Life & Work with Rob Gilmore of Peachtree City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Gilmore.

Hi Rob, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Three years ago, a chance encounter at Atlanta’s very own MultiverseCon changed my life. It was the first year I got to work a convention I’ve been a part of since its inception, and it started me on a wild journey into writing. Since then, (November 1st, 2022 to be exact) I haven’t stopped writing, and I’ve had the privilege of having my first published work with Atlanta publisher MVmedia and its owner and editor Milton Davis. I’ve been a guest author at other conventions as well, including JordanCon, another Atlanta based literary convention.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So far, the road has been pretty smooth from a writing standpoint because there is no pressure to write. I have goals, but I understand that those goals take time and come with growth of my skills with prose and understanding the business aspects of writing.

There are always obstacles with creative endeavors: socioeconomic ones, issues with access, power dynamics and the general struggles of being an artist. Of course, I won’t gloss over the issues that marginalized and underrepresented people have on top of the others listed above. I’m not at a point in my career as an author yet where I’ve experienced that type of pushback with hiring, or at least I’d like to believe that I haven’t, I’m not in all the rooms my name is spoken in. In an ideal world, everyone’s work would be evaluated based on quality of content, but as a Black author, there is always this voice and doubt tied directly to history, and rooted deeply in the blood, but we persist. Through all of it and against astronomical odds, Black art drives its way through. Life itself is an obstacle. I would love nothing more than to make writing my job if given the right opportunity, but that’s not my reality right now. Like everyone else, I work, and most importantly I make it work, pushing all other extra activities aside to learn, read and write.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve been writing for three years now, and I have several publications under my belt. I try to take every rejection and acceptance as a lesson, and learn as much as I can to improve my work. I specialize in the weird, the strange and the unusual and I write in different genres as well, but I’m not beating the horror author allegations anytime soon. lol.

I pride myself on taking up challenges, learning about prose, and really digging into the human experience.

What am I known for? That’s a tough question. I guess the best answer would be to find the most repetitive comments I get on my work: narrative driven, different, and fresh? Most recently, avant garde.

The question of “What sets me apart from others.” Is definitely not for me, but for the readers of my work

Current list of published works:

Spacefunk, from MVmedia.: Quicksliver.

Dark Spores from Crone Girls Press: “Cordyceps Angelus” which is also featured on Nightlight: a Podcast that highlights Black authors.

A short stored published in audio format called “Regalia” with Manawaker Press.

A poem titled “Crash 0ut” in the anthology A Crack In The Code. From Mocha Memoirs Press.

Rebels (coming soon from Inkd publishing): “The Demon’s Genes”, we’re I’m a featured author.

Noncorporeal IV: Phantom Dusk anthology from Inkd publishing later this year with a story titled 7 A.M.

An upcoming charity Anthology: The Loss and Found”

In 2027, I’ll have another featured story in Undertaker Books Tattoo horror themed anthology titled “The Fold”

A novelette with Undertaker books titled “The Pulse Remains” that’s a Pushcart prize nominated work.

Reviews of my work, links to purchase and all social media information can be found at this link: linktr.ee/RGrimoire.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Be genuine, kind, honest and really listen to those around you. This, in my opinion, is the essence of networking and usually, people will respond to it, and want to mentor you if they have time and you listen. You cannot fake it. There is no shortcut to it and please remember and recognize those around you who have helped you unless they prefer otherwise.

When you learn things, SHARE THEM. Be there for others who are just starting in whatever way you can. Not all of us are social and we all communicate differently, so if you find a way to help another person who wants to do what you do and you have the time, giving that gift to them does nothing but help keep the arts alive. To this day I have mentors who help me work through problems I have with prose, help me navigate the business process and will generally answer any questions I have about writing. My mentor, Paige L. Christie is an incredible author, editor and a phenomenal teacher, and her advice when I first started really set a fire in me. She told me to “Use all the words.” and that untethered me from preconceived notions about writing, making me feel comfortable to explore prose my own way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/RGrimoire