Gary D. Henry
Sterling, Virginia
USA
Good morning, Gary, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the place for Art and Authors. I've been wanting to interview you for a while now. I'm glad you're here. Can you tell us what you've written?
At present, I’ve
published 22 books with 3 more to be published before the end of the year.
What is your favorite
genre to write?
Pretty much any genre
with a few obvious exceptions. Readers of my books will tell you that I’m a
multi-genre author who likes to incorporate many of them within one story. It’s
a little challenging at times but it always seems to work out to make a
complete tale. Most incorporate, horror, mystery, drama, romance, and any other
literary limits I can work into it. I like it when readers can’t really
pinpoint a genre in a particular story.
Favorite food.
Almost anything Italian
and American staples.
Tea or coffee?
Neither. I’ve never
acquired a taste for either but I must admit that a big pitcher of sweet tea on
a warm summer afternoon is quite refreshing.
Pizza or ice cream?
Both. Why not?
Wine or beer?
Beer. Although, I don’t
drink much unless I find myself in a difficult four-twist story line where I should
determine where and when to let the reader know how all four twists easily meld
into a viable understanding of the overall story. Thankfully, I always have an
idea where each are going. If I had to describe it; it’s like watching the
movie Clue and trying to determine who done it.
Where would you like to
visit?
I’ve already visited
just about every state in the continental US but never made it to Monument
Valley in Northern Arizona. The site where John Wayne rode in many of his
classic westerns.
Favorite musical
artist.
Way too many, The Guess
Who, Jim Croce, Three Dog Night, Lobo, Elvis Presley, Bee Gees (Early and
later), Chicago, Bread, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby,
Nat King Cole,
Do you listen to music
when you write?
Sometimes, but mostly, an
old movie such as Gone with the Wind, one of a dozen classic musicals, or comedies
such as Lewis and Martin. Abbott and Costello, or Hope and Crosby, is playing
in the background
What?
50’s, 60’s and 70’s
mostly
What makes you laugh?
Hope and Crosby, Mel
Brooks, or any well thought out comedy.
How old were you when
you started writing?
Mid 2009; I was 54. That
was 8 years ago, though it seems like decades when I view myself in the mirror
and see what all this has done to me.
Describe your perfect
evening.
All the bills paid with
a lot of money left over, a full stomach and an over-abundance of energy. A 74-degree
space with a classic movie playing in the background; a slight breeze hitting
my face and just a few pages left to write on the ending of a new novel. Oh,
and not having to go to work the next day.
Where do you get your
inspiration?
Anywhere and
everywhere. Easily, the most asked question ever. The usual answer is I don’t
know, because all my stories veer into many genres and goes into many
directions. I never could pinpoint where it all comes from and never dwelled on
it as long as it came and stayed. It hasn’t stopped yet. I can find a story in
just about any setting or location.
What do you do when you
get a writer's block?
I’ve never really had
this for an extended period of time. When I’m stuck, I think about the problem
while sleeping and have always had the answer by morning.
Who is your favorite
author?
This is easy because I
have none, and that includes myself to a certain degree. I have zero time to
read considering I still have a full-time job working for a defense contractor
and the fact that I’ve written 27 full-length novels in 8 years.
If I had to answer, I’d
say Stephen King, but that’s because of watching movies based on his books. JK
Rowling comes in a close second.
Best book you ever
read.
Allow me to answer this question as well as the next, here. One of the
major quirks about me is that I’ve only read one book and that was the Red
Badge of Courage 47 years ago and only because my high school teacher made me.
I just haven’t the patience or time to read books. I need read each of my own books
at least five times and by the fifth time, I’m ready to throw it against the
wall regardless of how good it is.
What would you do for a
living if you weren’t a writer?
Ideally, I’d be a baseball player. However,
many cheeseburgers later, I’d have to hit a triple just to get to first base.
Although, I’m fascinated with screenwriting and certainly achievable.
Who is the one person
who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
I started writing with
no experience and no desire. I did it because someone dared me and eight years
later I’m still plugging away. Haven’t decided whether I won the dare or not. I
did this completely on my own so I guess no one influenced me. My family didn’t
even know about my writing abilities until my first book was written and
published. The truth be told I wasn’t even convinced until my tenth book was
published and even, now, there’s a slight trepidation when I release a new one.
If you could sit down
and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who
would it be and why?
Sorry, can’t just
mention one. Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, Dean Martin, and Stephen King.
Elvis, because he meant
a great deal to our culture and the music world and died too young. Every young
boy wanted to be him and every young woman wanted to be with him. I was
saddened the day he died because, as a young man, I felt as if I’d also lost my
own dream of stardom.
Bob Hope because he
gave the world humor at a time when wars took it away. He revived the American
spirit for most of his one hundred years. The most decorated entertainer of all
time and the only man who could cause me to stammer my words.
Dean Martin because
he’s Dean Martin!!! Nothing more needs to be said or explained.
Stephan King because
he’s a writer extraordinaire who always writes something new and not just
horror. He amazingly wrote the Green Mile and The Shawshenk Redemption. See,
even Stephen King veers from the genre that made him famous. What I’d say to
him? Steve, come help me sort this out!!!
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
Facebook (Gary D. henry and Author Gary D. Henry)
Twitter (@GaryDHenry)
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7370324-gary-d-henry
