Arthur Wooten: Greg,
when we first met I knew you as a novelist. Can you offer our readers a little
insight into your body of work. Maybe the elevator pitch/logline for each book?
Greg Allen: Oh
goodness! You're putting me on the spot. It needs to be a long elevator ride.
Hi, I'm Gregory Allen & I've written 3 novels . . .
. . . that deal with family (those
we're born into and those we make), topics of sexuality, . . .
. . . the foster care
system, mental illness, love, and self discovery.
I also have three children's
books that advocate on autism awareness as well as following your dream...even
if you're a squirrel who wants to perform. Here are all my books:
Arthur: So, I’ve
discovered that you wear many hats. You’re a theatre manager and I believe
you’re also a playwright and a composer? And you’ve recently starred in the
musical production of Big Fish and prior to that, Next To Normal.
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| Greg in Next To Normal |
Greg: It's often hard to say what you do when you enjoy doing
so many things. You can't fit it on a business card! I've been in the
entertainment industry for over 25 years in one capacity or another. I've
written several musicals, directed them, acted in them and I love each of those
in a different way. No matter what – I'm a story teller. Either telling someone
else's story or one I've created myself. I think that's why I loved playing Edward
Bloom in Big Fish the Musical last summer...he was an incredible storyteller.
Arthur: You’ve written
and directed the award winning short film Mother.
Greg: That was such a rewarding experience. Every single
element from writing it, the two day shoot, post production – all of it came
together in such a way that I'm afraid to try another. And then to hit the film
festival circuit and win some awards...wow!
Arthur: AND, as you mentioned, you’ve also
segued into being a children’s book author.
Greg: My background started in children's theater. My mother
and several family members were also teachers. I wrote my first children's
musicals when I was a teen. I got my equity card doing children's theater. I
toured as a teenage mutant ninja turtle. So wanting children to be involved in
the arts has been important to me. I love traveling to schools and discussing
writing with them after reading my books. It brings me such joy to hear from
children that are already creating their own stories in elementary school.
Arthur: How do you juggle
so many genres and jobs? Do you finish one project to completion and then move
to the next, keeping them compartmentalized? Or can you work on many things at
the same time?
Greg: I often start several different projects, but then when
one takes over – it really takes over and moves to the front. I still have
sequels to my first two novels that I never finished. The past year I worked on
adapting some of my novels into screenplays at the same time I was writing
Irving the Theater Nut!
Arthur: In regard to your
children’s books, where do you find your inspiration?
Greg: My Chicken Boy
series is based on my godson with autism. I wanted to create a superhero with
autism from the 1st person POV (point-of-view). I had no idea people would respond
to it as they did and I would begin traveling to schools every year talking
about it.
The second book came along when teachers and school nurses asked me
to address sensory overload with children with autism. So I did.
For Irving, when
I started my current job managing a theater in a historic theater in
Westchester County NY, the 1st week I was there a squirrel got into
the theater. I completely forgot that I went home and wrote an outline. Last
year, I found it and created the book about the squirrel who couldn't stay out
of the building because he wants so badly to perform with the children
rehearsing inside.
Arthur: I know that with
Chicken Boy you’ve delved into the school circuit, educating the kids and
entertaining them with your work. Are you doing the same with Irving?
Greg: I've already done
several bookstores with Irving and have a school lined up this spring that
specifically wants me to talk about Irving. I'd love to go to some summer
theater camps and talk about Irving to those kids. It's for those that dare to
be different, follow their dreams, and follow their own beat.
Arthur: And what advice
would you give other children’s book authors who want to take the challenge and
visit schools with their projects? I bet your acting skills come in handy.
Greg: You definitely need to stay sharp and be ready to take
whatever is thrown your way. You never know what questions will be asked. Plus
yes, it helps to be somewhat entertaining so I can utilize some acting skills
for that. If I start to sense I need to shift gears, I tell my story about
touring as a Ninja Turtle and that pulls them right back in!
Arthur: Do you see a
sequel to Irving in the future? Or what about a children’s musical adaptation
of Irving?
Greg: At this point I
want to see how the first book does, but I absolutely could see a sequel for
Irving. I've already got to witness a group of children acting it out after I
read them the story. That was so rewarding to me! I'd love to see it adapted
for the stage. Who knows, that may end up being another project of mine. (I
haven't written music in many, many years – so perhaps it could be a
collaboration with someone – any takers?)
Arthur : Greg, you never cease to amaze and inspire me.
To find out more about Greg visit his website at www.gregorygallen.com.
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