Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Gwaltney.
Hi Robert, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I first learned it might be possible for me to be a writer when I was in the third grade. A classmate’s mother, a local author from my hometown of Cairo, Georgia, visited our class and discussed her life as a writer. Until that moment, I thought of writers as unicorns—mythological creatures who lived in far-off places not accessible to a boy like me. In college, I took creative writing courses, but it wasn’t until I moved to Atlanta in 2000 that I seriously began to pursue writing. I took more creative writing classes, joined The Atlanta Writers Club, and joined a critique group. These last 23 years, I have been learning, and growing, and engaging in the ritual of writing.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Balancing the time to write is the biggest challenge. By day, I serve as Vice President for Easter Seals North Georgia, a nonprofit in Atlanta providing critical services to children and their families during the most critical time in a child’s development, and in all the hours between—I write. In the early morning hours before work and on weekends is when I carve out the time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I write what I love to read: Southern Fiction in the Gothic tradition with elements of magical realism. The Cicada Tree, which was released February 22, 2022, is my debut novel, and I am so proud of the reception that it has received. Most people have responded favorably to my use of language, the lyrical quality of my writing, and my celebration of the feminine through the female characters I have written. I think my unique take and reimagining of the genre is what sets me apart from others.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Writing is a solitary endeavor, and I believe that every writer should be immersed within a writing community, a group of talented writers who have your best interest at heart and who help support your development in the craft of storytelling. I have been fortunate to be a member of a small critique group for two decades now. In addition to having the support of my critique partners, I am also a member of the Atlanta Writers Club and Broadleaf Writers Association, two organizations that support writers. And, of course, I wouldn’t be where I am today if it had not been for the love and support of my life partner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://robertlgwaltney.com/
- Instagram: @robertgwaltneyjr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robert.gwaltney.9
