Here it is, my EXCLUSIVE Interview with Author Howard Harrison

Here it is, my EXCLUSIVE Interview with Author Howard Harrison

Howard Harrison is the author of NOW They Make it Legal: Reflections of an Aging Baby Boomer. He is an award-winning journalist who spent most of his career speechwriting, ghostwriting “and producing all conceivable forms of corporate propaganda.” NOW They Make it Legal is his first bylined book title.

You can find more info on Howard, buy his book or read his blog at www.nowtheymakeitlegal.com. NOW They Make it Legal is also available at all major retail booksellers.

And now the INTERVIEW:

Jay: Your book is not typical of the books I review and our politics don’t totally jive. But I have to tell you, as someone from that era and a writer myself, I couldn’t put the book down. What took you so long to write a book?

Howard: Mostly a little thing called making a living. I didn’t have the balls to do this at a young age. Corporations and other organizations were willing to pay good money to writers like me to write for them. So I took the money. But I’m also a 100 times better writer now. How good a writer can you be at 20 or 30 when you have no perspective because you haven’t lived long enough yet?

Jay: So you don’t do corporate work anymore?

Howard: I still do. But I’m spending most of my time these days writing my next book, as well as writing and speaking to promote NOW They Make it Legal.

Jay: What’s your next book going to be about?

Howard: The 2016 U.S. presidential race. It’s practically writing itself.

Jay: I’ll bet. So what do you think of these candidates?

Howard: Jay, I know you’re into horror stories so I’m not surprised at you asking me this question. But I’m going to make you read my next book. I just tell people to relax. I wrote an article that’s appeared in several newspapers on some real strange presidential candidates from past elections. As bad as you think these are, no matter who wins, it could be worse.

Jay: Okay. Back to NOW They Make it Legal. The title obviously refers to marijuana. But that’s not really what the book is about.

Howard: No. The book is part memoir, part time capsule through which you learn much about the Baby Boom era, at least through the eyes of one of the 80 million people born between 1946 and 1964. The title is a tongue-in-cheek embittered reference to the fact that this symbol of 1960s counter culture is just now becoming legal, when most of us are getting too old to take advantage. It’s not fair. Enjoy, you youngsters out there. You’re welcome.

Jay: What stories in the book do you think my readers might like given the difference in genres?

Howard: They might like how I met Frank Zappa – when I picked up a hitchhiker who was bringing him pot. Or hung out (while hungover) with Jason Alexander’s dad. These are great stories, Jay. They don’t have to be violent. But if you like violence, I talk about the JFK, RFK and MLK assassinations. There’s a chapter on the 1968 Democratic convention. I describe the flipping of cars and burning of an American flag during a demonstration my first week at college. I like to think there’s a little something for everyone.

Jay: With NOW They Make it Legal being your first book, how has it been received? Have you received any bad reviews? How do you deal with that?

Howard: How do I say this without sounding bitter? Let’s just say there are professional reviews – like the Midwest Book Review – which named the book a “Reviewer’s Choice” and used words like “fabulous” and “a memoir so vivid it’s the next best thing to a time machine. These anecdotes will enlighten, startle, perplex, and inspire readers of all generations.” Then there are reader reviews, which are all over the map. The professional reviews mean more to me because they seem more objective. A lot of personal axes can get ground in the reader reviews, especially given my outspoken political views.

Jay: Great stuff. Anything you want to add?

Howard: You’re quite a character, Jay. We’re more alike than you think.

Jay: Same back to you, I had a lot of fun with this interview, I am certain our readers will love your book.

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