Looking Out the Window: Bill Garrison Talks about His Time Travel Book, The Day She Died. Gives Away a Copy.
A Warm Welcome to Bill Garrison
Bill will give away EITHER a print copy OR an e-book of The Day She Died. To enter to win leave a comment and an e-mail address below.
Hi Bill. First, tell us a little about yourself.
I’m married with three children and live in Oklahoma City. I’m a CPA and work in healthcare but my real love is great stories. I don’t want to be mindlessly entertained; I want to be moved emotionally. I spend my weekends going to basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball games and love every minute.
Lots of writers were young readers. What about you? If so, what did you read?
I was an avid reader. I remember winning a most read books contest in 2nd grade and getting a free book. In sixth grade, my parents gave me a bunch of books for Christmas, and I remember being disappointed because I wanted toys.
Ahh, sorry about the toys, but congratulations on the contest. Let's talk about your writing. Why do you write?
I really enjoy telling a story and creating a feeling in the reader, a feeling of joy, surprise, shock, love, happiness. I write for the reader. I also write because I have something on my heart and I want to convey something from God. It is hard to write a novel when God isn’t behind it.
About The Day She Died
The Day She Died is my latest book, and my only book. It’s a time travel mystery in which the main character, 45-year old John, wakes up one day back in college, on the day his fiancé disappeared. He travels through time, visiting college, high school, adulthood, then back to college again, gathering clues to both the mystery of his girlfriend’s death and the keys to enjoying a life without regrets.
What inspired you to write this particular book?
I used to walk from my work to a parking garage several blocks away and just daydream about what it would be like to be back in high school playing basketball with all of the knowledge of the game I had as an adult. That kind of thinking went on for years, just for fun, as I imagined taking the wisdom of a full life back into time to have a few do-overs. Then you throw in the experience of three previous novels and the inspiration of other time-travel books and movies, and the idea for this book was born.
Where do you get ideas for your books?
I really get ideas from other stories. Plot twists, locations, characters…maybe. But the big ideas are the emotions and the feelings you get after you read a great book. I want to create the same feelings in my novels.
What themes do you write about?
When I reflect on the themes of my three novels and I realize there is an over-arching theme, and that is we’ve all messed up, and no one is perfect, but God has blessed each of us with a wonderful life, or God is capable of bringing anyone out of the darkness and into the light, regardless of their past. It feels like the spiritual themes of my novels were written to address my own spiritual weaknesses at the time. Writing The Day She Died helped me accept my life and the decisions I’d made and to not live every day thinking about what I could have done differently.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Never be afraid to ask for help. In fact, force yourself to get involved with other writers and critique groups. You will learn so much and you will be amazed at how willing they are to help.
What would you be doing if you weren’t writing?
Sadly, I’m doing it. Just kidding, but I’m an Auditor for a state agency and work in the health care field. I love spending time with my kids and their sports activities. I’d enjoy working in the food industry. I think it would be fun to run a restaurant…but maybe because I’ve never worked at one.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
Thank you for letting me be a guest today. I had a lot of fun answering these questions. You can learn more about me and my novel at www.billgarrisonauthor.com
It was my pleasure, Bill. Thanks for visiting.
Buy links:
Barnes and Noble Nook
Barnes and Noble Print Book
amazon
Comments
Congrats on your book, sounds like an interesting plot. I had to laugh when you said you received books instead of toys as a gift! :)
Wishing you much success!
This hits the nail on the head of why I write. Like Michael Landon, I want people to "feel" something when they read my stories.
Your plot has already pulled me in. The idea of going back to change the future thrills me. Have you read Clanci's book, "Unfinished Business"? It has a similar plot and is so hard to put down.
I have a time travel story (partial) on the back burner. I think you just gave me the incentive to pick it up again and finish it.
My email is landtbeth at yahoo.om
Gail, as always, your blog is a delight.
My email is andrews_regina@yahoo.com
Thank you for a fascinating post.
dkstevensne AT outlook DOTCom