I recently had the pleasure of meeting an author at a book signing who agreed to do an interview for this blog. This interview is launching a new series of posts called The Fabulous Five Interviews. I will be interviewing people who love books. This includes writers, readers, or anyone who would love to share their thoughts and insights on writing and reading. So, let's get to my first interview. Stick around until the end because there's a giveaway with this one!
AS THE MATZO BALL TURNS
by Jozef Rothstein
Hey...remember me???
I'm the one who bought three books at your signing at B&N in Wilkes Barre! (Of course, how could I forget? You and Maribeth rock!!!) I hope things have been going well for you these past couple months. I read your interview with Maribeth and it was great. (Thanks) This is my first interview and I'm a short and sweet kind of gal. My interviews are called the Fabulous Five Interview because I ask five questions and you give me your fabulous answers. It's quick, painless, and fun. Thanks for agreeing to do this. Let's get started.
1. AS THE MATZO BALL TURNS, in your words, is "An aspiring actor's ten year encounter with hit men, celebrities, and old Jewish ladies". I have to say there were so many great parts of your book. My mom was telling me about some of her favorites the other day (yes I've told my whole family to read it). What is your favorite part of the story?
You mean, besides the part where I get the hell out of Los Angeles as fast as humanly possible? I guess my favorite parts, off the top of my head, are the Chester stories. The guy was such a nut I could’ve written a whole book on him alone. I think the stories listed were the climax of my experiences with him, but the stories really seem to flow in the book. Some stories obviously are funnier than others just by the nature of things, but those were really fun to write.
Thank you for recommending the book to your family. That is the ultimate compliment. It is so wild that your mom was commenting on her favorite parts.
2. You are a semi self-published author. Can you tell us what that means and how you decided on that route for yourself and your book?
Yes, my belief is, especially after spending ten long years in Hollywood, that every facet of our society is under a silent control. I’ve been into the belly of the beast and no matter how good or bad my work was there was no way the door to the good ole boys club was going to be opened for me. Yet, Paris Hilton or some other useless reality star writes a book and our country is blanketed with their drivel. Art is one of the first things to go in an emerging totalitarian society and I see the same thing happening right before our eyes. I also learned in Hollywood that you can sit around and wait for someone to pick you or you can get off your ass and try to make it happen for yourself. I got tired of waiting for someone to open the door for me and now I want to kick the f&#@ing thing in. A writer friend in LA told me flat out, “No one in this town is going to touch your book.” After just one top literary agent rejected it saying, “It’s not very funny,” I knew my friend was right. This path more or less chose me. I enjoy the challenge of proving the snobs in Hollywood wrong and I am just one of those men who live and die by the sword. I’ll do it my way or no way at all. It’s a much tougher route but way more gratifying.
3. You spent all that time in "LALA" land pursuing a career in film. Is that something you see trying again in the future or has the lure of the bright lights burned out for you?
There is still that flicker of hope regarding a film career. I have what I think is an awesome screenplay and story waiting to be told. I’ve had others agree including a celeb or two interested in a couple of the parts. The problem is financing in this economy and being an “unknown” a.k.a. non-chosen one. As the Matzo Ball Turns started punching its way out of me on my way back to Pennsylvania and I am just riding it out to see where it takes me. Hopefully, right into that film I’ve been trying to make for the past ten years. If not, I have many more books to write. Which leads us right into your next question …
4. What is your next project, perhaps another book?
So, if the film career falls short there will be a sequel to As the Matzo Ball Turns and then a more serious drama which my screenplay is based on. Maybe things would have gone better with my film career if I would have written the story as a book first. The only problem with that is then you are an author and the rights are simply purchased from you while you sit on the sidelines on watch Hollywood desecrate your material and then give themselves a multitude of awards for their genius. And how about all those awards shows? These people can’t pat themselves on the back enough? People all over our country are being laid off and on Channel 7 another awards show. It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so tragic.
5. Where can readers find your book and do you have any upcoming appearances and book signings you'd like to shout out about?
Right now four Northeast Pennsylvania Barnes and Noble stores are carrying the book on their shelves. Thank you for the opportunity to mention them. They are :
2960 Center Valley Parkway, Ste. 742, Center Valley, PA 18034;
801 Lehigh Lifestyle Center, Whitehall, PA 18052;
2300 Chemical Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462;
and finally the store where we met 427 Arena Hub Plaza, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.
You can also walk into any Barnes and Noble store and order it through a store clerk, purchase it online at Amazon or Barnes and Noble dot com or order directly from me by going to my blog at www.asthematzoballturns.com .
If you are a college football fan I will be at Penn State versus Ohio State on October 27th from 11am to 3pm at the Penn State Student Bookstore located at 330 East College Ave., State College, PA 16801. You can come to the signing and still have time to run to your car, slam down a few brewha’s and make the six o’clock kickoff.
And finally, if you live in Northeast Pennsylvania we are having a FREE movie night/booksigning on Thursday, October 18th, 2012 at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, 6 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. The event begins at 6:30pm with a one hour book signing/reception followed by a screening of the low budget film I worked on entitled Living With Uncle Ray. The event is free to attend and a portion of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to the Mauch Chunk Opera House. Plus, anyone who buys a book will receive a free copy of the movie. It's a screaming deal and should be a very fun event. Plus, rap artist Payday Monsanto may make a guest appearance to perform a few numbers including the theme song for the book As the Matzo Ball Turns Rap http://youtu.be/OlQFU-JUgtI , Thanks for the opportunity to answer your questions Renee! I hope your subscribers enjoy it and I wish you great success with your writing endeavors!
Thanks again Jozef for visiting and taking the time to talk to two crazy book-fan girls at your signing. I wish you much success in all of your future projects!
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So now for the fabulous giveaway. One lucky reader will receive a signed copy of AS THE MATZO BALL TURNS.
It's as easy as leaving a comment on this post. One lucky winner will be randomly selected to win this great read.
Good Luck!
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