Tim Toterhi
The Official Website of Author Tim Toterhi
The official website of the author, Tim Toterhi. Tim is the author of numerous short stories, features articles and three highly acclaimed books!
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B elow are some questions that Tim is often asked:
What two books most influenced your life? When I was in 6th grade my English teacher read us Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. It blew my little mind. I wanted to be that bird so badly that I later took flying lessons. However, I quickly realized that someone, who has more points on his driver’s license than he had on the SAT, should probably avoid hurtling himself through the air in a winged Miata. You can only be bad at landing once. It might be cliché, but The Catcher in The Rye also touched me deeply. I’ve read it at 18, 25, and 30 and while he’s meant different things to me each time, I still love that lost little guy. He was so sad, idealistic, and hopeful at once. He is a true window into a character that could have been anyone of us growing up. What two films most influenced your life? I was always pretty sure that I wanted to make writing a part of my life. When I saw the last scene of Stand By Me, the one where the story folds back on the narrator and you see him typing the words that just made you cry, I realized it had to be part of this lifetime. The movie Arthur makes me think of my father. Each time I see it I cry the moment Hobson looks at Arthur and says, "You’ve been a good son." What is your favorite music? When I was a kid my father gave me a couple of his old Billy Joel records. It was my first "grown up" gift from him. I’ve since become fairly fanatical about the singer and weave at least one mention of him into every book. I also love rock, R&B, and... dear God, country on occasion. But those occasions involve a great deal of drinking and a broken heart, so I’m covered. Is it true that the number 347 has some special meaning? For years the number haunted my dreams. There was a period during my late teens when I would wake every morning at exactly 3:47. I never found out why. I figured the best way to get back control was to make fun of the little bugger. It now appears at least once in every book. I’m happy to report that I feel much better about the whole thing. Though in truth, I still get the willies when I see it unexpectedly. What are you working on now? I have two projects cooking now; a book on sales process redesign and another love story. The novel, which has a surreal philosophical bent of course, is shaping up to be a rather gritty tale of love and loss. What do you do for a living when not writing? My books have been good to me, but I have many employable passions. Currently I work as an organizational design professional for a major healthcare company. I also continue to work with neighborhood kids, volunteering where and when I can. Any new non-writing endeavors? I’ve recently become a certified life and business coach. Initially, I did this to improve my writing. The listening and questioning skills acquired have dramatically improved the way I shape dialogue. How do you find time to write with all that going on? I went to college at night and held a variety of day jobs to pay the bills. There was little time to write, but it was the only thing that kept me sane. I learned to see it as a necessity, something to help me cope with the more mundane and trying aspects of existence. Now, I write best when I am busy and have to fight for the time. When nothing is going on I can easily find myself in front of the TV watching the Spanish fishing network. What is your biggest pet peeve? It drives me crazy when people say "everything happens for a reason." That seems so defeatist. More accurate to me is that people assign reasons to all that happens. I can’t blame them though—the first is a great deal more comforting. Give us three "Good to Know" facts about you. Be creative.
What do you mean if? I’m still conducting "interviews' after all. Something like, I’m a blue-jean wearing kind of guy. I like rainy nights, top down days, and sipping cold beer with warm bodies. I believe in soul mates, sad songs and learning through the lifetimes. Anything you'd like to bitch about? I'm a pretty happy guy, but as a New Yorker, you know I have issues, so here goes. After nearly 15 years of teaching karate I'm beginning to realize one’s body does not stay 20 forever. Bad back, knees, hips, shoulders….half the time I sound like a bowl of Rice Krispies just walking around. Looking back, I should have tied my friggen' frequent flyer points to my orthopedic surgeon. I would’ve been penning this from St. Thomas. The trouble is that there no complaint department for that sort of thing? It's not like you can consult the manufacturer, spark a recall, and order new parts. I was really counting on the implied promise of bionics touted by the Six Millon Dollar Man. Damn you Steve Austin. Where are Rudy and Oscar when you need them most? A final word... I hope to see you when I’m out on my next book-signing tour. My policy is to "leave no book unsigned." Remember that you are the reason I create. When I write I visualize myself telling the story to one person and that person is you. Without you there is no us. Remember that you are the reason I create. When I write I visualize myself telling the story to one person and that person is you. Without you there is no us. Top |
