Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a life-long angler as well as a professional biologist and since 2012 I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with Japan’s mountain-region culture, survival methods and traditional fly fishing skills. I’ve written four books on various aspects of fly fishing – three focusing on the Japanese tradition and one on the modern, European competitive methods of river fly fishing.
I’ve also been heavily into bouldering (a kind of rock-climbing) and a variety of martial arts as well as loving cooking for people when I get the chance.
I’m slowly learning Japanese so that I can speak to my friends in Japan more easily and I’ve also found myself getting into writing for video, a bit of camera-work and also some presenting in front of the camera too.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Tenkara Fishing with Hisanobu Hirata”, which was inspired by a Hirata-san who grew up in the shadow of his father (a famous “Shokuryoushi” or professional/survival tenkara angler who supplied the local inns with fresh fish). As a boy in search of pocket money he tried to copy his father’s method of fishing (using the traditional bamboo rod and hand-made horse-tail casting line and simple artificial fly patterns). Initially he was disheartened by his lack of success – and his father refused to teach him directly (his reasoning being that if he had the necessary talent he would be able to pick up the skills by observation). Eventually he became a master angler and has now taught 160 students his methods and approaches over his 50-year career. In the last 20 years he has focused solely on teaching “tenkara” and running his tackle shop in a small town in the foothills of the mountains of Gifu Prefecture in Japan.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I often sketch out bullet points and then stop completely to sleep on an idea – perhaps for several days. When I come back to write the proper text I find that my subconscious has already been working on it and the words flow much more easily.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Hunter S. Thompson (Particularly “The Great Shark Hunt” anthology), Thomas McGuane, Dave Trott, Annie Proulx, David Mitchell
What are you working on now?
A Fly Fishing Natural History…which explores some of the classic experiments in behavioural ecology and uses them to explain how fly fishing actually works.
Along with my “partner in crime” John Pearson, I’m also working on a film documentary about a pioneering outdoorsman, adventurer and tenkara angler Yuzo Sebata with the working title “Yuzo Sebata: Footsteps in the Wilderness”.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still working on that – but Awesome Gang seems like a great place to start. Building an email list seems to be absolutely crucial too.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It is better to have 99 out of 100 people hate what you do and 1 person to love it…than to have 100% of people “not mind” your stuff. As long as it’s what you really believe in, then it is far better to polarise people than it is to try to please everyone.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
See previous question!
What are you reading now?
“This Thing of Darkness” by Harry Thompson
What’s next for you as a writer?
Multiple e-books, a lot of blogging and some more video treatments.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time (Hunter S. Thompson), Close Range: Wyoming Tales (Annie Proulx), Tragically, I Was an Only Twin (Peter Cook), The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (David Mitchell)
Author Websites and Profiles
Paul Gaskell Website
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