Travis Gulbrandson

An author with some great hobbies.

Please, introduce yourself. Tell us about your personal life, family, education.

I live in the Midwest, and always have. I earned a BA in Contemporary Media and Journalism with a minor in English from the University of South Dakota. I worked as a journalist for more than a decade.

What do you like doing in your spare time?

I like to read and take pictures on medium-format film with my vintage Rolleiflex.

If you are active in career fields other than writing, what do you hope for the future of that business? Describe your work or business activities in which you are presently active.

I currently work the night shift in a mental hospital.

About Hobbies

Do you have hobbies? How did you get started in them?

I am an incurable collector. I have thousands of books, hundreds of records, dozens of antiques. My apartment groans under the weight of it all. I’ve always been that way, and although I weed the collections out periodically, I still have way too much stuff.

If you are a writer, are you an avid reader?

I love to read, although I don’t finish as many books as I start. I used to read a book at least every five days. My current schedule doesn’t really allow for that, sadly.

What is your ultimate writing goal as you see it today?

I would like to be able to make a living from writing books, but for now, I’ll just settle for writing good books.

What inspired you to write your first book?

It was a combination of things. I had just read “Wise Blood” by Flannery O’Connor for the first time and was very inspired by it. I also was thinking a lot about James Randi, a former magician who made a career out of exposing frauds.

How do you decide on the title of a book?

It’s different for each book. The title of “The Believers” came early on and just fit the theme of the book. “Away from the Nets” was from a Bible verse, with the words changed around. “Face to Face” was the title of the last story in the collection. “A Marble Heart” came from an old newspaper article. “Ashes and Infinity” came from a long process that almost involved me bashing my head against the wall.

His Writing Style

Have you developed a specific writing style and why?

I probably was most influenced by being a journalist for so long, but I think that was a good thing. I think it’s probably best to say something with as few words as possible, which is what they drill into you at school.

How much of your books is realistic and experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life?

Very little of my books has come out of my life. I have used a couple of incidents, but they have been very small things. It feels like cheating to me somehow to use more. However, sometimes I’ll use a name I’ve heard, a place or a phrase somebody uses. Right now, I’m working on an afterward for a special edition of my first book, and I’m finding it very difficult to write about my life in that context, so maybe I’m just rationalizing how little I use my actual experiences.

Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

I have too many favorite writers to list, but my favorite novel is “McTeague” by Frank Norris. He was a naturalist writer, so everything is described to the nth degree. It really enables you to picture what he’s talking about.

Do you remember the first book you read?

The first novel I read was “The Wizard of Oz.” I think I was eight. The first serious book I read was “Lord of the Flies,” which I was a little young for. I was eleven or so, and I had to read it in secret because my mom didn’t want me to read it.

Is there an author, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

There are many, but if I had to choose, I would say Mark Twain. He probably would be the best, most quotable dinner guest imaginable.