Writing Humor Is No Laughing Matter—Or Is It?

TO BOOK JEFF COHEN OR FOR MORE INFORMA- TION, CONTACT: Bruce Bortz Publisher Attention: Booking/ Show Ideas Bancroft Press 410-358-0658 bruceb@ bancroftpress.com Writing Humor is No Laughing Matter—Or Is It? Having written what probably feels like a zillion screenplays without many (or is it any?) selling, but having sold the very first novel he ever wrote—For Whom the Minivan Rolls—it seems like Jeff Cohen has finally found his niche. And with the praise for the newest book in his Aaron Tucker Mystery Series, A Farewell to Legs (November 2003), mounting almost beyond control (not that we’d ever want to control the mounting of praise), it also seems that Cohen has a break-out hit on his hands. Since Jeffrey Cohen is on the brink of the superstardom that comes with having a wildly popular, top-selling book that is simply on everybody’s lips (boy, isn’t that a weird mental image?), a couple of us editors here at Bancroft decided to pick Jeff’s brain about the whole humor-mystery-writing-thing. This is what he had to say: SINCE I BEGAN the highlight of my entire writing “ca- writing “humorous reer” came not when the first book was mysteries,” (and published, not when the (uniformly en- “humorous,” by thusiastic, if I must say so myself) re- the way, is the views came in, not even when people I comedy equivalent didn’t know went out of their way to tell of the word “pleas- me they enjoyed it. All those things were ant,” which means incredibly nice, but they weren’t the it’s just funny highlight. enough to be considered not THE HIGHLIGHT WAS WHEN Larry Gel- depressing), a good number of people bart said I had written something witty. have asked me why I concentrate on this particular sub-genre. At least I consider “Jeff Cohen's Minivan rolls merrily it a good number of people—I’ve always along -- accent on the merrily. Mr. thought two was a good number. Cohen's ideas on marriage and murder (often cut from two ends of the It’s hard to answer that question, particu- same bolt) are wise, wicked, and larly since I haven’t given it a moment’s witty. Surprisingly tender, too, regard- thought. But the reason could lie in this ing the responsibilities and trials of being a parent -- fathering a delightful particular bit of personal psychology— book in the process." -- LARRY GELBART Gelbart, who “Because we make them laugh,” among those Groucho Marx once said of himself and who follow other comedians, “people don’t under- comedy is stand how important we are to their san- considered ity.” If anyone knew, it was Groucho. God’s I don’t think of the Aaron Tucker books summer as mysteries with humor in them; I con- replacement, sider them comedies that have a murder read the first mystery to keep them going. Do you re- Aaron Tucker member who the murderer was in The mystery, For Thin Man? Do you remember Nick and Whom the Nora Charles? I rest my case. Minivan Rolls, and “Equal parts Mel Brooks, Groucho Marx, and Woody Allen sweetened sent back a note saying he found it with enlightened sexual politics and “wise, wicked and witty.” Among other well-mixed with the completely things. That was enough to put me into original mind of Jeffrey Cohen. hyperspace for a month. It would have Sheer reading pleasure.”-- ELLEN been longer, but there were par- PALL, AUTHOR, CORPSE DE BALLET ent/teacher conferences I had to attend. AND SLIGHTLY ABRIDGED THE FACT THAT IT WAS A COMPLIMENT WHEN MINIVAN WAS RATTLING around from one of my all-time writing heroes, in my head, I thought it was going to be and that said hero is a giant in the world a screenplay, but Aaron Tucker wanted of comedy, holds the key to the “humor- to tell the story himself, and first-person ous mystery” question. I’ve always been narrative is remarkably difficult to pull drawn to comedy, for one thing because off in screenplay format. Since I assidu- I find laughing more fun than crying. ously avoid all things that are remarka- It also struck me, at a very early age, that bly difficult to pull off (including neck- I was crying perfectly well often enough ties), I decided to try telling Aaron’s without any help from popular enter- story the way he wanted it told—directly tainment, but that laughter, while it did to the audience (who became the reader). occur on a day-to-day basis, could always use a helping hand. By the time I got to the current book, A Farewell to Legs, Aaron was more con- fident in his story-telling skills, if not his “I declare Jeffrey Cohen 'King of the Zingers.’ His Aaron Tucker sleuthing abilities. He still got to rail character doesn't know when to about the things that irritate him (which stop . and that's the good news. number in the millions), but he also Legs definitely has legs.” knew now how to unfold the tale in a -- TIM COCKEY, BESTSELLING AU- manner that would (hopefully) keep the THOR OF SUCH MYSTERIES AS MUR- pages turning. DER IN THE HEARSE DEGREE, AND FELLOW PUN-LOVER I ALSO WANTED TO PUT A FACE on As- perger Syndrome, a neurological condition much like high-functioning autism that about 2 million Americans, includ- “Are those for me?” I asked. ing my 14-year-old son, have, and that everyone else needs to understand. Abby nodded. “I thought you might Again, humor was essential in making like a special breakfast after you this condition more understandable to worked so hard on this story.” "civilians" who don't deal with it every day. If you can't find humor in a boy “I am hopelessly in love with you,” I who can walk around all day with his said. shirt on backwards and then chuckle about it himself, perhaps you've been “Don’t be,” she reading too much Kafka. answered. “Be hopefully in THE TRICK WITH WRITING “humorous love with me.” fiction” is never to make the book funny. I got myself a If the character has a comedic point of plate and she view, it will be funny. There’s not much actually that’s amusing about two guys carrying a flipped two piano up the stairs, unless the two guys pancakes onto are Laurel and Hardy in The Music Box. it for me . Cowboys eating beans around a camp- fire? Yawn! Unless they live in the Mel “Mmmm,” I appreciated. “You make Brooks universe of Blazing Saddles. a mean pancake, my love.” I believe the Aaron Tucker books are “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ll try to make funny because Aaron has a point of view a kinder one next time.” that skews toward irreverence and sar- casm. He and his beloved wife Abigail “Someday I must pay for you to take Stein communicate through wit because a course in receiving a compliment,” that’s the way they choose to communi- I suggested. cate. If they didn’t choose to say things with a “A crackerjack mystery with a prize little humor, the scene might have inside: it's laugh-out-loud funny to boot! I hope Aaron Tucker's lack of played like this: success with screenplays trans- lates into a long and full career “Are these for me?” I asked. solving crime with wit and whine.” -- DAN FIORELLA, ROVING EDITOR, Abby nodded. “I thought you might CRACKED MAGAZINE, AND CON- like a special breakfast after you TRIBUTING WRITER, “PRAIRIE HOME worked so hard on this story.” COMPANION” “Thanks,” I said. Consider this bit of dialogue, from A Farewell to Legs, at a moment when “You’re welcome.” Abby has made her husband a pancake breakfast: I took a bite. “These are very good,” I told Abby. mysteries. The fact that both these gen- “Thank you. I’m glad you like them.” res—mystery and comedy—are not quite as… respected as the “literary” novels Not quite the same thing, I think. we read about in scholarly journals re- flects a deep, troubling problem facing In the final analysis (final for today; my our society’s soul. brain hurts), I think I write comedy because I think we need more comedy, and But who wants to read about that? I write mysteries because, well, I like The Best Medicine: Book Jeffrey Cohen To Bring Wit, Warmth, and Wisdom To Your Show Jeffrey Cohen is available in person to locations in the New York and New Jersey areas, and by phone nationwide. To book him as a guest, or to receive more information, please contact: Bruce Bortz Publisher Bancroft Press 410-358-0658 bruceb@ bancroftpress.com Visit us on the web: www.aarontucker.com www.bancroftpress.com Sample Interview Questions Jeff Would Love To Answer You are a freelance writer who works at home, lives in New Jersey, stands 5'4" tall, and has a wife who's an attorney, a daughter, and a son with Asperger Syn- drome. Your character, Aaron Tucker, is a freelance writer who works at home, lives in New Jersey, stands 5'4" tall, and has a wife who's an attorney, a daughter and a son with Asperger Syndrome. Which one of you wrote the book? Now that Minivan has been optioned by Mike Sullivan Productions, which did “Growing Pains” among other syndicated sit-coms, who would you cast in an Aaron Tucker movie? New Jersey plays a large role in the book.

Load more