Formerly an elbow model and stand up comedienne with a keen eye for off the wall ways to earn a living Miss Starr has compiled an assortment of jobs ranging from the mundane to the magnificent. No job is too lowly or too illegal to escape mention. You'll find Pandering listed right after Odd Shoe Examiner in her book Jobs Your Mother Never Wanted You to Have.

She is the author of such outlandish novels as Toxic Shock Syndrome and the comedy CD “Hairy Backs & Other Gripes for the Modern Chick!”

Armed with influences ranging from Erma Bombeck to Aphex Twin, she is described by Mixx Magazine as, “A writer with flair, attitude and a touch of insanity (not a bad thing.)”

Her earlier work is described by The New Haven Advocate as, “Thoroughly entertaining rapid-fire fiction,” and by WNHU radio as, “…kind of like a bad accident. You don't want to look, but you can't help yourself.”

Miss Starr now has her eye on a nationally syndicated column devoted to, “Tips for Remaining Happily Unemployed.”

LU – Why did you write this book?

I was looking for work and after a couple of weeks sifting through the few and far between opportunities on Monster.com and HotJobs.com I wanted to throw up. You go to college, bust your butt to gain work experience and a decent salary only to be laid off in this crappy economy. There doesn't seem to be a bright light at the end of that tunnel. So why not search another tunnel? I wanted the world to know there was a better way-the adult industry never has lay offs!!!

LU – How much research and what kind of research did you do?

Tons…you know, being laid off I had some time on my hands. I searched online, in the newspapers and in the library under any crazy term I could think of: “Boner”…“Bunghole” of course there were careers opportunities, “Necker” you betcha…” In addition to my random searches (which I thought for sure would have the FBI investigating me) I called local businesses and started some online chats.

LU – Describe interesting experiences you had related to the researching and writing of this book.

I met a nice Taxidermist who offered me a discount on any deer shoulder I could bring him. I also met a freelance Embalmer. She was on call while at a wedding we were both attending. Frighteningly, she returned for dessert after she answered a page and did her thing.

LU – What are the most fascinating, colorful or unusual facts or items contained in the book?

It's so easy to get into adult industry!!!

LU – What, in your opinion, is the strongest part of the book?

The timing seems perfect…unfortunately. I don't think anyone thought the economy would still be tanking this long after September 11th. The month of April saw a huge rise in the nation's unemployment rate. College graduates are looking at one of the worst economies in 20 years. Yea, some of them can live at home a little longer and wait for things to turn around, but what about everyone else? All of the people who need a paycheck to live on? This book can help.

With the success of such TV shows as “CSI”, “CSI Miami,” and “Crossing Jordan” it's clear that our society as a whole has developed a stronger stomach for excitement. Couple that with the slumping job market and you can really put the information in this book to work for you.

Also, when I was going through my “Fed-up with a real job” stage, I desperately searched for a book that had information about alternative careers. Aside from your typical “How to Break Into Porn” book, I couldn't find much else. I see this book filling an empty space on bookstore shelves. Like the jobs in the book, I think it's a whole category that has been overlooked until now with work being so scarce.

LU – How Long have you been a writer?

I had my first book published in 1996. I minored in film before that and wanted to make off-beat indie movies. The tough part about doing that is you really need some kind of a budget. Also, I wasn't exactly Robert Rodriquez behind the camera. I figured I stick with the idea end of things.

LU – What experience and or education do you have relating to the subject of this book?

Lay offs, unfulfilling jobs and the desire to love my work no matter how disgusting it may be!

LU – What has the general response to your book been?

I seem to be developing a cult following in the Midwest-if that isn't public recognition, I don't know what is! I've also had approximately 22 radio interviews and counting and get a lot of e-mails through my website from people seeking career advice.

LU – Where can interested readers find out more about you and your writing?

I can be reached by e-mail at: Carolinavavava@aol.com, and my web page address is http://hometown.aol.com/carolinavavava/myhomepage/writing.html

LU – What other books have been written on this same subject or similar subjects?

I couldn't find anything. The closest I found was a book called You're Off To See the Wizard by David Morris. The book was self-published in the 70's and is more of a guide to self-employment. It's a good book though-very philosophical about work.

Of course you have your basic job finding classics. What Color Is Your Parachute? is a great book with useful tools for landing “normal” jobs, but what if you're interested in becoming a Stripper? What if you've interned at a slaughterhouse? What if you don't want to work at all, but need to earn a living? What if you have a strange medical condition…surely you should be able to cash in on it, right?

LU – What is it about your book that makes it stand out in comparison to the other books of this kind?

Jobs Your Mother Never Wanted You To Have is a directory that provides resources and explains to the reader how to break into “not-so-normal” jobs. If you want to be a Stripper-you'll find out what it takes and where to begin your job-hunt. If you've interned at a slaughterhouse-you'll find out what jobs will showcase your skills. If you're lazy-you'll learn the secrets to living off “the system.” And, if you have a deformity, disease or drinking problem-you'll discover how you can make money off of it.

LU – Which groups of people will be most interested in the subject matter of your book?

In a nutshell the target audience is: people who hate their jobs, people who want to laugh, people who are unemployed, people looking for career advice and people who want to weigh their career path options.

Anyone (with a sense of humor) can use this book.

LU – Why will your book be popular with these groups?

“Reality” is big business today, but not just when it concerns model-type frat boys and hip chicks being filmed in an upper west side loft or on some exotic island. Real people in real jobs have sparked the entertainment fire now too. Shows like COPS and the TLC series The World's Most Dangerous Jobs are dominating TV. The literary scene is picking up on the trend too, with books challenging the same-old-boring-career moves such as A Working Stiff's Manifesto by Iain Levison and Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich.

While this book is meant to show real people in real jobs and provide real information to the reader, it is also intended to make people laugh. If you met someone in a bar and they told you they were an “Apron Scratcher”, wouldn't that be funny?

If nothing else, even for the reader who couldn't care less about laughing or switching jobs-this book can make him or her feel a lot better about whatever job he or she currently has, “Gee my life could be worse…I could be a Hay Sorter!!!”

LU – What are the names of other recognized experts in this field?

The Dalai Lama and his book “The Art of Happiness.” I don't know him, but I think a collaboration is in order. He knows how to have a good time.

LU – Any final words on your book?

Jobs Your Mother Never Wanted You To Have provides practical advice, lessons and documentation on how the reader can, and how others have, achieved success in not-so-typical jobs. Sure What Color Is Your Parachute? is a great book with useful tools for job hunters, but why waste the lessons by nailing a boring and unfulfilling job? Jobs Your Mother Never Wanted You To Have opens up a whole new world (in a strictly comical way, yet with very real information), by presenting alternatives that many job hunters haven't even heard of, let alone considered. From interviewing for a position as an Anarchist and a job description for a Cheese Cutter, to starting a pimping business or running for Mayor-all the information you need is here. In a time when unemployment is high, who couldn't use another career guide-and a laugh to boot!

Carolina Vegas Starr (Yes, that is her real name) continues to make appearances promoting her book in bookstores in the the Northeast and is an entertaining guest on the talk show circuit. Order Jobs Your Mother Never Wanted You to Have An Alternative Career Guide
from Loompanics Online store.

 

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