Q: Is writing frustrating at times? When is it most frustrating?

A: When I cannot write and I want to. I feel incarcerated, unable to unlock myself, claustrophobic inside my own mind.

Q: What mistakes do you see a lot of writers make with their writing career?

A: That they are trying to make a career of it. One can make a career of scribbling, not of writing. Writing is a vital function, unlike a career.

Q: What mistakes have you been with your writing career?

A: I started very late and spent years of my life on the frivolities and dumbness of the world of business, a world which rewards mediocrity and caters to those who cannot create.

Q: How do you deal with editors and/or publishers?

A: Through the phone.

Q: What has being a writer taught you about yourself?

A: That I am in need in therapy and my salvation lies in my ability to put words together so that they stick retroactively as well as prospectively.

Q: How is a writing career different from other careers?

A: It depends what one writes and what one defines as "writing". Many a manipulation of words is artisanship, not art. It is not a bad choice, economically. But when art gets involved, the emotional price is high. To review my curriculum vitae, please see here.

The ISBN of "Requesting My Loved One" is: 965-448-341-6 The ISBN of "The Macedonian Economy" is: 9989-610-01-0 The ISBN of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited" is: 80-238-3384-7

2. Another One ...

An interview I gave to Mr. Mody Kreitman of Israel's leading paper, "Yedioth Aharonot":

Q: Your self diagnosis is that you suffer from malignant self love. Do you know any other businessmen who seem to have developed similar symptoms?

A: I don't think that there is a necessary connection between the vocation of the narcissist and his pathological narcissism (I am using "he" but this should well be read as both "he" and "she"). The narcissist is an automaton programmed to search for Narcissistic Supply: adulation, admiration, applause, affirmation and attention. Where these are available - you will find a narcissist lurking, waiting for his human prey. The narcissist projects a false image of his self onto others. Then, when this image is reflected back at him, he feels good, he feels reaffirmed.

Q: When and how did you reach this self diagnosis?

A: Three years ago, my world vanished. I was imprisoned, my wife left me, I became a social pariah, I lost all my money and property as well as my ability to earn money in the future (due to my criminal record). It takes a massive life crisis to penetrate the defences of the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). I wanted to die, literally, I was planning it, I almost stole a gun from one of the wardens. Then I stopped and asked myself how come a person who had so many chances in life, a flourishing career, above average intelligence - how come I was where I was. I started reading, ferociously, in jail, at night, in my rare vacations. I devoured by now - three years later - more than 2000 books, articles and dissertations about the subject. I discovered that I am the victim of a pernicious condition, that my personality was "disorganized" and rigid. That I adapted badly to the demands of my environment. I met the enemy and it was I.

Q: How is this weakness or disorder apparent in your daily life and work?

A: I am vain, in pursuit of appearances rather than of substance, dangerously pretentious, pathological liar, obdurate to the point of stupidity, highly intelligent (140 IQ consistently in tests) but very unwise, shallow in everything I do, no perseverance and so on. My life is a pattern of renunciation of everything my parents stand for: petite bourgeoisie values, small town mentality, moral conservatism, family, home ownership, attachment. I have no roots. In the last 7 months I changed 3 domiciles (in 3 countries). All told, I lived in 11 countries in the last 16 years. I have no family (divorced, no children) - though I do maintain long and loyal relationships with women, no property to speak of, I am a gambler in disguise (stock options - respectable gambling), no continuous relationships with friends (but yes with my brothers), no career (impossible with such mobility) or academic degree (the Ph.D. is of the correspondence type), I served one prison term, have consistently associated with the underworld in fascination mixed with mortal fear. I do achieve things: I published books (one of my latest ones, a book of short stories, won acclaim and a prestigious award and another - dialogues about matters economic - is the "bible" of a certain government) and am in the process of publishing a few more (mostly reference), have my web sites (which, I believe contain original material in psychology, philosophy and economics), my commentaries are published in papers all over the world and I appear intermittently in the electronic media.