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"JANOOSE and the FALL FEATHER FAIR https://cerealauthors.wordpress.com/2020/ 07/17/janoose-and-the-fall-feather-fair-2/"
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Tell us about your book(s) Well, its now 1949 and eighteen-year-old pitching phenom Mickey Tussler is back with the
rejuvenated minor league Brewers in the sequel to The Legend of Mickey Tussler
(the basis for the television movie A Mile in His Shoes). Despite Mickey’s proclamation that he will never play baseball again after last season’s violent conclusion, his manager—and now surrogate father—Arthur Murphy cajoles the emotionally fragile, socially awkward boy with autism into giving it another shot. Mickey reluctantly returns to the field and must once again cope with the violence and hatred around him. When a young African American player joins the team, the entire team is subjected to racial threats and episodes of violence, one of which Mickey witnesses firsthand. Struggling to understand such ugliness and hatred, and fearful of reprisal should he tell anyone about what he has seen, the boy’s performance on the field suffers. Mickey now must deal with a side of human nature he scarcely comprehends.

Where did the idea of your (latest) book come from? As an English teacher for over twenty years at Oceanside High School, I have had the opportunity to work with our Best Buddies chapter, which is just one of the almost 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. I first became involved with Best Buddies when I came to Oceanside. I was intrigued by how this club was able to foster awareness and acceptance for kids with special needs. After I had the idea to write my first Mickey Tussler novel, I immersed myself even further in the culture of the Oceanside Best Buddies chapter – to ensure that I would do justice in my representation of a young man with autism. I have never looked back. Working so closely with children with autism and teens and getting to know their families has been more fulfilling than I ever could have imagined. My character Mickey is the embodiment of all the magic I have witnessed over many years and has become a wonderful vehicle for me to further connect with families of children with special needs and teens.

Who and what inspires you to write your books? My inspiration comes in many different forms - from people I have met, organizations I have volunteered with, and my day to day life. I'm most fascinated with the human condition and that often sparks an idea.

Each author has their own fascinating journey. How did you begin writing? I have a vague recollection of when I began writing. I can remember writing a story when I was very young - maybe five or six years old. It was about a king who rescues a girl and makes her his queen. Not really sure where the idea came from, or even how good it was. I just remember my mom typing it for me when I was finished and that image always makes me smile. Professionally? I published my first novel with St. Martin’s Press in 2005 and have had the good fortune of publishing three more.

What has been the most pleasant surprise about being a writer? How about the most unexpected downside? I would say my recent endorsement from bestselling author Nelson DeMille of my thriller NOBODY HAS TO KNOW was amazing as well as having The Legend of Mickey Tussler made into a movie (A Mile in His Shoes); two very pleasant surprises. The downside has been the time needed to "get the word out" about my books. Seems like a full-time job some days!!

Do you have any particular writing routines or rituals? Do you write in order? Since teaching high school English and creative writing is my full-time job, writing happens whenver there is a free moment or nanosecond. So it's hard to have any particular routine or ritual as it really all depends on having the time whenver I can squeeze it in between marking papers and writing lesson plans!

What is on your playlist when you write? I usually prefer quiet when I write, but if I listen to anything it's definitely Country!

Favorite writing snack? Trail Mix

Where do you like to write? I suppose my writing space is not that unlike those of other authors. Well … maybe that's not entirely true. I do most of my writing in my office at home, a modest room with walls adorned with my most treasured baseball memorabilia, highlighted by a beautiful 16X20 black and white Cooperstown signed photo of Ted Williams which hangs right over my desk. I have other wonderful items in the room as well, including game used spikes signed by Tony Gwynn, an autographed Sports Illustrated cover celebrating Hank Aaron's 715th home run and two Shea Stadium seats that I acquired after the Mets shut down the old place. There's lots more as well. My actual desk is littered with items you would expect any author to have handy — some practical and germane to the writing process and some which hover I suppose in the realm of the idiosyncratic I suppose. I have plenty of pens and pencils, a clock, an old fashioned dictionary, and other office supply stuff like paper clips, tape, staples, etc. The more colorful items cluttering my desktop include a tiny wooden Hemingway House replica I bought while in Key West, a 12 inch Batman figure, New York Met Bobblehead, San Diego Sno Globe, lots of loose family photos and a F.Scott Fitzgerald magnetic finger puppet I received as a gift. It is quite an odd amalgamation of things but it works for me!

Do you have any advice for authors wanting to publish? I always pass along the same advice that was given to me by Scott Turow after the publication of my first novel Echoes From The Infantry. It is one simple line: just keep writing. This is a very competitive business and success is predicated on getting your work out there to be read. The more opportunities people have to read your writing the more likely you are to succeed.

Are you currently working on anything else? I am presently working on another mystery/thriller and also the third and final installment of my Mickey Tussler series. I am also entertaining a few other ideas as well.

Who is your favorite character and why? The title character, Mickey, is probably my favorite. He is pure of heart yet is a multi-faceted young man who I believe is very engaging.

Favorite book of all time? The Great Gatsby - my favorite author is probably the favorite author of every writer - or at least he should be. F.Scott Fitzgerald was a linguistic genius. He understood the rhythm of the written word the way a composer understands musical notes. There is such an ease and natural flow to his work - tantamount to the way the birds sing. It’s seamless, beautiful and moving. The Great Gatsby, his signature work, embodies all of these qualities like no other work of American fiction. Many of Fitzgerald’s shorter works possess this same artfulness

Breakfast says a lot about a person, what is your perfect breakfast? What does it say about a person when one doesn’t eat it then???

Please tell us in one sentence why we should read your book. It's a story about overcoming obstacles, self-discovery, and the human condition that will resonate.

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