Interview John Paulits

by

Beverley Bateman

1) Tell me a little about yourself, John.

I was formerly a teacher in New York City. I am married. My wife is a banker, and my daughter, a Social Worker.

2) How long have you been writing?

I have been writing for some thirty years.

3) Philip and The Baby, and Philip and The Case Of Mistaken Identity, are Young Adult. Why did you choose this genre?

Having been in an elementary school classroom for over thirty years, I think I have an eye and an ear for how kids act and speak. Plus it’s great fun to put myself back into a time when everything was an adventure.

4) Do you write or have you considered writing in any other genre?

Anyone with basic Google skills can find other books I’ve published—a Shakespeare Murder series beginning with The Hamlet Murder. A sci-fi epic, Hobson’s Planet, is due out in April 2008. Plus there are a handful of horror and sci-fi stories on the web.

5) How did you do the research for the book?

No research was necessary, just rooting around in my imagination for funny situations and humorous dialogue.

6) Can you tell me a little about the story?

There are two stories in the book. The first, Philip and the Case of Mistaken Identity, involves Philip and Emery, 9-year-old best buddies, getting a new detective disguise kit and putting it to use. They come across a strange girl who lays a mystery right into their laps. The second, Philip and the Baby, involves Philip learning that he is soon to lose his only child status and will no longer be the apple of his parent’s eye. He does not like the situation.

7) What was your greatest challenge writing this book?

The greatest challenge was to keep the comedy scenes sharp and, we’ll hope, hilarious.

8) What is an average day in the life of John Paulits like?

Currently, at the Jersey shore, the newspaper and breakfast; work (like this interview); some exercise; some reading; enjoying the weather; and feeding the cats.

9) What do you do for rest and relaxation?

At the moment my whole life revolves around rest and relaxation. It seems to come naturally.

10) Where do you get your ideas for your books?

My ideas come from past incidents or times in my life as well as just making believe.

11) Do the characters or the plot come first?

Generally, a hint of a plot comes first. Then, with children’s books, determining what age the protagonists should be to get the most fun out of the plot.

12) Are you working on any other stories at this time?

There’s usually something in the back of my mind waiting to get out--another Philip book involving superstitions will be next. At the moment, though, I have some work to do preparing this current book and another volume in my Shakespeare Murder series, The Twelfth Night Murders, for publication.