and have wondered if all (or any) of the things they said were true.
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer? That’s easy – “Don’t write to get rich…write to enrich others.”
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
New book ‘Lack of Candor’ is already on pre-release with formal release on May 1. I have included a cover and a promo photo with the jpegs. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NQRPXMW
Promise you'll come back in May and tell us a little bit about Lack of Candor?
Well, okay. Thank you for the opportunity to interview and I hope your readers enjoy my comments.
I'm sure they will, Gerald. Thanks for taking time out of your busy writing schedule to interview with Vision and Verse. C
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