G.G. Kellner
Author Interview - G.G. Kellner
Author of Hope, A History of the Future
One quiet afternoon Joyce Denzell hears a thud in her family’s home library and finds a book lying in the middle of the room, seemingly waiting for her—a book whose copyright page says it was published in the year 2200. Over the next twenty-four hours, each of the Denzell family members discovers and reads from this mystical history book from the future, nudged along by their cat, Plato. As the various family members take turns reading, they gradually uncover the story of Gabe, Mia, and Ruth—a saga of adventure, endurance, romance, mystery, and hope that touches them all deeply. Along the way, the Denzells all begin to believe that this book that has seemingly fallen out of time and space and into their midst might actually be from the future—and that it might have something vitally important to teach them.
Author Interview - G.G. Kellner
Author I draw inspiration from: Mary Oliver hands down. Okay, not an author exactly more of a poet but she wrote prose as well as poetry. I got special permission from her people to use one of her poems in my book Hope, A History of the Future. “A friend once gave me a box full of darkness, it took me years to understand that this too was a gift.” –– Mary Oliver
Author Interview - G.G. Kellner | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book: In my hammock on a summer day.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with Ruth from my book "Hope, A History of the Future." I hope she has her green duffle bag with her ,like she does in the story. She would reach into it and pull out just about anything the moment would call for. Being stuck in an elevator maybe it would be a bar of chocolate! In the book that duffle bag had everything from dry matches to hot sauce! Even the cat took refuge in the duffle bag as a stowaway! I hope the cat isn’t in the bag though. I’m really fascinated by cats but I am very allergic to them so.
Author Interview - G.G. Kellner | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: It was a slow evolution for me. I was a poet and a visual artist first for many years. Over time I began to want to write in longer form, to explore ideas more deeply. Then the inspiration for my book "Hope, A History of the Future" came to me–– almost like a calling. I wanted to try and nudge the world towards peace, justice, and a sustainable green future.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: "Hope, A History of the Future" is available in paperback and as an ebook everywhere books are sold around the world
The last book I read: I read three of four books at a time usually. Something in fiction for before bed, and two or three non-fiction titles. I’m currently reading "Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in Without Going Crazy" by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone. It is a breath of fresh air in these strained times and it really is helping me process the world as it is unfolding and focusing on the work ahead.
Author Interview - G.G. Kellner | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer: Poems come out first exclusively with pen and paper for me. So do ideas for scenes, settings, characters in books. I keep a blank book specifically to record these emerging ideas. I also sometimes write my grocery list in it, the latest password I need to remember, and my “To Do” list. So, this book is never very far from reach! However, I use the computer for longer drafts and for editing once I’m ready to incorporate words into a formal piece of writing.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: I hope I would be best friends with Mia Le from my book "Hope, A History of the Future" Mia is kind, gentle, aware of the world beyond herself, musical and artistic– I guess I really want to be her!
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: I would be a full-time illustrator I think and artist. In my book "Hope, A History of the Future" I included eight block prints I created for the interior. I like stimulating both sides of my brain and my readers’ brains by combining words and images.
Favorite decade in fashion history: I love this question! The nineteen sixties for sure, for the anything-goes, no bra required, colorful loose clothing style of that decade. Current fashion is also interesting to me as we dissolve the barriers of what has traditionally been male or female clothing styles and meld the two. The world of fashion is becoming more about individual expression and less about gender.
Place I’d most like to travel: I’ve been fortunate to travel many places around the world. I’d love to go back to Aix-en- Provence in southern France where I studied art in the late 1980’s. Japan is also really interesting to me. Some people have noted an echo in my landscape paintings of Japanese style. I think it might be that living in the far Northwestern corner of the United States we share a latitudinal perspective and a closeness to nature.
My signature drink: Straight shot of tequila with a side of lime and salt licked right off my hand––particularly right before my full moon plunges into the 50-degree waters of the Salish Sea.
Favorite artist: The French impressionist artist Michele Henot-Gasparach
Number one on my bucket list: Finish the sequel to "Hope, A History of the Future" in which I imagine a future world based on scientific possibility that doesn’t go through an environmental collapse to achieve peace, justice, verdant sustainability.
Anything else you'd like to add: "Hope, A History of the Future" is a seven-generation-spanning vision of the future as it could be—based on scientific projections, as well as historical and legal precedence—that carries the reader over the horizon of environmental catastrophe to the possibility for hope in a future world. Described in reviews as, “An engaging, thought-provoking, page turner.”
Find more from the author:
Instagram @hope_a_history_of_the_future
Facebook https://web.facebook.com/hopeahistoryofthefuture
Twitter @GGKellner
TikTok @GGKellner
Website: https://hopeahistoryofthefuture.com/
Author Bio: I am a poet, a writer, an artist, a mother, a grandmother, and a former educator. I’m also a regular guest and occasional host of a local radio program. I live on an island in an old house on a hillside overlooking the sea. My house is accessible only by walking. I’ve been sitting on its same porch observing and thinking about the world for over 60 years. I wrote "Hope, A History of the Future" to help nudge the world toward peace, justice, and verdant sustainability.
