Interview With Author Steven Joseph

Steven Joseph is a first-generation American, son of a Holocaust Survivor, attorney, negotiator, speaker, author, 5-time Boston Marathon and 16-time NYC Marathon runner, and humorist. He will make even the crankiest people smile with his wit and unique look at why we should embrace our crankiness. His Crankatsuris Method helps people embrace and release their inner crankiness rather than bury it.

Hello Author Steven Joseph, Welcome to WorldAuthors.Org! Tell us what drives you to write? Your motivation and the purpose of your book(s)?
There are a number of things that are interesting here.  First, many years ago (1995) , I was asked to speak at a seminar, but also write two chapters for the textbook that was going to be handed out.  The attorney asking me to speak told me that if I want to be an expert about anything, I have to write about it.

A second experience in 2015 got my juices flowing.  I was sent by my Company to a castle somewhere in England to do a number of psychological profile exercises over a two day period. The results came back, and on the categories “creativity” and “drive”, on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest, I scored a “1” on both. I became determined to get up to at least a “2”

On motivation/purpose of my Grownup Guide, I had written The Last Surviving Dinosaur: The TyrantoCrankaTsuris, and one reviewer said that I did not write enough about overcoming crankiness.  The whole point was to embrace crankiness, and that became the purpose of the book.

What do you hope readers will get out of your books? How will they feel or be different after reading it?
I hope readers will be first entertained of course.  However, I hope they get to acquire a new skill set that can be easily implemented and help with their relationships. One mentor I had always used the phrase “utilizing skillful means.” That phrase was always in my head when I was writing this book.

What books did you read as a kid/young adult? What are you reading today? How have other authors inspired your writing?
I turned 60 last year, and I am not sure I can remember way back then. I loved Tolkein as a kid, and any other fantasy books. More recently, I read Terry Goodkind’s adult fantasy books, and I am also a big JK Rowling fan.

What is one thing in your book that will surprise readers? (no spoilers though!)
It is a self help book that is unlike any other self help book you have or will ever read.

What are you working on next? More books?
Yes.  A follow up to A Grownup Guide to Effective Crankiness.  The working title is “The Art of Effective Crankiness”, or perhaps “The Zen of Effective Crankiness”.  

To know more about Author Steven and his books, find out more about him on his website below: www.stevenjosephauthor.com