Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is happy to shine our Spotlight Blog on Harris N. “Hershey” Rosen, former candy business owner and U.S. Army Finance Control Officer who has written a book and an app to help people ease the burden of financial responsibilities for home and business surrounding one’s death. Besides having a will and estate documents in order, when someone passes away, it’s important that the grieving loved ones have an easy way of making sense of remaining bills and ongoing finances. He’ll be visiting ABSW at 65 James Street on Saturday, May 14, from 2:00 – 4:00 PM, to give a talk and workshop on this topic.
Thank you very much for joining us, Hershey. For readers unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe what you write? What can readers expect from My Family Records Book?
A realization that the financial and household manager of a relationship has information in his/her head that will be needed at time of passing or incapacitation. If the manager has a partner, each probably has information that the other should know.
What kind of research went into writing this book? What is your favorite research story? What cool facts and findings didn’t make it into the book, but you loved discovering?
Primarily the Internet, but lot of time was spent talking with professionals (estate attorneys, insurance brokers, real estate executives, the clergy and even funeral directors) – all over a time period of 4 years.
What was the inspiration for your work? What were the steps you took to bring it from initial inspiration to the finished book?
I realized that I had a lot of information about our financial affairs that my wife didn’t and that I didn’t think she realized where I kept the names of the companies and their telephone numbers who kept our lives and home running smoothly.
What was the biggest challenge in writing and putting out work? How did you overcome that challenge?
That people think “their time is a long way off.” People do not want to talk about their death, so to lighten up the book, I have added appropriate cartoons – some from the New Yorker and some others.
What is your favorite part of being a writer? Of the whole writing and publishing process? What do you think has been your greatest lesson in the journey thus far?
Being asked a questions like this, and then being amazed at how much information just flows out.
What piece of advice would you want to share with other writers?
It’s not a profitable career.
Where can people find your work? (Besides ABSW ;)–though they should totally check here first!)
At Annie’s Worcester, most Rhode Island bookstores and Amazon
How can we follow your work?
Only through Facebook which I use only to promote the book.
Thank you again for the interview, Hershey, and we look forward to seeing you at Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester, 65 James Street, on Saturday, May 14, from 2:00 – 4:00.