Ezra Bailen Interview: His Collaborative Book, “Meat My Uncle”

Ezra Bailen is a member of the House of Possibilities’ (HOPe) Career and Community Access Program (CCAP), a program HOPe designed to provide career coaching and support to people on the autism spectrum in a range of ways after high school graduation. Bailen is currently studying psychology at Mass Bay Community College, as well as beginning his career as a published author. Ezra Bailen spoke with his CCAP coach in order to answer some questions for HOPe’s newsletter about his collaborative book, “Meat My Uncle,” which was recently published online. 

About The Author (Ezra Bailen), and Process: 

We're so excited to feature you in our HOPe newsletter! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what you're passionate about, beyond writing?

My name is Erez Bailen and I am Israeli American. I moved to America when I was six. I like to hike, watch TV, and listen to audio books. I am also a fan of listening to music, basically anything but country except John Denver who is kind of country! I particularly like Anna Sophia Robb’s song “Keep your mind wide open.” and Bruce Springsteen. 

What inspired your collaborative book, “Meat my Uncle”?

In middle school I wrote my first short story “Meat My Uncle.” In middle school I had an incredible imagination. It was about a kid named James Jones who has Autism and an eclectic group of family members.  This short story became the inspiration for Tom Foster’s novel “Meat my Uncle.” I ended up meeting Tom through the comment section on an article about final destination 6. We engaged in a heated argument about the series which ended up turning into a friendship. I told him about my short story and he ended up deciding to turn it into a book.

Where can people buy the book?

It is available online, but we are still working on getting physical copies published for purchase. So currently you can buy it online at Barnes and Nobles, Amazon, books2read and a few other online bookstores. 

What was it like to collaborate with Tom Foster on this project? Can you describe your working relationship?

I sent Tom my short story, he then took this story and turned it into chapters which he then sent to me for feedback. Throughout the process Tom and I had a great working relationship. He really understood my ideas and was able to capture the essence of my short story in his book. 

What was the most enjoyable part of the book-writing process for you?

It was really cool to see how Tom interpreted my short story and really brought it to life by expanding on my ideas. 

What was the most challenging part of writing “Meat My Uncle,” and how did you navigate it?

The most challenging part was finding someone who understood the ideas behind my short story and was willing and able to turn my ideas into a novel. 

About “Meat My Uncle” (The Book Itself):

Without giving too much away, what would you say are the main themes or messages readers can expect to find in “Meat My Uncle”?

Readers can expect to find more progressive themes related to gender, sexuality, and stigmas related to disabilities. The hope of this novel is to destigmatize and open readers eyes to alternative perspectives and identities. 

Is there a particular scene, character, or idea in the book that you are most proud of, and why?

I am most proud of creating the main character James who often blends reality with fantasy. 

Personal Reflections & Future:

How has the experience of writing and publishing "Meat My Uncle" impacted you personally?

It has been hard but satisfying. It has been difficult navigating using websites to create the cover and figuring out how to advertise the book to get people to buy and read it! 

What advice would you give to someone else with ASD who is interested in pursuing a creative project like writing a book?

Go for it! Also don’t be afraid to reach out and make connections with people who may help you to succeed in your goals! 

What's next for you? Do you have any other creative projects or interests you're pursuing?

I am working on getting a screenplay of the novel turned into a movie. Stay tuned!

Is there anything else you'd like our HOPe readers to know about "Meat My Uncle" or your experience?

Just go read it :)