Gary Hillard

My stories are about children, and the adults in their lives. Most of these stories take place deep in the woods of rural Vermont, or in two cases, in the small towns of Virginia. If a culture may be judged on how it treats its children and its old people, these views of childhood provide a clear view of the strengths and shortcomings of what we offer our kids. The kids in these books are old enough to question the world around them, and to begin to act on their own behalf. Foster care is the background of many of these stories, where our most vulnerable kids are often forced to find their own way. Fiction provides an easy path for the truth, and these stories are more true than make believe. The struggles are real, and the magic is the kind of magic that children can see and understand. I hope it is the kind of magic that the reader can remember, and learn to believe in.

I retired at 57 after twenty-two years as a child and family therapist, and eleven years as a school teacher. I had raised four kids, including two girls I adopted out of foster care, and was a foster parent as well. I came away from my work pretty well burned out, and filled with stories, that I thought needed to be told.

Work wins. I’m single, retired, and my youngest child is 22 years old. I don’t even have a dog at this point.

A seven-week cross-country tent-camping trip with my two youngest girls. All done in an early 70s Toyota. It’s pretty much their favorite time, too.

I wait at the end of a dock, and out of the fog, a story-ship appears. When it docks, I climb aboard and explore, taking notes as I go. It’s magic. There is usually about a day or two in between finishing one book and starting on the next.

I could, and have. But most of my writing is early in the morning, in my Vermont cabin. Tunes on, coffee or tea, and the story.

Nope. Can’t imagine it.

Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger, is my long-term favorite. Read it. It’s pretty great. I’m currently reading Invisible Americans, by Jeff Madrick, The Poet’s Corner, edited by John Lithgow, and Sunday’s Children, by Ingmar Bergman. I can do multiple books if only one of them is fiction.

I spend about four to six hours each day writing on my MacBook. That’s way more screen time than I would like, so I only read paper.

II hope so. Something magic about paper and ink.

I have a flip phone, without internet connection. No books on there. I have to squint to see the texts.

Probably a guitar or a mandolin. If it has to plug in, it would be my turntable, a vintage receiver and JBL speakers. Plus maybe ten feet of vinyl records. Currently listening to Dire Straits.

Days at a time. My kids hate that.

IOnce or twice, when traveling. I’m kind of a fan of silence these days. Wanting to just sit and think about stuff. I love to drive and see where I am, and think about it.

I’m on Facebook, and pretty much hate it. I used it to stay in touch with my students, who now have kids of their own. I push my books on FB as well, awkwardly, with some success.

My kids think I was a pretty good dad. That’s the best one.