It’s my honor to participate in “The Next Big Thing” Interview Series, being run over at www.litbridge.com. I was tagged, as it were, by novelist Doug Molitor and his comic novel Memoirs of a Time Traveler.
Now, then, my book is called Lost Claus, available as a ebook over at Amazon.com.
So, let's begin, shall we?
Now, then, my book is called Lost Claus, available as a ebook over at Amazon.com.
So, let's begin, shall we?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
First, a real love of all the Christmas specials I grew up on. I’m such a fan of comedy and mash-ups, always trying to fit one character into an alien premise. Also I’m a big fan of movies like “Maltese Falcon” and “The Big Sleep” so where’s the most outlandish place for an old-school, film noir detective? The North Pole, right?
What genre does your book fall under?
It was always written as a comedy, first and foremost. It's kind of a genre-blender, but I guess you would say it’s a fantasy/mystery/holiday story. A Christmas-tery for short.
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
For some reason I had Steve Buscemi in mind for the lead, then he goes and plays that weird PI on “30 Rock.” Danny DeVito as an elder elf. Not to put to fine a point on it, Peter Dinklage would be a great Tweedle. Although I could never make up my mind if the elves would be actors or CGI. Elizabeth Banks, who has some amazing comedy chops as Sandra. In a dream world it would be Humphrey Bogart and Doris Day.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
When Santa goes MIA, a P.O.-ed P.I. has to find him PDQ.
OK?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Oh, man. Hard to remember. I tend to write and re-write while commuting. The Staten Island Ferry is like the best place to think and write. So, I guess, five or six months to get it into book form.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
My wife. Back when we were dating, I realized that she’s in love with all things Christmas; especially the movies and holiday specials. I wanted to write something that would be, could be one of the holiday standards. But funny.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Well, it started out as a screenplay. And it got optioned by Warner Bros. And in a bizarre bit of Hollywood logic, they decided it would be a perfect vehicle for one of their stars that owed them a picture. So I was hired to re-write it as a movie for Pee-Wee Herman. Alas, once Pee-Wee Herman got into his, er, legal entanglements, the project died on the vine and I had to rescue it.
First, a real love of all the Christmas specials I grew up on. I’m such a fan of comedy and mash-ups, always trying to fit one character into an alien premise. Also I’m a big fan of movies like “Maltese Falcon” and “The Big Sleep” so where’s the most outlandish place for an old-school, film noir detective? The North Pole, right?
What genre does your book fall under?
It was always written as a comedy, first and foremost. It's kind of a genre-blender, but I guess you would say it’s a fantasy/mystery/holiday story. A Christmas-tery for short.
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?
For some reason I had Steve Buscemi in mind for the lead, then he goes and plays that weird PI on “30 Rock.” Danny DeVito as an elder elf. Not to put to fine a point on it, Peter Dinklage would be a great Tweedle. Although I could never make up my mind if the elves would be actors or CGI. Elizabeth Banks, who has some amazing comedy chops as Sandra. In a dream world it would be Humphrey Bogart and Doris Day.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
When Santa goes MIA, a P.O.-ed P.I. has to find him PDQ.
OK?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?
Oh, man. Hard to remember. I tend to write and re-write while commuting. The Staten Island Ferry is like the best place to think and write. So, I guess, five or six months to get it into book form.
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
My wife. Back when we were dating, I realized that she’s in love with all things Christmas; especially the movies and holiday specials. I wanted to write something that would be, could be one of the holiday standards. But funny.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
Well, it started out as a screenplay. And it got optioned by Warner Bros. And in a bizarre bit of Hollywood logic, they decided it would be a perfect vehicle for one of their stars that owed them a picture. So I was hired to re-write it as a movie for Pee-Wee Herman. Alas, once Pee-Wee Herman got into his, er, legal entanglements, the project died on the vine and I had to rescue it.
Finally, I am pleased to introduce the following authors who I spammed for next Wednesday’s “The Next Big Thing” interviews:
Charles Panati
Jeff Cohen
Bart Gold
Shelly Goldstein
Charles Panati
Jeff Cohen
Bart Gold
Shelly Goldstein
