“Stranded for life? The Bible. A year? All of Michener’s books. A month? All of Agatha Christie’s.”
— George Hollenbeck
A member of the Writers’ League since July 2020, George lives in Livingston, TX.
Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write?
George Hollenbeck: It has varied over the years, but always non-fiction: Currently, commentary on the world around me; newspaper articles on fishing; club news for clubs, and opinionated emails with friends discussing current issues and events.
Scribe: What author would you most like to have a drink with, and what’s the first question you would ask them?
GH: John McPhee, a master writer and one whose writing I like to think is similar to mine. My question would be: Would you critique some of my writing?
Scribe: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what book would you want to have with you to keep you sane?
GH: Stranded for life? The Bible. A year? All of Michener’s books. A month? All of Agatha Christie’s.
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
GH: It provides me pleasure and a sense of accomplishment, that’s enough! I share some with a few friends who invariably tell me they like it! I have pondered writing “The Iron Laws of Aging”, or alternately “Making it Through Old Age,” but I have neither the time, the discipline, nor the intense motivation required to get that done!
Scribe: Here at the Writers’ League, we love sharing book recommendations. What’s one Texas-related book that has come out within the past year that you couldn’t put down?
GH: God Save Texas by Lawrence Wright, although it came out in 2018. It was written as a response to The New Yorker piece, “Why do you live in Texas?” It is a readable, hilarious, and sad — unbelievable at times.
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world? An opportunity for blatant self-promotion!
GH: Writing has been important throughout my life. My writing about our fishing club, Polk County Hookers, has played a big role in giving me an identity of my own where we live. That’s no small thing when you move to small-town East Texas at age 60 to marry your college sweetheart, a revered community citizen, favorite teacher of hundreds, and thought by some to be an angel. With 275+ people on our Hooker email list, people now know me as the Head Hooker, no longer just “Ruth’s husband.” Some even know Ruth as “The Head Hooker’s wife.”
Thank you, George!
If you’re a Writers’ League member and you’d be interested in being interviewed for our Meet the Members feature, email us at member@writersleague.org for more information. It’s a great way for other members to get to know you and for you to share a bit about what you’re working on!