Official Interview: Ross Gordon

[kandscreeley]

Today's Chat with Sarah features Ross Gordon author of Dancing on Bones.

Official Review

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1. What do you do when you aren't writing?

I am a full-time beekeeper. I spend a lot of time in the Tasmanian bush, especially from spring through summer. In winter, I spend most of my time in the workshop, making new beehives or maintaining and repairing old equipment.

2. What does your writing environment look like?

I prefer absolute solitude with no disruptions to get into the 'zone'. I like a very spartan environment.

3. Let's discuss your book Dancing on Bones. What's it about?

Although Dancing on Bones is a memoir it is also a tale about a country and its people, so it is about life. It is a life that many will recognize as having elements similar to their own but also very different because of the unique political and social environment that existed, as well as the different everyday encounters one could expect. Many people are envious of an African upbringing. Different readers will take different things from Dancing on Bones, but if I have to precis its meaning, it's about life, love and family in the face of constant challenge in a fascinating environment.

4. What made you decide to write your memoirs?

I began writing when I was living alone for long stretches on a cattle farm in Vanuatu, in the South Pacific. The farm was quite isolated and I ran a generator for a few hours every evening to keep the fridges cool. That was my window of opportunity to write but the motivation was solitude and boredom in the evenings, and I wrote initially a few pages a day which I sent to family and friends, similar to a blog I suppose. Anyway, some family members and friends felt that there was a book in my musings and, once the decision was made, the writing poured out of me as I downloaded memories. The hard part was knowing what to include or leave out but I made the decision to write everything and employ a professional editor to make the hard decisions.

5. The reviewer mentions that you remained optimistic despite many difficulties. How do you do this?

I can't really answer that. It is in my nature I suppose although I would have to also credit my family and the general can-do attitude of Rhodesians/Zimbabweans. We were always raised to problem solve.

6. Was it difficult to discuss your life in such detail?

Only my failings.

7. Is there a central theme you want readers to walk away with?

Yes. I think we are guilty of complacency. We regard propaganda as the preserve of the authoritarian regimes of the world and are smug about our freedoms, but there has always been a battle between dictatorship and democracy and we simply can't take peace, stability and freedom for granted.

8. What's next on your agenda?

I presume you mean in terms of writing. At the moment I still have a long way to go in getting Dancing on Bones out to my target demographic so am reluctant to start any new writing project. Any indie publisher will understand this. In addition, when I need to write, I have an overwhelming urge. I am not feeling it right now.

I like to end with fun questions.

9. Who is your hero?

Right now, President Zelensky of Ukraine but also Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and anybody capable of awakening a national identity that doesn't discriminate against minorities or 'other' groupings.

10. What is something that always makes you smile?

Wild animals doing weird things.

11. What is your favorite random fact?

A higher percentage of the world's population is functionally illiterate than the percentage that feels they have a book in them.

12. What are you reading right now?

Beekeeping periodicals - that's my life at the moment and I never stop learning.

[Maria C Leonard]

Great interview. I am excited to read this book as it sounds refreshing and different from what I usually read. Thanks for sharing the interview.

[WISDOM SAMSON 1]

I'm excited to realize that you are a bee farmer. I have read an article recently saying that the world is running out of honey. People like need to be greatly appreciated for your great efforts.

[Lakshyaaj J]

Your interview was insightful and engaging, providing a deep dive into your creative process and inspiration. Thank you for sharing your journey and wisdom with us.

[Lakshyaaj J]

Your interview was insightful and engaging, providing a deep dive into your creative process and inspiration. Thank you for sharing your journey and wisdom with us.

[Patience Reign]

Nice to know you are a full time beekeeper. It is good that you have a hobby that you can engage in that can help you navigate meandering pathway that is life. Anyway wish you all the best in your beekeeping venture. Hope to have a taste of your honey, someday

[Patience Reign]

Spartan environment? What would you do if you are in high dense neighborhood. Just wanted to know. The world is increasingly becoming noisier, messier, violent and hopeless. Some people unfortunately desire that peace but they die never reaching it. May you enjoy peace and continue churning out great stories. May your books be beacon of hope to numerous individuals going through hardship.

[Patience Reign]

Nice to hear your heroes particularly Voldomyr Zelensky. He has a gargantuan task ahead of him . Trump seems to be a personal admirer of Vladimir Putin and Russia has already annexed about a fifth of Ukraine plus crimea. This is akin to David and Goliath situation. Just like David, he surely can win it too. Just like David, he needs to be unorthodox. Just imagine if David and Goliath had hand to hand combat. History would have been different. History contains stories of many underdogs and unorthodox people who made it despite all odds against them . Just remember Muhammad Ali and his unconventional boxing tactics like dancing, trash-talking, swiftness. This were considered unboxmanship in his era . In the end, he beat Sonny Liston, reigning heavyweight champion within short time. He went on to beat Joe Frazier and even George Foreman. Ukraine and Zelenskyy can win this war too . I hope they win . They can't win it in conventional and playing by the rules way . They just have to be unconventional, unorthodox, daring and creative . Viva Ukraine! Viva Zelenskyy. May the gold and blue flag fly over Lviv, May it fly over Kyiv riih, May it fly over Crimea, Donbas, Luhansk, Donetsk. May Ukraine be free . Long live Ukraine!

[Patience Reign]

You like wild animals doing weird things like what for example? I can recommend you visit Maasai Mara game reserve, Nairobi National Park, Amboseli National Park, Tsavo National park all in Kenya . Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Kruger National Park in South Africa. In these places, you will observe animals in their most natural settings and see the weirdest of the weirdest you can ever see

[Patience Reign]

Dancing on Bones is a very eye-catching title. Can really make one want to read the book. But why exactly Dancing on Bones?

[Patience Reign]

You are not alone in finding it difficult to discuss your failings. You are human after all Most of us will just sugarcoat their failures in a palatable way . But failure is really a part of life. Each and every one of us has experienced failure in one way or the other Failure can be depressing, defeating. Some people just feel like ending their life. Society too is not helpful in that regard it regards failures with disdain. Failure is part of life just like success, sadness, happiness. We should be helpful towards one another to mitigate effects of failure

[Patience Reign]

Propaganda? What exactly is propaganda. Most of us have negative perception towards it and is routinely associated with authoritarian countries like Stalin's Russia, Hitler's Germany, Putin's Russia, North Korea, Iran , Eritrea and strongmen-led countries around the world. That should not be the case,we should maintain eternal vigilance to ensure democracy survives. Notice what President Trump is doing. America is lucky in that it has strong federal characteristics unlike other centralized states It is never too late Lest not wish for freedom after it has gone. We can strive to protect it now and maintain it for future generations

[Patience Reign]

In traditional African society, they used to believe that learning begins the moment one us born and ends the moment one breathes his last . In today's world, we believe that learning begins at school and ends after school. This shouldn't be the case learning is continuous throughout our lives