Graphic Image designed by Sandra Lopez
RV is a good kid, starting his freshman year at the demanding Boston
Latin School. Though his genes didn’t give him a lot of good things,
they did give him a decent brain. So he’s doing his best to keep up in
high school, despite all the additional pressures he’s facing: His
immigrant parents, who don’t want him to forget his roots and insist on
other rules. Some tough kids at school who bully teachers as well as
students. His puny muscles. His mean gym teacher. The Guy Upstairs who
doesn’t answer his prayers. And the most confusing fact of all—that he
might be gay.
Luckily, RV develops a friendship with Mr. Aniso,
his Latin teacher, who is gay and always there to talk to. RV thinks his
problems are solved when he starts going out with Carole. But things
only get more complicated when RV develops a crush on Bobby, the
football player in his class. And to RV’s surprise, Bobby admits he may
have gay feelings, too.
Q&A with Andy:
THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING HERE. FOR STARTERS, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR WRITING AND WHAT INSPIRES YOU.
THE PIZZA CHRONICLES series is about the teenage son of immigrants from Lithuania in Eastern Europe. The books describe his various high school years and his summers in between as he tries to cope with demands of his exacting school, the rules his parents have brought from the “Old Country,” making friends, and navigating his budding sexuality.
Some of the incidents are from my own past as I try to make sense of it myself and come to terms with it.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?
Since childhood. I won short-story contest for a Lithuanian-language magazine when I was twelve years old. I also sent a screenplay to a Hollywood star when I was in college and got a polite rejection.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK & WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE IT?
The first book of the series, Why Can’t Life Be Like Pizza?, starts off as RV (a nickname for the common Lithuanian name “Arvydas,” shortened to RV) starts freshman year and writes his thoughts down in the new (used) computer his parents have given him. Coming from a religious, immigrant background, he doesn’t have an easy time accepting himself, but little by little, through his friendships and experiences and he becomes more optimistic about himself and life in general.
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE TITLE FOR THIS BOOK?
I loved pizza as a kid. Who doesn’t!? We had a number of favorite pizza places we used to go to as a family. As I was thinking about scenes for the first book, I remembered how much at home I felt at some of them. The pizzeria RV goes to, Joe’s Pizza, is an amalgam of all those wonderful places. At one point, as I was writing a scene, a line of dialogue popped out of my brain, as RV wondered why couldn’t all of life be as good as the pizza slice he was eating. And the title was born!
WHAT WAS THE HARDEST SCENE YOU HAD TO WRITE IN THIS BOOK AND WHY WAS IT HARD?
So many are hard, LOL! If I had to pick one, I’d say the scene where Bobby, the friend RV has a crush on, proposes they do something sexual. Teenagers certainly have sex on the brain. But they also have a lot of fears and questions, especially someone as naïve and inexperienced as RV. So I had to thread a very fine line – dealing with sex and sexual thoughts openly, but also taking into account the fears and the VERY tentative way a character like RV would deal with sex.
WAS THERE A MESSAGE IN YOUR BOOK THAT YOU WERE TRYING TO CONVEY?
Never give up! RV has so many questions, he feels he screws up so often, he berates himself – but he never stops trying to figure things out and live his life to the fullest as he understands it.
DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING STYLE.
Realistic, down to earth, character oriented. I love people and exploring what makes them tick.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE AS A PUBLISHED AUTHOR?
Marketing and sales, LOL! I’m not very experienced with social media so I am trying to learn as much as I can to promote my books. It doesn’t come naturally to me. As many writers are, I suppose, I consider myself an introvert, not an extrovert. And I’m certainly not a salesman, though I’m trying. I worked in traditional publishing for many years and kept up with the changes as best I could. But the changes keep coming!
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW WRITERS?
Like RV, don’t give up! I entered a story contest in my twenties and with my submission I asked the judges, “Can you tell me if I should write?” Meaning, am I good enough? I was seeking validation for this dream of mine. I didn’t win the contest, but scrawled on the reply from one of the judges was a short note: “If you have to write, you will write.” I’ve never forgotten that. It’s not about validation or praise in that sense. It’s about needing to share what’s inside of you with others.
ARE YOU WORKING ON ANY PROJECTS AT THE MOMENT?
The next book in THE PIZZA CHRONICLES, Number Four. RV’s summer between sophomore and junior years: he has a job at the local multiplex, takes driving lessons from his high-strung Dad, and of course wrestles with the ups and downs of his friendship with Bobby and others.
DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR WEBSITE READERS CAN VISIT FOR UPDATES, EVENTS AND SPECIAL OFFERS?
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