Interview With Author Steven Greenebaum
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a retired Interfaith minister (before that a choir director in Methodist, Reconstructionist {Jewish}, and Unitarian Universalist choirs; as well as a sometime teacher of Mythology in colleges and English in High Schools). When I introduce myself to a group, I tend to say, “My faith is Interfaith. My spiritual path is Judaism. My tribe is humanity.” I’ve written five books, four of which on the subject of Interfaith. I have never understood humanity’s propensity to divide itself. Born just after WWII, I well understood the “theming” of Jews by Hitler. As I grew it was clear that this wasn’t simply a Jewish problem. The “theming” of people of color appalled me. The idea of patriarchy and that women should “follow two steps behind” appalled me. My family is humanity – ALL of humanity. And much of my life has been in search of some way to (non-violently) oppose “theming”.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book (and my final book, I’m 75) is “An Afternoon’s Dictation”. What inspired me was quite literally dictation I took in 1999. I’d hit the wall. The hate and injustice practiced by humanity seemed overwhelming. By that time in my life, the woman who I had intended to spend my life with (and who blew my mind by wanting to spend her life with me) had been killed in a senseless traffic accident. The great hero of my youth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., had been assassinated. And so much more. Injustice was everywhere. For several months I demanded answers from God (if indeed God were there). I had believed in a God of love and justice. So where the heck was the love and justice?? Where was God? Then a quiet inner voice told me to get a pen and some paper and write. I did, and took three pages of dictation. This was my afternoon’s dictation. It did far more than answer the questions I’d been asking. It set me on the path to Interfaith.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My first book came from pondering the dictation for several years. I tried to write about it but didn’t have the language. So I read more books and actually went back to college to study ministry. That gave me the language. Possibly my most unusual writing habit is to write, rewrite, and rewrite until suddenly I’m rereading the work and say “Wow. Who wrote this?” That’s when I know I’ve finished.
Another possibly unusual writing habit came from listening to people react to my books and responding. My first book (which at the time I thought would be my only book – I considered myself an Interfaith minister, not a writer) was “The Interfaith Alternative.” But among the people who responded well to the idea there came over and over the comment, “It sounds nice, but is it practical?” That’s what started me on my second book, “Practical Interfaith”. This book illustrated the steps I took to start the Living Interfaith church – a congregation where I was the minister for 10 years. In the response to that book was a repeated refrain, “How on Earth did you get to Interfaith?” In response I wrote my spiritual memoir – “One Family: Indivisible”. Writing for me is hard work. It takes everything I have. Everything! After the first book, I developed (and defeated) cancer. After the second book I had a heart attack, followed by triple bypass surgery. But I breathed a sigh and began “One Family: Indivisible”, which I strongly assumed would be my final book. About two thirds of the way through the book, I laid out the dictation I had taken back in 1999. But for reasons that baffled me, most folks who read the book only glanced at the dictation. This dictation was the foundation stone of my life since 1999 and people just hadn’t looked at it carefully. After this third book I got cancer again and my left kidney had to be removed. But, even though struggling with cancer recovery, I then wrote my final Interfaith book. “An Afternoon’s Dictation.” It delves deeply into the dictation, and what it can mean for our human family. Am dealing now with out of control arthritis among other health issues. This is it!!!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Among the many important works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., perhaps the most influential was “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?”
Among the many works of Bishop John Shelby Spong, most important to me was “Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism”
“The Iliad” of Homer, laid open the destruction and true horror wrought by pride.
Also, “Crime and Punishment” by Dostoevsky, and “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Hemingway – among so many other books.
What are you working on now?
To be honest, what I’m working on now is recovering my health after the last book. I certainly hope and intend it to be my last work.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best and only website for promoting my books is https://www.anafternoonsdictation.com. It’s also my only website.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be healthy! For me, at least, writing takes every ounce of strength I’ve got.
Beyond that, it really depends on what you’re writing. For me, wanting to share some thoughts on how we might better respect our differences rather than fear them, it was important to outline what I wanted to say, then ponder and rewrite the outline, and then rewrite it again. Then it was time to write the first draft. My best advice is that good writing takes MANY drafts (I tend to write 8 drafts – but have no idea why that’s my magic number). Whatever, don’t be in a hurry.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
THINK before you write. Let your thoughts echo in your mind. Be ready and willing to adjust or change your thoughts as they echo.
What are you reading now?
In all honesty, having just had my last book published (publication date June 1st), I’m still in recovery mode. I hope to get back to reading soon!
I DID enjoy reading the award list from the 2023 London Book Festival, where “An Afternoon’s Dictation” won in the category of “Religious/Spiritual.”
What’s next for you as a writer?
Once my health is back, I hope to help publicize “An Afternoon’s Dictation”. It’s the sum of my life’s work.
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?
“The Outline of History”, by H.G. Wells
“A Study of History”, by Arnold Toynbee (okay, I’m cheating – this is several books!)
“The Iliad”, by Homer
“The Doonesbury Chronicles”, by Gary Trudeau
Author Websites and Profiles
Steven Greenebaum Amazon Profile
Steven Greenebaum’s Social Media Links