An Interview with Gordon Osmond

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Gordon Osmond.  Gordon is here today to discuss his debut novel, Slipping on Stardust, as well as to tell us a little about himself.

Let’s meet Gordon.

 

 

Hi Gordon.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Gordon: I’d be delighted, and many thanks for this invitation. Historically, I’m a Wall Street lawyer, who retired at the first opportunity to do different things. The first different thing was writing plays for the stage. Then, frustrated with dealing with actors, directors, and designers, I turned to writing books—first a book introducing a novel approach to the teaching of English (So You Think You Know English—A Guide to English for Those Who Think They Don’t Need One), then a novel approach to me (Wet Firecrackers—the Unauthorized Autobiography of Gordon Osmond), and finally a novel, period (Slipping on Stardust).

TRC: You have written non-fiction books. You are also a lawyer, playwright, radio show host, etc.  How did you decide to write a fiction novel, and where do you find the time?

Gordon: I wanted to express certain themes that are important to me without the constraints inherent in writing stage plays. I wanted to add to dialogue descriptive passages (which one rather dim editor I fired a while back referred to as “infodumps.”) relating not only to the physical circumstances of the story, but also to the pyschological landscape the characters are inhabiting.

TRC: Is there anything (in general) you find particularly challenging about writing a fiction novel?

Gordon: Like any other piece of writing, success depends initially on engaging the reader with a compelling story that depicts conflicts clearly and with intensity. I think it’s also important that the story be told as only you, the author, can tell it. Everyone is a finger print and a snowflake; it’s important that one’s writing reflect the unique personality and perspective of the author. The aforesaid editor/publisher referred to this as writing from an “omniscient point of view,” which she considered felonious, Dickens and Tolstoy to the contrary notwithstanding.

TRC: Slipping on Stardust is your debut novel. Can you tell how you came up with the idea of this story?

Gordon: The events of Slipping on Stardust are based primarily on extraordinary events that occurred in the course of my participation in the practice of law and in community and regional theatre. The real life events were, of course, enhanced and intensified for dramatic purposes.

TRC: Would you please give us a brief description of Slipping on Stardust?

Gordon: Very briefly, Slipping on Stardust is the story of the impact of the arrival of a faded Hollywood movie star upon a small town, particularly upon the members of the family the star is staying with. Passions are stirred, betrayal and scandals erupt, all of which propel family members to New York City and Hollywood in search of dreams of questionable value. Think Peyton Place meets Madame Bovary.

TRC: Slipping on Stardust is Romance Suspense, have you ever thought about writing in another genre?

Links to order Slipping on Stardust: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Gordon: Being a bit of a hit-and-run writer, I have, but for the immediate future I’m concentrating on a sequel to Slipping on Stardust. I’m curious about the future of the characters of the novel, and some readers have been kind enough to share that curiosity.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place?

Gordon: I’m generally a morning person, and I prefer to write in quiet, beautiful, and natural surroundings. The first chapters of Slipping on Stardust were written poolside in Bahia, Brazil. I’d love to start its sequel in comparable circumstances.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas with family and friends.  With whom do you bounce ideas?

Gordon: With the exception of the person to whom Slipping on Stardust, and all my other books for that matter, is dedicated, no one. As a committed individualist, I’m not keen on writing by committee. Once the book is written, however, I avidly seek, and profit immeasurably from editorial and dramaturgical suggestions. In other words, I bounce the book, but not its seminal ideas.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Gordon: Only my sincere thanks for these thoughtful questions and for the opportunity to try to answer them.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Strawberry champagne risotto.

Favorite Dessert: Bananas Foster.

Favorite Novel: I’m on the lookout for my future favorite. It well may be Stalked, due out later this year, by one of my favorite authors, James Broderick.

Favorite Movie: A Streetcar Named Desire.

Favorite Actress or Actor: On the female side, where almost all of my favorites reside, I’d select Geraldine Page, Kim Stanley, Jo Van Fleet, and Elaine May.

Dream Car: Any make or model that doesn’t crash or run out of gas.

TRC: Thank you Gordon for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Slipping on Stardust.

Gordon: It was a great pleasure. And best of luck to you with the very important work you’re doing for your fellow authors.

If you would like to learn more about Gordon, you can find him at the following links:
Website:
Goodreads:
Twitter: