Interview with Gaines Bishop
Published 2016-02-02.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in the country in north central Texas where we had to use our imagination to entertain ourselves. I had my own horse and was allowed to ride her anywhere I wanted. I think the lack of electronics and other stimulation pushed us to create more and for me to write.
When did you first start writing?
I started keeping a diary when I was young and once I started traveling, I kept a journal of each trip. I now have a bookshelf full of travel journals!
Describe your desk
I actually use 2 desks to write - one with my laptop, calendar, notepads, and bulletin board and the other desk holds pens, highlighters, notebooks (one per working title) and a small bookshelf with a dictionary, thesaurus, and other books on writing.
What's the story behind your latest book?
I wrote Bras in the Backpack: Solo Travel Tips to encourage women to travel solo and give them the information to do so. I hope I have given them one more tool to help them to break free of their fears and have a bit of an adventure! Although the title says "backpack", it is not a prerequisite to travel the third world - just more convenient!
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I think the traditional methods of publishing have become more difficult as the years pass. Indie publishing offers the opportunity for anyone to publish their work on a minimal budget.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
I use a Samsung tablet and have the Kindle App. on it
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
I love doing the research! Any book written has required the author to research and learn more about their subject to be able to write a desirable book.
What do your fans mean to you?
Fans are everything! Without them we would be writing, but not many people would be reading.
Who are your favorite authors?
I read a lot of non-fiction and particularly like John Krakauer. Annie Proulx is one of my favorite fiction writers.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
I like to get outdoors - work in the yard, play with my dog, go hiking and camping. The rest of the time I am traveling the world...there is so much to see!
What are you working on next?
My life has been one long adventure and I am currently transcribing my journals into digital form. Then to pull it all together and publish a memoir. To coin a phrase "what a long strange trip it's been".
What is your writing process?
Since I am not the best typist, I use Dragon software to dictate into the computer, then manually edit.
What do you read for pleasure?
I read a lot of non-fiction, travel adventure books. Blood River was one of my favorites. I also read books on spirituality by H.H. the Dalai Lama and J. Krishnamurti.
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