Pump Up Chats with Peyman Pejman

Peyman Pejman Peyman Pejman is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with respected newspapers, news agencies and radio stations such as The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Cox Newspapers, The Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Pejman has extensive experience in the Middle East and the Arab world. His tenure in the Middle East has corresponded with important timelines in the region: the Iranian revolution, the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Gulf Wars and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In addition to his journalistic career, he has been a media and communications professor and a media consultant/advisor/trainer.

Thank you for this interview, Peyman. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?

No, when I was a kid, my bug was really broadcast. Writing came to me later when I became a newspaper reporter. That’s when I got my first byline! And I was only 18!

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

The most frustrating part must be finding an agent. The most rewarding was to actually see the manuscript in print, to hold in your own hands a copy of your book.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?

I am single (if anyone is interested, wink, wink). Back to being serious, someone advised me long ago that the hardest thing about writing a book is actually writing the book, meaning being disciplined enough to do it every day.

What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing? Where do you like to vacation? Can you tell us briefly about this?

I like to read and I like to swim or run, if I find a nice environment. I like to vacation where my friends are. I enjoy being with people who once brightened my days and nights when we were together. Fortunately, having been a journalist for decades, I have friends literally all over the world!

If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?

Oooh, that’s really tough! Let me take the safe road and not mention a particular city but just say I would like to be where some of my closest friends are!

Who is your biggest fan?

Wish I knew!!

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

On the couch!

Do you have any pets?

No, but I always wanted to have a dog. Maybe one day!

Tell us a secret no one else knows.

If I did, it would not be a secret anymore, would it?!

What’s on your to do list today?

Answering blog interviews and preparing for my upcoming vacation.

Now I’ve got a couple of fun questions for you. If Tom Hanks, in the movie Cast Away, unearthed a copy of your book, how would that help him find a way off the island?

You just hit my really low point!! I am not a movie person and have to embarrass myself by saying I have not watched the film. Sorry, Tom!

You have a chance to appear on the hit talent show for authors, American Book Idol, with judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara Dioguardi and the newest addition, Ellen DeGeneres, to determine whether your book will make it to Hollywood and become a big screenplay where you’d make millions of dollars. What would impress them more – your book cover, an excerpt or your author photo – and why?

My photo, and here is why! I have pictures of me wearing a bulletproof jacket or covering wars somewhere. That would be a good entre into who I am and once they hear about me and my background, they’ll be interested in buying rights to my book!

You just got word that your book has received the 2010 NY Times Bestselling Book Award and you have to attend the ceremony to give an acceptance speech. Anyone who’s anyone will be there and it’s your shot for stardom. What would you say and who would you thank?

I would like to thank those who made this dream come true for me. I’d like to believe that this award signifies two things. First, if anyone found this book is “rich,” it’s because I was privileged to be a journalist for decades, be on the forefront of events, be—as they say—a witness to history as it unfolded. It was my life as a journalist that gave me the backbone to witness things and talk to people who made my life rich enough to come up with the material for this book. Second, it shows that –despite perceptions to the contrary—Americans still care about foreign affairs and international politics. As for whom I would thank, the people whose names are mentioned in the acknowledgement page of the book. What are the names? You’d have to read the book!

Age of Intolerance

I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in January and February via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

I believe in virtual book tours. The Internet has changed our lives in many ways and one of those is the way we read anything – newspapers, magazines, books. The same people who read books online look for book recommendations online!

Thank you for this interview, Peyman. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

Thank you. I appreciate this opportunity and I invite everyone to “pick up” a copy of Age of Intolerance and I hope you enjoy it. And if you do, please recommend it to others or mention it on your Facebook!




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