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Amazon.com: Where are you from? How--if at all--has your sense
of place colored your writing?
A.J.: I was born in Chicago, raised in New York, schooled in Los
Angeles, and spent 7 of my adult years in Kentucky. I guess you could
say I'm from all over, though I'll always consider myself a New Yorker.
I think the mix of rural and urban lifestyles has given me a well-rounded
perspective about people. I'm not as judgemental as most New
Yorkers, but, I must admit, I do like things to happen fast. People tell
me that my books read fast, and I like that.
Amazon.com: When and why did you begin writing? When did you
first consider yourself a writer?
A.J.: I started writing in second grade, when I was assigned to explain
"The sex life of an ant." Professionally, I began at age 20, publishing a
syndicated column nation-wide with United Features. In those years, I
interviewed celebrities, mostly TV stars, people like Joan Rivers and
Betty White and Larry Hagman, so I had a lot of fun with it.
Amazon.com: Who or what has influenced your writing, and in
what way? What books have most influenced your life?
A.J.: Without question, Hemingway. I did a PH.D. in literature at
NYU, and wrote my dissertaion on Hemingway. I love his style because
it's so simple, yet he says a great deal. Hemingway's style was
earth-shattering in his day, especially with people like Henry James
publishing such highly stylized works. But more importantly,
Hemingway's books taught me the code by which I try to live: Honor,
discipline, skill, and faith.
Amazon.com: What is the most romantic book you've ever read?
The scariest? The funniest?
A.J.: Most Romantic: Sonnets from the Portuguese. Scariest: Ritual
Sex. Funniest: Anything about Kathy Lee Gifford.
Amazon.com: What music, if any, most inspires you to write? What
do you like to listen to while writing?
A.J.: I'm inspired by classical music, also by hip-hop.
Amazon.com: What are you reading now? What CD is currently in
your stereo?
A.J.: I'm just beginning Memoirs of a Geisha and Bad Boys. I'm
listening to the soundtrack from the movie GO.
Amazon.com: What are you working on?
A.J.: I'm reseaching worthy murder stories across America. A murder
has to have an underlying social problem in order for me to want to
write about it. If anyone has a suggestion, please e-mail me.
Amazon.com: Use this space to write about whatever you wish.
A.J.: I wish that we could all join forces and help fight crime a little
more because I think we could get the crime-rate down. I hope that one
day, we will make this world a safer place, maybe a bit more like
Mayberry. Right now, in little pockets all across America, people are
scared. I'd like to change that. |
