Gerard Charles Wilson

After a lifetime working in the book business (mostly educational publishing) I now concentrate on my writing.

One of my most exhilarating and formative experiences was living in Holland for two and a half years. On returning to Australia, I resumed my studies, completed a major in Dutch Language and Literature at Melbourne University and then transferred to La Trobe University where I studied through to a master’s degree in philosophy. My studies and immersion in another culture and language, together with my Catholic faith, form the biggest influences on my writing. But shaping those influences are my mother and father. One could not have wished for better or more principled parents.

My master’s thesis was on Edmund Burke whose thought enters my writing in one way or another. My preoccupations are social and cultural from a Catholic and (Burkean) conservative point of view. This reflects my acceptance of the Catholic idea of the reciprocal relationship between faith and reason.

My favourite fiction authors are Dickens, Austen, and Waugh. Evelyn Waugh’s style and mastery of English have been my biggest influence – not in vain, I hope. My favourite modern non-fiction author is philosopher Roger Scruton. I spend my leisure time reading and occasionally walking along the nearby shores of Port Phillip Bay. I love opera, musicals, and the ballet (The Nutcracker is my favourite.) I enjoy fifties rock ‘n’ roll, forties big band and the American songbook. Mozart is my favourite classical composer but I am acquiring a liking for Bach.

Bringing all the influences together on my fiction writing, I would place my novels in two genres. First, there are my ‘Catholic’ novels, in the style of Evelyn Waugh, Grahame Greene, and Morris West. I deal with similar issues as these Catholic writers. (See The Catholic Novel page.)

I am presently rewriting and reorganizing my first two Catholic novels which will be part of a new series of six titles. The first title in the new CONCILIAR series, TIMES OF DISTRESS: A Story of Unswerving Faith and Commitment, is due for release on 31 October 2020, in paperback and ebook formats.

Second, I plan a series in the Romance genre. Love relationships are a way of exploring the essence of the human person. The first title A VERY ODD ROMANCE was released on 30 August 2020. I have completed the second title EDITING CONSTANCY (due November 2020).

The longer Story

Admitting you’re ‘still in the fifties’ to a particular class of people is like saying you’ve been in jail for the average person, with the difference that the disqualification from the first group would be irredeemable. Luckily, that does not worry me. For the rest go here: http://www.gerardcharleswilson.com/about/