Daniel Eric Finkel
Highland Park, California
(hipster epicenter of the universe)
Good morning, Daniel, and welcome to Vision and Verse. Can you tell us about your book?
I’ve written between 22 - 47 unproduced screenplays and one that was actually produced! But as of 2023, I’m now an author. Woooohooooooo! I’ve written the satirical sci-fi AWARD WINNING (I was told to brag about that as much as I possibly can and I’m here for it) novel/audiobook MR. TAFFLE’S PANTS OF INSANITY.
What is your favorite genre to write?
Life is ridiculous and so is my favorite writing. Take a journey into the deepest regions of my dysfunctions. It’s hilarious and you’ll get a contact buzzzzzzzzzzz. But I like to dip a toe in all that’s phantasmagoric and creepy. Oh and that meaning of life thingy is also neato to exploro.
Favorite food.
I love Fig Newtons all day every day. But that’s not really fair because without milk they’re straight trash cookies. So I’ll go with a kale salad with a side of pumpernickel avocado toast. IT MUST BE PUMPERNICKEL DAMNIT!
Tea or coffee?
My medical team and ex-girlfriend’s girlfriend have both strongly suggested that I should be answering with “tea” because it’s time for me to give up coffee as it makes me ramble about dumb things… like can you believe that the little licorice type balls in Boba tea are really held together by crush up baby chicken feet. Wait, that’s it! The answer is Boba tea!
Pizza or ice cream?
Why can’t corndogs be a choice?!
Corn dogs will kill you, buddy.
This is the hardest question in the history of the question mark. Fine, my answer is pizza flavored ice cream. Why the hell not? Little chunks of pepperoni, mushroom and New York style crust swirled in vanilla bean… Are you feeling me now? Boom!
Wine or beer or soda or what?
I mean are we talking a 1997 Domaine Leroy MusignyGrand Cru Burgundy or a Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR)? Cause right now I just want to drink a sugary coke out of a glass bottle and then jog a few miles while singing the Cindy Lauper classic “She Bop”.
Where would you like to visit?
I would like to visit Japan and act out every scene from the 80’s mini series novel adaptation of Shogun… except the part where they commit “seppuku” (which is Japanese for shoving a sword into your heart). I will use that time to check out a museum or get a massage.
Favorite musical artist.
Red Hot Radiohead is my comfort food. But these days I enjoy rapping along with Britsh rapper Little Simz, air guitaring to thetwisted retro rock band Geese (not Goose), screaming to the stoner sludge pop rock of Slift and writing to the beeps and boops of Four Tet.
Do you listen to music when you write? What?
Come on guys! Yeah, Four Tet and other electronic music. It can’t have vocals or be obnoxious. I don’t want to write with a laser fight going on in the background. I just like a futuristic groove to help block out the reality that I’m in a coffee house surrounded by strangers that are judging me like I’m judging them. Oh my god, what a dirty ass laptop! I also write to soundtracks. Again, no vocals. Usually Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman and the dudes that do the Stranger Things score.
What makes you laugh?
Politics and old Rodney Dangerfield clips of him on Johnny Carson. Youtube clips of cute piglets getting into mischief is also a hoot as is dumb people getting attacked on safaris and/or national parks.
Favorite work of art or sculpture.
I’m still stuck in my college generic poster faze of Salvador Dali. I’ve always been obsessed with jumping into his paintings and riding on a long-legged spindly elephant to steal a melting clock. Also, Tommy Taretta is an incredible painter and coincidentally the narrator for the audiobook of Mr. Taffle’sPants of Insanity.
How old were you when you started writing?
In fourth grade I wrote a short story called “The Nose that Sniffed Up Christmas”. My mother talked about that story forever. However, it didn’t have anything to do with cocaine (as I don’t think I even knew what that was yet). But it obviously should have been about cocaine. What a great holiday children’s book that would have been!
Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?
Mr. Taffle’s Pants of Insanity was an adaptation of a screenplay so I used that as an outline. But I didn’t re-read that screenplay before I started and I think that gave me the freedom to go wherever my creativity wanted to go. No rules! Okay, I did have a rule that I wanted to keep it fairly clean (as in hold back my dirty dirty dirty mind) so my niece and nephews could read it. And guess what… none of them have read it and probably will never read it. Fine, the greatest uncle in the universe will just have to get the movie made. And then they’ll watch it! Ummmmmm, after your favorite show if we have time? Sigh.
Describe your perfect evening.
I enjoy making love with someone I find attractive and that is also a great actress so I believe that they also find me attractive. Then we can argue about politics and eat ice cream pizza or pizza ice cream in my futuristic hot tub.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I get inspiration from a California legal sativa strain vapor pen from the Fuzedcompany (raspberry flavored if possible). I also want to make people feel the same way I feel when I’m blown away by a groundbreaking piece of art or literature. JEALOUS.
What do you do when you get a writer's block?
The only time I get writers block is when I’m hung over. So this keeps me from drinking most nights. I am truly blessed with this being my kryptonite. Maybe when I get sick of writing I can finally become the proper drunk my parents said I would be when I stole a bottle of Kahlua Coffee Liquer and drank the bottle and then puked up the bottle.
Who is your favorite author?
Kurt Vonnegut. Did you know they have a Vonnegut museum in Indianapolis? That is so amazing that it almost makes me want to go visit Indianapolis. Damn, did I just blow my Indiana market? I recently been getting into the absurd novels of Christopher Moore.
Best book you ever read.
All the Choose Your Own Adventure books are tied so I’ll go with Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut.
Last book you read.
The Geddy Lee autobiography. He’s the dude from the rock band Rush bro. You like Rush bro? Rush are so tight broooooooooooooo.
What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?
I would deliver California legal medical pot to patients that need it to relieve suffering and to rich people who tip well. I would also like to be an influencer to have people to act nicer and then give me their money.
Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?
I hate this question as I hate to pick favorites. But I’m going to go with the Rev. Dave Warden. Not only did he let me be his sidekick rapper in his rock band (this led to many years of rock n’ roll glory), but he was the one that gave me the idea for the sales cult that is featured in Mr. Taffle’s Pants of Insanity. He also gave me a hash infused chocolate during the premiere of the film that I directed and co-wrote Everything Will Happen Before You Die. This led to years of heart palpitations and a visit to the emergency room.
If you could sit down with one person, dead or alive, real or fictional, and have a chat, who would it be and why?
I would want to chat with Nikola Tesla as long as I could record the conversation so I could get all his ideas down. But most specifically, I want to know everything about his Tesla Death Ray. Then I could shave my head and become Dr. Evil for like real yawl. Also, I would ask him if he discovered anything about becoming invisible cause that would also be a great power to have when your hobbies include gaslighting people via their sock draws. Why in the hell is there only one sock of all my pairs of socks?! I’m going to catch you one of these days buster!
What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Break up or get divorced immediately with your significant other. This will help free up the time you’re going to need to not totally suck. Also, make sure you’re first draft is horrible so the second draft will be an improvement. Andthen you’ll feel good about yourself.
Do you have some links for us to follow you?
Link to paperback
https://www.amazon.com/Taffles-Pants-Insanity-Daniel-Finkel/dp/B0BNH11Z4K
Link to audiobook
https://open.spotify.com/show/44JcL84PhNc1phq4p1MgcN?si=3ffec1d86aba4358
All social media and contact info
https://dot.cards/danielericfinkel
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