Books-and-Authors.net: Where did you grow up and was
reading and writing a part of your life?
Stan Levenson:
I grew
up in Brooklyn, New York and reading and writing were
not a big part of my early life. Who were your earliest
influences and why? As a young person, I was influenced
by sports figures including my Cousin Natie who was an
outstanding baseball player. Many basketball players who
played at the 43rd Street playground in Borough Park and
on my championship high school basketball team also
influenced me.
Books-and-Authors.net: Why do you write?
Stan Levenson:
I
write because I enjoy helping others and because I get a
great deal of satisfaction from it. I also find writing
relaxing, challenging, and exciting.
Books-and-Authors.net: Discuss your new book "When
Brooklyn Was Heaven - A Memoir from Brooklyn to L.A. and
Places In-Between" How did the book come about?
Stan Levenson:
When
Brooklyn Was Heaven came about after many people
encouraged me to put my stories into writing. The
stories come from my early years and span the first 30
years of my life from 1931 through 1961.
Books-and-Authors.net: In "When Brooklyn Was Heaven - A
Memoir from Brooklyn to L.A. and Places In-Between" you
discuss growing up during the Great Depression and
getting into trouble. Discuss.
Stan Levenson:
Yes, I
did grow up during the Great Depression. We were dirt
poor. We ate a lot of vegetable plates and government
surplus food in those days, but I don’t remember ever
going to bed hungry. My dad died when I was four years
old and my mom had a very strong influence on me. She
was a super woman! I did get into trouble mostly in
junior and senior high school because of my lack of
maturity and good judgment. You’ll have to read the book
to find out more.
Books-and-Authors.net: You are a fundraising Guru.
Explain and discuss.
Stan Levenson:
I
did not come up with the name “fundraising guru”. The
Public Education Network in Washington, D.C came up with
that name. It is true, however, that I have raised
millions of dollars for the public schools and the
students I have trained at the University of California,
San Diego have also raised millions of dollars. It is
also true that I have written extensively on the subject
in major publications, and have written two books on the
subject, BIG-TIME FUNDRAISING FOR TODAY’S SCHOOLS,
Corwin Press and HOW TO GET GRANTS AND GIFTS FOR THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Allyn & Bacon. I don’t consider myself a
“fundraising guru” but others do.
Books-and-Authors.net: In "When Brooklyn Was Heaven - A
Memoir from Brooklyn to L.A. and Places In-Between" you
discuss the World Series of 1947. How/Why was this event
such a highlight?
Stan Levenson:
I was
in high school in 1947 and the Brooklyn Dodgers and the
New York Yankees were fierce rivals at the time. The
1947 World Series was truly a classic. It went seven
games. It was Jackie Robinson’s first World Series. It
showcased such great players as Joe DiMaggio, Phil
Rizzuto, Snuffy Stirnweiss, and Yogi Berra of the
Yankees and Robinson, Carl Furillo, Dixie Walker, and
Pee Wee Reese of the Dodgers. I was fortunate to attend
game seven of the World Series at Yankee Stadium with my
friends arriving at the stadium at 10:30 the night
before the game. I describe in detail in the book our
1947 World Series escapade.
Books-and-Authors.net: Baseball seems to be a thread
throughout "When Brooklyn Was Heaven - A Memoir from
Brooklyn to L.A. and Places In-Between". Who were your
favorite players? Who do you root for now?
Stan Levenson:
Being
a Yankee fan at the time, my favorite players were Joe
DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, and Yogi Berra. They were all
big stars! Of course, a little later on the Yankees
signed a guy by the name of Mickey Mantle and he
captured the hearts of Yankee fans everywhere. Right now
I root for the San Diego Padres. Our team is famous for
selling off its’ best ballplayers and having a wonderful
alumni association. Remember Ozzie Smith, Dave Winfield,
Rollie Fingers, Willie McCovey, and Gaylord Perry? They
all made it to the Hall of Fame and are former Padres.
For now, keep your eye on Adrian Gonzalez. The Padres
recently sold him to the Boston Red Sox!
Books-and-Authors.net: What are readers saying about
"When Brooklyn Was Heaven - A Memoir from Brooklyn to
L.A. and Places In-Between"?
Stan Levenson:
I am
very pleased with the reviews I have been getting for
the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well as in
other places. I am in the process of getting reviews
from the New York media as well as from across the
United States and abroad. We’ll see how it goes!
Books-and-Authors.net: What do you hope to achieve with
"When Brooklyn Was Heaven - A Memoir from Brooklyn to
L.A. and Places In-Between"?
Stan Levenson:
I hope to acquire an
agent and a major publisher for the book. I believe the
book has the potential of becoming a best seller.
Books-and-Authors.net:What was the last book you read?
Stan Levenson:
The last book I read was
“A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway.
Books-and-Authors.net: What's next?
Stan Levenson:
I am in the process of
putting together a series of fundraising books for the
public schools and am seeking a publisher and agent at
this time.
