Gill began his writing career by publishing short stories in small magazines, including The Crescent Review and Writer's Forum.

In 2005, Scarecrow Press published his critical biography Graham Salisbury: Island Boy, a reference book intended for scholars of young adult literature.

A second YA novel, Black Hole Sun, August 2010 has received a starred review from Booklist.

[citation needed] Gill "has been a house painter, cafeteria manager, bookstore schleper, high school teacher, and college professor.

David has a “bachelor’s degree in English/creative writing and a doctorate in education, both from the University of Tennessee, as well as an M.ED from Tennessee-Chattanooga.”[1] He is the Past-President of ALAN (The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents),[2] and has written and published everything from short stories to book reviews and critical essays.