Novelist David Rosenfelt speaking to students at author day. Rosenfelt is the writer of seven mystery/suspense novels. Photo Credit KAYLA LOKEINSKY
BY KAYLA LOKEINSKY
Novelist David Rosenfelt spoke at an assembly for Cooper City High School English classes on Friday, February 25, 2011 as part of the school’s annual Author Day and talked about his many jobs in the entertainment industry and newfound career as a best-selling novelist.
A close friend of CCHS guidance counselor Rosilyn Wagner, Rosenfelt told the student body about his life and his experiences as a writer. Starting his career at a young age as the sports editor of his high school newspaper, Rosenfelt wrote from the very beginning. He has had four careers since he graduated from collage, including a movie marketer, a big-budget film screenwriter writer, a T.V. movie screenwriter, and now a novelist. Although he is now a respected author, he has not always been successful.
“There was one thing all my T.V. movies had in common,” Rosenfelt said. “They were all awful.”
The main topic of his presentation was his book series. The first novel in the courtroom centered series, Open and Shut, introduced Andy Carpenter, a lawyer whose love for dogs and sports is based off of Rosenfelt’s real life. Six books featuring Carpenter have been published with a seventh on the way.
Rosenfelt has been nominated for several awards since his first novel, including the Edgar Award and the Agatha Award. The third book in the series, Bury the Lead, was even named the Today Show’s Book of the Month. Despite his success, he had one key piece of advice for the CCHS students.
“If any one of you wants to be a writer, Rosenfelt said. “Do the exact opposite of what I do. I think with my gut and not with my head.”
