Children's Book Author
Children's Book Author
Gary Gainey
We know you probably would like to know a little bit about this guy, "Gary", so we sent him a BIG list of questions, forcing him to tell us some of his secrets!
Interviewer: Do you, or have you ever had a pet?
Gary: I've had wonderful pets throughout the years, but I don't have any right now. When I was a kid, I had lots of fish, sea monkeys, a tadpole, hungry hamsters, and even a rascally rabbit. When I was a teen, I was given a Rottweiler puppy and I named him "George". He was my best buddy for many years.
Interviewer: What's your favorite thing to eat and place to go?
Gary: My favorite food is pizza. My favorite place to get it is Tommy's Coal Fired Pizza in New Jersey. When I am not scarfing pizza, I enjoy fruits and all kinds of vegetables. (Good answer, right?)
Interviewer: What's your favorite thing to do, and why is it your favorite?
Gary: I love listening to good music, and I enjoy writing. Both things make me happy, and give me great joy and peace.
Interviewer: When you were a kid, did you ever dream of being a writer? If not, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Gary: When I was a kid I never thought about being a writer, however, I loved Disney movies and often dreamt of singing in a Disney movie!
Interviewer: Did your characters in your books come from your imagination, or are they fashioned after real people that you knew?
Gary: I draw inspiration from both my imagination and from various people I have met throughout my life. While working in the school system I've met many students who helped to shape the personalities and characters of the Bond family.
Interviewer: Of all the characters in the book, which one is most like you?
Gary: In many ways, and on different days, I think I am similar to all the characters in one way or another. But overall, I think I am most like Eon. I too am practical, hardworking, enjoy car rides, like boomerangs, and sometimes I am a little stubborn! Plus I enjoy having fun when I can and I'm creative in my own way.
Interviewer: What books did you enjoy growing up? Do you have a favorite?
Gary: As a child, I enjoyed reading the "Berenstain Bears" series, by the Berenstain brothers. I also liked "Goosebumps" books, by R.L. Stine.
Interviewer: Where did you grow up, and do you include any part of your childhood in your books?
Gary: I grew up in San Francisco, but I didn't use any streets or landmarks from my childhood in my current book. However, my childhood shaped my writing and gave me the motivation to write.
Interviewer: As a kid, did you have any special teachers that you looked up to, and how did they influence you?
Gary: My fourth and fifth grade teachers were very encouraging and instrumental in fanning my creative writing interest: I wrote and showcased my first stories at that time.
Interviewer: The Bond family goes through a series of adventures. Did you draw on any personal experiences to create them?
Gary: I think life is full of adventures and unexpected twists and turns. Some people experience big adventures, like riding a horse, flying on an airplane, or going skiing. Others experience more everyday adventures like having a sleepover, roller skating, camping, or getting lost during a ride in the car with family. Our friends, the Bonds experience adventures in ways we can only dream about because of their size and gifts. But whether we experience personal adventures or share in the adventures of others, it is great to be able to join in on fun adventures that life provides.
Interview: How difficult was it to publish your book?
Gary: It took considerable time and patience to finally be able to print and publish my book. But because I believed in the book and the benefits it could bring to the community and young readers, I took it one step at a time. When you do something that you love and enjoy to do, it is never too difficult.
Interview: What advice would you give a kid who is thinking about becoming a writer?
Gary: I would tell him or her to write from the heart, stay focused, be patient, and know that all things are possible.
Interview: Will you be writing more books in the future, and if so, can you give us a hint as to what they'll be about?
Gary: The Bonds is a series and it will have several books which will tell of their different adventures and happenings. But besides working on The Bonds; I foresee myself writing another children's book, one that might be about a teacher. :o)
Gary: I've had wonderful pets throughout the years, but I don't have any right now. When I was a kid, I had lots of fish, sea monkeys, a tadpole, hungry hamsters, and even a rascally rabbit. When I was a teen, I was given a Rottweiler puppy and I named him "George". He was my best buddy for many years.
Interviewer: What's your favorite thing to eat and place to go?
Gary: My favorite food is pizza. My favorite place to get it is Tommy's Coal Fired Pizza in New Jersey. When I am not scarfing pizza, I enjoy fruits and all kinds of vegetables. (Good answer, right?)
Interviewer: What's your favorite thing to do, and why is it your favorite?
Gary: I love listening to good music, and I enjoy writing. Both things make me happy, and give me great joy and peace.
Interviewer: When you were a kid, did you ever dream of being a writer? If not, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Gary: When I was a kid I never thought about being a writer, however, I loved Disney movies and often dreamt of singing in a Disney movie!
Interviewer: Did your characters in your books come from your imagination, or are they fashioned after real people that you knew?
Gary: I draw inspiration from both my imagination and from various people I have met throughout my life. While working in the school system I've met many students who helped to shape the personalities and characters of the Bond family.
Interviewer: Of all the characters in the book, which one is most like you?
Gary: In many ways, and on different days, I think I am similar to all the characters in one way or another. But overall, I think I am most like Eon. I too am practical, hardworking, enjoy car rides, like boomerangs, and sometimes I am a little stubborn! Plus I enjoy having fun when I can and I'm creative in my own way.
Interviewer: What books did you enjoy growing up? Do you have a favorite?
Gary: As a child, I enjoyed reading the "Berenstain Bears" series, by the Berenstain brothers. I also liked "Goosebumps" books, by R.L. Stine.
Interviewer: Where did you grow up, and do you include any part of your childhood in your books?
Gary: I grew up in San Francisco, but I didn't use any streets or landmarks from my childhood in my current book. However, my childhood shaped my writing and gave me the motivation to write.
Interviewer: As a kid, did you have any special teachers that you looked up to, and how did they influence you?
Gary: My fourth and fifth grade teachers were very encouraging and instrumental in fanning my creative writing interest: I wrote and showcased my first stories at that time.
Interviewer: The Bond family goes through a series of adventures. Did you draw on any personal experiences to create them?
Gary: I think life is full of adventures and unexpected twists and turns. Some people experience big adventures, like riding a horse, flying on an airplane, or going skiing. Others experience more everyday adventures like having a sleepover, roller skating, camping, or getting lost during a ride in the car with family. Our friends, the Bonds experience adventures in ways we can only dream about because of their size and gifts. But whether we experience personal adventures or share in the adventures of others, it is great to be able to join in on fun adventures that life provides.
Interview: How difficult was it to publish your book?
Gary: It took considerable time and patience to finally be able to print and publish my book. But because I believed in the book and the benefits it could bring to the community and young readers, I took it one step at a time. When you do something that you love and enjoy to do, it is never too difficult.
Interview: What advice would you give a kid who is thinking about becoming a writer?
Gary: I would tell him or her to write from the heart, stay focused, be patient, and know that all things are possible.
Interview: Will you be writing more books in the future, and if so, can you give us a hint as to what they'll be about?
Gary: The Bonds is a series and it will have several books which will tell of their different adventures and happenings. But besides working on The Bonds; I foresee myself writing another children's book, one that might be about a teacher. :o)