It attempts to show how varied cultures are in terms of food, customs, etc. Satire is present throughout the novel to keep it entertaining.

Brent Robins – 14 October 2019

The Back Flap

Bill Bryson meets J.D. Salinger, The Perfect Culture is full of satirical observations and thoughtful analysis of travel, people, and customs.

The Perfect Culture is the story of Thomas Gephardt, an American, who after graduating from college, attempts to expand his horizons and live overseas in three different places: France, Japan, and Israel.

Thomas is a world traveler. Or at least he would like to be. Determined to leave the confines of his sheltered upbringing in the United States, he spends three months with a French family in Bordeaux, before a romantic interest in Paris – an Israeli woman named Sendi – complicates matters. He remains in contact with Sendi while he lives abroad in Japan as an English teacher, and then in Israel as a volunteer on a kibbutz.

Throughout his explorations, Thomas attempts to probe deeply into his experiences and to ponder big questions: What is the value of foreign travel? What is unique about each of these three cultures? How is each country shaped by its history? On the lighter side, Thomas has a variety of experiences—he is seen as a “quasi-alien” in a French restaurant, he wonders if he can meet expectations as a “talking monkey” in Japan, and he is informed that, unlike in The Big Lebowski, he definitely cannot roll on Shabbos in Israel.

About the book

What is the book about?

An American, after college, expands his horizons by living abroad in three very unique countries in different areas of the world: France, Japan, and Israel. It attempts to show how varied cultures are in terms of food, customs, etc. Satire is present throughout the novel to keep it entertaining.

When did you start writing the book?

June 2014.

How long did it take you to write it?

Roughly two and a half years of actual writing.

Where did you get the idea from?

I wanted to write about my travels, and I found it fascinating what extreme opposites Japan and Israel are, in my view. My background is Jewish, so it was very meaningful for me to write about Israel. I tried to provide a balanced view of the conflict with the Palestinians. I thought that a third country would add a nice touch. I studied French in school, and they are very unique as well. It is also quite enjoyable to write about the cuisine and it’s less familiar to people than Italian food, for example.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The protagonist meets an Israeli girl in Paris—Sendi, and there’s romantic chemistry. He also dates a Japanese girl—Tomomi.  I’m not good at writing about relationships, being quite reserved and introverted. I think that Sendi and Tomomi add a nice touch to the story, but dating is a quite small theme in the book.

What came easily?

I would say analyzing the cultures, discussing the histories, and asking philosophical questions. That’s why I enjoy traveling so much! I studied history and philosophy in college, so I have a good background in these subjects.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

There is some borrowing. I’m still friends with one of my roommates from Japan. The character “Albert” resembles him quite a bit. It was possible to make him similar since we’re friends.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I love Catcher in the Rye. I see a lot of myself in Holden. He’s not a sunny optimist, and neither am I. Terry Pratchett’s satire is very inspiring to me; I try to create a similar mood in certain scenes. Isaac Bashevis Singer’s descriptions of scenes are very appealing to me; I like how he mentions a few physical “facts” to set the mood. For example, he’ll say that there were newspapers on the floor of the NYC subway to help us understand the mood. He also likes to make philosophical references in some of his novels.

Do you have a target reader?

I would say people who are interested in other cultures and like satire. In Uzbekistan, on the train, I was sitting next to another traveler who was a former diplomat and he was watching Monty Python on his IPad. I’d say that he’s a great match for my book.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I have a general outline for my novels. Once I have a general idea about the book, then I start writing. I usually write between two and four pages during a writing “session”. Most of the time, I write in coffee shops. This would probably change somewhat if I wrote full-time. Humorous inspirations often come to me when I’m not writing. For example, it hit me one day that in the Israel section about the Sabbath, I hadn’t mentioned The Big Lebowski! Shomer Shabbos!

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I do chapter headings and a few sentences.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I wait until I’ve finished the first draft. First, I just need to get my thoughts on paper.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, I had a few.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I like classical music without lyrics. I especially like Bach, Handel, and Mozart.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes, I did.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher?

After a year of getting nowhere with agents, I decided to go indie. My book doesn’t fit into a specific “box”, so I think that agents are reluctant to embrace it. If I want an agent in the future, then the best way to prove myself is to sell a lot of copies. I do love the freedom of indie publishing though.

Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I would say a gradual process. I decided after a year of query letters that it was time to move on.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

It was professionally done. I’m not a visual artist.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have a marketing plan.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

It’s important that you have a decent income if you’re serious about it. There are so many books now in the market, so marketing is essential. If your income is very low, then I would try really hard to publish traditionally with an agent or large publisher. You don’t have so many upfront costs if you publish this way.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Northwest Ohio, near Toledo.

Where do you live now?

Cleveland, Ohio.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m very unique, and it comes through in my writing. I love singing new wave rock at karaoke. The Wombats, an amazing English rock band, had a karaoke contest about ten years ago. They did a compilation video of the submissions, and without tooting my own horn too much, I was the only one whose actual voice was used at the end!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueyD5yLM9rI

What are you working on now?

I’ve started a science fiction novel. If my travel book does well, then a sequel is a possibility.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Perfect Culture from Amazon US or Amazon UK.