John Gargrave
Shadows from the Sun
Every day for John is an interesting prospect. He continues to live his life to the fullest – polishing his “perfect book” and driving thousands of miles to be with the woman he loves.
A colourful life and career
I met John at the local Writers Community of Durham Region (WCDR) writers’ club. He wanted to redo his website. That was more than a decade ago.
Over time, we talked and discussed various subjects. But it took him some time to open up about his career as a tour director. That came about as an offhand comment from me.
When I told him that my wife and I were planning a trip to Banff and Jasper, his face lit up. Slowly, the stories began to tumble out.
This interview marks the beginning [hopefully] of a series of travel stories and experiences from John’s memory. He claims to have a phenomenal memory!
Time machine
Apart from the book, “the perfect story,” as he puts it, he has led a colourful life. When I visited his house, I felt I was stepping into a time machine. Literally, he has a collection of 60 clocks, almost all of which are in working order. The ticking and tocking in the background, with some of them chiming in every quarter on the hour between our conversations, took some getting used to.
John discusses the book in this interview, including the background for the setting and some of the characters that inspired him. One person, on whom he based part of his lead character, now lives in the USA.
There are two passions in his life: the book and the woman he loves. What prompts him to drive across the border for more than 12 hours (approx. 1,200 km)? Recently, he even bought a newer car so he doesn’t lose any time getting to her, whenever US border rules allow him entry without penalizing him.
The Book Cover
