Roy Schwartz presenting at the 2012 GSAS Threesis Academic Challenge.
In his final year at the Draper Interdisciplinary Program for Humanities and Social Thought (now known as the Center for Experimental Humanities), Roy Schwartz entered the 2012 Threesis Academic Challenge and won second place. “I’m a big fan of comics and superheroes,” he explained, “so I suspected my final thesis would involve them in some capacity going into it.” Roy’s most recent written work continues to explore similar characters and themes: last month, he published a children’s book, The Darkness in Lee’s Closet and the Others Waiting There, a dark fantasy written in the vein of Neil Gaiman and Tim Burton, which follows a girl whose father dies and who travels into the afterlife to bring him back home. The book debuted as a #1 Best Seller in two Amazon categories, and maintained its standing in the Top 10 for nearly two weeks. “Just goes to show, you never know how your work will be received until you put it out there,” Roy said.
In addition to this book, Roy has sold his second book, a manuscript based on his master’s thesis and the basis of his Threesis presentation. Building upon his undergraduate interest in the Bible–“a curiously neglected piece of literature…it’s an amazing work, as dramatic and intricate as any Shakespeare play”–Roy studied English literature (Victorian British to mid-century American in particular), as well as psychology, sociology, and political science during his time at GSAS. Together, these subjects intersected and culminated in the writing of his master’s thesis, “Is Superman Circumcised? The Jewish Heroic Figure from the Bible to American Comics,” which has now evolved into his next book. Tentatively titled, Is Superman Circumcised? How Jewish Culture Shaped the World’s Greatest Hero, the book is scheduled to come out next spring from McFarland Publishing.
“You take from an experience what you bring to it,” Roy explains. “I didn’t go into Draper expecting to be discovered by a luminary professor and put in touch with a powerhouse agent. I wanted to become a better writer and a better academic.” With the recession in full swing, it seemed like the right time to do so. “I spent my time at Draper sharpening my tools, which I use everyday.”
His best advice for aspiring writers pursuing master’s degrees at GSAS? “Writing students get enough advice on the art and craft by people far more qualified than I,” he begins, though we beg to differ! From a professional angle, he says, “if you want to make a living as a writer, then sitting down and writing is your job. If the muse greets you, great, but don’t wait for it… If you’re a professional, you produce work on a regular basis, by deadline… It doesn’t matter how talented you are, you’re only going to be as successful as your business side.”
Looking back on his time at GSAS, Roy muses, “it’s like any other industry…it’s all about relationships.” The connections he made as a master’s student have proven to be long-lasting and fruitful. “You form relationships with people of high caliber, and you never know who will end up where.”
Congratulations, Roy!
Find Roy on his book tour and other appearances, check out The Darkness in Lee’s Closet and the Others Waiting There currently at select bookstores and online retailers, and keep an eye out for Is Superman Circumcised?slated to be published next year!
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