Interview Answers for Waldorf Publishing

Question: How did you get your start in the literary world?  

Answer:  I actually started writing poems as a teenager, attempting to impress young ladies, though to no avail I might add, except for a smile or two.  A few years ago while working in a high pressure career, I began to escape by reading and by writing for the fun of it.  I amused myself by writing witty stories which led to my first book, Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie and then to my other published books, My Favorite Girlfriend, and More Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie. 

Question: Can you tell us a little more about what you do?  

Answer:  I retired in 2016, but I was a Vice President of Finance for Computer Sciences Corporation, a large S&P 500 company at the time.  It was a wondrous career of negotiating large financial contracts with stints in Malaysia, India, Europe, Canada, and the United States.  I was also responsible for the accounting/ finances for large segments in Computer Science Corporation.  

I had an easy-going manner notwithstanding the pressure, and I kept the organization upbeat with my humorous pronouncements at tense moments.   One time, when an organization under my auspices reported an unexpected lower profit, I called a conference call with the responsible employees.  They thought I would be very upset, but I shocked them when I asked, “How many people died because of this financial shortfall?”  “None” was the answer.  Then I asked, “How many people were hospitalized because of this financial shortfall?”  “None” was the answer.  To their surprise, I exclaimed, “Then we are all good, for it’s only money after all,” to everyone’s relief on the call.  

Question:  What is your favorite part of being an author?  

Answer:  Writing allows me to relive my youth, embellishing it somewhat, but enjoying the freedom to wander back in time; an easier, less complicated time in my life.

Rod Serling was a screenwriter par excellence with many credits to his name, though he won lasting fame for his science-fiction TV series, The Twilight Zone.  In one episode, “Walking Distance,” a traveling executive has car trouble on a country road.  The man walks to the small town nearby where he was born and discovers himself as a boy. Nothing has changed in the town, but he realizes he cannot stay.  In a similar manner to this episode, I have written two comical, fiction books about Frankie, the witty caddie, based on my experience as a caddie growing up, and a humorous, romantic comedy of my adolescence, allowing me to relive my adventurous life as a  boy once more.  

Question:  How did you get your inspiration? 

Answer:  As a kid, I was a caddie for some really fascinating men and one woman at a beautiful golf course, River Vale Country Club, in New Jersey.  I caddied for Jackie Robinson, the famous baseball player, Don Adams, the first Get Smart series actor, the husband of Barbara Feldon, the actress, and many savvy businessmen from New York City and New Jersey.  I used those experiences, along with my amusing comments to golfers or audacious actions on the course, to write my books, Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie and More Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie.  My other book, My Favorite Girlfriend, is an entertaining, humorous memoir which was inspired by my constant desire to have a girlfriend as I was growing up.  My success in basketball and achieving good grades in school helped me overcome my funny-looking appearance to gain notice, but my exuberant, immature personality always seemed to undermine a serious relationship with the opposite sex.  Would I ever find my favorite girlfriend?  

Question:  Of all the characters you’ve created, which one would you like to see come alive on the silver screen?  

Answer:  I would envision Frankie, the witty caddie, as a marvelous new character for the silver screen, detailing his many caddying adventures for some really unique golfers/characters and some caricatures of people on the golf course.   

Question:  What is the funniest thing to happen to you in your career?  

Answer:  In Malaysia, I used to keep to myself a bit, but one night, the guys from work got me to go out and have a drink at a club.  All of sudden, multiple young women approached me and wanted to dance with me.  I was unnerved, but pleased.  The next day in an important meeting with the customer, I announced, in jest, that I had become very handsome, considering all the women who wanted to dance with me the previous night.  The customer, laughing, told me in front of the entire team that those women were “working women,” creating great laughter for all in the room, including a startled me. 

Question:  Can you tell us a bit about your book, Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie?  

Answer:  My first book, Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie, is a fun-loving, amusing book about a 14-year-old, scrawny, but strong, talkative kid.  He finds joy caddying for inept golfers, utilizing his brash, clever tongue to both praise and make fun of the golfers to their surprising delight.  Frankie’s startlingly, indomitable actions also help the golfer who hired him to be his caddie.  This book is fictional for all ages above 5 years old. 

Question:  What is your next big project?  Answer:  As I mentioned, I have published 2 other books, My Favorite Girlfriend, and More Golfing Adventures with Frankie, the Witty Caddie.  I am currently writing a new book, The End, which is a fictional, lighthearted story about unusual friendships, involving romantic relationships with a witty twist.