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Author Interview Full Name: Harriette J. Schwartz City: Tarzana State: CA Country: USA Harriette Schwartz is native New Yorker who now resides in Southern California. She served as a Special Events reporter for Radio Free Europe in New York and worked for many years in the entertainment industry. She is a lifelong author and writer of poems, articles and books who now works on various freelance writing projects for others as well as her own. What follows are her responses to a few questions that were asked: What or who inspired you to become a writer? It was something I was born with. I have always written. At first greeting cards and then poetry. It always just came naturally. Did your environment or upbringing play a role in your writing? I grew up in the Bronx, NY. I am sure everyone's environment plays a part in what they do and thus I am certain its true with me, but likely an osmosis type of thing. Who are your favorite authors? I love a great mystery and have always loved Lawrence Sanders (Seventh Deadly Sin) and Tess Gerritson (Body Double). I am also a fan of the paranormal and am reading When Ghosts Speak by Mary Ann Winkowski, the "Ghost Whisperer." Do you come up with your title (s) before or after you write? Sometimes yes, most times no. The body of work or idea is always first. Do you enjoy writing a particular genre(s) and why? I enjoy writing what I have in my head and my heart. No specific genre. What makes you proud to be a writer from your city, state or country? I am still a dyed in the wool New York woman. I have lived out here in LA since 1990, but my pride and my roots go cross country to the Eastern seaboard… and the city that never sleeps. What writing projects are you working on now? I am working on something whimsical; something, which is meant for the child in all adults. The working title is, of course, Adult Silly Stuff. Is there anything else that you would like to share about yourself or your writing? I find writing can be cathartic. This article, One Woman's Lesson Learned began as the eulogy I wrote to read at my husband Jay's funeral. I read it over and over out loud. I read it on the phone to anyone who would listen. Writing helps me to put things in perspective and sometimes, not always, it helps me to make sense of things. Harriette is co-author of the book, Lost Pallies (available on Amazon.com), which is a collection of afterlife contact short stories - all based on true occurrences. Her latest work, The Bethel Bash: Woodstock 1969, takes the reader back 40 years ago through her words and original photos, to those three wonderful festival days when half a million people truly joined together in peace, love and music. She has also been published online at various sites including Helium and Seeker Magazine. Her works, including Chronic Is 100% of the Time, Romance Cyberstyle and Dysfunctional is Normal, have been spotlight-featured several times on Eons. Articles that have appeared in print in both the magazine and subsequent book Back In The Bronx are: A Missing Person or Not a Missing Person and The Sedgwick Projects. Her Poem, Reach For Your Rainbow is published in Visions Anthology. Harriette also wrote and illustrated a children’s counting book entitled Milton Swade Counts. Other current book projects include The Babyboomers Time Machine. |
