Interview With Author Paul Marzell
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born and raised in Philadelphia and currently reside in western Pennsylvania with his wife, Janet and Golden Retriever, Nala. I am a United States Air Force veteran and served in West Germany in the early sixties. I earned BSBA and MBA degrees in operations management and financial analysis from Temple University and Golden Gate University. Heimat is my first novel. I worked in the airline industry for thirty years with Trans World Airlines and USAirways in nonmanagement and management positions.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Heimat is a place but not in a specific geographical location. Many places called Heimat exist in the hearts and minds of many people. The story is fiction in which the names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of my imagination. This book grew from a family tree project I began before my first grandchild was born eleven years ago. In addition to the usual resources to investigate family lineage, i.e., census and baptismal records, I also had an abundance of valuable documents from my father, who emigrated from Germany in 1929. The documents included his birth certificate, immigration documents, passport, and various German and United States government forms. But most importantly, he saved letters from his mother, sisters, and other relatives sent to him in the years before and after World War Two. These letters not only facilitated the timeline for the story but also provided the narrative. Many of the letters were written in the Sütterlin Schrift, which is no longer taught in Germany. I transcribed them into modern German script and then translated them into English. I must confess that my translations are not precise because my fluency in German is wide open for improvement. But I squeezed enough clarity from the letters to see the conflict of an immigrant’s allegiance to his country of origin, his commitment to his adopted country, and his mother’s hopes to see her son again.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Heimat is a place but not in a specific geographical location. Many places called Heimat exist in the hearts and minds of many people. The story is fiction in which the names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of my imagination. This book grew from a family tree project I began before my first grandchild was born eleven years ago. In addition to the usual resources to investigate family lineage, i.e., census and baptismal records, I also had an abundance of valuable documents from my father, who emigrated from Germany in 1929. The documents included his birth certificate, immigration documents, passport, and various German and United States government forms. But most importantly, he saved letters from his mother, sisters, and other relatives sent to him in the years before and after World War Two. These letters not only facilitated the timeline for the story but also provided the narrative. Many of the letters were written in the Sütterlin Schrift, which is no longer taught in Germany. I transcribed them into modern German script and then translated them into English. I must confess that my translations are not precise because my fluency in German is wide open for improvement. But I squeezed enough clarity from the letters to see the conflict of an immigrant’s allegiance to his country of origin, his commitment to his adopted country, and his mother’s hopes to see her son again.
What are you working on now?
Another historical fiction novel based on the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I haven’t found one yet
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Not yet. When Heimat becomes a success, I’ll review my actions and present those that led to success.
What are you reading now?
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks.
Author Websites and Profiles
Paul Marzell Author Profile on Smashwords
Paul Marzell’s Social Media Links