What is a fun/unusual/unexpected fact about yourself that has nothing to do with writing?
I’ve been on TV quite a bit. I was featured on two seasons of the History Channel’s hit series, TOP SHOT, and I’ve also been featured as a “situational awareness expert” on two seasons of iCrime with Elizabeth Vargas.
Planner, Pantser, or Plantser (in the middle)?
I’m somewhere in the middle. I like to have a beginning and an end in mind. Then, I make bullet points that guide me from point A to point B, but it’s not always a direct path.
What are five things you need in order to write (like a laptop, music, notebook and pen, coffee, etc.)?
For me, coffee comes first. That’s what gets me started. Then I need my laptop, notebook, pen, and my trusty Oxford American Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus.
Where is your favorite place to write?
My office, for sure. It used to be an unfinished room above the garage, but I finished it out myself and patterned it after Sherlock Holmes’s study at 221B Baker Street. I’ve always been a huge fan and visited there once when I was working as a Federal Air Marshal.
What is your favorite outlet for creativity outside of writing?
Once I retired from the Air Marshals, I took up building my own longbows. I love all things Robin Hood, and I feel like the hobby suits me.
Who is your favorite fictional hero?
I love James Bond. The literary Bond is much more flawed than his Hollywood counterparts.
Who is your favorite fictional villain?
Moriarty. I love a good evil genius.
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
My favorite book as a kid was the novelization of Conan The Barbarian. I wasn’t allowed to watch the movie because of the R rating, but Mom was okay with me reading pretty much anything.
What’s the weirdest thing in your writing space?
The brass knuckles I have sitting on my desk for some reason.
Did you have any other jobs before becoming a writer?
I joined the army at age 17. Once I got out after Desert Storm, I started working for the government and retired as a Federal Air Marshal in 2020.
Did you face any rejection when you began to write?
I faced a lot of rejection. I decided to set my limit on agent rejections at 50. Once I hit that number, I went with a publisher that didn’t require an agent. I’ve never been a very patient man. So I’m still agentless.
How do you like to connect with readers?
I connect with my readers through my website, www.GaryQuesenberry.com, and Instagram @gary.quesenberry
Brief Bio
Gary Quesenberry is an Army veteran and career Federal Air Marshal with an extensive background in both domestic and foreign counter-terror operations. Gary retired from federal service in 2020 and returned to his hometown of Hillsville, Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
