My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive
Memoir
Date to Published: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Larry Chrysler’s life takes a dramatic turn when a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger disrupts his day. From that moment, the son of a bipolar mom and a homophobic dad decides he must follow his heart and forge his own path to success if he is to achieve his fashion design dreams. Armed with only a high school diploma and “angels on his shoulders,” Larry befriends wayward princesses, dresses A-list actors and rock music royalty, and embarks on jet-setting adventures his younger self hardly could have imagined.
Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive tells the unforgettable story of a Jewish gay boy who leaves the oppressiveness of the Minneapolis projects to pursue a glamorous career in design among elite fashion circles in America and Europe. At times funny, wise, and heartfelt, this is a story of coming out during the repressive 1950s and of eventually finding true love. In this wryly candid and inspirational memoir, Larry proves that no dream is impossible with a little daring and panache—and, of course, a fabulous wardrobe.
Interview with Larry Chrysler
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Writing is stimulating.
What is the first book that made you cry?
No book ever made me cry.
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
I learned to write in my voice.
What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters?
I thank them for teaching me to persevere in the worst of times, accepting me into their lives, and enabling me to live a rich and joyful life.
Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?
I am a natural-born storyteller. I entertain friends with endless stories of my experiences and adventures. I have always read nonfiction because I find the lives and histories of others stimulating.
What do you like to read in your free time?
Nonfiction books and periodicals.
Can you share some stories about people you met while researching this book?
Each of the persons I have written about has had a distinct personality. They are musicians, fashion designers, actors, writers, gangsters, and a murderer.
Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?
I wrote my memoir because friends always said, “Larry, you gotta write a book.”
How do you begin writing a new book? What challenges come with it?
Writing numerous anecdotes and filing them by decade. The challenge is which of the stories are essential to the narrative.
Share a place that inspires you to write
I have a beautiful home office with a view of the hills behind Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. (No pictures because this is my private place.)
About the Author
Larry Chrysler was raised in the bi-racial projects of 1930s Minneapolis before pursuing a career as a dress designer in New York and Los Angeles. He eventually established himself as a distinguished menswear clothier on the iconic Rodeo Drive. Currently, Larry lives in Beverly Hills with his husband Matthew. Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive is his first book.
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4 comments:
Sounds like a good memoir. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for posting
Sounds like a great story!
Excited to read
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