Ask Mitchell Zuckoff discussion

This is the place to ask Mitchell Zuckoff a question about Frozen in Time. Mitchell will select his favorite few questions and answer them in a short video that will be posted to this group.

Get your questions in by Tuesday, May 28!

Cynthia wrote: "This is the place to ask Mitchell Zuckoff a question about Frozen in Time. Mitchell will select his favorite few questions and answer them in a short video that will be posted to this group.

Get y..."

Fantastic! Love the book.

I've already asked, and Mitchell has already responded, but I wouldn't mind a little more detail: are you going back to Greenland this summer, and if so, what is the plan? Is it a North South Pole expedition, will the Coast Guard lead, will there be an addendum to the next edition of the book to fill in the story, etc?

Also, I'd love to hear about your next book. I think you've indicated it'll be about Pearl Harbor.

Last, any chance you'll expand your research beyond the World War II era? I'm sure there are lots of other great rescues out there (not that I've a problem with the 1940s--just curious).

Elyse wrote: "Gee, Daniel....(lol), you're onto hi NEXT book, already?? WOW....
I'm just trying to 'catch' up. I LOVED LOVED LOVED ---"Lost in Shangri-La"....(and had regrets for waiting as long as I did to re..."

Alas, Elyse, I have already loaned it out. However, if it comes back anytime soon, I'll let you know.

Elyse wrote: "You're sweet! Not to worry --I'm just in a good mood --being silly anyway --(its my birthday in 2 days) --but I do mail Goodread frinds books also. (so you never know) :)"

Well, happy birthday and many ahead!

Having traveled in the Highlands of New Guinea (wow....that was an adventure) and being a WW2 buff, I loved "Lost in Shangri-La".

I teach biology at a community college and have tried to get a WW2 novel including yours as our common book. Nothing I can do or say brings any other interested parties to agree. (They pick the dullest "coming of age" books, same themes every year) yet I can't help but believe this story of young soldiers and citizens far away from home on an incredible adventure would be a great read for college freshman. Many of the people in your novel were the same age as these students. Additionally, the are in which we live was an active site during the war for manufacturing gliders. In fact, recently a glider was built by volunteers and is now on display which would make a great field trip to tie the novel and gliders together. Can you give me any suggestions on how to get community interest in this book?

May have to load your new book on my ereader tonight...grades are in and I have time to read!

I'm just curious as to the stories behind your WWII books. Where did you first learn about the events that frame your books "Lost in Shangri-La" and then "Frozen in Time"? How many more "untold" stories of heroism from World War II or WWI do you think are out there waiting to be discovered and shared with readers?

Hi Tari:

Thanks very much for the kind words about "Lost in Shangri-La." (I hope you enjoy "Frozen in Time," too.) If your school chooses "Shangri-La" for all the students to read, I'll put a full-court press on my publisher to send me there. Might that help convince your fellow decision-makers?

Best, Mitch

Tari wrote: "Having traveled in the Highlands of New Guinea (wow....that was an adventure) and being a WW2 buff, I loved "Lost in Shangri-La".

I teach biology at a community college and have tried to get a WW..."

Hi Tari:

Thanks very much for the kind words about "Lost in Shangri-La." (I hope you enjoy "Frozen in Time," too.) If your school chooses "Shangri-La" for all the students to read, I'll put a full-court press on my publisher to send me there. Might that help convince your fellow decision-makers?

Best, Mitch

Mitchell wrote: "Hi Tari:

Thanks very much for the kind words about "Lost in Shangri-La." (I hope you enjoy "Frozen in Time," too.) If your school chooses "Shangri-La" for all the students to read, I'll put a full..."

Well, that will get me fired up for promoting it....I am going to work the engineering angle for the gliders...Mitchell, this is my new mission.

Hello!

I loved "Lost in Shangri-La", and I'm looking forward to "Frozen in Time"!

I'm a glider pilot, and reading about those terrifying gliders was fantastic (as well as realistic and accurate). Do you have flight experience? In addition, do you have any plans to write more about gliders? Germany is the leader in the field, partially because the Luftwaffe was disbanded by the Treaty of Versailles (1920).

As a separate question, how did you get into writing non-fiction?

Thanks for your time,

Diana

I was introduced to your work when I saw one of my patient's reading "Lost in Shangri-La" in the waiting room. Once he told me about it I had to read it and now I am hooked and cannot wait to read your other works, especially "Frozen in Time". I don't have any great questions since I am writing this spur of the moment, but wanted to thank you for one of my favorite books ever!

What was the reaction among film lovers and film critics to your book on Robert Altman? I devoured the book, which enhanced my appreciation for, and knowledge of, the director and his techniques, but I wonder if your approach to the material, an "oral biography," frustrated other readers. Also, have you learned anything more about Altman since the book's publication? Anything you wish had appeared in it that didn't?

I read this book for the first time two years ago. I have read it over a couple of times. I wrote a review for Amazon and have copied it to this website. I would like to ask Mitchell Zuckoff if he is aware of any books written about the stone age people who lived in the valley when the plane crashed. I do not want to read missionary books. I want to read books about the culture of the people before the missionaries came.

I just have to say that I loved "Lost in Shangri-La", and when I saw that you had written "Frozen in Time" I got so excited! (I was in Barnes and Noble and did this little dance) I am really looking forward to reading it!

As for a question, how much time do you put into writing your books? How much research do you have to do before you know you have the most accurate information possible?

Elyse wrote: "I'm excited ---I got tons of 'Birthday' Book Gift cards --for my B day yesterday...(61..and feeling GREAT)...
so....you can count on me to BUY and READ your book soon...
THEN tell ALL my friends --..."

Happy Birthday, Elyse. If your 400-plus member club chooses "Frozen in Time," I'm there!

Best,
Mitch

I enjoyed both Shangri-La and Frozen. How concerned were you about your own safety on the Greenland trip, i.e., frostbite, bad weather, plane crashes, all the other things that affected the original crews? Your book should be read on a 95 degree day in July!

Frozen is a work of art. Like everyone else I am curious as to what books might appear in the future. Also is there any news about additional work in Greenland in regards to recovery operations?

How is it to interview people about strange and difficult times in their lives? How do you even broach the subject?

Thanks for your books!

Do you believe students are learning enough history and literature? I ask this because it seems important to you and I regret, as a middle-aged person, that I neglected this in my younger years. Keep up the great projects...thanks, Mitchell!

Hi Mitchell,
I've read Lost In Shangri-La and loved it. I felt very close to the people in the book. I had recently been to Otsego while taking a college bound kid to Oneonta State and almost wished to go back and get an idea where one of the women lived, such a rural county even now. I wonder how you begin the writing process and choose your subjects. Shangri-La and Time have WWIi in common but you also chose Robert Altman as a biographical subject. It's apparent to me that even Robert Altman had a pioneering spirit so perhaps that is what made you interested? Do you begin with library or computer research or a more personal one? Do you look to family and friends for interst or a larger group of people? I know you must please a publisher, so at what stage do they become involved? Just to let you know I appreciate getting this high level of non-fiction because it is a much neglected form of writing. I seem to be more alone when I read a nonfiction book than one that is fiction. Few people read beyond a textbook and it is not often encouraged. I am reading a book on President Johnson right now and he often claimed he didn't read. A former aide said he did but cared for nonfiction which wasn't as common. Yet of all presidents, he invested more into libraries than any other. Just a thought, thanks for such great nonfiction reading!

Hey everyone! Mitchell Zuckoff's video has been posted! Watch it now to see if your question was answered: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/1...