Beverly Gandara

Beverly Gandara is having a very successful career. Read her interview, learn how she’s made her way through the maze of a writing profession.

Please, introduce yourself. Tell us about your personal life, family, education. My name is Beverly Gandara. I am an award-winning screenwriter/novelist who has written several screenplays and three books. My comedy script, Rent Money won the Golden Palm Award for Best Screenplay at the 2012 Beverly Hills International Film Festival. My Five Star Readers’ Favorite, debut novel Concrete Wings: A Tale of Tyranny and Freedom, earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval with a recommendation for school and home libraries and Honorable Mention at the 2017 New York Book Festival and the 2018 Florida Book Festival. My Five Star Readers’ Favorite second novel, Soaring in Silence: One Woman’s Triumph Over Fear, a psychological thriller was released in 2019. My third book, Women, Work and Triumph is a compilation of interviews with a diverse group of 26 fascinating women in 26 careers from A – Z with 1 goal – acceptance and respect.

I live in the southeast with my husband Armand, whose experiences inspired Concrete Wings. For more information about me and my work, please visit www.bevgandara.com

Her present activities

What do you like doing in your spare time? In addition to socializing with family, friend and colleagues, my husband and I exercise, cook and watch television, particularly movies from the 1930s-1960s. We are movie fans and enjoy memorable characters, scenes and lines of dialogue.

Describe your work or business activities in which you are presently active. Writing is not only a skill, but a business as well. I am busy marketing my work. I give interviews, talks to book clubs, libraries, small groups, etc. I support hopeful writers and network with other creatives.

Do you have hobbies? How did you get started in them? My father had a great interest in collecting stamps, coins, etc. I married the son of an antique dealer who like my father, collects stamps, coins, postcards, etc. He specializes in vintage wrist watches and timepieces so together we built a business centered around timepieces and collectibles. We are both retired now, but use our knowledge to indulge in that which interests us, whether mentoring young collectors or investing in what we think are valuable pieces.

If you are a writer, are you an avid reader? Yes, but when I am writing or rewriting as is so often the case, I do not read other authors’ work.

What is your ultimate writing goal as you see it today? To see my work on screen, small or large.

What inspired you to write your first book? I had written a screenplay about my husband’s experience as a young teen sent out of Cuba on the eve of the Bay of Pigs Invasion to retrieve smuggled family jewels and anchor his family in the United States; a Herculean task for a naïve boy, uneducated, unskilled and alone. With strength, dignity and a positive outlook, he accomplished much in his life. It is a compelling story. Two Hollywood producers suggested I convert my screenplay to a novel which would be easier to sell. I took the challenge; I have a good book with a screenplay attached and I am still waiting.

How do you decide on the title of a book? I seek the core of each story and try to determine the ultimate the goal of my hero or heroine. All of my lead characters learn that success is not always measured by what one becomes, but often buy what one overcomes. To me they are all heroes.

Have you developed a specific writing style and why? I’ll leave that judgment to my readers. I’ve written comedy, drama, family drama, suspense, etc. One reviewer mentioned that my writing brings the reader into the scene and invites the observer along on the journey. I like that.

How much of your books is realistic and experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life? All of my stories are based on or inspired by the experience of someone I know or heard about. Everyone has a story and we are such interesting beings. I believe we learn from each other and am honored when someone shares their stories with me.

Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you? My favorite author changes as I discover new and exciting story tellers. When I was younger, I admired Peter Maas for his journalistic talent in writing biographies of the some of the most interesting characters, often on the wrong side of the law. I admired Art Buchwald for his humor, John Grisham, Scott Turow, Steve Martini and Robert Tanenbaum write brilliant legal thrillers. I like to be challenged, educated and enlightened. In that vein, for many years I read spiritual books by Deepak Chopra, Louise Hay, Brian Weiss, Eckhardt Tolle, Kahil Gibran, Wayne Dyer and many others.

Do you remember the first book you read? It was in school, our first reader. It was about a little girl and a little boy, Susan and Bill; they had a dog and a cat. We were learning our letters, how to spell and read.

Is there an author, past or present, you would love to meet? Why? Anyone who contributed to the scriptures in the Bible. I assume, it’s the most widely read tome in history and the stories are still viable, centuries later.

If you could not write, how would you express what you wish to convey through any stories? I’d have someone interview me, probe my memory and audio record it.

When you see new authors struggling, what single piece of advice could you give them on a moment’s notice? There is no expiration date on one’s dreams. Keep learning, rewriting and never give up.

How do you want others to see you or remember you? Is it important to you? For me, it’s all about the work. I’d like to be remembered for stories well told with dignity, clarity and respect. I want my characters to be memorable, their struggles sympathized with and their triumphs admired.