Where did you come up with your idea for The Book of Zev?
The opening quote is what inspired me to want to write this story: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men (and women) to do nothing.”
Was there a person that was your inspiration for The Book of Zev?
I was returning on a train from a screenwriting conference where I’d conducted a workshop on creating great characters using my trademarked writing system, and met a man, a religious Jew, who was having a crisis of faith. We talked for three hours and the next thing I knew, I was writing a book.
Who would you like to thank for getting you where you are today?
Wow, that is probably at least a novella!
I would have to start with God, followed by my maternal grandparents, who wrote a book together, Faith through Reason, an attempt to reconcile Judaism and Christianity. I would thank the real person that the character of Sylvie is based on. Then there were my parents, who had a vast library, which I read almost in its entirety. I also thank my first grade teacher, Mrs. Rank, who produced my first play when I was in first grade, and Lou Stanek, a writing teacher who guided me through my first attempts at writing fiction. And finally, I must thank Mrs. Wallace, my third grade teacher, who published my short stories in the school magazine. Then there’s my ex, who helped me develop my writing system, and Michael Zam, who inspired me to write my first nonfiction book on my writing method.
If I had to thank one person above others, it would be my mother, who helped me put together that first play and even made my costume for the play. My mother also edited part of The Book of Zev before she died, and was always my toughest critic.
Tell us how you got yourself to where you are today?
I wrote my first play at six, my first “book” when I was eight, and kept going until I went to film school, where I began to write films. A friend asked me to take over her screenwriting class, and after that I began working as a script doctor, producer, and a private writing coach. Years went by and then one day I realized I’d forgotten my dream. My mother was terminally ill, and I suddenly became aware that life is very short. Soon after, I met the man on the train, and three years later, here I am, a soon-to-be- published novelist!
Marilyn Ida Horowitz is a producer, writing coach, and award-winning professor of screenwriting at New York University. From her books on her trademarked writing system—now standard reading at NYU—to her appearances at Screenwriters World and The Great American Screenwriting Conference & PitchFest, Marilyn has guided the careers of literally hundreds of writers. She is currently featured in the Now Write! Screenwriting Anthology (Tarcher/Penguin) and in the upcoming The Expert Success Solution (Morgan James). Her production credits include And Then Came Love (2007), starring Vanessa Williams.
Where else you can find Marilyn around the web:
***** Now onto the giveaway! Marilyn is being kind enough to offer a print copy of The Book of Zev to one lucky U.S. winner or an e-copy if the winner is located internationally! *****
Here are the rules!
To become eligible to win, all you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter form below!
· The winner of the contest will be announced on this blog
· The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only for the physical copy or kindle version and international winners will receive only the kindle version
· You will receive your choice of a physical copy or kindle version, if that is what you prefer in and are located in the U.S., of the book The Book of Zev. If you are located outside the U.S. you will receive an e-copy. The winner will receive the book within two weeks after the winner is announced
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
What an interesting interview. I always enjoy hearing from authors and finding out where they get their ideas. How cool that a train ride sparked the idea for this book! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete~Jess