Friday, September 27, 2013

Kenneth N. Green - An Author Interview in the HBS Author's Spotlight

Today our blog puts the Spotlight on Author Kenneth N. Green. He has written the memoir, I’m From Division Street. He's been in the Army, a cab driver, a boxer, and it all started in Humboldt Park, Chicago.



Author Genre: Non-fiction

Website: The Official Ken Green Website
E-Mail: kengreenesq@gmail.com
Goodreads: Check Out Goodreads


Author Description:
Ken Green grew up on Division Street; one of Chicago’s roughest areas. He was thrown out of high school because he followed the rules too closely: never wear short pants and never bring books home. In fact, he never read an entire book until he entered college!

He enlisted in the Army with his best friend, who had managed to convince him that together, they would be the first two Jewish Generals. Ken served in Korea; his friend got a psychiatric discharge. After his tour of duty, Ken entered college while driving a taxi cab and selling cash registers. Becoming determined to make a better life for himself, Ken went to Law School by night while teaching High School days.

After passing the bar and spending several years practicing law, Ken became a public defender in Los Angeles County and eventually worked his way up to Chief, where he supervised 400 criminal defense attorneys. In addition, he has been an adjunct professor at a UCLA extension for over 30 years.

In 2007, he graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Academy at the age of 68, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a reserve police officer. Shortly thereafter he was hired as an instructor at that academy.

Ken Green lives with his wife, Maureen, a District Attorney, in Sherman Oaks, CA and has one son, Joey, a daughter-in-law, Christina, and grandchildren, Natasia and Nathaniel.


SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author

Do you have another book on the horizon? Maybe about your current experiences of giving back to young people?

Maybe. I'm thinking about it.

We have had several interviews with authors who do not have a social media presence. How do you keep in touch with your reading audience and followers?

I keep in touch through my website.

You do a lot of interviews, speaking and personal appearances? When and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can readers keep up with your personal contacts online?

My upcoming programs in October include:

Oct. 7: Lake Shore Men's Club at Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism in Highland Park, IL. This program is open to club members and their guests.

Oct. 8: Decalogue Society: This is an organization for Jewish lawyers and judges in the Chicago area. This program is open to members and guests.

Oct. 8: After School Matters teens at Roosevelt High School in Chicago. This is open to teenagers who are in Chicago's After School Matters program.

Your readers can always check out my website at kengreenesq.wordpress.com.

You have a great video about your book. (See link below.) Do you know how much impact it had on your book’s sales? Tell us about the process that you used to create your videos?

My videos were created either by live T.V., or my wife would video my presentations.

Between your book writing, personal appearances, family and all the other things that can get in your way, how do you manage your time? Do you have a set schedule or do your sort of play it by ear?

I am a retired lawyer, so I don't have a time problem.

Has the advent of ebooks changed anything in your writing, your marketing and the relationship with your readers and fans?

Regarding E-books, most of my sales (90%) are hard copies.

What has been your experience in giving your book away free? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?

I do give my books away free to those that can't afford to buy them.

What is your method of getting reviews for your novels? Do you seek professional reviews, use social media or do you rely on your reading audience to supply them?

Reviews, believe it or not, are all unsolicited.

Your personal appearances are quite impressive. I’ve includes a couple links for our readers.
NBC5 Chicago's The Talk program
Comcast Cable TV program in the Chicagoland suburbs
Do you find YouTube a good vehicle to get your message out to your readers?


Regarding YouTube, many people have told me they saw me there.

Now a personal question. I had a dear friend that passed away several years ago. His name was George Latka. He was boxer from Michigan and a referee. Where you ever in the ring with him, one way or the other?

Regarding your friend, George Latka, I knew him. He was an excellent fighter and referee, and I know his wife Trudy well.
NOTE:
George Latka was significant to the boxing world because he is the only person who is in the boxing Hall-of-Fame as both a boxer and as a referee.



Author's Book List
I’m From Division Street
As a child he was tortured by other kids for not fitting in. As a teenager he was branded a social outcast because he went to a “classy” high school, and was later thrown out of. As a young man he decided he wanted more from life than the people living on Division Street. After an Army stint, he worked his way through school, became a criminal defense attorney and professor at UCLA. I’m From Division Street offers readers a glimpse into the personal path Ken Green has chosen as well as delightful stories of the people that have helped shaped his life. It is a book that doesn’t hold back the details of this man’s struggles along life’s path.


Book Trailer: I’m From Division Street

Order the Book From: Amazon - Barnes and Noble
Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
Publisher of ebooks, writing industry blogger and the sponsor of the following blogs:
HBS eBook Author’s Corner
HBS Mystery Reader’s Circle

Check out the index of other Spotlight authors. Spotlight Index.

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