Fun, Fab Facts from Wayne Avrashow

It's Raining Books welcomes Wayne Avrashow whose debut novel Roll the Dice released today. FUN, FAB FACTS from WAYNE AVRASHOW, author of ROLL THE DICE

Early Rock 'n Roll Influences. In my earlier twenties, I traveled around the country with my friends selling T-shirts and posters of various bands at their concerts. We were far down the totem pole of importance, but at least we did not have to lug around equipment. We had our moments with various parties and was backstage at some concerts. One vivid memory is how short and slight Roger Daltry of the Who was. My ears are still ringing.

Best Teenage Job. A high school friend’s parents were actors/actresses with minor film parts. Mostly non-speaking parts, there were not celebrities. However, my buddy asked me to join him as an extra on a movie… Hello Dolly! Good pay, free lunch and simply wait around all day for a five-minute shoot… great gig! We were fitted for costume period pieces and stood in the crowd on the 20th Century Fox film lot when the parade walked by. Our job--smile and wave as director Gene Kelly sat in a crane above. There were a couple of more extra jobs; and my film career had an uneventful close.

Parental Moments. As a father to two boys, it was extremely satisfying to coach each of them in youth basketball. I coached each son for about ten years. I had my own memorable moments when I played high school basketball; but it was a far greater thrill to coach my children. One moment is seared in my memory. My younger son Grant was about eight years old when I called a timeout with a few seconds left. I tried to not favor my sons over the other players, but I broke that rule and called the last play for Grant. One player would make the entry pass to Grant at half-court. I instructed Grant to take one dribble and fire it up at the basket with two hands. Grant did as instructed. As the buzzer sounded, he shot the ball and it swished through the net. I ran onto the court and lifted Grant up in the air! We still talk about it 15 years later.

My Mother’s Lesson. To my surprise, my mother absolutely loved the Jimmy Webb song, MacArthur Park. She cranked up the volume every time Richard Harris sang on the radio. I asked her why. She recited the lyrics about a birthday cake being left in the rain and that, “I’ll never have that recipe again.” To her, the recipe was myself and my two brothers. She would never have that recipe again. Very good.

Learn from Paul McCartney. In 2014 I took my sons to see Paul McCartney at Dodger Stadium. Sir Paul was 72 years old. Aside from the thrill of hearing live the soundtrack of my youth, I was struck at how Paul performed for nearly three hours. He kept going, no intermission, a few sips of water and had the energy for two encores! Life lesson; Paul is living his passion. We all have to locate some passion in our lives to enjoy and keep going. I feel that passion in my writing.

My Only “D” Grade. I generally received positive grades from elementary school through law school. However, in the third or fourth grade, my handwriting was so bad that I received a D. It left a mental scar. I did not receive any tutoring or advice, so I simply tried to slow down and write neatly. I never could. My hand writing is terrible.

What happens when one of America’s biggest rock stars leaves the Las Vegas stage to run for the United State Senate?

The ultimate celebrity candidate, Tyler Sloan is no stranger to politics – his estranged father was a California governor who narrowly lost a Presidential campaign. He runs as a political independent, refuses campaign contributions, and dismisses special interests and lobbyists.

Sloan is caught in a political campaign fraught with; sexual scandal, corruption and conflicting loyalties. Will he be able to navigate through political turbulence and his own past to win the race?

About the Author:

Wayne Avrashow was the campaign manager for two successful Los Angeles City Council campaigns and a Deputy/Chief of Staff to those two elected City Council members. He served as a senior advisor for a successful city-wide referendum in the City of Los Angeles, co-authored ballot arguments on Los Angeles County-wide measures, served as Chairman for a Los Angeles County ballot measure, and was a Los Angeles government Commissioner for nearly twenty years. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Yaroslavsky Institute, a public policy institute founded by long time Southern California elected official, and now UCLA professor, Zev Yaroslavsky.

His background in politics, government, business, and law provides unique insight into the machinations and characters that populate political campaigns.

Wayne is a practicing attorney who specializes in government advocacy, real estate, and business law. Formerly, he was an officer in two real estate development firms. As a lawyer-lobbyist, he has represented clients before numerous California municipalities and in Nevada and Idaho. He has lectured at his law school and taught at Woodbury University in Los Angeles. He has also authored numerous op-ed articles that appeared in daily newspapers, legal, business, and real estate publications. In addition, he is the author of a self-published book for the legal community, Success at Mediation—10 Strategic Tools for Attorneys.

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Buy the book at Amazon, Kobo, iBooks, or https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/roll-the-dice-wayne-avrashow/1127079890?ean=9781946143327.