Author of the New Novel, Home to Harmony

Multnomah Publishers

This is your first work of fiction--why the change?

My first three books were real-life accounts of people I knew. The libel lawsuits, which arose from those books, were so personally draining, I felt a change to fiction was necessary.

Seriously, I've always enjoyed reading fiction, and I thought it might be fun to write fiction. There's a little piece in all of us that wants to create our own little world. The town of Harmony offers me that possibility.

Additionally, my family and I live in a small town. People would often encourage me to write about them or their mother and would be upset if I didn't. It seemed easier to simply say, "Oh, I would love to write a story of how you grew the world's largest pickle, but I'm writing fiction now."

What was the biggest difference in writing fiction?

A big difference between non-fiction and fiction is writing dialogue. It's been a bit of a challenge, but one I enjoyed.

Why do you write about life in the small town of Harmony?

I guess you just write what you know. I grew up in a small town. People always think small towns are boring. But to me, small towns are fascinating. There are opportunities for relationship in a small town unlike anyplace on earth.

You are a Quaker pastor just like your main character Sam Gardner. You live in a small town much like the fictional town of Harmony, Indiana. How much of you is Sam?

Several of the incidents in the story are based on real-life experiences. When Pastor Sam Gardner unplugs the noodle freezer at Harmony Friends Meeting and all the noodles spoil, it was reminiscent of when I was a child and unplugged the freezer to play my radio. I forgot to plug the freezer back in and we lost a side of beef. The difference is—I got a whipping and Sam Gardner didn't.

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Philip Gulley Q&A, page two

What kinds of lessons are you hoping readers will take from this book?

When I started out writing this series, I had an epiphany. It occurred to me how difficult life is for so many people and that this series could be my effort to gladden people's hearts. I don't know if reading this book will make someone the world's finest Christian, but I do hope it will my readers to find a bit of joy and cause them to be more deeply aware of those blessings close at hand.

Several of these fictional stories were first given as speeches. What is a funny story about Home to Harmony?

I do a lot of speaking at libraries, schools, teachers’ meeting, doctors’ meetings, etc. Several of the stories were first given as speeches. One of the stories is about a quilt in which the face of Jesus appears. I was telling the story at a church, and a lady came up to me afterwards and said, "I saw that quilt. It was amazing."

When people are accustomed to your stories being true, it's hard for them to remember your stories are fictional, even when you remind them up front.

What are your passions?

My kids—Spencer and Sam—ages 7 and 5. I love being their father. But my wife is my biggest, lifelong passion. We celebrated 16 years of marriage last Friday night. I am also partial to “The Andy Griffith Show.” Most good ideas about God can be traced back to that program, don’t you agree?

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July 2000