Q & A With Running Meter Press
Thanks to Running Meter
Press, I’ve read every book of Gary Reilly’s so far, and have been fascinated
by his fiction. Although I never knew Gary personally, we travelled a similar
path. Gary only spent two years
in the Army, but reading his stories you recognize the huge influence the
military had on him. I spent twenty years in the Army and became what Gary
refers to as a lifer sergeant, but I
believe every soldier goes through the same things that Gary experienced. I
knew many men just like Gary, and he has captured every soldier’s feelings and
fears at some point in his writing. From stateside MP duty at Presidio, to
Vietnam, Gary brings that experience to his stories of Murph, the Asphalt
Warrior. Gary passed away much too young, but thankfully he left a treasure
chest of manuscripts to share with the world. Through this body of work,
readers will come to know the Denver taxi driver on a personal level. I think
Gary and I would have been good friends, and could have shared many private
tales of our Army life. We also shared a love for similar books, television,
and movies. Have you met Gary through his books? If not, it’s time you found a
copy of The Asphalt Warrior.
Pulp Den: How did you meet Gary Reilly?
Mike Keefe: I met Gary in a filmmaking class at the
University of Colorado Denver in 1977. I’d been working for a couple of years
as the editorial cartoonist for The Denver Post and was interested in doing
some animation. When I mentioned that interest in class, a tall guy with full
beard sitting up front turned around and gave me a thumbs up. Gary and I ended
up collaborating on several animations and became close friends.
Pulp Den: Why was it important to you to keep Gary's legacy alive through his books?
Mark Stevens: Very simply, because the guy was good.
The only thing he lacked was that self-promotion gene. He would rather write
another book than to query an editor or agent. He didn’t enjoy writer groups or
conferences, it just wasn’t his style. But the reviews have shown he was good.
The Denver Post called him a “master wordsmith” in a glowing review of The
Asphalt Warrior. The Vietnam Veterans of America website raved about
Gary’s first novel about his experiences in Vietnam, The Enlisted Men’s Club and
all five novels in the Asphalt Warrior series to date, among many other raves.
It wouldn’t be fair to let 25 novels disappear. They were polished, smart—and
such variety.
Pulp Den: You were obviously very close to Gary, but
did you learn anything new about him through reading his stories?
Mike Keefe: The novels in the Asphalt Warrior series
closely mimic Gary’s experiences as a cab driver in Denver. I knew Gary was
passionate about writing and was a repository of popular culture, especially
old TV shows and movies. What I learned was just how deep that knowledge went.
He could name the bit part actors in obscure 40’s films and trace their
careers. He was like a walking Wikipedia.
Pulp Den: What do you think makes Murph such a beloved character?
Mark Stevens: A strong point of view.
Murph is one-of-a-kind. He runs against the grain of modern society by
purposely choosing to do as little as possible. At his core is a great
contradiction—he wants to avoid getting tangled up with the lives of his fares
but, of course, always manages to do just that. He’s a loner with few needs
but, as we read and get to know him, we know he gets a kick out of his
work—even if he won’t admit it to himself. Plus, he’s a frustrated novelist and
his failure to reach “big success” in commercial fiction stands in for
everyone’s dreams being dashed. Many of his points of view have an “Everyman”
quality but Murph is truly unique.
Pulp Den: Was Gary anything like Murph?
Mike Keefe: Essentially, Gary = Murph. While Gary may not
have been arrested for kidnapping, murder or other felonies, his character,
interests and sense of humor were identical with Murph’s.
Pulp Den: What do you think his dedicated fans and new readers will like most
about Dark Night of the Soul?
Mark Stevens: Have you ever had one of
those days where nothing goes right? Well, Dark Night of the Soul puts Murph
through the wringer. He is pushed to the brink of patience and gets tangled up
in, well, I don’t want to say right here. Let’s say the cops have lots of
questions. Let’s also say that Murph is given an incredible opportunity to
change the arc of his life and he is tempted in a way he’s never been tempted
before. As always, Murph uses his humor and wit to sort through the moral
questions that surface. His logic, such as it is, is strained to a breaking
point like never before.
Pulp Den: How long until readers get to crack open
Gary's next novel?
Mike Keefe: Through Running Meter Press, Mark and I have
been publishing a new Reilly novel every six months. So readers can expect the
next one in May or June.
I appreciate Mark Stevens
and Mike Keefe of Running Meter Press
taking the time to visit Pulp Den,
and giving us a personal look at Gary Reilly and his books. I will have a
review of his latest book, Dark Night of
The Soul later this week.
