Bob Gonzalez, an author with a passion for the great outdoors, invites readers into his world of deep sea fishing and adventure. Born in the bustling metropolis of New York City, Gonzalez’s upbringing in Northeastern Pennsylvania acquainted him with the thrill of Whitetail Deer Hunting, a subject that may find its way into a future literary project. Currently residing in the sunny state of Florida, he remains an avid sports enthusiast and dreams of witnessing the Tampa Bay Rays clinch a World Series victory. In the meantime, Gonzalez keeps himself fully engaged with his pursuits, combining the art of fishing with the joy of chronicling his tales of landing the elusive “Big Ones.” In this interview, we learn a little more about Bob Gonzalez and his most recent book, A Flicker in the Water (Inside the Tales).
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now? Do you have any pets?
My name is Bob Gonzalez, I was raised in North Eastern Pennsylvania where the dominant outdoor sports were Whitetail deer hunting & skiing. I have lived in Florida now for thirty years. Although I fished a lot in freshwater & off the coast of New Jersey in summer It was here in Florida that fishing became an everyday lifestyle. I had a beautiful Belgian Shepherd named Duke in my early years, I now have a yellow Labrador named Nyla.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
In elementary school the teacher asked us to write a brief autobiography. I wrote “My life started when I was born.” She graded my paper by saying “Most lives do.” Since then I have always had the desire to write in a way that would make my work stand out. The first books I loved were the Bible, Aesop’s Fables, the Odyssey, and The Old Man and the Sea. All four books continue to fascinate & inspire me. I call them my fab four of books.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read? Who inspires you in your writings?
I usually like realism combined imagination in the books I gravitate towards. Mark Twain’s humor always stood out to me. Everyone has heard of Huckleberry Finn & the Adventures of Tom Sawyer. His earlier work including the lesser known The Celebrated Jumping frog of Calaveras County is where a lot of his humor comes from. Aesop Fables is something that children & adults alike can learn lessons from. I still like the story of the tortoise & the hair. I love the Odyssey for its stories of adventure combined with lessons in human nature. The ending scene in which Odysseus strings his bow after shedding his disguise is incredible.
Of course the Bible for all of its teachings which include stories of fishing (some of which I incorporate into my book) & Jonah who was swallowed by a whale. The Old Man and the Sea is very relatable to all fishermen. Some people believe the ending of the book as being sad. I look at it as being triumphant.
My favorite authors are
Homer (The Odyssey)
Hemingway (The Old Man and the Sea)
Dave Barry (Comedy books)
Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn)
The Bible (Many authors)
Tell us a little about your latest book.
A FLICKER IN THE WATER (Inside the Tales) is my second book. My first book was a book of poems. This book is a collection of mostly non-fiction personal adventure sea stories combining elements of heroism, education about our oceans and its inhabitants as well as stories of landing great fish. The stories are told with humor & there are even some spiritual takeaways readers can enjoy.
The book is good for readers of all ages. And fishermen or land Lubbers alike. The title was inspired by a hours-long battle with a yellowfin Tuna in the Gulf of Mexico. One of things that make me proud of A FLICKER IN THE WATER is the endorsement & forward written by Mariel Hemingway granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway the author of the classic novel The Old Man and the Sea. It means a lot to me someone of her stature would say my book spoke to her with a deep sense of appreciation.
