Writers Tricks of the Trade VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1 | Page 27

screenplays, Howard was impressed, and
our relationship has maintained.
N OW , THANKS TO H OWARD , YOU HAD FIVE UNSOLD
SCREENPLAYS . A ND ...
And, what does one do with unsold
screenplays? A good writer should be able
to turn them into manuscripts. And that’s
what I did. I spent a couple of years learning
as much as I could about the ever-evolving
world of self-publishing, in addition to using
my business abilities and on-stage
performance persona. I released my memoir,
The Boss Always Sits In The Back, in 2012
to accolades and Standing Room Only
readings from Los Angeles to New York
City for four years. I can’t even count the
radio and TV shows I did on those Boss
tours. And the articles? Fugedabowdit!”
Y OUR FANS WANTED MORE , SO WHAT DID YOU DO ?
B EGIN TO WRITE A NEW BOOK ?
You’re right. My increasing fan base
wanted a new book, so I went to my
computer to find the screenplay for
Deadfellas. During a conference call to that
script’s co-writer, Steve Barr, who’s now
living in New Zealand, and my attorney
Howard Frumes, I explained my idea of
turning
the
90-page
screenplay into a 250+-page
manuscript. I filled them in
on the details of the story
I’d tell. Several months
later
Deadfellas
was
released,
and
another
Standing Room Only tour
was scheduled, to promote both of my
books.
Y OU HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED WITH LARGE CROWDS
AT
YOUR
READINGS
WHILE
MANY
AUTHORS
STRUGGLE TO GET A FEW ATTENDEES . D O YOU HAVE
ANY COMMENTS ABOUT THAT ?
While I was out with Deadfellas I was
stunned at the large numbers of people who
would come out for a good reading and to be
entertained. My comment is, I knew I’d
have to release another book to keep the
interest and momentum moving. I returned
to the computer, opened The Delivery Man
screenplay. In today’s world, I felt the
premise
of
international
espionage,
disreputable attorneys, a supposed serial
killer and a vigilante would be perfect. The
Delivery Man was released in June, 2018,
and the early-September-to-the-end-of-
October tour that followed was the best yet,
resulting in sales from all three books.
W HAT NOW ? W HAT IS J ON D’A MORE UP TO THESE
DAYS ?
I took 2019 off from touring due to
interest in my scripts as a result of the
success generated by my self-published,
self-promoted books. In the meantime, I’m
re-writing my screenplay Mad Avenue under
a new title as my next release, followed by
Rubdown, I’m planning a tour to promote
both of them in the fall of 2020.
T HANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND
YOUR COLORFUL LIFE , J ON . Y OU ARE LIVING PROOF
THAT SELF - PUBLISHED BOOKS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL , SPIN
OFF OTHER NEW CAREERS AND WE SHARE A BELIEF —
AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER . F OLLOW YOUR DREAMS .
W E INTERVIEWED J ON ON W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE RADIO BACK IN 2015 WHEN IT WAS IN PRODUCTION . T O HEAR THAT
INTERVIEW , T URNING -L IFE -E XPERIENCES -I NTO -A-C OMPELLING -M EMOIR --G UEST -J ON -D AMORE , CLICK HERE. H E IS SO
ENTERTAINING , HE NEVER FAILS TO DELIGHT THE LISTENER .
W INTER 2020
P AGE 22
W RITERS ’ T RICKS OF THE T RADE