Interview with Charlie Tolchin about writing an autobiography

SFP Editor: What do you do for a living?

Charlie: I work in advertising. In November, I'm starting a new job at AOL as a Sr. Ad Manager at Digital City. I've been in advertising for a number of years, working for Circuit City, Bates USA, and Ogilvy & Mather.

SFP Editor: What do you do for fun?

Charlie: For fun I play ice-hockey, ski, lift weights, practice yoga, play with my dog Bogart and go out with my friends.

SFP Editor: Why did you write an autobiography?

Charlie: 2 people encouraged my to write my book. The first was a nurse at Johns Hopkins. She treats many CF patients, and felt that they could benefit from my story. The second was a writer friend who told me that I had to do it.

SFP Editor: Did you get any help writing your book?

Charlie: I wrote the book, and many people helped me edit it from a broad range of backgrounds- family members and friends, writers, doctors, and medical experts.

SFP Editor: Who made the most impact on your story?

Charlie: My parents prepared me for my transplant when I was a little kid by teaching me tenacity. They taught me the importance of taking good care of myself, and the importance of raising money for medical research. They also let me grow up and have a normal life.

SFP Editor: Do you plan to write books in the future?

Charlie: I'd love to write more books- fiction, though.

SFP Editor: What is the most enjoyable aspect of writing?

Charlie: The top things that I love about writing a book are that I get totally absorbed in the project. When I'm writing, I lose all sense of time. I love the fact my book can help people who are far away. I love the fact that people who read my book get the chance to understand my experience and gain a sense of the huge difference each of us can make in curing disease.

SFP Editor: What is the least enjoyable?

Charlie: I hate editing!