This is the final chapter of my interview with Jason Foster.  As promised throughout the interview, Jason would like to share with you a bit of the first chapter of his second novel, entitled Killer Interview.  He would also like to warn you that the novel is in infancy and has not been edited.

I would like to thank Jason for being so accommodating to me and Frank J. Basloe Library this month! I encourage you all to check out 42 Unanswered Points from Frank J. Basloe-as soon as it reopens on May 6, 2012.  Also, please "like" Jason's 42 Unanswered Points page on Facebook.

So without further adieu, I present to you a portion of Killer Interview . . .

     As the elevator doors closed before its ascent toward the upper floors of the Tribune Tower, Kara LeBlanc was wondering why her boss had requested her immediate presence in his office.  Such requests were not unprecedented, but they were unusual.  Kara started to feel guilty pangs inside of herself, much like a motorist who sees a police officer, instinctively slows down and feels like a target despite the fact he knows he has done nothing wrong.  “Oh, don’t be silly,” she thought to herself.  Whatever the reason is, it certainly cannot be anything related to her job performance. 

            Kara LeBlanc was the most widely read columnist for The Chicago Tribune.  This was quite an accomplishment for someone who just turned thirty a couple of years ago.  In this case, most widely read did not equate to most popular.  A lot of Tribune readers did not like the opinions that Kara stated or how she went about expressing them.  However, these same people always read her column to see what she was going to say next.  That was just fine with Kara LeBlanc as well as with the newspaper’s management.  Kara’s columns dealt mainly with her takes on current events, especially how they may impact a woman’s role in society. 

            While Kara considered herself a staunch feminist, she also took extensive measures to present a very feminine appearance.  A fair amount of her income seemed to go towards an extensive wardrobe of the latest fashions and accessories, be it shoes, handbags, or jewelry.  The make-up she wore was always of a high-end nature from the most upscale stores and boutiques.  Her shoulder length, light brown hair had tasteful highlights done by the most well-known stylist in the city.  Her petite frame was attractively tone and sculpted from her extensive, five-times-a-week cardiovascular and weight training workouts that would challenge some of Chicago’s most noted personal trainers.

            All of these efforts weren’t enough to salvage her marriage that ended two years earlier.  An inverse relationship developed between her and her now ex-husband.  The more successful she became in her career, the less fruitful her marriage became.  It came to a point where her husband asked her to choose between their marriage or her career.  Kara scared herself with how quickly and how easily she made her decision.

            As the elevator bell signaled the conclusion of its upward journey (Kara would have taken the stairs except that in her high heels, she did not deem it to be practical), Kara discretely spotted the focus of the other passenger through the polished steel walls of the elevator car.  Too short and too slender of a build she thought to herself.  Definitely not my type, she thought.  Sorry Charlie, or Tom, Dick, or Harry or whatever your name is.

*  *  *

            “Hey Kara,” boomed the voice of Jerry Carlisle as he welcomed his star columnist into his office and signaled her to take a seat in a chair just across from his desk.  As he watched Kara walk across the plush carpet of the room, a few lustful thoughts popped into his mind.  “I wonder if she is as passionate and as wild in bed as she is with her writing?  O. K.  Stop it!  Time to be professional.”  Once Jerry and Kara exchanged greetings, the National Affairs/Editorials Editor of The Chicago Tribune got right to the point as was his management style when there was an issue with one of his reporters or columnists.

            “Kara.  Before I run all of the editorials off to press, I just wanted to ask you if you are absolutely sure you want to run your column tomorrow as-is?”

            Kara was a little stunned by her boss’s query.  But that didn’t stop her from making a passionate response.  “Positively, Jerry.  Kevin Fletcher is nothing but a sexist Neanderthal.  He is completely unprofessional and he treats his guests and his callers with no respect.  His opinions and the positions he takes on issues are completely out of touch with the rest of society.  Frankly, I can’t believe that no one else has called him out for the piece of broadcast flotsam that he is.”

            It was not very often that Jerry Carlisle was taken aback by an opinion or a statement made by one of his subordinates.  Actually, it wasn’t the position itself that surprised him, but in the case the fury and emotion Kara LeBlanc conveyed with her enraged delivery.  Jerry leaned back in his chair with his elbows on the armrests and the fingertips of his hands touching each other as they peaked above his midsection.

            “I’ll be frank with you, Kara.  You and the other know that I always have the backs of my columnists and reporters.  Technically, there is nothing factually inaccurate in the column, and obviously the opinion portions are just that.  As always, you present everything in a manner that is logical and does an excellent job in stating how you feel.

            “It is just that outside of assorted political figures who certainly had it coming to them, I’ve never seen you go after someone with such a venomous attitude.”

            Kara adjusted herself so that she was just barely sitting on the front edge of her chair.   She felt as if she needed to defend her column like a mother bear would defend her cubs.  “With all due respect Jerry, what seems to be the problem?  Like you said, there isn’t anything in the column that isn’t true, and it plainly functions as a reflection of my opinion.  What then seems to be the issue?  Why am I here?”

            Jerry reassuringly replied, “Given that you have never gone after someone outside of politics with such a ferocity, I want to ask you two questions.

            “First, what is it you hope to accomplish with your column?  Second, are you prepared for the backlash that is going to be inevitable?  Fletcher has his audience for twenty hours a week.  You have your readers for about ten to fifteen minutes a week.”

            Kara was unfazed by the description of the forecasted challenge presented by Jerry.  “What he talked about on his show yesterday was reprehensible.  It was an insult to women who are involved with athletics and an insult to women in general.”

            Without another comment, Jerry took the wireless mouse that he used for his laptop computer and manipulated the cursor so that he could click on the website for the radio station that broadcasts “The Kevin Fletcher Show.”  The website had links that visitors could click which would bring up  broadcasts of all of the radio shows that had been on the air during the past seven days.  Those who paid for a special subscription to the radio station could in turn access older broadcasts that were in the archive system.  Neither Jerry or Kara had paid the $29.95 subscription rate for such a service.  But that fact was irrelevant as the broadcast that had greatly offended Kara had taken place the previous day.

            Jerry adjusted the settings so that they could skip the show’s opening comments and commercials.  Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Kara’s body tense up and saw that her hands were gripping at the arms of her chair as if she was at the dentist preparing for a shot of Novocain.  Soon, they were both listening through the speakers of Jerry’s computer the voices of Kevin Fletcher and his co-host, former Chicago Cub second baseman and Hall of Famer Jimmy Santiago.  The show was at the point where women’s athletics was the topic of the moment.  Fletcher’s voice boomed through the speaker, just as it did yesterday when the station’s 50,000 watts of power distributed the broadcast throughout the metropolitan Chicago area and seven other states.

            “And another thing!” Fletcher bellowed.  “Could someone PLEASE stop the stupid marketing campaign that is trying to make me feel guilty for not wanting to watch women’s professional basketball!” . . .

Look for Killer Interview at Frank J. Basloe Library - as soon as Jason finishes writing it (no pressure, Jason!).

Oh, but wait!

Before I present the sneak preview of Jason Foster's 2nd book Killer Interview, I would like to share with you my overall review of 42 Unanswered Points.


     Throughout this interview, I allowed Jason's voice to be the predominate one so that you would gain a better understanding of his thought process in writing 42 Unanswered Points and of Foster himself, but now I would like to give you my honest opinion of the book.

"A combination of circumstances and fate give Brandon Evans a chance to star as the quarterback for New York State University. While achieving tremendous on-field success that makes him 'America's Superstar'. Brandon learns the hard way that the modern 24/7 media world of cable television, sports talk radio and especially the Internet can tear down a person as fast as it can build someone up . . ."

Oops! Those aren't my thoughts or words, but rather a description of the plot for Jason's novel as found on Amazon.com.  This is what I thought about it:

     As someone who will watch an occasional football game, when Jason and I had our first conversation about the book I wasn't sure if it would have been something that I could have appreciated.  I intended to place it on my summer reading list, after I had completed my semester course work, yet when the idea for this blog popped into my head, I knew he would help me out, so I needed to read 42 Unanswered Points sooner rather than later.  In my mind, I wasn't sure what to expect.

     What I discovered was Jason's idea of writing a "Football for Dummies" novel was right on target.  I learned quite a bit about the ins and outs of high school football and even learned some plays, especially the wishbone play, since this appears to be Jason's pet peeve play in the game.  I also learned what 42 Unanswered Points meant in the score of a football game.

     But what I enjoyed the most from 42 Unanswered Points was the human element to the plot of the story.  The sometimes larger than life protagonist, Brandon Evans, was an endearing character who has witty thoughts and conversations with the other characters in the novel, including the two leading ladies, Julie and Kelsey (but not at the same time!). The love story that evolves throughout the novel is one that takes you back to high school and college years, when things were simpler, but somehow more complicated.  The twist in the plot that involves all three characters near the end, sneaks up on the reader without warning and is a bit suspenseful, causing you to wonder what would happen next.

    Overall, I enjoyed the novel very much and am grateful that Jason agreed to conducting this interview and donating a signed copy of 42 Unanswered Points to Frank J. Basloe Library.  I sincerely invite you all to check out Jason's novel from Frank J. Basloe Library, to support the library and a "local" author. You may also purchase a copy from Amazon.com.  Just don't pay $1999.99 for it!

*As a responsible writer, I would like to add that 42 Unanswered Points is for Mature Audiences only, as there are several explicit scenes and some adult language that is not appropriate for younger readers.

         Trends and Pitfalls of Major Publishing Companies

                   Advice for the Self-Publisher from Jason Foster

     At last month's Frank J. Basloe Library Board meeting, we discussed the changing landscape of publishing.  The library, through it's co-operative MidYork Library System, has witnessed the rising cost of books purchased through the major publishing houses, especially the charges that these major players in the literary world want to charge libraries for the usage of ebooks.

In this growing debate, check out these links:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/26/living/digital-libraries/index.html

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-03-07/tech/29990288_1_ebooks-electronic-resource-publisher

http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2012/03/ebooks/librarians-feel-sticker-shock-as-price-for-random-house-ebooks-rise-as-much-as-300-percent/


     On the flip side, the internet provides opportunities for authors that were not available previously.  At one time, would-be authors could only become published by going through a major publisher, but now the internet provides thousands of options to self-publish.  Amazon, iUniverse, Lulu and Infinity Publishing are just a few choices for authors to choose from. The services of these internet self-publishing companies range from the bare minimum publishing to extensive marketing and distribution.

     Jason Foster chose Book Surge to publish 42 Unanswered Points.  I asked him why he chose to self-publish versus going through a publishing house.

     "I invested some time via the traditional route in trying to secure a literary agent and all that.  I got impatient with the process . . . I simply wanted to get it out there so I went the Book Surge route . . .
Sure I would have liked to have had the luxury of having an agent to show me the ropes and provide the support that would be helpful for a first-time author."

     Jason also share that Book Surge provides some marketing resources, but he has had to be creative in his marketing tactics in order to sell his book on his own.  In offering advice to writers dreaming of publishing their own books he says that they need to search for their own reasons in wanting to become published.

     "What is it that is important to you?  Are you trying to see your names on the shelves of Waldenbooks and on the NY Times Bestseller's list?  Are you simply wanting the satisfaction of having a book out there with your name on it?  As you walk through libraries and bookstores, and see the millions of titles that are out there, it is amazing to think that each book had (an author with) decisions to make.  Some agent or publisher was most likely involved."

     In his own experience, he offers the following advice. "I learned a lot with this process of getting my book out there.  I made a lot of mistakes and my impatience was probably my greatest weakness.  Still, I am very content knowing that even though I won't be on the bestseller list, people have taken the time to read 42 Unanswered Points, and have expressed positive commentary.  That has made it all worth it to me."

     With his usual witty tone, Jason adds "I figured that if someone wants to publish a book titled The History of Knives (No, I did not make that title up!), then someone ought to be willing to publish my second book Killer Interview, which is the perfect leader into my next post, which will feature a sneak preview of the first chapter from Jason's new book!
   

And Why Did Jason Foster write a novel?

     "I dreamed of writing a book ever since I was a kid.  Even back in my Herkimer school days. Once I turned 40, I felt that I (had) better get started and not let excuses . . . get in the way.  So when I had a break in my day . . . I would break out my pen and notebook and started writing."

     Interspersed between word plays on Words With Friends, Jason shared with me that he was once eating at Sloppy Joe's in Key West, which was frequented by Ernest Hemingway (http://www.sloppyjoes.com/history.htm).  

     While Jason was writing 42 Unanswered Points at Sloppy Joe's, all he could think of was perhaps Hemmingway wrote in that very place.  Given Hemingway's reputation, I'm not sure he frequented the Prohibition speakeasy to write, but, hey, you never know! At the very least, both Hemingway and Jason Foster were inspired to write in the very same place in Key West, and that sure is something!  

"All good books have one thing in common, they are truer than if they really happened and after you are finished reading one you will feel that all that happened to you and afterwards it all belongs to you; the good and the bad, the ecstasy, the remorse, and sorrow, the people, the places and how the weather was.  If you can get so you can give that to people, then you are a writer." Ernest Hemingway 

Taken from "Old Newsman Writes: A letter from Cuba" as written in Esquire Dec. 1934

Retrieved from en.wikiquote.org  05 Apr. 2012

     I began today's post with telling you a little bit about Jason Foster and I would like to share something with you that he wrote to me in an email that he would like to share and I agree.  This story tells you not only something about the passion that Jason puts into his writing, but speaks volumes of his character.  

     "Back in the late 1990s, I was a columnist for a couple of college football websites, as well as for a few college teams sport sites.  Back in November of 1998, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29.  Her diagnosis came around the time that my alma mater, Michigan State, upset the #1 ranked Ohio State on the road as a 28 point underdog.  A lot of people were expecting me to whoop it up in my next column.  Instead I wrote about that the fact that I was so subdued was that I was dealing with more important issues.  I then detailed my wife's breast cancer diagnosis and its impact on our young family."

 
     "One year later, I was writing a column for the University of Michigan website previewing the Michigan-Michigan State football game.  At the time, my wife was undergoing follow-up treatments at the University of Michigan hospital.  So instead of writing my list of favorite Wolverine jokes, I paid homage to the oncology staff at the U of M hospital.  As I detailed the approaching one-year anniversary of the diagnosis, I mentioned that it is very normal for a cancer patient to get depressed at the anniversary of the diagnosis as it brings back memories of being scared, the invasions to one's body, and the fear of the future due to the worry of death or recurrence."
 
     "I wrote that instead of choosing to worry on the one-year anniversary of the cancer diagnosis, I said 'Screw it.  We are not going to see this as the anniversary of the day she was diagnosed with cancer.  Instead we am going to celebrate it as the one-year anniversary that her life was saved.  And we were going to celebrate it somehow.   A special weekend trip somewhere, buy something special, something like that."
 
     "One week after that column was published, I received an e-mail from a young woman from Ann Arbor.   She was a 20-year old student who coincidentally enough, was facing the one-year anniversary of her own cancer diagnosis.   She stated in her e-mail that she was indeed feeling the fear and all of the normal negative reactions related to the anniversary of the dreaded day."
 
     "But once she read my words, she told me that she experienced a complete attitude shift.  She was no longer going to be afraid.   Instead, she and a couple of her friends were going to spend the weekend in Chicago and celebrate her life being saved, not be depressed that she had to face death.   It was a complete attitude adjustment for the positive and she had the words in my last column to thank for it."
 
     "Reading her comments made a tremendous impact on me.  I was like, "Wow!  I was able to make a difference just from the words I write."   That was quite an amazing feeling.  That was 12 1/2 years ago and that memory is still fresh inside of me to this day.  If I am ever fortunate enough to sell a million books or whatever, I can honestly say that such an accomplishment won't match the sensation that that 20-year old college student gave me by telling me what a difference I made with her life."
 
 

What has Jason Foster been up to?


"Jason Foster was born in Herkimer, New York and was educated in both Herkimer and Mohawk schools.  He moved away from the Mohawk Valley in 1985 to attend college at Michigan State University, and has resided in the Midwest ever since.  While he is no longer an Upstate New York resident, he still possesses close ties to the area.  A lot of his upbringing can be seen in his initial novel, 42 Unanswered Points.  
 
An avid sports fan while growing up, Foster's initial writing success came from serving as a columnist for college football websites such as The Pigskin Post and College Football News.  From starting as a complete unknown in the sports world, Foster developed a loyal following of readers and occasionally served as a guest on sports radio stations throughout the country in discussing college football.  While longing to write a book since childhood, Foster took the plunge and came up with what he calls a hybrid novel of sports fiction and romance with 42 Unanswered Points.
 
Foster resides in Grass Lake, Michigan with his three children.  Besides writing, he works as a college professor of economics and runs an energy management company.  He is also working on a second novel which he calls a hybrid of sports fiction and a murder mystery.  Besides the second novel, he is also working on developing a screenplay for 42 Unanswered Points."
Quoted from Jason Foster

Does the fictional St. Gallen mirror Mohawk, NY circa 1985? Let Foster's 42 Unanswered Points take you on a walk down memory lane, only to realize that the names may have changed, but not much else.

     In Chapter 7 of 42 Unanswered Points, Foster writes some descriptions about places in Brandon Evans' hometown of St. Gallen, NY.  Foster describes an ice cream/grill restaurant called "The Shack" in which the owners open the establishment for the warmer months of the year and retreat south for the colder ones.

     On page 7 of Chapter 1, Foster describes St. Gallen's Main Street in the following way: "'Downtown' St. Gallen consisted of three blocks along Main Street. There were a couple of family owned businesses: One that sold furniture and another that sold household appliances and electronics.  There was a small grocery store, a pharmacy, a bank, a diner, and a convenience store/gas station.  To round out the commercial activity, there was a laundromat, a pizzeria, and a barber shop. . ."

     In 1985, when Foster graduated from Mohawk High School, downtown Mohawk did indeed included all of these things, and most remain today, albeit for ownership and some name changes.  Back then there would have been family owned businesses, Wright's furniture, Robinson Brothers Appliances, The Village Market, New York Pizzaria, a bank (Was is still Oneida National then, or was it Fleet Bank or another name?), Jarvis Pharmacy, Shibley's market and a corner gas station, as well as a diner located down by the fictional "The Shack" which can be none other than the former Lou's Diner.  Today, Furniture Weekend is housed in the former Wright's building, the Village Market and Robinson Brothers remains, as well as the laundromat.  Fasttrak, a smoke shop and Little Caesar's pizza stand where Shibley's, Jarvis Pharmacy and the corner gas  once stood.  Last, but not least, Lou's is now "Mrs. Shake's."

     When I asked Foster why he chose to present St. Gallen in a northern New York setting, as opposed to it's obvious setting within the Mohawk Valley, he responded by saying "I wanted the location to be remote and far away from any mid-sized city.  (It) makes it more plausible that such a talent (as the protagonist Brandon Evans') is undiscovered, given the setting.  Even Mohawk and Herkimer are close enough to Utica and Syracuse where such a (football) player would get out of town publicity."  This is why Foster chose to place St. Gallen near Potsdam, NY, as opposed to Foster's hometown in the Mohawk Valley, but it is still quite clear that the fictional St. Gallen is none other than Mohawk, NY.

     Interested in how Foster further describes St. Gallen? Check out 42 Unanswered Points from the Frank J. Basloe Library.  Not only will you support the library, but you will also be supporting an author with local roots. Don't forget to "like" Frank J. Basloe Library's Facebook page for a chance to win a signed copy of Foster's book.

Coming in the next installment of this interview: Where is Jason Foster now?