Q&A with Kirk Douglas, Author of
Young Heroes of the Bible: A Book for Family Sharing
Q: How many grandchildren do you have?
A: I have three grandchildren. Tyler, age four, and Kelsey, age six, are from my son Peter. I always carry their pictures in my wallet. From my son Michael, I have Cameron, but he's a man now-he's twenty.
Q: How does writing compare to action?
A: In a way, they are both the same because I put myself into the character that I'm writing about and I write what he would feel. So, in many ways, it's very similar.
Q: What inspired you to become a writer?
A: I started writing my first book, The Ragman's Son, about my life. I wrote it because at the time, I wanted to take inventory. Where did I come from? Who am I and where am I going? Often if ife, we are so busy with what we are doing at the moment, we forget to take an overview of ourselves. The book surprised me by being an international success, so I started writing other books.
Q: How does writing for children compare to writing for adults?
A: There is not much difference. I try to write more simply for young people and I try to take a subject that would interest them. So far, I have written tow children's books-The Broken Mirror and the book that's coming out this year, Young Heroes of the Bible. I am surprised that very often adults like reading these books. I don't write for young children. When I am writing, I have in mind children aged nine to fifteen. Children are also more curious and imaginative than adults.
Q: Has religion always been important to you?
A: No. For many years, I didn't think much about religion. I had an awakening when I was in a helicopter that was in a midair collision with a small plane. Two young people in the plane were killed immediately. When I was in the hospital recovering from my injuries, I started to think, "Why did those two young people die and why am I alive?" This led me on a spiritual search, which I discuss in my book Climbing the Mountain.
Q: How important is religion in the education of our children?
A: I think children often get too much religion. I think they should be given what they can absorb. That's one of the reasons I wrote Young Heroes of the Bible. The story of young Abraham tells then how a young boy discovers God. If children realize that there is a God, that's enough. As they grow older, they can study more.
Q: Do you think kids today are more receptive or less receptive to religion than when you were a boy?
A: I think grown-ups, as well as kids, are more receptive to religion today. I think that there is a general search for spirituality.
Q: What message do you want kids to take away from the stories you've told in Young Heroes of the Bible?
A: I want the young people to know that the Bible is an exciting story, but they should find a translation of the Bible that is simply written without "thou woulds" and "thou coulds" and so on. It seems to me that almost every dramatic plot can be found in the Bible. When I was talking to a young writers' class at USC, they asked me what I could suggest for them to do to become better writers. My answer was "Read the Bible. It will make you a better writer and it might make you a better person."
Q: What made these stories so particularly memorable to you as a child?
A: As a child, I was fascinated by what part young people played in the Bible, and I could identify with young Abraham in his father's idol shop or David facing Goliath-and so I wrote about them.
Q: As an adult, do you find the Bible as inspiring as you did as a child?
A: The Bible can be read at any level, but there are subjects that would only interest a person when he is an adult. However, there is something for everyone in the Bible.
Q: Would you encourage kids to go into show business?
A: No! I never encourage people to go into show business. I even discourage my son Michael and look what happened to him. I think show business is very lonely. The chances for success are so slim. But if people cannot discourage you from going into show business, then you should follow your heart's desire.
Q: You've made remarkable gains since your stroke. Since speech became difficult for you, has writing become more important to you?
A: My life has changed drastically since my stroke. I think it has made me a better person. I think it has strengthened my belief in God. Of course, I work on my speech each day and I work at least once a week with a speech pathologist. I think my speech is much better now than when I first had my stroke, but I don't think I will ever be cured completely. I don't write because I had astroke. I write because I want to express something. Even though I have had a stroke, I just finished starring in a move called Diamonds. They tell me it's very good. Why don't you see it and judge for yourself?
This interview has been provided by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and can be reprinted for publication either in full or excerpted as individual questions and answers, so long as they are reprinted in their entirety.
Reviews
Young Heroes of the Bible: A Book for Family Sharing
Kirk Douglas
Illustrations by Dom Lee
This is a wonderful read-with or read-alone book featuring the stories of Abraham, Rebecca, Joseph, Miriam, and David, all youngsters who became powerful motivators for the world through their clear thinking, firm belief in God, and bravery under adverse circumstances. The famous movie actor-author writes with a disarming, honest style, frequently tossing in anecdotes from his own childhood--especially in Hebrew school--when he took the less admirable path instead of the higher one, as did the heroes of these tales. Important points are made when he empathizes about feelings of injustice--especially his own, when a bully escaped punishment after stealing his lunch, and those of Joseph's brothers, who hated him and sold him into Egypt because he was so favored by their father. Nevertheless, he reminds us constantly in child-friendly language, that taking the straight path is eventually rewarded by God, though often after a very long time and sometimes in ways that are not readily understood. A few strong black-and-white drawings are scattered throughout, but this book doesn't need much icing and is sure to be thought provoking as well as exciting reading. 1999, Simon and Schuster, Ages 7 to 12, $15.00. Reviewer: Judy Chernak
Young Heroes of the Bible: A Book For Family Sharing
Kirk Douglas
Illustrated by Dom Lee
Yes, you read that right; Spartacus is now writing children's Bible stories. The first challenge that parents will face with this chatty collection of five well-known tales from the Hebrew Bible is explaining to children who, exactly, the author is. Perhaps grandparents will have to explain it to parents, too. Douglas' approach to these retellings of Abraham, Rebecca, Joseph, Miriam, and David's stories is to interject his own memories of grim childhood Sabbath school classes and odd Hollywood anecdotes. The book is written in a grandfatherly voice that might work as a read-aloud for five to seven year olds (who won't care about Douglas' friendships with Burt Lancaster and Charlton Heston), but it is
a bit childish for solo readers in the ten and up age group. And do be aware that these are not your forefather's Bible stories. Douglas embroiders and meanders until you wonder if he's really making up the whole book. Nice nostalgia for Douglas' fans, but not an authoritative Biblical source. 1999, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, Ages 8 up, $15.00. Reviewer: Lois Rubin Gross
Added 1999
To stay up to date on new books by this author, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here.
If you're interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.