Your Subtitle text
Above The Fold - March 15, 2010
Insightful, Thought-Provoking Author
Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, Philip Nork spent the early years of his life trying to adjust to the divorce of his parents. He did this by becoming extremely introverted and watching how the mechanics between men and women worked. When he wasn’t observing and taking in this dynamic, he spent hour upon hour alone in his bedroom listening to the melancholy songs from his favorites like Bread, Jim Croce, Air Supply and Rod Steward.
As he developed, he learned many things from the people around him, and the stories of Sensitivity 101 for the Heterosexual Male, his debut novel, come from these times. While re-written as a narrative non-fiction piece, many of them still hit home and bring back memories of the "real thing."
Phil moved from Illinois after high school and began to experience his own life. Going from California to Florida and finally back to Illinois, he continued to observe how men and women "get along" for better or for worse. All of these life lessons were put away for save keeping until the time came to re-live them and write them down for prosperity.
After marrying, having a son, moving to Nevada, and accepting a job that left him on the road for far too much time, that time finally came. One night while sitting in an Arizona hotel, Phil turned on the television to see the classic, Grease, on his screen. That movie always meant something special to him; so when it ended, he turned on some of his favorite 1970's music and slipped away into the windmills of his mind. The result is Sensitivity 101…
To learn more about Philip, visit his website at:
BOOK VIDEO TRAILER:
Sensitivity 101
(Philip Nork)
Sensitivity 101
(Philip Nork)
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Philip Nork (Sensitivity 101 For The Heterosexual Male)
Apex Reviews: Philip, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking forward to sharing more about your book with our readers.
Philip Nork: First of all, thanks for taking the time to read and review my book, along with doing this interview. I appreciate the time and effort it takes to do that.
AR: Please share with our readers precisely what inspired you to craft this profound piece of narrative nonfiction.
PN: The stories obviously were always inside of me. When I moved my family to Nevada after 40 years of living in the same area of Illinois I knew no one, no one knew me and I was guess I was feeling a little lonely. I started having dreams that brought back pieces of my life, the people I met, and the music I listened to as I grew up as the product of a broken family. After taking a job that left me on the road way too often, these feelings kept reappearing more frequently. I just started jotting down memories...and two years later with a lot of editing help, I was able to make a bunch of memories into a story that hopefully leaves a message to those that read it.
AR: Just how much of the story is based on your own real life experiences, and how much is imagined?
PN: All of the characters are based on real true to life ladies, or girls at the time, as are the situations that I write about. The actual stories are somewhat embellished in order to make the message at the end all that more realistic. Without these people and situations that arose, there would be no book.
AR: Why do you think it's so difficult for men to process and express their feelings in healthy ways?
PN: Most men are "taught" not to let their emotions come to the surface...they hide behind the mask of knowing all, never hurting and not letting others in. For whatever the reason, it is a sign of weakness to let others help. If they would just remember that we are human and thus made up of a little bit of everything--some male, some female, some straight, some gay...we all experience the same feelings and when you let them show, you really get to enjoy life more.
AR: Do you think men and women will ever truly understand one another?
PN: I don't think so--we are programmed differently. The brains are different somehow.
AR: How have the topics that you outline in the book impacted/influenced your own marriage?
PN: I would like to think they have. I know that I treat my wife differently--not always better, but differently--than many of my friends. I listen more than other men do and react to things like I used to when I was younger. I have no problem crying in front of my wife or son as we watch television and something comes on that moves me. I also have used the first ten lessons to help my son learn about the differences between men and women. Someday, I am sure, he will get to see the other lessons, but not quite yet as he is only 10.
AR: What kinds of reactions has the book generated thus far?
PN: Surprisingly to me, the most e-mail I get is from adults who also were kids of divorce and how they understand the feelings of depression and the longing to be accepted. My mail is heavily biased on the female side. They read it, not knowing what it really is all about, then show it to their significant other. I have had only one negative comment--it was from someone who thought the title was objectional, thus would not even read the book.
AR: What's the main message that you'd like readers to take away from the story?
PN: That we all experience the same two "wants" from life--to be accepted for who we are and to be truly happy. There are many ways to get there and the way people come into your life precisely when they do really does influence what you do and who you turn out to be. Just be open to the "hidden" symbols and try to read between the lines of what you see on a daily basis. The world is yours for the taking, just remember to give back along the way. If you do this, whoever or whatever you worship will "accept" you and let you know it.
AR: We noticed that Sensitivity 102 is in the works. What can we expect in the follow-up volume?
PN: This will be the second part of the journey--from 18 until the main character dies, again leaving another "hidden" message that comes to light in the last chapter. I have had 3 people read the unedited manuscript and all seem to enjoy the stories. Hopefully, it will get to editing in January 2010 and be published later that year.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your publishing experience with AuthorHouse.
PN: AuthorHouse is an excellent publisher for the first time author. They help you with everything. The only thing I will say is watch the marketing aspect--they are in the business to make money, so learn to say "no." What they offer you, you can do on your own with a little work.
AR: What's next for you?
PN: I am waiting to see how many copies of the book sells, then will make a decision if the second of the series Sensitivity 102: Choices will be published. In the meantime, I am working on another book all about the good and bad times of family vacations.
AR: How can people learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?
PN: The easiest way to stay current is through my website: www.PhilipNork.com. It also contains a blog which I attempt to post on every week.
AR: How can they contact you directly?
PN: The best way is sending me an e-mail at pnork2@yahoo.com.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
PN: Just that I appreciate the efforts of your team to make this process so smooth and easy. To the readers--All of us have what it takes to write, so just do it. Even if it never gets published the sense of achievement that you get is a once in a lifetime feeling. And if it does "connect" with someone and they do enjoy it, the feeling is that much better.
AR: Thanks again, Philip, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
Apex Reviews: Philip, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking forward to sharing more about your book with our readers.
Philip Nork: First of all, thanks for taking the time to read and review my book, along with doing this interview. I appreciate the time and effort it takes to do that.
AR: Please share with our readers precisely what inspired you to craft this profound piece of narrative nonfiction.
PN: The stories obviously were always inside of me. When I moved my family to Nevada after 40 years of living in the same area of Illinois I knew no one, no one knew me and I was guess I was feeling a little lonely. I started having dreams that brought back pieces of my life, the people I met, and the music I listened to as I grew up as the product of a broken family. After taking a job that left me on the road way too often, these feelings kept reappearing more frequently. I just started jotting down memories...and two years later with a lot of editing help, I was able to make a bunch of memories into a story that hopefully leaves a message to those that read it.
AR: Just how much of the story is based on your own real life experiences, and how much is imagined?
PN: All of the characters are based on real true to life ladies, or girls at the time, as are the situations that I write about. The actual stories are somewhat embellished in order to make the message at the end all that more realistic. Without these people and situations that arose, there would be no book.
AR: Why do you think it's so difficult for men to process and express their feelings in healthy ways?
PN: Most men are "taught" not to let their emotions come to the surface...they hide behind the mask of knowing all, never hurting and not letting others in. For whatever the reason, it is a sign of weakness to let others help. If they would just remember that we are human and thus made up of a little bit of everything--some male, some female, some straight, some gay...we all experience the same feelings and when you let them show, you really get to enjoy life more.
AR: Do you think men and women will ever truly understand one another?
PN: I don't think so--we are programmed differently. The brains are different somehow.
AR: How have the topics that you outline in the book impacted/influenced your own marriage?
PN: I would like to think they have. I know that I treat my wife differently--not always better, but differently--than many of my friends. I listen more than other men do and react to things like I used to when I was younger. I have no problem crying in front of my wife or son as we watch television and something comes on that moves me. I also have used the first ten lessons to help my son learn about the differences between men and women. Someday, I am sure, he will get to see the other lessons, but not quite yet as he is only 10.
AR: What kinds of reactions has the book generated thus far?
PN: Surprisingly to me, the most e-mail I get is from adults who also were kids of divorce and how they understand the feelings of depression and the longing to be accepted. My mail is heavily biased on the female side. They read it, not knowing what it really is all about, then show it to their significant other. I have had only one negative comment--it was from someone who thought the title was objectional, thus would not even read the book.
AR: What's the main message that you'd like readers to take away from the story?
PN: That we all experience the same two "wants" from life--to be accepted for who we are and to be truly happy. There are many ways to get there and the way people come into your life precisely when they do really does influence what you do and who you turn out to be. Just be open to the "hidden" symbols and try to read between the lines of what you see on a daily basis. The world is yours for the taking, just remember to give back along the way. If you do this, whoever or whatever you worship will "accept" you and let you know it.
AR: We noticed that Sensitivity 102 is in the works. What can we expect in the follow-up volume?
PN: This will be the second part of the journey--from 18 until the main character dies, again leaving another "hidden" message that comes to light in the last chapter. I have had 3 people read the unedited manuscript and all seem to enjoy the stories. Hopefully, it will get to editing in January 2010 and be published later that year.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your publishing experience with AuthorHouse.
PN: AuthorHouse is an excellent publisher for the first time author. They help you with everything. The only thing I will say is watch the marketing aspect--they are in the business to make money, so learn to say "no." What they offer you, you can do on your own with a little work.
AR: What's next for you?
PN: I am waiting to see how many copies of the book sells, then will make a decision if the second of the series Sensitivity 102: Choices will be published. In the meantime, I am working on another book all about the good and bad times of family vacations.
AR: How can people learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?
PN: The easiest way to stay current is through my website: www.PhilipNork.com. It also contains a blog which I attempt to post on every week.
AR: How can they contact you directly?
PN: The best way is sending me an e-mail at pnork2@yahoo.com.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
PN: Just that I appreciate the efforts of your team to make this process so smooth and easy. To the readers--All of us have what it takes to write, so just do it. Even if it never gets published the sense of achievement that you get is a once in a lifetime feeling. And if it does "connect" with someone and they do enjoy it, the feeling is that much better.
AR: Thanks again, Philip, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!