Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Well so I’m an immigrant to this great country and a proud resident of Florida from the early 70s. I’ve now published 3 books In the series of Jokes against Humanity. I set out to write a collection of jokes that landed in the sweet spot of definitely NOT being politically correct, but also avoided being overly silly or entirely mean spirited and hurtful with little redeeming humor value. Most of the joke books sold on Amazon seemed to land in one of those two categories.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Jokes Against Humanity 3 is my latest. Once I finished publishing Volume 2 I realized I still had some fantastic material from jokes, some of which I first wrote down in the late seventies and early eighties.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Yes . Doesn’t everyone? I’m writing a sci fi novel that I started in 1989. The unusual habit is that writing is not my day job and this silly novel has taken me over 25 years to write and it’s still not finished. I still put everything down on a legal notepad by hand, and only after I’m somewhat satisfied, do I bother transcribing pages to a word processor,
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I grew up reading sci-fi. Asimov, Bova, Ellison and Frederick Pohl were my early influences. I always dreamed of crafting a tale in their style. This is probably why it’s taken me so long to complete that darn sci-fi novel!
What are you working on now?
My pool filter
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Awesomegang.com certainly has great resources. I do prefer one on one interaction with readers so Twitter seems like a platform that I’ve tried to embrace. I realize it doesn’t have the impact of a paid carpet bombing campaign, but I’m ok reaching my fans one at a time and doing so on a much more personal level,
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be patient. Write with passion and for no one but yourself.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Maya Angelou once said something along the lines of they’ll forget what you said but they’ll remember how you made them feel. This is so true. (At least it was true in her day before everyone recorded everything on their phones). But think about it – when you talk to a friend or to your family or coworkers, the words you speak will most likely not be remembered even shortly afterwards, but the emotions you invoked. Those will persist – often for a lifetime. Do what you can to ensure those emotions are positive.
What are you reading now?
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
What’s next for you as a writer?
I will finish and publish my epic sci-fi novel.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Well I’m not religious (and that’s probably a result of growing up with many so called religious folks including several who went on to become ordained priests). So no, I would NOT bring a bible. I would bring books that would keep my mind engaged and entertained. Bill Bryson’s a Short History of Nearly Everything is a seminal work from him. Asimov’s Foundation Series and my Jokes Against Humanity Box Set
M. Harry Ballsych’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account