By the way, Pandora Poikilos, who arranged my tour, is terrific and very supportive.
Questions and Answers
1. What is one book everyone should read?
Be Here Now by Ram Dass
2. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Peanut butter and
blueberries
3. Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
My book has
much to share with anyone grieving the loss of a loved one or suffering any
kind of loss.
4. Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I’m writing an historical
novel based on a small aspect of my family’s history, yet with a huge plot twist. I also want to
have a book of poetry published. I also want to have a CD made of my son’s jazz
music with proceeds of sales going to a charity that helps erase the stigma of
mental illness and prevent suicide.
5. What inspired you to want to become a writer?
Writing always seemed to
come naturally to me, and because of that my teachers were very encouraging.
6. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
After my first publisher
went out of business, I was fortunate to find a wonderful new publisher, Dream
of Things, that recently released paperback and eBook editions of my book. The
first publisher going out of business was a blessing in disguise.
7. What is your dream cast for your book?
Jane Fonda as the main
character (me), and my son Ben playing himself
8. What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen?
The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
9. Is there a song you could list as the
theme song for your book or any of your characters?
My son was a very talented
jazz composer and pianist. I would want his music as the theme song with
sprinkles of John Lennon, Miles Davis, and J.S. Bach throughout the film.
10. What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Don’t give up. No matter
how many rejections you get, keep on asking. Be persistent.
11. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
Italy. It is my goal to
live in Rome someday and travel throughout Italy by train. First stops would be
Sicily and Naples – places I haven’t visited yet. Plus I love Italian food.
12. What is your favorite Quote?
"How old would you be if you didn't know your age?" Golda Meir
13. When you were little, what did you want to be
when you "grew up"?
Brenda Starr Reporter or a
shoe designer. I loved to draw and paint as well as write.
14. What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
A friend called me ten
days after my son’s funeral and advised me to come back to our morning aerobics
class. I did. Working out again helped me begin my healing process. I still
workout every day.
15. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
11/22/63 by Stephen King [I have read it, and it is a terrific book - my favorite in 2012]
16. What was your favorite children's book?
Me Too,
story and words by Fritz Willis (The Marcel Rodd Company, 1944). My dad gave me
the book because I always said, “me too,” whenever I wanted something my
brother had. (I recently bought a first-edition copy of it.)
17. How do you react to a bad review?
17. How do you react to a bad review?
I haven’t had one yet, but
if I did I would want to know why or if the reader even read my book. Needless
to say, I wouldn’t feel good about it. [I've had a few lately. I still don't feel good about them.]
18. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. One of my all-time favorite
books.
19. What do you do in your free time?
Workout, take long walks
on the beach, read, go to movies, theater, and opera
20. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I was inspired to tell the
story of my son’s bipolar illness and how I survived his suicide. I felt that
if my story could help just one other family, my writing it would be
worthwhile. Also, my writing teachers encouraged me to get my story out into
the world.
21. In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?
Norah Ephron. She had the
career I wanted early on. But she didn’t live long enough to get to write with
me.
