The Memoir Land Author Questionnaire #50: Former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell
"If you find yourself in the middle of an insurrection, take notes!...While I was writing 'American Shield,' I was still processing what happened on January 6th."
Since 2010, in various publications, I’ve interviewed authors—mostly memoirists—about aspects of writing and publishing. Initially I did this for my own edification, as someone who was struggling to find the courage and support to write and publish my memoir. I’m still curious about other authors’ experiences, and I know many of you are, too. So, inspired by the popularity of The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire, I’ve launched The Memoir Land Author Questionnaire.
Here’s the 50th installment, featuring Aquilino Gonell, author of American Shield: The Immigrant Seargeant Who Defended Democracy, co-written with Susan Shapiro. -Sari Botton
Aquilino Gonell came to the United States from the Dominican Republic as a young boy. Although he spoke no English, he dedicated himself to his adopted land, striving for the American dream. Determined to be a success story, he joined the army to pay for college. He saw action in Iraq and returned home with PTSD. Believing in the promise of our government, he focused on healing himself and supporting his family. His hard work paid off when he landed a coveted position with the United States Capitol Police and rose to the rank of sergeant.
January 6, 2021, changed everything. When insurrectionists stormed the Capitol, Gonell bravely faced down the mob attempting to thwart the peaceful transfer of power. The brutal injuries he sustained that day would end his career in law enforcement. But when some of the very people he put his life on the line to protect downplayed or denied the truth of that day, he chose to speak out against the injustice done to him and the country. Chronicling what it means to live a life of conviction, one that adheres to the best ideas of our democracy, American Shield is a bold testament to the power of truth, justice, and accountability from a highly decorated officer and immigrant who exemplifies the greatest aspirations of a grateful nation.
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How old are you, and for how long have you been writing?
I’m 44. I began writing in the summer of 2021 leading up to my U.S. Congressional testimony to the January 6th Select Committee.
What’s the title of your latest book, and when was it published?
American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy, by me and Susan Shapiro, with a foreword by U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin. The hardcover came out in November 2023. The paperback will be released on November 5th, 2024, Election Day.
What number book is this for you?
This is my first book, translated into Spanish along with Jose Garcia, the translator, so technically two books, though it was coauthored with New York Times bestselling author Susan Shapiro.
How do you categorize your book—as a memoir, memoir-in-essays, essay collection, creative nonfiction, graphic memoir, autofiction—and why?
It’s a first-person memoir that tells my own personal story, though it has been put on “political,” “new nonfiction,” and “current events” shelves at bookstores.
What is the “elevator pitch” for your book?
“Sergeant Aquilino Gonell’s story—of coming to America as a child, of overcoming adversity and discrimination, of stepping forward to defend Democracy, of refusing to stay silent in the face of injustice—is riveting. It was moving to read about his first visit to the United States Capitol as a student, marveling at the majesty of the Dome and in awe of its hallowed halls. Decades later, it was there at the Capitol where he would display extraordinary heroism on January 6th: recalling in raw and harrowing detail how he endured unimaginable brutality and lasting trauma, only to see many of those he risked his life to protect minimize that dark day. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to Sergeant Gonell for his courageous and continued service, speaking out to ensure that we all remember the truth of the insurrection. American Shield is an all-American tale of duty and determination—beautifully told by an immigrant, a veteran, and a patriot.” —Nancy Pelosi, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives
In the aftermath of my U.S. Congressional testimony to the January 6th Select Committee, many on the far right were miscategorizing or outright attacking my character, and credibility in their attempt at discrediting my account of what I experienced and testified. They used misinformation and disinformation to do just that without ever speaking to me. I wanted to defend myself and tell my story on my terms and my narrative.
What’s the back story of this book including your origin story as a writer? How did you become a writer, and how did this book come to be?
In the aftermath of my U.S. Congressional testimony to the January 6th Select Committee, many on the far right were miscategorizing or outright attacking my character, and credibility in their attempt at discrediting my account of what I experienced and testified. They used misinformation and disinformation to do just that without ever speaking to me. I wanted to defend myself and tell my story on my terms and my narrative.
After Susan and I met through the Meg Thompson Literary Agency, Susan suggested we try to write a few short pieces to see how we worked together and if there would be interest from editors in another book about January 6th. After our New York Times op-ed “I was Betrayed by President Trump” went viral, we had several meetings and offers. We loved Counterpoint editors Dan Smetanka and Dan Lopez and felt lucky we got to work with them.
What were the hardest aspects of writing this book and getting it published?
It was very hard for me to write — especially on deadline — because I was still recovering from multiple injuries (moral, physical, and mental). The trauma was fresh, and I was also dealing with investigations, court cases, and reports that would retrigger the wounds as I spoke, wrote, or heard things about Jan 6th. I often had to watch videos, pictures, or audio of that horrible day to make sure the timeline was extremely accurate.
On the upside, my coauthor and I quickly bonded and she understood how to work with me without retraumatizing me. After it was optioned by an L.A. producer, Shapiro’s scriptwriter husband Charlie Rubin is in talks to write the screenplay version with his colleague, the acclaimed Cuban playwright Eduardo Machado.
How did you handle writing about real people in your life? Did you use real or changed names and identifying details? Did you run passages or the whole book by people who appear in the narrative? Did you make changes they requested?
All of the characters in the book are real. To protect the privacy of some of these individuals and to guard against unwanted negative attention, some names were changed for privacy based on the suggestions of our publishing lawyer. We also included an author’s note at the beginning explaining the strategy. On two occasions, I sent the book to two people whom I wrote about, and they suggested changes to the passages. I concurred because it was a more accurate version than my recollection of the event and memories.
It was very hard for me to write — especially on deadline — because I was still recovering from multiple injuries (moral, physical, and mental). The trauma was fresh, and I was also dealing with investigations, court cases, and reports that would retrigger the wounds as I spoke, wrote, or heard things about Jan 6th. I often had to watch videos, pictures, or audio of that horrible day to make sure the timeline was extremely accurate.
Who is another writer you took inspiration from in producing this book? Was it a specific book, or their whole body of work? (Can be more than one writer or book.)
My coauthor Susan Shapiro had also co-written two other immigrant memoirs The Bosnia List (Penguin 2014) and World In Between: Based On A True Refugee Story (Harpercollins 2022.) They told the story of a Bosnian immigrant my age that happened to be very similar to my journey. The way she brought the characters and the story to life was fascinating and made me think she’d be the perfect partner to help me tell my story. We also loved Congressman Jamie Raskin’s brilliant bestselling book Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy, and felt honored when he signed on to pen the American Shield foreword.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers looking to publish a book like yours, who are maybe afraid, or intimidated by the process?
If you find yourself in the middle of an insurrection, take notes! I happened to have a lot of challenges and adversities throughout my life, so it was easy to pick stories about my being an immigrant, police officer, in the military, surviving trauma and my dysfunctional family, discrimination, perseverance, the lack of resources. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.
What do you love about writing?
I love communicating my experiences and thoughts to a broad audience. I’m fortunate to be fluent in two languages, Spanish and English, so it was thrilling to tell the story in both, and to do book events across the country where people were engaged, asked me a lot of questions and thanked me for my service.
What frustrates you about writing?
In my case, while I was writing American Shield, I was still processing what happened on January 6th. And it was hard to deal with the aftermath as well, career-wise, psychologically, and physically. I was traumatized and injured. It was hard having to relieve my ordeal not only for court cases, police reports, and testimonies but also for public interviews where I found myself reviewing photos, reports, and videos of the attack on me.
What about writing surprises you?
It helped me remember a lot of things and put them chronologically, events that I’d forgotten or blocked. Working with my coauthor, who has been in therapy, written about it, and overanalyzes everything, it helped me reconnect with my roots and understand more about my family members and their history.
Does your writing practice involve any kind of routine or writing at specific times?
We sold the book on a proposal and were on a tight deadline so we worked on it every day.
I love communicating my experiences and thoughts to a broad audience. I’m fortunate to be fluent in two languages, Spanish and English, so it was thrilling to tell the story in both, and to do book events across the country where people were engaged, asked me a lot of questions and thanked me for my service.
Do you engage in any other creative pursuits, professionally or for fun? Are there non-writing activities do you consider to be “writing” or supportive of your process?
I used to paint and write poetry. Nowadays, I play basketball. It helps me deal with my PTSD and clear my anxiety so I remain calm and less stressed.
What’s next for you? Do you have another book planned, or in the works?
I remain vocal about the events of January 6th. Though I’m no longer a police officer, I still must attend court cases for those who attacked me. At some point, I’d like to write another book as I continue to remake my life in the aftermath of that horrible day for me and for America, maybe a kids’ book to help inspire younger readers to stand up for themselves and for our country.
Wow, so cool to read about this. I wonder what his take is on preparing for possible mayhem after this election. Grateful to him for his service!
Jan 6th will forever be burned in my brain, a day of terror, after a year of watching people disappear from Covid, crying in front of the television tears of joy when Biden was elected, thinking it's over. I can't imagine how this was for him and the others at the Capital that day. Thank you Aquilino for your bravery!! Only four more days. I'm proud of everyone for creating three hour voting lines all over the nation. We've got this!!