An Interview with WM Gunn

WM Gunn is a native Texan who spent many years in the pharmaceutical industry and is now focused on writing. He is active in writing groups and volunteering with non-profit groups. He lives in his hometown in Texas with his bride of many years. To date, he has published hundreds of short stories which are FREE to readers on his website. His two novellas, Holmes, Moriarty, and the Monkeys and Chasing the Sun, are e-books released in 2023. His debut novel, The Two Terrors of Tulelake, was released in 2024. The Calendar followed in 2025. And The Walls Came Tumbling Down, the first book in this exciting trilogy, was published in September 2026.

---

---

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The book’s original title was “Shofar.” However, research showed that many people were unaware that a shofar is an ancient musical horn, typically made from a ram’s horn, used in Jewish religious ceremonies. Since a few chapters reflect on Moses, Joshua, and the Israelites’ exodus, I chose And The Walls Came Tumbling Down as the title.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

Ronaldo, his team, and I had several cover design discussions before making a final decision. I was pleased—even more so when I saw others react so positively to the cover.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

My high school English teacher was a taskmaster about writing. She once told my father at a school board meeting that I could write 500 words and say nothing. I have worked every chance to prove her wrong. She may be gone now, but I still sense her urging me to do my best.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I spent many years in sales, sales management, and training and development in both human and veterinary pharmaceuticals.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

The expression on the readers’ faces. For example, at a recent Texas Rangers baseball game, the woman sitting in front of me turned around, smiled, showed me her copy of my newest book, and asked me to sign it!

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Glenn Miller

Richard Wagner

Beethoven

A little old Hawaiian music (mele oi, mele hula, steel guitars, ukulele, etc.)

A little old Japanese music (hogaku, gagaku, min’yo, etc.)

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

1. War is often a crapshoot. Several events in World War II could have had different outcomes, which would have changed the next steps. My book explores many of those possibilities.

2. Not all Germans were Nazis.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

And The Walls Came Tumbling Down is the first book in a trilogy. Atmosphere Press and I are now working on the second book, entitled The Spies From Camp X.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Some writers may not want to hear this, but writing a book is the easy part of the equation. Marketing that book and getting it into the hands of readers is the tricky part. There were 4.2 million books published in 2025. So, how do you differentiate your book from all the other new books? Atmosphere Press offers a coordinated publishing and marketing approach to accomplish that.

---

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.