An Author Interview
ON WRITING, FINDING OPPORTUNITIES, SUCCESS…
I was recently interviewed by a former editor of my college newspaper. We spoke about my work, my faith, and my time at the school.
ANNE AMONG US - The International Best Seller is Now Back in Print!!
You were one of the success stories coming out of our school Communications program. Take us back if you will. How did it begin for you?
Going to school in Fairfield County was the best. One time the managing editor of People Weekly came to speak to our class. We had great teachers. Many were part-time, while working full time in the industry. One of my professors was a Senior Vice President at Procter & Gamble. Our other professors included ad agency execs, PR managers from General Electric. My film class was taught by one of the country’s most well-known movie reviewers. This wonderful teacher shocked us all by bringing famous celebrities into our Monday evening class sometimes. We marveled at how well connected she was. She was also immensely likable. She even knew Frank Sinatra personally, but he never made it into our small class.
What was your first job?
I was hired by advertising agency giant Foote, Cone & Belding in Los Angeles before even graduating with my Bachelor’s. I was literally on a plane headed to Los Angeles the day after graduating.
Which accounts did you work on for them?
As a newcomer I didn’t get the big guys like Mazda or Sunkist. My accounts were Ramada Inns, Denny’s and Hughes Aircraft.
Did you enjoying living and working in L. A.?
I was never bored. I became a fixture on some of the studio lots. I enjoyed it. I was briefly “courted” by International Creative Management (ICM) for a movie script I had with them. But I honestly grew to hate my own script.
How long were you with Foote, Cone, Belding? What was your next big break?
I wasn’t with them as long as I’d have liked. Being hired as a staff writer for a division of Barclays Bank of London was my biggest break. I beat out at least a hundred people for the job.
What were some of your career highlights with them?
I had the chance to ghost-write for the division heads and senior vice presidents there. My work appeared in BARRONS, Forbes, and Fortune, among others. While I was there Barclays indirectly helped finance the successful film “Field of Dreams”. This afforded me the opportunity to write articles on the actual filming, and do some international public relations work for the film through the global Barclays newsfeeds. I enjoyed working with people actually involved in the production. To this day I still get questions about this perennial hit.
Any other projects of special note?
I was lead copywriter for a medical supplies catalog that was nominated by Catalog Age for “catalog of the year”. We didn’t win. But it was great to be nominated and be in New York City for the dinner. Over the years I did have the chance to write ad copy for some Fortune 500s.
From Ireland to the U. S., from Africa to the Philippines, as an author, you’ve been seen by at least four million people, as you were interviewed for your book “Anne Among Us”. What so special about this story?
It came out in 2014. It is still the only story of a family miscarriage from a father’s perspective, a father’s lament.
In Africa they advertised in advance of your appearance. How do you explain the story’s appeal?
Family stories are important. Families are the critical building blocks of our society. Faith stories are important. We do need to hear from more fathers I believe. But all this book’s success for me paled compared to something else.
What was that?
I received two letters from a pastor in Sandy Hook, CT. He wrote to tell me he used it to help grieving families there who suffered the unimaginable grief.
Is there a positive message you can get across to some of those families?
Yes, I definitely can! In the Bible verse Luke 20:38, Jesus says: “ All are alive to Him.” My favorite priest of all time, Fr Papa, added to that: “Everyone who has ever been born is alive right now!”
That’s very uplifting and hopeful.
Yes, it’s a fact** of our faith. I’m not making anything up. The closest we are to our lost loved ones is at that altar. His altar. His timely offering. That is the focus of my work on Substack. Christ’s altar is “in time” and in “all time”. It’s an ever-present offering. We remain faithful. We are invited to offer our prayers and sacrifices. (Colossians 1:24; Romans 12:1). Our loved ones have not gone far.
[**Please note: As Catholics we don’t subscribe to any form of ‘Origenism’. See Catechism paragraphs 958, 1085, 1689 for more edification]