Interview with Erica Manfred, Author of Interview with a Jewish Vampire

Interview with a Jewish Vampire

by Erica Manfred

December 2011 

by Fredonia Communcations

The last thing zaftig middle-aged journalist, Rhoda Ginsburg, expects when she signs up for JDate is to fall for a vampire. But when she meets drop-dead gorgeous Sheldon, a Hasidic vampire, she falls hard. She rationalizes that he may not be alive, but at least he’s Jewish. Desperate to save the life of her terminally ill mother, Rhoda comes up with the crackpot idea of getting Sheldon to turn her and her little old Jewish lady friends into vampires. Who knew that they would “go rogue” and start preying on the young?

Interview with Erica Manfred:

If you could invite any 5 people (living or deceased) to dinner, who would you choose?

Whoopie Goldberg, Joy Behar, John Stewart, Judd Apatow, Tina Fey. Should be a riot.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?
Desire for fame and fortune. Who knew writers didn’t make any money, or get famous? By the time I found out it was too late. I was hooked.

Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Having Jacqueline Lichtenberg, an award winning sci-fi writer rave about my book and offer to help me plot the next one.

How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
Went out for expensive dinner with my then husband. I actually made a lot of money on that book, which was a consumer medical book. Novels don’t sell so well.

What is one book everyone should read?
The dictionary. I get so tired of illiterates.

What was your favorite book when you were younger?
There were so many, it’s hard to choose—or remember.   I do remember adoring Green Mansions.   Hardly anyone remembers that one. 

Who are your favorite authors?
Keeps changing depending on what I’m reading at the moment. Right now I adore George RR Martin and Diana Gabaldon

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
I really couldn’t care less about signatures. But if I had to choose it would be something by Shakespeare that was worth a lot of money

What is one book you wish you had written?
Interview with the Vampire, no contest.

In one sentence only, please tell us why we should read your book.
It’s really funny and good laughs are hard to come by these days.

Please tell us a fun, random fact about yourself that most people don't know.
I heard Janis Joplin sing in person.

About the author:

Erica Manfred is a freelance journalist, humorous essayist, and author. Her most recent book is the novel,  Interview with a Jewish Vampire.  She’s also authored two non-fiction self-help books, including most recently He’s History You’re Not; Surviving Divorce After Forty. Her articles and essays have appeared in Cosmopolitan, The New York Times Magazine, Ms., New Age Journal, Village Voice, Woman’s Day, SELF, Ladies Home Journal, and many other publications.  Erica lives in Woodstock, New York with her Chihuahua, Shadow, and her daughter, Freda. Brought up by Jewish parents who spoke Yiddish but avoided religion, she got her Jewish education at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation which welcomes Jews from all backgrounds, from atheist to Orthodox, to vampire.

Her website is www.ericamanfred.com or visit www.jewishvampire.com.