Josh Berk is a man of many talents—husband, daddy, Twitterer extraordinaire. Oh, and he also wrote a book coming out February 9, 2010. It’s called THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN (Knopf), and if you haven’t heard of it, I don’t know where you’ve been living as it’s been racking up amazing reviews like they were on the endangered species list.
I recently got to sit down with The Berk (ok, the sit-down part took place in my head, but he really answered the questions below, and I’m betting he answered them sitting down) and chat one tribe member to another. We kibbitzed, got a little verklempt, and had an all around great time. Now, for the pleasure of Josh’s fans (more on that later), I have some excerpts of that convo. And, if that’s not enough of a Berk fix, visit Josh’s site: www.joshberkbooks.com.
1. Your strong online presence has been discussed with envy. I mean you have your own groupies and everything. (I believe they’re called “Berkies”). Are you surprised by how natural social networking is for you? Did it make you nervous at all?
I don’t think I have groupies! And I’m sure no one has ever said “Berkies” before. But good one! Ha! I do agree that social networking has been surprisingly natural for me. I was really late to blogging and the whole online world. I didn’t really get started with any of it until I joined the Tenners about a year ago and Heidi Kling was like “You should blog! You should get on Facebook! You should try Twitter!” It’s all Heidi’s fault, essentially. But in another sense, it’s not that surprising. I’m just friendly and chatty and goofy online just like I am in real life. I don’t have anything resembling a plan to create an online presence. I just enjoy connecting with people — other authors, readers, bloggers, librarians, teachers. They’re all fun to talk to and to joke around with. Sometimes it still makes me nervous — mainly that I’ll make a joke and upset someone, but I view it just as a series of interactions with people, not an “online presence.” And nearly everyone I have met has been incredibly friendly and wonderful. No reason to feel nervous when you’re surrounded by such great folks!
2. Do you have advice for other writers on how to make the most of online tools to create book buzz? Say, if a writer wanted her own groupies, maybe called Gelbwasseries or Gelbwassies, (gosh, that just rolls off your tongue, doesn’t it?) how would she go about that?
Hm, yes, perhaps first step would be to get a catchy last name! Sorry. Besides that? It sounds really corny (like, ridiculously corny) but I read somewhere that your strategy should just be “To be yourself — everyone else is already taken.” Again: totally corny. But that’s the closest thing I have to a guiding principle when it comes to this stuff. I certainly don’t have a gameplan. I’m just goofing around, making friends one weird joke at a time. And if I’m doing something interesting or funny online, it’s mostly likely because I’m just trying to keep up with the awesomeness of the Tenners, or with friends like Sarah Ockler, who is infinitely more clever and funny than I will ever be. So surround yourself with great people and just be yourself! Oh, also: get a nemesis. A good nemesis is always good for buzz. Haaaawkins!
3. You blog about Jewish stuff often. Have you ever wanted to write a book focused on Jewish characters or subject? A humor one perhaps?
Good question! Because in fact my first book-length manuscript — I call it now “my practice novel” — was all about Jewish stuff. The main character was the only Jewish kid at a Catholic high school. This does happen in real life sometimes and it struck me as very bizarre. It also struck me as a fun setting for an outsider tale, which I’m always drawn to. The main character was a classic shlemiel, like Woody Allen, who I love. (Um, his movies, not him personally.) Lots of Jewish humor. But it wasn’t a very good novel because I didn’t know anything about plot and it was all just jokes and no action. But now I’m revisiting the topic in a way, with my second book. It’s also about a Jewish kid who is fond of wise-cracking, but (hopefully) I’ve put him in a more exciting plot. There is a dead body and forensics and a murder investigation and such. Also his father is a strong Jewish character — a macho Jew, a tough mensch who also has a way with words. He’s a character I’m very proud of.
4. Other than Won Ton soup, what’s your favorite Jewish food?
Hm, probably whitefish! Also bagels. And I’d like to give a shout-out to “He-brew,” the chosen beer. That makes me laugh every time.
5. Can you describe your writing process? Do you like note cards, post-its, pad and paper or are you computer all the way?
I make notes on whatever is handy — note cards, envelopes, notebooks… A lot of times I type notes to myself in my cell phone organizer. This is because when I’m writing a book it takes over my head. There are times of course that I sit down to write, but I’m always thinking about the book. When I was doing HAMBURGER HALPIN I was always thinking, “What would Will think of this? What would he say about that guy? What would he order at this resturant?” And then I would jot it down. And then dump those notes into a big text file and start cutting and pasting to make these random ideas fit into the plot outline. I definitely outline, but mostly it’s a process which is chaotic and insane, befitting its author.
6. I really liked how you developed the idea for HAMBURGER HALPIN—how the character came to you, etc. Do you often get book ideas from dreams?
I often jot down my dreams. Rarely do they become novels! Sometimes I’ll get an idea for a character or a line of dialogue or something fun from a dream. This was the only time that a dream became the germ for the novel. But it really was just that — the germ. The real work comes after that. The idea for book #2 I was talking about before came straight from a newspaper article. But I just took one basic fact from the article and then spent well over a year creating the whole fictional world to surround the one event. These germs can come from anywhere so I always try to keep my eyes open.
7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
The first thing I always say is to read. I didn’t become half-way decent at writing YA novels until I read tons of them (hundreds, literally) and I don’t think this step is optional unless you’re some sort of super-genius. Also I think it’s good advice to read at least one “how to write a novel” book, preferably by someone whose advice runs opposite to your natural style. For example, if you’re a nuts-and-bolts plotter you should read a flighty “embrace your inner creativity” book. And if you’re a flighty type you should read a book by a nuts-and-bolts plotter. Finally, I think you should not worry very much about publishing while writing your first book. Just write it for fun and for practice. If you don’t think writing is fun (at least sometimes) and you are against the idea of practicing, you won’t get very far anyway. So just write something, enjoy it, make it as great as you can make it, and then worry about the business-y steps of finding an agent, a publisher, a spot on the shelves for your awards, etc. later.
8. Your book will be out in a week. What are some things you’re feeling? Will you be having a launch? Deets please.
Nervous! When I first sold the manuscript I felt nervous, when I first saw the ARC I felt nervous, when the excerpt from the book went online I felt nervous, when reviewers starting getting it I felt nervous… Basically the thought of anyone reading it makes me nervous! So thinking about February 9 when possibly a bunch of people will be reading it at once … this makes me nervous! I am going to be celebrating the launch with a bunch of library appearances. One of them will have cake, so we shall call that one the official launch. So basically my plans are to get nervous and eat cake. This is actually not very different than a usual day.
9. Are you still connected to Will Halpin and the other characters in your book? Mine often continue speaking to me even after the book is done. What do you say to them? Do you have last words or well-wishes for them you’d like to share?
I think about him sometimes for sure! Especially when I get the courage to read through the book. I wonder what’s next for him. It’s more that I wonder what else he has to say to me than what I have to say to him. Haha. Writers are so weird.
Thanks for having me! L’chaim!
2 comments for “Tenner Tuesday: Two Jew Interview with Josh Berk”