Photos - John Gilstrap

Michaela Hamilton, my editor at Kensington Publishing, and my lovely bride, Joy, at the Operation K9 Rescue Gala in Boston.

John’s Speed-Limit Birthday Party

There comes a time when you stop announcing the numbers embedded in birthdays, and replace them with metaphors. Starting at 55, I began the series of “speed limit birthdays,” and every five years, you get to celebrate a new one. Here are some pics from my second speed limit birthday:

I married this lady 34 years ago, and we continue to be each other's best friends. — I married this lady 34 years ago, and we continue to be each other’s best friends.

My lovely bride, Joy, surprised me with this massive pistol ice sculpture, which doubled as a liquor flume. Your pour the booze into the hammer, and it comes out cold through the muzzle.

Jeffery Deaver is not only an outstanding writer, but I'm privileged to call him a dear friend. He MC'd the Gilstrap Trivia Contest during the party. — Jeffery Deaver is not only an outstanding writer, but I’m privileged to call him a dear friend. He MC’d the Gilstrap Trivia Contest during the party.

Older Photos:

John Gilstrap — Teaching at the 2017 Midwest Writers Workshop, held at Ball State University.

Twice a year, my buddy Dan Moldea hosts a party for Washington area writers. James Grady and I are regulars, but we were both surprised when Robert DeNiro showed up.

This candid shot of me at the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity Conference is one of my favorites. You'd never know I had a 102-degree fever. — This candid shot of me at the Creatures, Crimes & Creativity Conference is one of my favorites. You’d never know I had a 102-degree fever.

My lovely bride, Joy, and I always enjoy visiting Kurt and Anne Muse at their lovely home. Kurt is the subject and co-author of "Six Minutes to Freedom." — My lovely bride, Joy, and I always enjoy visiting Kurt and Anne Muse at their lovely home. Kurt is the subject and co-author of “Six Minutes to Freedom.”

Back during my hazmat days, I was invited to my son's school to talk about my job. This was way before I'd published anything. That kid at my feet is my son, who's now 30 years old and a head taller than me. — Back during my hazmat days, I was invited to my son’s school to talk about my job. This was way before I’d published anything. That kid at my feet is my son, who’s now 30 years old and a head taller than me.

Here I am at the 2015 SHOT Show, posing with a Heckler and Koch 416 assault rifle. This is Jonathan Grave's main firearm and is referred to in the books by its Marine Corps designation of the M27. — Here I am at the 2015 SHOT Show, posing with a Heckler and Koch 416 assault rifle. This is Jonathan Grave’s main firearm and is referred to in the books by its Marine Corps designation of the M27.

Also at the 2015 SHOT Show, here I holding a Heckler and Koch 417, which is Boxers' primary rifle. — Also at the 2015 SHOT Show, here I holding a Heckler and Koch 417, which is Boxer’s primary rifle.

I was invited to Marine Corps Base Quantico (Virginia) to play with captured weapons. Here I am firing a Heckler and Koch G3 assault rifle. Notice the attentive range safety officer.

At Marine Corps Base Quantico, I got to shoot a PKM belt-fed machine gun. The helmet and flak vest were a precaution to protect us from the unstable Russian surplus ammo we were firing.

Jonathan Grave's hometown of Fisherman's Cove is a fictional place, but this is what his firehouse home and office look like in my mind. The real location is a firehouse in lower Manhattan. — Jonathan Grave’s hometown of Fisherman’s Cove is a fictional place, but this is what his firehouse home and office look like in my mind. The real location is a firehouse in lower Manhattan.

From my Big Boy Job. My colleague Ray Turner and I as part of the US delegation to the International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna, Austria. The topic was the regulation of radioactive scrap that crosses international boundaries.

My lovely bride and me on our way to a Christmas celebration.

My first time out with my newly purchased Mosin Nagant 91/30. The Russians made approximately 37 million of these for both World Wars. This one is stamped 1942. It’s a beast.

A few years ago, I was invited to the Navy SEALs compound in Virginia Beach, Virginia. There, I got to shoot all of the weapons that Jonathan Grave uses. This cell phone video shows me with a Heckler and Koch MP7. As soon as I shot it, I knew that Jonathan needed to start carrying one.