| Interview with Phil Bildner |
TRT reviewer Christian C. recently had the chance to "sit down" with author Phil Bildner for an
interview via instant messenger. What follows is a transcript of that interview, typos and random
digs included. Sorry about that, Phil!
interview via instant messenger. What follows is a transcript of that interview, typos and random
digs included. Sorry about that, Phil!
Christian: you ready?
Phil: will you be using this verbatim in your interview?
Christian: yes, unless you say something very stupid, and then we'll edit it ;-)
Phil: ah!
Phil: well, is the interview going to look like an IM conversation or will the dialogue be incorporated into your
writing?
Christian: it will look like IM cause we read this stuff better than a regular interview
Phil: and you'll correct the typos and del the random digs
Christian: depends on how nice you're to me
Christian: if you're mean, I’ll add more typos
Christian: ready?
Phil: yeppers, we're on the clock
Christian: can you describe yourself in a few words?
Phil: in a few words? energetic, disciplined, motivated, fun, serious
Christian: fun-serious? can you explain?
Phil: well, I'm serious about my work and goals, but i also need to have fun in my life
Christian: cool! can you describe yourself as a teen?
Phil: hmm, how about I’ll say I wasn't very comfortable in my skin or not nearly as comfortable as i am now
Christian: ok
Christian: what do you do in your free time?
Phil: all kinds of things -- I like to run, go to the gym, hang out with friends, play video games. I also like to
read, but not when I’m writing
Christian: what bugs you?
Phil: close-minded people, people who don't like to listen
Phil: I consider myself to be someone who does what he says he's going to do. I don't like it when people
don't live up to their words or representations.
Christian: what bugs people about you?
Phil: they can't keep up with me sometimes!
Phil: and I get a little too competitive from time to time. I’m not always the best loser
Christian: would you change anything about yourself?
Phil: I don't know if I’d permanently change things about myself, but if I could be tall for a day (so I could
dunk) or if I could throw a fastball 95 mph for a day (so I could pitch in the major leagues), that could be fun
Christian: If you weren't an author, what would you like to be?
Phil: I’d still be teaching full time
Christian: Can you tell me an embarrassing moment?
Phil: well, about 14 years ago, way back in the day, when I was still a lawyer...
Phil: I was fortunate enough to score a pass to the Democratic National Convention in New York City...
Phil: well, I didn't know I was going to get the pass until the last minute...
Phil: so I rushed out of the office to go...
Phil: now I had planned on going home that night to clean my apartment since I was supposed to have
guests coming for the weekend...
Phil: when I got to security at the convention...
Phil: I had a tough time getting through security with my scrubbing bubbles and toilet bowl cleaner...
Christian: OH MAN!!!! LOL!
Phil: all the lawyers and security personnel had quite a laugh at my expense
Phil: but...
Phil: I did get to hear Jesse Jackson speak that night so it was worth it!
Christian: you were a teacher for many years
Phil: 11
Christian: how would your students describe you?
Phil: fun, but no-nonsense.
Phil: fair...and a little bit crazy
Christian: would you have liked yourself as a student?
Phil: yes, I was a good student
Christian: when you were a teen...
Christian: did you ever skip classes?
Phil: yes
Christian: ever cheated?
Phil: no, I cut classes from time to time, but I never cheated
Christian: ever been dumped?
Phil: um, er, let's say I had a few disappointments in my time
Christian: about writing…
Christian: you've written a number of books about baseball
Christian: are you any good at baseball?
Phil: yes, I still play baseball and softball
Christian: about your novel: Playing the Field
Christian: Why should anyone read it?
Phil: well, for one thing, I think it's a totally over-the-top and irreverent look at high school life...and I think
teen readers get that kind of humor
Christian: what's the best comment you got about it?
Phil: I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback from readers through my website. I like when readers are able to
identify with the traits and actions of the principles. I’ve also gotten comments where a reader will tell me
they thought they were reading about someone they knew
Christian: what's the worst comment you got?
Phil: oh, man!
Christian: or the comment that hurt the most
Phil: well, I don't think any of the comments actually hurt, per se, but some of them were less than kind
Phil: I’m getting you a quote, hang on
Phil: "Hard to understand how it got published; Will appeal with pushing"
Christian: when your books get printed, do you read them?
Phil: I always read my books once they're printed
Phil: I read my picture books out loud whenever i have the chance
Christian: what's your first reaction/thought when you see the following words...
Christian: IM
Phil: I find IM to be "rather" old school. It’s what we did before we started texting all the time
Christian: Censorship
Phil: a constant, uphill battle
Christian: Cellphones
Phil: how can they not allow New York City Public School kids to even bring them into school? It’s the
stupidest rule I’ve ever heard. Let them leave them in their lockers!
Christian: Advil
Phil: two a day
Christian: Lice
Phil: kindergarten class, a rite of passage
Christian: snow
Phil: cold
Phil: no school?
Christian: Dogs
Phil: will I be getting one soon?
Phil: and and and
Phil: if you're going to live in Manhattan, don't name it taxi!
Christian: Should I be asking anything else?
Phil: that's for you to decide, but I think that gives you a glimpse inside, don't you?
Christian: yeah, but that was one of the questions of the interview ;-)
Christian: hey, Phil, thanks so much for taking the time to answer the questions
Christian: and getting people to know you better
Phil: no worries
Christian: Christian, reporting live from Westchester, NY, for TRT, :-)
Phil: will you be using this verbatim in your interview?
Christian: yes, unless you say something very stupid, and then we'll edit it ;-)
Phil: ah!
Phil: well, is the interview going to look like an IM conversation or will the dialogue be incorporated into your
writing?
Christian: it will look like IM cause we read this stuff better than a regular interview
Phil: and you'll correct the typos and del the random digs
Christian: depends on how nice you're to me
Christian: if you're mean, I’ll add more typos
Christian: ready?
Phil: yeppers, we're on the clock
Christian: can you describe yourself in a few words?
Phil: in a few words? energetic, disciplined, motivated, fun, serious
Christian: fun-serious? can you explain?
Phil: well, I'm serious about my work and goals, but i also need to have fun in my life
Christian: cool! can you describe yourself as a teen?
Phil: hmm, how about I’ll say I wasn't very comfortable in my skin or not nearly as comfortable as i am now
Christian: ok
Christian: what do you do in your free time?
Phil: all kinds of things -- I like to run, go to the gym, hang out with friends, play video games. I also like to
read, but not when I’m writing
Christian: what bugs you?
Phil: close-minded people, people who don't like to listen
Phil: I consider myself to be someone who does what he says he's going to do. I don't like it when people
don't live up to their words or representations.
Christian: what bugs people about you?
Phil: they can't keep up with me sometimes!
Phil: and I get a little too competitive from time to time. I’m not always the best loser
Christian: would you change anything about yourself?
Phil: I don't know if I’d permanently change things about myself, but if I could be tall for a day (so I could
dunk) or if I could throw a fastball 95 mph for a day (so I could pitch in the major leagues), that could be fun
Christian: If you weren't an author, what would you like to be?
Phil: I’d still be teaching full time
Christian: Can you tell me an embarrassing moment?
Phil: well, about 14 years ago, way back in the day, when I was still a lawyer...
Phil: I was fortunate enough to score a pass to the Democratic National Convention in New York City...
Phil: well, I didn't know I was going to get the pass until the last minute...
Phil: so I rushed out of the office to go...
Phil: now I had planned on going home that night to clean my apartment since I was supposed to have
guests coming for the weekend...
Phil: when I got to security at the convention...
Phil: I had a tough time getting through security with my scrubbing bubbles and toilet bowl cleaner...
Christian: OH MAN!!!! LOL!
Phil: all the lawyers and security personnel had quite a laugh at my expense
Phil: but...
Phil: I did get to hear Jesse Jackson speak that night so it was worth it!
Christian: you were a teacher for many years
Phil: 11
Christian: how would your students describe you?
Phil: fun, but no-nonsense.
Phil: fair...and a little bit crazy
Christian: would you have liked yourself as a student?
Phil: yes, I was a good student
Christian: when you were a teen...
Christian: did you ever skip classes?
Phil: yes
Christian: ever cheated?
Phil: no, I cut classes from time to time, but I never cheated
Christian: ever been dumped?
Phil: um, er, let's say I had a few disappointments in my time
Christian: about writing…
Christian: you've written a number of books about baseball
Christian: are you any good at baseball?
Phil: yes, I still play baseball and softball
Christian: about your novel: Playing the Field
Christian: Why should anyone read it?
Phil: well, for one thing, I think it's a totally over-the-top and irreverent look at high school life...and I think
teen readers get that kind of humor
Christian: what's the best comment you got about it?
Phil: I’ve gotten a lot of great feedback from readers through my website. I like when readers are able to
identify with the traits and actions of the principles. I’ve also gotten comments where a reader will tell me
they thought they were reading about someone they knew
Christian: what's the worst comment you got?
Phil: oh, man!
Christian: or the comment that hurt the most
Phil: well, I don't think any of the comments actually hurt, per se, but some of them were less than kind
Phil: I’m getting you a quote, hang on
Phil: "Hard to understand how it got published; Will appeal with pushing"
Christian: when your books get printed, do you read them?
Phil: I always read my books once they're printed
Phil: I read my picture books out loud whenever i have the chance
Christian: what's your first reaction/thought when you see the following words...
Christian: IM
Phil: I find IM to be "rather" old school. It’s what we did before we started texting all the time
Christian: Censorship
Phil: a constant, uphill battle
Christian: Cellphones
Phil: how can they not allow New York City Public School kids to even bring them into school? It’s the
stupidest rule I’ve ever heard. Let them leave them in their lockers!
Christian: Advil
Phil: two a day
Christian: Lice
Phil: kindergarten class, a rite of passage
Christian: snow
Phil: cold
Phil: no school?
Christian: Dogs
Phil: will I be getting one soon?
Phil: and and and
Phil: if you're going to live in Manhattan, don't name it taxi!
Christian: Should I be asking anything else?
Phil: that's for you to decide, but I think that gives you a glimpse inside, don't you?
Christian: yeah, but that was one of the questions of the interview ;-)
Christian: hey, Phil, thanks so much for taking the time to answer the questions
Christian: and getting people to know you better
Phil: no worries
Christian: Christian, reporting live from Westchester, NY, for TRT, :-)