7 minute read
SEYMOUR UBELL
Retirement is not an option.
A Conversation with Seymour Ubell, first time novelist at 88 years old.
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Hollywood Weekly: The title of your book, The Birth Mother is intriguing. Tell us a little bit
about the story.
Seymoer Ubell: A middle-aged New York couple with a tenyear-old son, decide to adopt twin girls, as a result of totally circumstantial events. Daryl and Maxine Landsman go through the complex labyrinth of adoption in China. The couple brings the twins home. The children grow up in New York surrounded by a complex family environment. The story, both tragic and filled with joy, is filled with twists and turns throughout children’s young lives. Including the dramatic chance meeting by the adoptive father with the actual Chinese Birth Mother.
HW: Where does your inspiration foryour story come from in this book?
SU: The story tumbled into my lap from a personal experience between my wife and me. Very early in my career in China, one of my partners brought me to an orphanage. He was a benefactor at the institution. I saw the children and fell in love. As a result of the meeting, we had an opportunity to adopt the twins. We reluctantly decided not to. Because of a time in life when I was in my early sixties, just a bit too old to take on the responsibility of two infant children. As the years passed, my wife would mention, “The girls would have been five years old now and nursery school age.” Once again, eight years later, Marsha said, “it would have been time for their Bat-Mitzvah and years later my wife would remind me; “Our twins would have been off to go to college. At that moment I decided to write a novel that we did, in fact, adopt the children. What I learned from that experience is, women never forget anything. Men hardly remember anything.
HW: Where does the theme God is a woman come from?
SU: Let me begin by stating, I am an atheist. However, I do believe in kindness, caring and accepting all people into my life, regardless of religion, race or politics. My wife is a very wise and the kindest, most loving person I have ever been with. She is my partner; I trust her the most. For more than three decades, I learned that women are much smarter, more sensitive and more creative than man is. As I wrote, the story; the tale began to have a life of its own and it took over. It guided me down the path, that if, there is a God, that God must, without question, be a woman. And so, I argue, if God is a man; Why do women have the power to perpetuate the species? Why do women have the power to feed the species if there is no food? Adam never ate
the apple; he was nursed on Eve’s breast. Why do women have the power to give a man his most significant pleasure? Why do they call Earth, ‘Mother Earth”? Why is nature is called ‘Mother Nature or that beautiful statue welcoming emigrants, Miss Liberty? All good things are a “She” never a “He”. I recite biblical stories where women save the day and the lives of both Judeo and Christian moments in history. When reading this book you will discover the power and gifts that women, in all their sensitivity, intellect and caring, have. HW: Tell us about your early careers. SU: I never went to college. My father died when I seventeen. It was vital that I go to work to earn money, helping the family. We were very poor. We lived on a widow’s pension and the $42.50 a week I earned as a stock clerk in a men’s clothing company. At the age of nineteen, I was promoted to work in the company showroom. Shortly after, in my early twenties, the VP of Sales at the company gave me another promotion; to go “onthe-road” as a salesman. At the age of twenty-eight, I started my own printing brokerage company. It was very successful. Shortly thereafter, I simultaneously started a messenger service company, a tennis racket company, and an advertising agency. At the age of sixty-two, I retired. Two years later, I discovered, I hated retirement. It was important for me to return to the business world. I decided to go to China. I envisioned the future; seeking a business opportunity Asia. The one place in the world I believed would be the future economic global competitor to the USA. When most people are retiring at the age of 64, I went back to work. I do not regret a single moment. HW: What inspired you to write a novel? SU: After I wrote my first book, a memoir. “A Life of Risks Taken”, I enjoyed the creative experience very much. I wanted to continue writing. In truth, I needed to continue writing. I learned so much about myself and the people in my life. When I write, it’s a rare time in my life, I am not in charge. The story takes over. The computer becomes the boss. HW: What did you learn while writing your memoir? SU: Writing my memoir was an education. I learned, when telling the story of your life, the truth always works. Many people who read my story, approache me, consistently sharing the honesty they e x p e r i e n c e d . T h e y
mentioned in detail their feelings regarding descriptions of World War II days in Brooklyn. And all the firsts in my life; including sex, love, marriage, children, and money. Readers enjoyed my account of the old neighborhood, the stores, the trolley cars racing on the main streets of Brooklyn; including descriptions of the neighbors, their gossiping, the simple apartment buildings. Their response was a much-welcomed experience. It was most gratifying. A memoir is interestingly restrictive. You must be truthful. Truth has power and
it works.
My father died at the age of 44. I have little memory of him. All I have is my imagination and the feeling of my love for him. In my own life with the blessing of three especially talented children, whom I love totally, it was important for me to
leave
Seymour at 18
HW: What is a typical day like for you?
SU: I awake early, 6:15 AM. By 7:00 AM, at the gym. A trainer works with me three days each week. I go to Equinox five, sometimes, often six days each week. I am on my Gym bicycle, riding three to four miles each day.
From the gym, I take a cab to my office where my son Ed, who is the CEO is running the company. I just sign the checks. By 3:30 PM, I am at home. I take a nap and write for an hour or more. Often dinner with friends, or my children or just Marsha and me. By 9 pm I am in bed listening to both classical folk music I grew up with; including Sinatra. Simultaneously reading the NY Times or listening to my audiobooks. My children, Lynn, Jane, and Ed speak to me almost every day. A special blessing for any parent. Before my eyes close, I turn to my left and see the love of my life. We kiss and whisper, “Goodnight.”
HW: What is next on your list? What are you planning to write about next?
SU: I am working on two books at the same time. One is a fictionalized story about our family business that began in Europe with my grandfather and continued with my father here in America. The story includes their meetings with the Mafia families that existed in those days. My other book is about people who have another opportunity in life after the death of a wife or husband. And those couples who go through divorce and find a “second love”. And in most cases a happy life. But not always.
Earl, Alvin & Seymour Ubell
Seymour and his wife Marsha Tosk
