I met Darrah Whitaker in April when myself and two of my editor friends, Cindy Davis and Barbara Wilson, presented workshops at the Las Vegas Writer’s Conference. It was a fantastic conference, an awesome group of people, and Darrah did a spectacular job as coordinator. He was also lots of fun! But you know what is even more fun? His book! It’s called My Life as a Sperm. How could I NOT want to read it? I am not very far into the book, but I’m hooked. It’s engaging and very, very funny. I don’t often laugh out loud while reading, but I have while reading his book. Here’s a peek at some of the funny snippets:
From a scene where the protagonist, Buddy Price, goes to see a wealthy TV evangelist at his compound/church.
A waterfall added a melodic refrain as it cascaded over rocks into a shallow pool. Unseen birds chirped. I might have converted then and there, but I caught sight of speakers hidden behind the bushes.
AND
He sat at his desk. “How about I give you the real story. Truth is always better than fiction.”
I nodded, although I bet Oliver stone would likely disagree with that assessment.
Haha, love it! Can’t wait to read more! There are also some funny scenes with his not-so-bright assistant, Stacey.
*** Darrah is offering a free copy of My Life as a Sperm to one lucky winner. Two ways to enter:
- Follow his blog here: http://wdarrahwhitaker.com/blog/
- Comment on this blog below.
(You can will gain an entry for each if you do both) Winner will be announced Saturday. Please be sure to provide your email with your comment.
Also, please like his Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/wdarrahwhitaker
Now, it’s Darrah’s turn to tell you about his book. :)
Blurb
BUDDY PRICE, a Hollywood agent, dies in a car crash and finds himself in Heaven. There, he discovers God’s had enough with people and will pull the plug if we can’t learn to get along – a ‘love thy neighbor or else’ sort of message. An unlikely hero as there ever was, Buddy convinces God to let him fix things and gets a second chance. From the first few lines of the book, we know that he’s probably the last person we’d want to depend on to save the world, but God’s got his plan. Our fate rests in Buddy’s hands… or, who knows, maybe he’s just crazy and needs lithium or something.
Excerpt
On top of Hedgins’ glass desktop, skinny, white legs belonging to CFO Manor wishboned like a V for victory (or vagina, I suppose) toward the ceiling while Reverend Hedgins, with pants around the ankles, pounded away at her lady bits. Hedgins didn’t see me, his backside conveniently pointed in my direction, and, if their position had been reversed, he still wouldn’t have noticed since his head was kicked up as if looking for an attaboy from on high. CFO Manor let loose with a couple of ‘Thank you, Jesuses’ before she caught sight of me standing in the office doorway.
Interview:
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
This thing called “making a living”. It really cramps my style.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read My Life as a Sperm?
A greater sense of self-awareness. Maybe that’s all that matters. Everything else that follows should then fall into place. Oh, and also an overwhelming desire to seek out and purchase the sequel.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Tom Hanks, but mostly because I would like to just hang out after a hard day of shooting and share a few beers.
What is your favorite quote?
“I’m a toaster” – Alan Arkin from the movie “Simon”
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?
A good book, a flashlight, and a time machine (for obvious reasons).
Your most prized material possession? Why?
I thought long and hard on this one and finally realized I don’t really have a most prized material possession. I tried to imagine a fire where I lost everything and what I would miss most. Honestly, there was nothing. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t have a prized possession. It just so happens that those possessions are digital in nature. From the software systems I’ve developed over the past twenty years to the books and stories I’ve written and the photographs I’ve saved of loved ones and past experiences. Funny, huh? Maybe I’m simply a creature of these times.
Your favorite…
Movie – Blade Runner, hands down.
Music – 70’s R & B
Place you’ve visited – actually, it’s not the place, but the journey. Caribbean cruise!
Place you’d like to visit – I want to say the Moon, but given the current state of NASA, I’ll settle for Antarctica.
TV show from childhood – Gilligan’s Island (I had a huge crush on Mary Ann)
TV show from adulthood – X-Files (I had a huge crush on Agent Scully)
Food – Lasagna and ice cream, not necessarily in that order.
Sports team – War Eagle!
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? The way I see it, it’s not as important what you’re doing, but who you’re doing it with.
Thank you, Darrah. I enjoyed getting to know you better. I also loved Gilligan’s Island, and I agree, Mary Ann was hot! :)
For those who have read My Life as a Sperm, what was your favorite part?
Buy Links
Paperback http://www.amzn.com/0986268100
Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PVL6430
Contact Info
Email: darrah@wdarrahwhitaker.com
Website: www.wdarrahwhitaker.com
Buddy Price Website: www.buddyprice-agent.com
Bio
Darrah Whitaker is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and holds two Master degrees (MA-Film/MBA) from the University of Texas. He has written five screenplays, one which was produced and another optioned. His short stories have been published in the Writers Bloc III, IV, and V anthologies. He is a member of the International Thriller Writers as well as the Henderson Writers Group in Las Vegas, Nevada serving as Conference Coordinator on their Board of Directors. His first novel, My Life as a Sperm, takes on notions of God and destiny in a most unusual way. He lives in Las Vegas where, despite the myriad temptations, he still finds time to write.
