On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Tom Gilroy talks about Out of Season, set during the Chadian civil war, exploring the real-life intelligence interplay between Libya, France, and the U.S., and examining the lasting impact of colonialism.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Tom Gilroy about his life and career, the inspiration behind his new book, Out Of Season, and his creative writing process.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
I’m a retired reporter who covered news for about 40 years on three continents. Married, two children. I now split my time between Manhattan Beach, CA, a beach town in Southern California, and an apartment in Paris.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
There’s a saying in journalism that every foreign correspondent has at least one novel in him/her. “Out of Season” is mine. The idea for the book came to me as long ago as1980 while I was covering the civil war in Chad.
When did you take a step to start writing?
As I said, the idea came to me in 1980; I actually started writing in the late 1980s.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
Well, I finished the first draft in about 1990 but then put it aside when I was offered a reporting job that was too good to pass up. I pulled the draft out during the COVID pandemic and finished re-writing and editing sometime in 2024.
What made you want to write Out Of Season?
As I said, covering the civil war gave me the idea and I got to see first hand the maneuvering of foreign spy operatives and the competing interests of various governments. It seemed a promising premise for a novel.
What were your biggest challenges with writing Out Of Season?
Probably forcing myself to concentrate on the plot and characters and avoid overloading the novel with details and events which, while maybe interesting, slowed down the pace of the story. I also was trying to say something more profound than just the thriller side of things and using literary devices–metaphors, symbolism, foreshadowing, etc.–that still kept up the pace of the novel was a balancing act.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
The protagonist–if you can call him that—was a fictional variation of me or at least what might have become of me had a few things in my life gone in another direction.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
Well, there are many in the book but most stemmed from people I met or witnessed in action over my many years in West Africa.
What is the inciting incident of Out Of Season?
A plan to fool several foreign intelligence agencies goes awry and the protagonist must improvise on the fly–just to stay alive. A savage knife fight in a game park is the result.
What is the main conflict of Out Of Season?
The attempt by a down-and-out reporter to use his knowledge of Africa to outwit trained, French, American and Libyan spies and make a small fortune–and live to enjoy it.
Did you plot Out Of Season in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
I had the basic outline in my head for many years but I also had to improvise the plot at times to make all the complicated details of the story add up.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Out Of Season need?
I had a few trusted friends read various drafts of the novel and offer advice, criticisms, etc. and that helped a great deal.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
The old adage: “write what you know.” And don’t be afraid to go with a new kind of publisher. Spines is the first publisher using AI to help ease and speed up the process and I am very happy I went with them. They have been helpful and supportive and their publishing model, I think, is a breath of fresh air in the publishing world.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
A surprising number of readers have asked me to write a sequel to “Out of Season” since I left the ending intentionally unsettled. I have written several chapters of such an effort–in my head–and will wait to see if Out of Season is a success before I decide.
And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
I had the idea for the novel in my head for so long and finally finishing it–and seeing it in print, thanks to Spines–was as much of a relief as it was a sense of accomplishment.
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Apple Books: https://apple.co/3Fh5zb6
Kindle: https://amzn.to/44Qf6QQ
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4keZYRY
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