Throughout the 1980s, Gatland explored homosexuality in literature, among others in order to "find my roots". The work resulted in a book of collected poetry, Frå mann til mann – dikt om menns kjærleik til menn (1986), and the book Mellom linjene - homofile tema i norsk litteratur (1990) where he analyzed both overt and covert gay themes in Norwegian literature.[3] In 2002 Gatland self-released the book Mitt halve liv. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnsons vennskap med Clemens Petersen – og andre menn, about several of Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson's male friendships. The Bjørnson–Clemensen friendship was included in Gatland's 2016 book Romantiske vennskap – sjelevenner i norsk kultur, about "romantic friendships", also referred to as soulmates, in Norway. The book chronicled 14 same-sex, allegedly non-sexual friendships, mostly within the literary or artistic sphere.[4][5]Romantiske vennskap was reviewed by several outlets.[6][7][8][9]