Ask the Author: Patrick Gabridge
Answered Questions (7)
Patrick Gabridge
Thanks for asking, Teri. Steering to Freedom is suitable for teenagers, but probably not for younger kids. There are a few sex scenes (though pretty mild) that might not be appropriate for younger readers. Though it's a book that takes place during the Civil War, I don't think the violence is super gruesome or over the top (there are a few battle scenes).
Patrick Gabridge
That's tricky. I don't know that I've had "writer's block" per se. But sometimes it's important that I've had a very busy stretch of writing (or rehearsals for plays) and I need to take some time to read, to breathe, to think, to refill the well. There's so much pressure, both from society and self-imposed, to always be productive and churn out more pages, but that's not always the best path to creativity. Sometimes you need to cut yourself some slack.
Patrick Gabridge
I get to engage very broadly in the world. So for one book, I might be researching tornadoes and thinking about mythology and love stories, and then I might be researching moving companies, or the Civil War. In my imagination, I can be a ship's pilot, a scientist, a Biblical translator, a handyman. I love getting to spend time in the dream world of a first draft.
Patrick Gabridge
Read a lot, read widely. Get to know other writers, and maybe join a writer's group, so you can learn to give and take feedback. And get out in the world and do something, gain some real world experience, whether that means farming, or carpentry, dog walking, teaching skiing, anything. (And then write about it.) Be patient with yourself--it takes a lot of practice and a lot of time to get good at writing, at anything. Though the popular press likes to trumpet first-time novelists and unusual prodigies, for most people it takes years of hard work to become good writers.
Patrick Gabridge
I've been putting the finishing touches on a new novel about black Civil War hero, Robert Smalls. It's an exciting Civil War adventure story, about a man struggling to find a way to freedom for his family and his people. Plus, I'm a playwright, so I'm always writing a new play.
Patrick Gabridge
I find inspiration all around me. Whether it's walking my dog or reading the paper or watching a play. And the thing is, it takes a while to write a new novel or stage play, so I don't really need more than a couple good ideas a year.
Patrick Gabridge
My wife and I have moved a lot over the years, and it was starting to feel like it was part of our identity. But then we had kids and started to settle down. I was interested in that conflict between the desire to keep exploring the new and the urge to stay put. What happens if those two impulses were raised to a more extreme level, what would it do to a marriage. I was very interested in writing a book about marriage, not just getting married, but what it takes to stay married.
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