Allen Rucker (author of The Sopranos: A Family History) Answers
The Sopranoland Seven Questions
(and then some)
- 1. How did you find out you were goingto write a book about The Sopranos?
- David Chase saw a TNT documentary I had written called Family Values: The Mob & The Movies. He called me and mentioned the book. I didn’t believe him. Six months later his manager, Susie Fitzgerald, called and said, “Guess what you’re writing?” I took the rest of the day off.
2. How has writing this book altered your life?
- Free pizza from Ooh-Fa’s, around-the-clock police protection, and a shitpile of resumes from wiseguys trying to break into show business.
- 3. Tell us about your favorite Sopranos memory?
- My seven-minute interview with Nancy Marchand, thought to be the last one she gave. She had the gift of no-bullshit. When I asked her if there was anything she liked about Livia Soprano, she said, “No.”
- 4. Do you have any similarities to Jeffery Wernick?
- Mr. Wernick is a narcissist, a sycophant, a glory-hog, a shameless gossip, a shady businessman, and a bad dresser. I am none of those things. I am the Jeffrey Wernick he longs to be.
- 5. What made you choose to become a writer?
- I have no idea, beyond reading Albert Camus’ The Stranger, and saying, “That looks like fun.” It was more of an imperative than a calling. It took years to lose the dread. For a long time I thought of switching to medicine, as if they’d have me.
- 6. What kind of book would you most like to write?
- Madame Bovary, and barring that, something uproariously funny, and barring that, I don’t know.
- 7. What is in your future?
- Oh, I’ll probably have to write more about those darn Sopranos, since I have this guy Jeffery Wernick’s ear and he never shuts up, and after that, it’s a secret.
- How would you describe yourself?
- See answer #4. I’m none of those things, but a reasonably good yodeler.
- Do you have a fan e-mail address?
- I get e-mail via the JeffreyWernick.com web site. Jeffrey pilfers the notes from Irina and sends me the ones on how to spell “gabagool.”
- Do you use the Internet?
- Constantly. I highly recommend HBO.com or Amazon or B&N for all your Sopranos book buying needs. And, of course, Sopranoland!
- Anything else?
- No, I’ve said enough already.
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The Sopranos : A Family History
by Allen Rucker
NOW IN PAPERBACK
WITH SEASON 3 INFO!
Buy it from
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