BIO: Bill is a Phi Beta Kappa English graduate of Yale (a contemporary of Erich Segal of Love Storyfame, a novel similar to Bill’s in concept), and of Harvard Law School (where to drop yet another name, Archibald Cox, former Solicitor General of the United States under Nixon at the time of the Friday night massacre over the Watergate tapes, was his Constitutional Law Professor, and Tricia Nixon Cox’s [Richard Nixon’s daughter] husband was a classmate). John Kerry was a classmate of Bill’s at Yale, George W. Bush two years behind, and Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut two years ahead. Bill advised them on politics while they were at Yale together, which explains a lot, especially in the case of Lieberman.Over the last 10 years or so, Bill has written short stories about relationships, often in a political setting, for several forums including NPR’s short stories contests; and has had two dating and relationship advice columns, one in print in a local newspaper and one online at examiner.com, which seems to make Bill the only elected official in the history of western civilization to have a dating and relationship advice column, especially while serving in office.
After several failed careers in corporate law (20+ years), adjunct college and secondary math teaching (15 years) overlapping with retail management, and customer service and sales, for Walmart (he failed the test to be a greeter so they made him a manager) and AT&T, and politics (Bill has won 4 out of 4 elections for St. Louis School Board but is one for seventeen in other elections, though he has had some impressive primary showings), Haas will be trying to redeem, some might say “salvage,” his so-called life by winning the Democratic nomination for US Senate from Missouri in 2016 (votebillhaas.com) and hopes his novel will be successful; the latter might lead to the former. It has been in the works for over 30 years.
To his knowledge Bill has not been married but has proposed three times and two of them said yes, so though he doesn’t remember the details, he thinks he might be a bigamist. He also has a son, daughter-in-law and two lovely grandchildren. Whose grandchildren aren’t lovely?
God once came down and told Bill that he had good news and bad news for him. The good news was that he’d find a lifelong love and have significant political success. “What’s the bad news?” asked Bill. “You’ll be 95 at the time.” There’s no capital in arguing with God’s plan. Only capitol in Washington, where Bill’s time will be better spent. http://www.pinkcollarblue.com
BooksAndAuthor.com: Why do you write?
Bill Haas: I enjoy it. I think I have entertaining stories to tell.
I have a strong creative part of my brain; I use it in teaching, law and politics too. More fun than real work. I hope financial success and fame will be my exit strategy for life and politics. Why guys do anything - pretty women.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who are your literary influences?
Bill Haas: Yale Phi Beta Kappa English major, so I've read alot, but have always preferred stories related to life: relationships, sex, money, fame, self-fulfillment, meaning of life, that sort of thing. Used to like Jacqueline Suzanne, but I don't emulate her. Erich Segal of Love Story fame, of course; we were at Yale together.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Your new book is PINK COLLAR BLUE is about LOVE and POLITICS. Which do you know more about and why?
Bill Haas: I like to think I know much about both; or even if I don't, that I can tell an interesting story nonetheless. Been in politics 40 years, so I hope I've learned some. Been dating about the same length of time or more.
I'm smart if I focus. Neither is an exact science. All my fiction is about relationships, often in a political setting. People will have to judge for themselves, and I hope they enjoy the book.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Who is Arland? Are you Arland? Describe any differences (between the author and the character) if there are any?
Bill Haas: I am Arland. I self-correct my grammar in speaking; he doesn't as would seem pretentious in a novel, tho Rebecca uses good grammar too. I'm the best there is at who and whom, tho grammar nazis now say you can always use who in speaking because to difficult to process sentence structure on the go. Any time you hear someone say "whom" on the radio, for example, they're always wrong, usually, except me. :) I might gloss over some of my flaws in Arland, but didn;t in this novel, nor my other writing.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What are the key lessons (for the reader) from PINK COLLAR BLUE? What did YOU learn from writing PINK COLLAR BLUE?
Bill Haas: Some of my fiction has themes but not so much Pink Collar Blue.
If there are themes, they are marry whom you love, and love is often what you make of it. The end of Chapter One where he says if someone will give up their dreams for you, they'll give up you when you're not convenient, is a high point, I think; and where she reads the passage from Petit Prince that you love someone because you've nurtured them not because they're really that different than others. Loving a person should have some similarities to loving an abandoned animal; it's more about what you can give than what they can give, or should be. And the politics in the book are smart, I hope.
BooksAndAuthor.com: Your Bio reads that you have written stories about relationships and have dating and relationship advice column. Explain. Are you currently in a successful relationship?
Bill Haas: Two rules about relationships: 1. They don't come with guarantees; they go where they're supposed to go so we should stay peaceful while they play themselves out so we don't drive everyone crazy. 2. There are two kinds of relationships, those that last forever and those that don't, and most don't. All the ones that don't work out prepare you better for the one that does.
I'm not currently in a relationship but any day you don't ask three women out you're not really trying. I've comped a few books to pretty women in coffee shops lately; no return on investment yet. But all you need is one (maybe two). I'm ready for love when god is ready for me to have it. I've always figured either I'm not ready yet, or she isn't. I'm thinking this year; or next year; of course I think that every year. :)
BooksAndAuthor.com:If Hollywood called and asked you to cast PINK COLLAR BLUE , who do you cast and why?
Bill Haas: I have no opinions here; I just want to know if the check will clear, if they want me to help with rewrites, and if they're interested in my other stories. I think Paris Hilton good use a break; I've always liked her; that videotape was a tough hit no woman should have to endure. I actually sent her a copy of the screenplay of this work when she was in California jail; no response. shocker. Also sent a copy to actress Sharon Stone from Basic Instinct who's when she was married to Bronstein the San Francisco Examiner editor, but that was many years ago.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What have readers been saying about PINK COLLAR BLUE?
Bill Haas: They seem to like the love, like the politics, and mad at me that the dramatic ending isn't perfectly happy. My ending sort of wrote itself. Out of my control. It's where the characters and story took me. And want to know when I'm writing my next one.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What do you hope to achieve with PINK COLLAR BLUE?
Bill Haas: Fame and fortune; I will settle for fortune to fund my political ambitions and retirement.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What was the last book you read?
Bill Haas: Swimming Technique: It's about lift and drag, and an s-shaped stroke. Finding the still water, keeping arm like paddle with elbow high, pull all the way through. and I always read the New York Times and Time/Newsweek, and local media.
BooksAndAuthor.com: What's next?
Bill Haas: State-wide book tour and state-wide political campaign next year; maybe an anthology of my other stories the year after from my US Senate office but not on taxpayers time. and to tell Random House/Simon and Schuster that BooksandAuthor thinks that Pink Collar Love might be a better title than Pink Collar Blue. actually if had to rename it, it might be Of Love and Politics.