Since November 2009American Saturdays Author Article: Glenn Plaskin
October 2nd, 2010 by Danielle
In my recent review of Glenn Plaskin’s Katie Up and Down the Hall I mentioned that he’d been a dog lover his entire life, but waited until he was out on his own before adding a canine companion to his already full schedule. Because of this, as well as the fact he typically writes about celebrities, I was curious to find out why exactly he decided to write a book focused around his dog Katie. Glenn was gracious enough to indulge me and offered his response below, I’m positive you’ll love it and be that much more inticed to pick up his newest novel! Enjoy!
Although I’ve been writing books and articles for 30 years (since I was 12!, of course), mostly about celebrities and artists of great accomplishment-I’ve never, ever written anything at all about my own life-not until now. My new book, KATIE UP AND DOWN THE HALL, is all about how one dog had the power to turn five neighbors into a family. Katie, a blonde-haired cocker spaniel, is dignified, almost regal in demeanor, her canine antics including fashion modeling, using the TV’s remote control, sitting posture-perfect at the dining table (paws delicately around her food bowl), expertly eating corn on the cob, charming celebrities (Katharine Hepburn, Peter Jennings, Bette Midler, and Ivana Trump among them), and racing neighborhood kids up and down the hallway.
Not least important is her special affinity for the elderly, a group of eighty-to-ninety-year-old women (humorously eccentric neighbors) who become the recipients of Katie’s healing touch.
Needless to say, my dog ruled the eighty-foot, red-carpeted hallway in our Manhattan high-rise-the site of dog races, obedience-training sessions, Halloween parades, and a passageway to parties and late-night exchanges of confidences. With an uncanny instinct for responding to the needs of her pack, she merrily trots up and down her territory, pushing open doors with her paws, introducing us to the book’s main characters—Ryan, a little boy who had no Mom, his Dad, John, (who had no parents), our octogenarian neighbors down the hall, Pearl and Arthur, (who had never been able to have children), and me and my dog. What follows is a series of adventures spread out over 16 years covering everything from Hollywood high times to the terrors of 9/11.
Other than Katie’s master, the principal object of Katie’s love, of course, is Pearl, nicknamed “Granny,” who finds herself thriving in a new family-making dinner for everyone, babysitting, and planning holiday events, thus breaking her isolation and rekindling her interest in life.
In fact, much of the action is centered in Granny’s dining room—the family group gathering around her mahogany table to savor her uniquely homespun dishes, the recipes for which are included here as well. Her baking and cooking become expressions of caring and create a cozy atmosphere that glues the family together.
Still physically and mentally acute at 90, (and carrying her own grocery bags), the vivacious Pearl-a Bronx native with a love of travel, theater, gardening, and cooking-turns out to be a fountain of wisdom and practical advice to her neighbors, sharing her “pearls” to one and all.
Pearl becomes my rock, especially at a time when I have a serious accident, and later, when I becomes temporarily disabled. Barely able to move for months, it is Granny who nurses me back to health and inspires me to return to work. She becomes my muse, best friend, and trusted advisor, while I becomes the grandson she never had.
Writing this book was really cathartic, easier than anything I’ve ever done. Why? Because I didn’t have to do any research or interview anyone else! The story of what happened—the movie of our lives-was all in my head, and heart. I wrote it in five months, wanting it to be fluent and personal. I learned three lessons doing it: A family is anything you want it to be; Love Remains, even in the face of inevitable separation, loss, and death; and Open Your Door, a metaphor for opening your heart to your neighbors. After all, in your neighborhood, there’s always a dog that needs a walk, a child that needs a mentor, and a senior who needs a helping hand.
I hope you all enjoy the entire “tail” from beginning to end. And I invite you to visit my web site, www.katiebook.com, to watch the book trailer, which captures the essence of the story. After you’ve read the book, please feel free to contact me and share your thoughts and feelings about it.
–Glenn Plaskin
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