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The Writings of AjTony Perkins
Everything I want you to know and a few things I don’t want you to know.
I am Ajtony Perkins, and this is my page for writing and news about my memoir. Scroll below to see more.
My Philosophy About Writing
“You’ve gotta dig deep. You know, people say that you should write about what you know, but that’s bull. You want to write what you don’t want people to know.”
Guest star Susan Sarandon as J.C. Small
Mike and Molly: Season 4, Episode 4: “Careful What You Dig For”
When I watched the above episode of Mike and Molly, my whole perspective on writing changed. I took the phrase spoken by the character J.C. Small to heart.
I exposed many things in my memoir that I did not want people and potentially the whole world to know.
My Inspiration and Motivation
Jennette McCurdy, the former child actor known for the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly and several others, wrote her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died.
I found McCurdy’s story inspirational. It wasn’t the details of the abuse she endured in childhood but the sense of humor she captured in her memoir. I also found her goal and purpose to coincide with my own philosophy of writing.
“I really did try to write a good book. The fact that it was about my life was, honestly, secondary.”
Jennette McCurdy, ABC TV The View, September 12, 2022,
My Reaction
Like McCurdy, I first wanted to write a good book. My memoir is not a therapeutic journal. I concentrated on the plot and only used brief details of adverse events when necessary to forward the action and explain a character. While writing my memoir, I became hesitant to share my darker personal experiences with the rest of the world. I looked to McCurdy again as an example. Her words in the interview on ABC’s The View I found motivating. I, too, believe my story Is worth telling.
“I think there is a story worth telling here.”
Jennette McCurdy
It is my hope that people will find my memoir worth reading and find hope and inspiration. I also desire that they will find parts of it entertaining and amusing. That ideal guided me to complete my writing.
All About Me: Well, almost all
The Good Witch
This is my ancestor, convicted Salem witch Mary Perkins Bradbury, being led to jail. She is the 7th great grandmother to Ray Bradbury and 4th great grandmother to Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Over 100 friends and neighbors testified at Mary’s trial on her behalf, but she was still found guilty of witchcraft.
Friends of Mary broke her out of jail, and she fled Salem, preventing her execution by hanging.
Witch Hill, painted by Thomas Noble, is not an exact depiction of Mary, but a representation of her likeness since Noble painted it 200 years after the event.
Wait for it.
What is in a name?
Yes, I am named after this guy, the actor Anthony Perkins of Psycho movie fame, and I was born after the movie premiered. What was Mother thinking?
Other men have also been named Anthony Perkins. Wikipedia lists three. So, why for me is it a big deal?
The story of how I was named is long and complicated. I am working on writing that story. I explain it in my memoir.
Here’s a hint. You would be shocked if you saw my birth certificate.
I identify with Patty Duke. We both experienced the same traumatic event in childhood. Her story motivated me and gave me strength. Knowing I was not the only person who endured the same experience brought me hope and encouragement. You can learn more by reading my blog post about “Patty.”
Memories of Typing Class
Kermit reminds me of typing class in high school.
The typing classroom was full of new IBM Selectric electric typewriters. However, there weren’t enough IBMs for all the students. One student had to use an older than old manual typewriter. For some reason, the teacher selected me. I don’t know why. It wasn’t by alphabetical order. Typing class was difficult enough. For me, it felt like prison, and I was in solitary confinement. No, actually sentenced to hard manual labor.
How I Learned to Cook Starting at Age Seven
I watched her show weekly and never missed an episode.
Julia Child became my new mother when at age seven, the woman who birthed me proclaimed, “Where is it written I have to cook for you?”
Mother used the plural you and not the singular. This meant she refused to cook for the whole family, and the cooking duties fell upon me.
My Story of Learning to Cook Told in a Slide Show
Julia Child was my new mother. She taught me how to cook. 
This is the first food I made for myself. I remember it well. Mother didn’t like when I made these, because I spilled jelly on the countertop. She slapped me on the face. 
Here is my first cookbook. Mother bought it for me at age seven. It says, “Easy to Read – Easy to Cook” on the top. Mother didn’t have to help me with anything and that was the point. 
Mother hated the green stove and refused to use it. Check out my blog to find out what happend next. 
The infamous chicken a la Mother, aka a boiled, slimy, and tasteless mess. 
The first entre that I mastered as a cook. 
My father liked when I cooked Chinese. 
Boil a bag, the way to cook, actually warm up precooked frozen food, before the invention of the microwave. 
The mixer that gathered dust on Mother’s countertop. Mother had it there to give visitors the impression that she cooked. 
This suave Englishman taught me some culinary tips. He was the James Bond of the kitchen. 
My favorite cookbook when I was a kid. It had everything in its 1500 pages. I used it so much the front cover fell off. 
Just one example from Mother’s hoard of 100s of cookbooks. It was in pristine condition. She never opened it. It was all for show. 
This was one of the first meals I cooked. 
The 7-layer salad was popular in the 1970s. I found them delicious, however I never made one. Find out why in my blog below. 
Chef Boyardee taught me how to cook Italian. 
In addition to 100s of cookbooks, Mother also owned 100s of recipe cards. The file box looked impressive on the countertop. 
It was always special when we had dessert with our meal. 
Julia taught me the correct way to use a knife.
Published Writing
Arches News
Articles I Wrote for Arches Magazine
EDITED OUT: The English Grad Program | Arches (archesnews.com)
The Truth About Nuns | Arches (archesnews.com)
Understanding Workplace PTSD | Arches (archesnews.com)
Short Stories and Poems
“Hometown Values” Northern Lights Journal, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay
Awards
Three awards 2019, Wisconsin Newspaper Association WNA Foundation announces college, high school contest winners (wnanews.com)
Gold Medal–Best Editorial or Commentary, Milwaukee Press Club 2019 Excellence in Journalism Awardees | Milwaukee Press Club for “Edited Out”
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AjTony Perkins – My Writing and Memoir News
Post Archives
Most Recent Posts
- A Man and His Mustache: Aaron Rodgers and Me
Aaron Rodgers is known for more than his quarterback skills. He also sports a dandy mustache and is one of my ‘stache heroes - Words to Avoid when Writing
I had to use “had,” but I wish I hadn’t. I need to NOT use these words. - Not Her Favorite Color
My mother didn’t like the avocado green stove. She proved to our family how much she hated it. - “Get that guy out of here!”
Jimmy Piersall (Anthony Perkins) wants his father removed from his room in the mental hospital and shouts, “Get that guy out of here,” in the film Fear Strikes Out. - Rest in Peace, Eric
Eric, now that you’re gone, I’m all by myself. Read a previous post where I mention the music of Eric Carmen extensively. - A great article about the Bahr Building, home of LaCage nightclub in Milwaukee
The iconic Bahr Building in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point has been the home of another icon for forty years, LaCage nightclub. - When you’re stuck in a dry spell…
Lately, I’ve been lost in the desert… - LaCage Celebrates 40 Years!
I can’t forget my first time at LaCage over 20 years ago. I didn’t know it beforehand, but my life would be forever changed. - Learning How to Smoke
At age 40, I decided to smoke for the first time and my big decision had to be what type of cigar to lite up. - Lazy Eye: The Sad Truth of a Little Boy
More to come… - My Name is Anthony Perkins-Mother Named Me
- Infamous Christmas
Many people have cherished Christmas memories. When you are a child growing up in the home with a narcissistic mother, holidays can be days of infamy. - Murder: The Death of My Friend Archie Andrews
When I heard my friend Archie died, I was shocked. When I learned he took a bullet to save the life of his friend, I cried. - I am Thankful for Julia Child
I am thankful that Julia Child taught me how to cook as a child when I was required to cook for the family. - The “Agony of Defeat” for a writer, the rejection letter
For a writer, a rejection letter can mean the agony of defeat. The iconic failed ski jump on ABC’s Wide World of Sports can symbolize this. - The Anhedonic according to David Foster Wallace
The Anhedonic, a person who suffers from a condition where they cannot feel happiness, can yet still describe the concept in words. - New Life to an Old Hangout: POP opens in Walker’s Point
The site of the former Switch bar opens under a new name and a new vibe. - Happy Halloween! Are Mark Wahlberg and Zac Efron both Witches? The third nipple mystery.
Mark Wahlberg and Zac Efron have the same secret along with Salem Witches: The “witch’s teat” - 50 Years Ago
I was pleasantly amazed when I found an old picture of myself from kindergarten at Muskego Elementary School. Other than the bushy stache, not much has changed. - Casper, My Sad Hero
While riding with my father on a trip to visit relatives, I overflowed with excitement for the chance to meet Casper, my sad hero.
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