Sam Schichter

BIOGRAPHY


I was forced to come to Canada at age two. Had no say in the matter. I was perfectly happy playing in the sand in Blankenberge, Belgium. Best 2 years of my life.

Arrived in Montreal and played for two more years until I began school: K-6 at Alfred Joyce. More fun. At some point in elementary school began my writing career. First efforts: creating captions for people and animals in my colouring books.

High schools: Northmount High, St. Laurent High and Sir Winston Churchill High. Best 5 years of my life. Senior year: advanced from captions to writing existential poetry (in Math textbooks) to impress the girls. They weren’t and neither was my Math teacher.

Began Concordia University in 1967. Grew up with the Beatles and the Moon walk (NASA’s). Didn’t think about writing. Too busy enjoying the Sixties. Went to Woodstock ’69. Can’t remember a thing. Somehow received a B.A. in 1971.

Backpacking in Europe - 1971/2. Dreamed of being a writer. Frequented every café between Barcelona and Tel Aviv. Started to jot down brilliant thoughts in a ratty notebook. Best year of my life.

L. A. - 1973. Hollywood or Bust. Didn’t know a soul. Not one connection. But surely producers would get into a bidding war over my notebook. Very long drive back to Canada. Lousy year.

What to do. What to do. Decided to teach: Western Laval High, Chomedy High.

Applied for M.A. in Creative Writing at Concordia University. Was refused. Lousy grades and lousier portfolio (submitted my existential Math poetry and musings from Europe). Creative writing professors thought it would be best if I opened up a grocery store. Proved them wrong by taking an undergraduate writing course and finding my style. No need to go into retail.

Marriage at 27. M.A. (Creative Writing) at 30. Worked really, really hard. My thesis is “...And Then Along Came Rudy.” Kids at 33. Best 6 years of my life.

Began the process of trying to get “...And Then Along Came Rudy” published. First, the agents. Everyone loves loves loves it, but…. After 172 rejections, finally found a N.Y. agent willing to take on a young, unknown Canadian who has written a comic novel. Nothing happens. Tried going directly to publishers. They love love love it, but…” Rudy” gets tucked into a bottom drawer.

Played Mr. Mom to three boys for five years. Best 5 years of my life.

No time to write. Too busy being Dad. Offer “Rudy” once again to publishers. Everyone loves loves loves it, but… Lots of wasted postage.

More teaching. Many bills to pay. Lots of p/t jobs: vocational counselor, water purifier salesman, promotional items salesman, cab driver. Worst few years of my life.

Continue to dream of getting published. Wife assures me that a good book always finds its time - someday “Rudy” will get published. No doubt about it.

Moved from Montreal, Quebec to Waterloo, Ontario. Best move ever. Began writing again: screenplays, another novel. Lots and lots of rejections. But this time, from two different coasts.

More teaching: Cameron Heights, KCI and WCI. Part time: Teaching scriptwriting at Sheridan College, Conestoga College, University of Waterloo.

Boys getting older. Lots more time to write. Created a scrapbook to house all my rejections. Fifteen years worth. Actually needed two scrapbooks. Stubbornly refuse to give up on writing. Can’t help myself. Love the process.

2007 - still teaching, still writing and still married. Best 30 years of my life. Gets even better when I discover “Loon In Balloon” (www.looninballoon.com) publishing house. ACCEPTANCE! WOW! They’re publishing my first-ever novel that I wrote for my M.A. in Creative Writing way back when. Now all I have to do is write a great screenplay based on “Rudy” so I can end my days living on the Riviera sipping banana daiquiris. How cool would that be?

2013 - still emailing agents/publishers with new novel and new script. What can I say? Will this be best year ever?

PUBLICATIONS

And Then Along came Rudy (coming-of-age comedy) 2007

SCREENPLAYS WRITTEN

And Then Along Came Rudy (based on my novel)
Return To Woodstock (time-travel rom/com)
Niagara Rocks (R-Rated black comedy)