Interview with humor writer Jerry Klinger

My fun author guest today is Jerry Klinger, to chat about his humorous book, Boynton Beach Chronicles – Tails of Norman.

Bio:

Jerry Klinger and his wife Judy are happily transplanted retired Floridians from Washington, D.C. He is the founder of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation and the To Save A Life Foundation, two American public charities.

Jerry has written over 100 articles about the American Jewish experience, ranging from the Jerusalem Post, the Prairie Connection to the San Diego Jewish World. He is frequently interviewed on T.V. and radio. But it is in Boynton Beach his alter-ego has found expression.

“Boynton Beach, where every corner has a Bagel Den and somebody kvetching. It is funny, simply a very funny place,” he says.

Welcome, Jerry. Please tell us about your current release

The Boynton Beach Chronicles is a compilation of stories written over a number of years. Like with any story, there is a kernel of truth, an element that comes from real life experience and observation. If we back away from the seriousness, the stress, the overwhelming pushing of media, political, and social concerns, and look at the life about us without filters, there is humor everywhere. Our over serious sincerity is actually funny. Laughing at ourselves makes the living part fun.

It confounds my kids who never realized there was a funny bone in my body…the forest and the trees stuff of being too close. The kids are sure they have been raised by strangers, not by their mother and me. Or, they think I have gone off the deep end and need to be checking out Shady Pines, asap. Now that they are adults, it is extra fun confusing them. The grandchildren love the word games. Grin, Grin.

What inspired you to write this book?

I have been writing about American Jewish history, more serious stuff, for years. The articles frequently went along with the over 100 American Jewish historical markers and projects I have completed in 39 states and in five countries. More than 7,000,000 people annually see and benefit from one of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation efforts.

My wife said I created JASHP because I needed something to do when I retired. She knew I was really bad at golf.

People ask me to write a book after seeing, participating in, reading an article I wrote, or hearing me speak somewhere.

I might someday. I tell them. There could easily be a few volumes for the dusty stacks of University bookshelves about JASHP’s wide ranging projects.

Writing a book about my Jewish American historical projects always struck me as work. Not that work is bad, it isn’t. But, I have been writing Jewish humor for years, mostly under a pseudonym for pure fun, part of a secret personal life. It is an escape from the tensions of work.

Moving from telling about the real world to telling stories from my imaginary world that reflected the real world is fun. I can make mistakes on time, date, place, and because it was fiction, it is still accurate. It is my fiction and fun to share.

The serious and the fun stories continued to build. About a year ago, I was in San Diego with Don Harrison, the editor of the San Diego Jewish World. We were site developing for future Jewish Historical projects that my Society would underwrite.

The subject came up of writing a book about the projects. I felt reluctant, anticipating all the work. I asked Don about doing a book using my humor stories on American Jewish retired life in Boynton Beach, Fl., instead. I never associated having fun and laughing, and then chucking again and again about Florida Jewish retired life, as work.

So what inspired me to write the book? I wanted to have fun and share fun and laughs with others who could use a laughing escape even while seeing some reflection of their own lives.

Many years ago, when I was a junior in Mr. Puglisi’s homeroom class at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Md., he kept life quotes on the walls for us to be read. He was trying to get us to think about what we wanted for our lives ahead.

He never asked us to read them. They were just there for us to read, absorb, or not, on our own.

One of those wall quotes stayed with me. I have no idea whose quote it was.

“If you don’t want to be forgotten when you die, do something worth writing about or write something worth reading about.”

It is a bit of a negative perspective. I dreamed that my life had meaning, only what?

Over the years, I have written much and done lots of things. Few of us have one dimensional lives.

My wife, Judy, shares, perhaps tolerates my split humor/serious personality. We are getting to the years when we plan for the Journey’s End. Judy and I both agreed, we absolutely, without question, totally refuse to have our name written on a stone, dates and the text loving parent and grandparent. We wanted to stick out. We wanted to give people a smile about who these people might have been when visitors come to that somber place and read our stone.

Our agree upon text will have our names and dates.

Our texts will read:

On my side:

He did more than some and less than others.

On hers it will read:

She put up with more than some and less than others.

What we want to leave with folks as they drive by and read the stone is a smile, a chuckle, and a wonder…who were they? They had and even now have a sense of humor.

The Boynton Beach Chronicles, Tails of Norman, is a smile that people can own, reread and enjoy for many, many years.

A smile is more fun than a scowl.

What exciting story are you working on next?

There are funny stories that strike me daily. By lunch, followed with by nap time, unless I write down the idea, I forget the idea and have to wait till the morning for a new one to pop into my balding humor head.

This morning, an email from one of my daughters-in-laws complaining there has not been a roll of toilet paper on the shelves of her local grocery store for seven weeks got me going.

My sense of humor kicked in to the dilemma. She has three children, ages ten to five. What can she do to teach them personal hygiene if there is no T.P.? What do people do if there is no T.P.?

I wondered, being in Florida, we could use Palm fronds. I wondered, what do you do if you live in Arizona, use carefully de-thorned cactus pads? What do you use in Alaska, recently caught Salmon?

Anyway, the humorous possibilities of the Great Toilet Paper Crisis of 2020 kept me chucking and writing away.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I have never considered myself a writer. I like to think of myself as a storyteller. Story telling can be serious. When I taught history at the University, my lectures were stories. I think they kept student’s attention better that way.

Humor storytelling makes people’s lives more fun. It makes my life more fun.

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

No, I don’t write full time. I spend much of my time on my historical and charitable efforts. Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

I give a lot, money and time, through my historical and charitable focuses. I think the best way to give is to leave people feeling a bit better about life than when I first passed by.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Instantly seeing the foibles of life and reflecting them through a Jewish cultural perspective.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I thought I wanted to teach history. Can’t make a living teaching history. I went into the financial world. Retired now, I can teach all the history I want without having to worry about making a living.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Probably, but it is getting close to nap time.

Links:

Amazon | Jewish American Society | To Save a Life organization

 Thanks for the chuckles today, Jerry! Wishing you many more happy tails. :)

Interview with humorous short story writer James Robinson, Jr.

Writer James Robinson, Jr. joins me today to chat about his book of humorous short stories, Jay Got Married.

During his virtual book tour, James will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

James Robinson, Jr. is an award-wining author who has written 6 books in both the fiction and non-fiction genres. His first book, Fighting the Effects of Gravity: A Bittersweet Journey Into Middle Life, was an Indie Award winner for nonfiction. His first foray into fiction, Book of Samuel, was a Readers’ Favorite Award Winner. His latest book—Jay Got Married—is a collection of 9 humorous, satirical essays which often speak to ironies and inconsistencies of life.       

Jay Got Married is not just the title of the book, but the lead essay of the same title and an amusing look at love and marriage in the year 2020.

Mr. Robinson began to foster his writing career at age 45 when the Effects of Gravity kicked in and his children began to grow up, affording him the time to write. It was also then that he began to hone in on his sardonic wit.

Mr. Robinson resides in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife of 43 years. He is the father of three daughters ages 37, 38, and 40 and the proud owner of six grandchildren.

Welcome, James. What do you enjoy most about writing short stories?

Essays work better for me because I can say what I want to say better in short non-fiction vignettes than in a long story. When I write I rely upon my own experience rather than telling a story.

Can you give us a little insight into a few of your short stories – perhaps some of your favorites?

All my essays are written in a humorous and tongue-in-cheek in style, but I also tend to slip into real-life issues from time to time. In a chapter of the book called, All Hail the Jetsons, for instance, I talk about how we all secretly harbor a wish for the futuristic type flying cars but can’t even deal with driving in regular traffic—killing each other in simple road-rage accidents.

My Current Release –

Jay Got Married is a book of 9 humorous, satirical, tongue-and-cheek essays. I write about the ironies of life, my twisted views on societies’ ills, and combine it all with a healthy dose of my own experience. I use clipart and pictures of my own handsome visage to accentuate my point. Like this one:

Here, I discuss my nemesis. (You have to read it to figure out why I’m holding up black jellybeans.)

In one chapter titled: Big Brother Isn’t Among Us, I dispute George Orwell’s classic 1948 book, 1984. Orwell insisted that: Big Brother is Watching. But I contend that, in 2019, even though we have cameras pointed at us at all times, we don’t have to worry as long as we behave ourselves. Cameras at stoplights, at ATM’s, in Sam’s Club parking lots harbor no ill-will to us good people. We, in fact, are our own big brother. We monitor ourselves with the ubiquitous cell phone. Here it is:

In a quote that I think sums up my style pretty well, a Reader’s Favorite Reviewer said, “Sometimes the attempt at humor inevitably touches a few real-life issues but it is quickly diverted again back to humor, so as not to linger or get too serious and forget the main genre.”

What genre are you inspired in to write the most? Why?

I’m inspired to write non-fiction because, in a way, I’m telling a story. I guess I’m at my best when I’m kicking out an essay that consists of my own life experiences coupled with a healthy dose of satire and wit. I throw in a little social commentary for good measure.

What exciting story are you working on next?

My first book was entitled: Fighting the Effects of Gravity: One Man’s Journey Into Middle Life. Now 67 years old, I’m working on a sequel to that book tentatively entitled: Old Age Sucks. It could also be titled: And I Thought Middle Age Was Bad. I’m discovering that middle age was a mere storm cloud for old-age thunderstorm on the horizon.

When did you consider yourself a writer?

Interesting question. Actually, I wrote an essay on this topic. It was about people asking other people the question: “What do you do.” I never really had a marketable skill—doctor, lawyer, chef, engineer—I always had it in the back of my mind that I was going to write. But even though I’m writing seriously now, I hesitate to flat-out say that I’m a writer when asked because I don’t make much money at it. I usually say “I’m retired.” Wow, that’s boring. So, I consider myself a writer now. I just don’t tell anyone unless it come up in conversation.

How do you research markets for your work, perhaps advice for writers?

What’s research? What’s a market? I barely have time to write. I’m raising two ninety-year-old parents. I do blog tours, promotions like Kindle Nation Daily, offer free promotions, lectures at libraries, and wonder why my books don’t sell. Kids, don’t try this at home.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I write in my underwear.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

The typical things that kids want to be: policeman, fireman, alligator wrestler. Just kidding about the fireman.

Links:

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter

Thanks for joining me today!

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New interview with author Tom Corbett

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Welcome, Readers. I’m happy to have Tom Corbett back for a new interview. Today we’re chatting about his humorous memoir – Confessions of a Clueless Rebel (along with a companion book titled Confessions of a Wayward Academic).

Bio:

Tom Corbett is emeritus Senior Scientist and an affiliate of the Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served as Associate and Acting Director for a decade before his retirement. He received a Doctorate in Social Welfare from the University of Wisconsin and taught various social policy and program evaluation courses there for many years. During his long academic and policy career he worked with governments at all levels including a stint in Washington D.C. where he helped develop President Clinton’s welfare reform legislation. He has written dozens of articles and reports on poverty, social policy, and human services issues and given hundreds of talks across the nation on these topics. In addition, Dr. Corbett has consulted with numerous local, state, and federal officials on various poverty, welfare, and human services issues both in the United States and Canada. He also has testified before Congress, worked directly with the Wisconsin Legislature on important legislation, and served on an expert panel for the National Academy of Sciences. Now retired, the author lives with his wife of 46 years, Mary Rider, and their lovable Shih Tzu dog, Rascal, in Madison Wisconsin.

Welcome back to Reviews and Interviews, Tom.

Thank you so much for inviting me back.

Please tell us about your newest release.

Confessions of a Clueless Rebel is a coming of age story where I trace the profound transitions that I experienced in the 1950s through the 1970s. The story is told with great sensitivity and humor but also contains serious lessons and insights. It demonstrates that everyone is capable of enormous change and growth and even success against all odds. I was raised in a very confining Catholic, working class, ethnic neighborhood where I showed absolutely no promise early on and seemed destined to an average life of no consequence.

Instead, I enjoyed, or perhaps endured, a series of transformational experiences including a stint in a Catholic seminary, radicalization in college, and service in the Peace Corps, among several other adventures. The author both captures the times perfectly and explores the inner growth and development he enjoyed as he forged his own unique world view and purpose in life. As such, it is a story for everyone yet totally unique.

The first Amazon reviews (all 5-stars) talk about how much the readers laughed at the author’s early struggles with life and Catholic girls along with the entire range of emotional responses to the challenges and frustrations faced as the more daunting impediments of life were confronted. One reviewer characterized the reading experience as a roller coaster ride of emotions. That it is. In the end, though, it is a tale of triumph over one’s limitations, a tale of inspiration to all who feel they have little to contribute to the world.

At a deeper level, beyond the humor, here is a more profound story to be found. What should we make of the culture that surrounds and shapes us, particularly in our formative years? Is it a prison or a springboard from which we are to seek our own identity and direction?

What inspired you to write this book?

The deep origins of this work started with my work to develop two edited volumes recounting the experiences of my Peace Corps group (India) from the 1960s. That exercise got me thinking more broadly about my own life and growth. I initially wrote a memoir of my professional life as I struggled with the political and policy battles over what to do with welfare and the poor in recent decades (Confessions of a Wayward Academic). It as a seminal time in our nation’s poverty policy history and I as at the very center of it. It was a view of doing policy from one who did it on the front lines though at a high level.

I realized, though, that was only part of the story. How did I get to become a nationally known policy guru given my extremely humble origins? As a young kid, after all, I as put in a class with the slow kids in my working-class elementary school, not an auspicious start. That story begged to be told, not just because it was fascinating but because it might inspire others. Above all, it is a story shared with great humor and unabashed honesty. If you cannot laugh with as I recount my early speed bumps in life, you clearly take life way too seriously.

What’s the next writing project?

I am well into a sequel to my last fictional work, Palpable Passions. It is tentatively titled Ordinary Obsessions. My publisher says it is superior to the first volume which was well received. I am planning a third volume to make this a trilogy.

What is your biggest challenge when writing a new book? (or the biggest challenge with this book)

Other writers talk about writer’s block and other such hurdles. For me, writing is pure joy. I experience a form of depression when a project is completed and cannot wait to get into the next one. Oddly enough, I wanted to write even as a young kid though no one in my rough and tumble, working-class world had such ambitions. However, I as way too busy as an academic at a top-level research university and nationally known policy expert. Now I have the time and opportunity to explore my childhood dream.

If I have any frustration, it is that I hate marketing my works. I want to keep writing.

If your novels require research – please talk about the process. Do you do the research first and then write, while you’re writing, after the novel is complete and you need to fill in the gaps?

Though all of my works are infused with humor, substantive content and commentary on important policy issues are woven into the narrative. Since I helped run the pre-eminent social policy academic research unit in the country, and taught policy courses for many years, I don’t have to do much additional research. Still, I sometimes need to reacquaint myself with local sites or update myself on emerging political controversies and characters. I do that as I go along.

Writing is a protean process for me. I have a general idea of here I am going but the journey is not laid out in detail. In my fictional works, characters and plot twists take on a life of their own.

What’s your writing space like? Do you have a particular spot to write where the muse is more active? Please tell us about it.

No special spot, wherever I am comfortable with my laptop. Of course, it must be a spot that will accommodate my dog who insists on cuddling next to me.

In truth, whether for memoirs, policy works, or fiction, ideas and narrative are constantly floating through my head… in bed trying to sleep, walking the dog, simply having a cup of coffee. The creative process never stops. Also, the itty, wry sense of humor found in all my work comes naturally to me. It is me.

What authors do you enjoy reading within or outside of your genre?

No particular authors. However, I like mysteries, biographies, and works on political and policy issues.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers today?

One reader commented on my books, “he makes me laugh a lot and think a little.” Good enough for me.

Thank you for coming back to Reviews and Interviews!