      
      
      
An Interview
With
Sonia Pressman Fuentes
ER!-Sonia, I have spent a good
part of the last two night soaking up your site at http://www.erraticimpact.com/fuentes
What an amazing woman you are! From the first woman
attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at EEOC, to
one of founders of NOW (National Organization for Women),
what haven't you done?! Your entire site is
fabulous. Loved the photos, excerpts, and
stories. On your site you talk about how you came
to the decision of writing Eat First, which you
originally intended to commemorate the part you played in
the Second Wave of the women's rights movement.
Please tell us what "Eat First" is about and
where you ever came up with such a title:-)
SPF-
Eat First is my memoir--but it is also the story of
my parents and brother--my immediate family. It
begins with my parents' meeting and marriage in a
small town in Poland. I plan to visit that town
this August. The book is written with a light
touch and many, but not all, of the stories are
humorous.
The book includes the history of the founding of NOW,
and my role in it, and of how I came to be employed
as the first woman attorney in the General Counsel's
Office at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC)--but that is only one of forty-six
chapters.
The title came about as follows. My original
working title was Laughing Through My Fears, but my
writing instructor at a course I took on writing a
book at the Writers Center in Bethesda, Maryland,
said, "If you're writing a humorous book, you
need a humorous title." Some time after
that, I happened to be at a book fair looking at
books, and the current title just popped into my
head. It comes from one of the stories in my
book. My parents didn't go out to eat much--and
when I was invited out to dinner either at someone's
home or in a restaurant, my mother was concerned that
the food I'd be served there wouldn't be as good as
what she prepared for me at home. So, when I
was on my way out to dinner, she'd want me to eat a
complete dinner home first--just to be on the safe
side. And she'd say, "Eat first--You Don't
Know What They'll Give You."
ER!-How long did it take to write
"Eat First"?
SPF-
Six years.
ER!-What would you say was your
biggest challenge in writing this book?
SPF-
Continuing to work at it when I had no idea that it
would ever be published or, if it was, whether
readers would like it.
ER!-Is there anything out there
that you'd like to do, but haven't yet been
given the opportunity?
SPF-
Yes--I'd love to do a nationwide -- and worldwide --
speaking tour, with TV, newspaper, and radio
coverage.
ER!-Is there anything that you've
written, but we'll never see? Why?
SPF-
No. Everything I've written has been published
somewhere--but some pieces have been disseminated
more widely than others.
ER!-Why did you decide to publish
"Eat First" as an ebook?
SPF-
I didn't just publish it as an ebook. It is
published in hardback, paperback, and as an
ebook. It has even been published in the UK.
ER!-If you weren't a writer, what
would you be doing?
SPF-
Before I became a writer, I had been an attorney for
the federal government and an attorney and executive
for multinational corporations for thirty-six years.
Since my retirement from the federal government in
1993, I've focused on writing and public speaking.
ER!-Do you intend to write
fiction in the future? Or have another book in
mind?
SPF-I
do not have the necessary imagination to write
fiction and am in awe of people who do. A
publisher has asked me to do a second book of
speeches I've given and of the diary I kept during my
first six months at the EEOC. But my life is so
busy at the moment I don't think I want to take on
another large project of this kind. I do
continue to write speeches and articles. I
will, for example, write an article for the
Washington (D.C.) Jewish Week on my impressions and
feelings during my trip to Poland after my return.
ER!-What's the non-writing world
like for you? Is there a husband, a
boyfriend, slaves hidden in the basement? Children?
Grandchildren?
SPF-I
have no slaves hidden in the basement as I have no
refrigerator and stove in the basement of my Potomac,
Maryland, townhouse (where I spend most of the year)
and no basement in my Sarasota, Florida, condo (where
I winter). Besides, I'm opposed to slavery.
I have a late ex-husband; a twenty-nine-year-old
daughter, who lives in California; three
stepchildren; two nieces; several great-nieces and a
great-nephew; and several great-great nieces and
-nephews. I just came from several days in
Atlanta where I got together with my daughter, my
niece and her husband, my great-niece and her
husband, daughter and stepson, and my great-nephew
and his wife. For Thanksgiving, I've been
getting together in San Antonio with my late
ex-husband's first wife (I was his second) and her
children (my stepchildren). Is that confusing
enough for you?
ER!-Many readers wonder what's
going on in an author's head, and here's the
part where we find out<g>.
Describe yourself in one line:
SPF-I
am an energetic woman, known for my sense of humor
and wit, strongly devoted to equal rights for women
and all peoples worldwide and to the perpetuation of
Jewish culture.
ER!-(Finish this sentence) On a
Saturday night you'll find me...
SPF-out
to dinner or dinner and a movie with friends.
ER!-If I could have one wish, I
would wish...
SPF-for
continued good health, energy, and ability.
ER!-What kind of car do you
drive?
SPF-2000
Toyota Camry.
ER!-What kind of car do you
*want* to drive?
SPF-
2001 Toyota Camry.
ER!-Answer the following
questions as quickly as possible, but feel free to
expand on any of your answers (Hey, it's not a test).:
What's your favorite movie?
SPF-The
Red Shoes.
ER!-Favorite song?
SPF-something
sung by Edith Piaf or any other French singer--Yves
Montand, Charles Aznavour, etc.
ER!-Favorite snack?
SPF-
Peanut butter.
ER!-Favorite book?
SPF-The
Education of Hyman Kaplan.
ER!-Typewriter or computer?
SPF- I
use both -- but 99% the computer.
ER!-Soup or salad?
SPF-Salad,
but I like soups when it's cold.
ER!-Pre-planner or blind leap?
SPF-Absolutely
pre-planner.
ER!-Turkey burger or steak?
SPF-turkey
burger, I watch calories and fat.
ER!-Slacks or jeans?
SPF-Jeans,
but I also wear lots of slacks--depends on the
weather. Jeans are too hot if it's over about
55 degrees.
ER!-Are blondes really more fun?
SPF-I
don't know but I have blond highlights added to my
hair just in case.
ER!-Have you ever held anyone
hostage?
SPF-No.
ER!-If no, would you?
SPF-No.
I don't believe in coercing people to be with you.
ER!-Do you believe in love at
first sight?
SPF-I
believe in something at first sight. Don't
think it's love. Probably attraction.
ER!-Are aliens real?
SPF-I
was an alien to this country myself since I was born
in Berlin, Germany--and I'm very real.
ER!-What is one thing about you
that very few know?
SPF-While
I appear to be tough, I'm actually quite vulnerable.
ER!-What is your greatest fear?
SPF-
Not being able to lead a meaningful life, old age
with the accompanying ill health, and death.
ER!-If you could be anyone (dead
or alive) who would you be? And why?
SPF-
I'd be a glamorous model, singer, or actress.
I'd love to experience receiving the kind of
admiration and attention they get.
ER!-And finally (and you can take
your time on this one:-)), what's next for
you? Your next book? Writing venture? Goal?
SPF-I
have no crystal ball and no ability to predict the
future. While I plan events in the short run, I
don't think long range. My memoir is in
development as a stage play and I look forward to
working with the playwright, Christina Hamlett, on
that and seeing the play produced. I hope to
continue giving talks on a variety of subjects.
My goal is to continue to have a busy, meaningful
life and to make a contribution to the world around
me.
Remember
to visit Sonia's Website!
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