Category: Author Interview

Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.

A1: Hi, I’m Mimi—short for Miriam. Born in Hartford, CT, and raised in the heart of West Hartford, I haven’t ventured far from my roots. My parents were proud descendants of Russian and Polish Jewish immigrants, and our neighborhood was a close-knit, predominantly Jewish community. It wasn’t until high school, when I was bussed across town that I encountered classmates who weren’t part of this shared culture. It was an eye-opening experience that shaped my perspective on the world.

Growing up, I worked alongside my siblings in my father’s manufacturing company. While my brothers were groomed to take the reins, my path differed. My family hoped I’d find a nice Jewish boy from a well-to-do family, settle down, and start a family. Spoiler alert: life had other plans for me.

Fast forward about 50 years, and here I am, happily nestled in my home, surrounded by the chaos and joy of my dogs, cats, and the ever-changing beauty of nature. Cooking and entertaining are my love languages, though my “guests” these days are often my daughter’s lively circle of friends. Young people are fascinating—I adore hearing their stories, sharing a laugh, and basking in their energy. It’s a mutually beneficial setup: they keep me entertained, and I make sure they’re well-fed. It’s a win-win!

Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “If I Had Nuts, I’d Have Dates”?

A2: “If I Had Nuts, I’d Have Dates” is a hybrid memoir that weaves humor and heart into the story of my unexpected foray into online dating at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alone as the world shut down, I turned to the virtual world, curious to see what connections I might forge when bars and restaurants were no longer an option. It began as a playful experiment—a safe form of socialization—and soon evolved into a blog chronicling my encounters. The blog became the foundation of this book, a tapestry of online interactions interwoven with what I call “memoirettes”—vivid, reflective anecdotes from my past that often shed light on why I responded to certain men as I did. These glimpses into my history reveal the experiences, relationships, and missteps that shaped my perspective. Many of these stories involve real people and places, and I often worry about the fine line between humor and harm. While the imperfections of others may have been fertile ground for comedy, I was mindful of the impact my words could have. What felt funny or ironic to me might not land the same way for someone else, and my intention was never to wound but to explore, connect, and laugh at the human condition—including my own.

Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

A3: My favorite author is Nora Ephron, whose wit and candor have always resonated with me. Her book I Feel Bad About My Neck captures a humor that feels like home—a perfect blend of self-deprecation and insight. Ephron had a gift for transforming life’s hardships into comedy, reminding us that even our darkest moments can be softened by laughter. That philosophy inspired my own writing. Yes, I began with the hope of finding a connection, but even when that hope fell short, I walked away enriched—with a collection of hilarious stories and unexpected, fascinating experiences.

Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?

A4: Although I don’t go very often now that I’m older, when my daughter, Elizabeth, was growing up, her passion was horses. Every year, we’d go to a different dude ranch and ride. She was the quintessential barn rat. She still rides. My favorite was HF Bar Ranch in Wyoming. The mountains are beautiful; the views, breathtaking. I told Elizabeth to go there when I die and spread my ashes among the trees. It’s so peaceful. Hopefully she’ll know enough not to stand downwind.

Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘If I Had Nuts, I’d Have Dates’?

A5: While navigating the unpredictable world of online dating, I chronicled my adventures in a blog, The Time of Corona (www.thetimeofcorona.blog). The peculiar blend of humor and absurdity caught the attention of my writer friends, who urged me to transform it into a book. Inspired by their encouragement, I embraced the challenge—and thus, a memoir was born.

Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘If I Had Nuts, I’d Have Dates’?

A6: I began the blog in 2020 and embarked on the book in 2023. Along the way, I enlisted an editor who encouraged the inclusion of “memoirettes,” enriching the narrative with vignettes from my life. Though the journey spanned four years, it was far from continuous, marked instead by moments of inspiration, reflection, and deliberate pauses.

Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?

A7: This is a sample of what the cover “may” look like. The artist used a chapter title rather than the one I plan to use.

Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘If I Had Nuts, I’d Have Dates’?

A8: My mother had a favorite joke she loved to tell—a playful pun that always left her laughing. It went like this: A woman approaches a fruit vendor and asks, “Do you have nuts?” He shakes his head and replies, “No.” So, she asks, “Do you have dates?” To which he answers, “If I had nuts, I’d have dates.” My mother found it endlessly amusing. For me, the joke resonated on a different level. Growing up female, the unspoken rules of courtship seemed equally laughable, though far less funny. My mother often reminded me that “nice girls didn’t call boys,” which meant I was expected to wait—an interminable, frustrating patience that often felt like a game rigged against me. Years later, at a few class reunions, I discovered an ironic twist: plenty of boys I’d secretly admired had wanted to ask me out but were too intimidated to try. I’ll never understand why. I liked some of them, too, but the silent rules of our generation—rules that dictated waiting instead of acting—kept us all in a strange, unspoken stalemate. Even now, that ingrained hesitancy lingers like an echo of a long-ago joke, one I can’t quite bring myself to laugh at.

Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

A9: I aim to weave a tapestry of diverse scenarios and experiences to captivate the reader, ensuring the narrative remains vibrant and engaging. Introducing new characters who bring depth and color to the story alongside intriguing and surprising settings keeps the momentum alive. For this book, crafting a cast of varied personalities came naturally—after all, online dating offers an endless parade of men, each with their own quirks and stories. Every encounter becomes a fresh adventure, and as long as the people are compelling or the situations unique, the reader is drawn in, eager to see what comes next.

Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

A10: The principle of “show, don’t tell” encourages writers to engage readers by creating vivid scenes and sensory experiences rather than simply stating facts or summarizing events. By showing, readers can interpret emotions, understand character motivations, and immerse themselves in the story’s world through their imagination. Hook them in, then keep them interested!