| Interview with Jordan Sonnenblick |
TRT reviewer Christian C. recently had the chance to "sit down" with author Jordan Sonnenblick
for an interview via instant messenger. What follows is a transcript of that interview. And I
promise that we won't even laugh about Ted. <snicker>
for an interview via instant messenger. What follows is a transcript of that interview. And I
promise that we won't even laugh about Ted. <snicker>
C: What’s your name?
J: Jordan Sonnenblick
C: Is that your real name?
J: Yup. Well, my middle name is Ted, but I don't use it much.
C: Describe yourself in a few words
J: Caring, funny, really fond of naps.
C: Describe yourself as a teen
J: I was the dorky kid with the super-thick glasses, the easy high grades, and the acid sarcasm. I wore
lots of black shirts and combat fatigues with holes in them. The thing that saved my social life was that I
was really good at playing the drums.
C: What do you do in your free time?
J: Be a dad. My fave free time activities lately are pitching baseballs to my 8-year-old son (I have a killer
curveball) and riding bikes with my 5-yr-old daughter. Especially as an author with a busy travel
schedule, I really value that time.
C: What bugs you?
J: Book banning, global warming, the Bush administration, fanatics of any persuasion, and getting put on
hold.
C: What bugs people about you?
J: Dunno. They're too afraid of my devastating wit and formidable fighting skills to tell me.
C: What would you change about yourself?
J: I'd be more relaxed -- I tend to panic a lot about things I can't control, like book reviews and when the
IRS makes mistakes. And I'd be three inches taller, which would put me at 6'2". Is that so much to ask?
C: If you weren’t an author, what would you like to be?
J: An eagle. Because, let's face it, birds of prey are cooler than novelists.
C: Can you share an embarrassing moment?
J: Sure. When I was in 6th grade I had a loose tooth. So in an attempt to gross out my English teacher, I
blew on the tooth really hard while talking to her. The tooth flew out of my mouth and went down the front
of her shirt. I flew out of the room and went down to the office.
C: About teaching… I heard you are a teacher… How would your students describe you?
J: Funny but strict. Drinks too much coffee. Loves the subject and works to make us love it too. Really
bad singing voice.
C: Would you have liked yourself as a student? Why?
J: Yes, because I always like the wisecracking kids that other teachers loathe. And I was one of them.
C: Did you ever skip classes as a teen?
J: Yes, especially during my senior year at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. I applied early decision
to the University of Pennsylvania, and got accepted. So the second semester wasn't a real high priority
in my life, scholarhood-wise. Except for creative writing class, which was taught by Frank McCourt
(author of Angela's Ashes) before he became a famous writer.
C: Ever cheated?
J: Nope.
C: Ever been dumped? Why? By whom?
J: Oh yeah, but I have to save all of that material for future novels.
C: About writing… Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie...Why should anyone read it?
J: 'Cause my mom liked it. And so did Booklist.
C: Why do you think it’s a good book? Wait! Do you think it’s a good book?
J: I do think it's a good book. In all seriousness, I wrote Drums for a student of mine who needed it. And I
think when you write because you are compelled to tell a particular story, the urgency seeps into the
writing. I get emails all the time from people who have stayed up until the wee hours because they
NEEDED to finish the book in one sitting.
C: The obvious question: Can you play the drums?
J: Like a madman.
C: Did you cry when you wrote it?
J: I didn't cry when I wrote Drums, although I frequently get all teared-up when I am telling people the
story behind it.
C: What’s the best comment you got about your book?
J: I was breaking up a fight between two seventh-grade boys in a hallway at my school, and had one of
them up against the wall. He was struggling to get past me so he could punch the other kid again. Then
he read my name tag, stopped fighting, and said, "Hey, I loved your book!"
C: What’s the worst?
J: I haven't really gotten roasted too badly since I wrote the book, but several people told me I was crazy
while I was writing it. A funny book about childhood cancer? Forget about it!
C: Did you read the book after it was published?
J: Nope. I can't stand looking back at my own stuff -- it makes me nervous.
C: What’s your first reaction/thought when you hear the following words: IM
J: UR?
C: Censorship
J: Yuck.
C: Cell phones
J: Why don't I ever remember to charge these stupid things?
C: Alcohol
J: Baby wipes. You can tell what a total dad I am . . .
C: We need to talk
J: Sure, right after I finish answering this email.
C: In laws
J: Outlaws.
C: Money
J: Advil.
C: Mothballs
J: Grape Nuts
C: Should I be asking you anything else?
J: Uh uh.
C: This is the end of the interview Are you happy its over?
J: Yeah, because I am starving, but refused to let myself eat lunch 'til I finished with the interview.
C: Have a great one, and thanks so much for answering all these questions.
J: Likewise, and thanks for asking 'em.
J: Jordan Sonnenblick
C: Is that your real name?
J: Yup. Well, my middle name is Ted, but I don't use it much.
C: Describe yourself in a few words
J: Caring, funny, really fond of naps.
C: Describe yourself as a teen
J: I was the dorky kid with the super-thick glasses, the easy high grades, and the acid sarcasm. I wore
lots of black shirts and combat fatigues with holes in them. The thing that saved my social life was that I
was really good at playing the drums.
C: What do you do in your free time?
J: Be a dad. My fave free time activities lately are pitching baseballs to my 8-year-old son (I have a killer
curveball) and riding bikes with my 5-yr-old daughter. Especially as an author with a busy travel
schedule, I really value that time.
C: What bugs you?
J: Book banning, global warming, the Bush administration, fanatics of any persuasion, and getting put on
hold.
C: What bugs people about you?
J: Dunno. They're too afraid of my devastating wit and formidable fighting skills to tell me.
C: What would you change about yourself?
J: I'd be more relaxed -- I tend to panic a lot about things I can't control, like book reviews and when the
IRS makes mistakes. And I'd be three inches taller, which would put me at 6'2". Is that so much to ask?
C: If you weren’t an author, what would you like to be?
J: An eagle. Because, let's face it, birds of prey are cooler than novelists.
C: Can you share an embarrassing moment?
J: Sure. When I was in 6th grade I had a loose tooth. So in an attempt to gross out my English teacher, I
blew on the tooth really hard while talking to her. The tooth flew out of my mouth and went down the front
of her shirt. I flew out of the room and went down to the office.
C: About teaching… I heard you are a teacher… How would your students describe you?
J: Funny but strict. Drinks too much coffee. Loves the subject and works to make us love it too. Really
bad singing voice.
C: Would you have liked yourself as a student? Why?
J: Yes, because I always like the wisecracking kids that other teachers loathe. And I was one of them.
C: Did you ever skip classes as a teen?
J: Yes, especially during my senior year at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. I applied early decision
to the University of Pennsylvania, and got accepted. So the second semester wasn't a real high priority
in my life, scholarhood-wise. Except for creative writing class, which was taught by Frank McCourt
(author of Angela's Ashes) before he became a famous writer.
C: Ever cheated?
J: Nope.
C: Ever been dumped? Why? By whom?
J: Oh yeah, but I have to save all of that material for future novels.
C: About writing… Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie...Why should anyone read it?
J: 'Cause my mom liked it. And so did Booklist.
C: Why do you think it’s a good book? Wait! Do you think it’s a good book?
J: I do think it's a good book. In all seriousness, I wrote Drums for a student of mine who needed it. And I
think when you write because you are compelled to tell a particular story, the urgency seeps into the
writing. I get emails all the time from people who have stayed up until the wee hours because they
NEEDED to finish the book in one sitting.
C: The obvious question: Can you play the drums?
J: Like a madman.
C: Did you cry when you wrote it?
J: I didn't cry when I wrote Drums, although I frequently get all teared-up when I am telling people the
story behind it.
C: What’s the best comment you got about your book?
J: I was breaking up a fight between two seventh-grade boys in a hallway at my school, and had one of
them up against the wall. He was struggling to get past me so he could punch the other kid again. Then
he read my name tag, stopped fighting, and said, "Hey, I loved your book!"
C: What’s the worst?
J: I haven't really gotten roasted too badly since I wrote the book, but several people told me I was crazy
while I was writing it. A funny book about childhood cancer? Forget about it!
C: Did you read the book after it was published?
J: Nope. I can't stand looking back at my own stuff -- it makes me nervous.
C: What’s your first reaction/thought when you hear the following words: IM
J: UR?
C: Censorship
J: Yuck.
C: Cell phones
J: Why don't I ever remember to charge these stupid things?
C: Alcohol
J: Baby wipes. You can tell what a total dad I am . . .
C: We need to talk
J: Sure, right after I finish answering this email.
C: In laws
J: Outlaws.
C: Money
J: Advil.
C: Mothballs
J: Grape Nuts
C: Should I be asking you anything else?
J: Uh uh.
C: This is the end of the interview Are you happy its over?
J: Yeah, because I am starving, but refused to let myself eat lunch 'til I finished with the interview.
C: Have a great one, and thanks so much for answering all these questions.
J: Likewise, and thanks for asking 'em.
| Visit Mr. Sonnenblick's Website |