The debate of whether or not violence in video games adversely affects kids aside, actor turned author Gary Schwartz, well-known for violent characters in video games like Team Fortress 2, Left4 Dead 2, and Dota 2, has written an inspiring story of hope for abused kids with his heartfelt, hilarious, pun-filled debut novel, THE KING OF AVERAGE.
Schwartz grew up in a dysfunctional family with unhappy and mentally challenged parents. He suffered abuse, both verbal and physical. Despite that, he made a successful acting career dedicated to entertaining children, and voicing characters for many movies, TV shows and video games.
THE KING OF AVERAGE tells of eleven-year old James’ quest for love and self-acceptance in a land where psychological states are actual places. It has been compared to children’s classics like The Phantom Tollbooth and The Wizard of Oz. Named to Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016, and IndieReaders’ Best of 2016, the book is now available as an audio-book.
The King of Average (ISBN is 978-0-9975860-7-7) is unique in a niche some have called “Self-Helpful Fiction”. It is decidedly non-violent, as the hero befriends a talking goat, a professional French optimist and an equally professional pessimist named Kiljoy. He encounters, many bizarre characters all voiced expertly by Schwartz.
“We take the trauma of childhood with us into adulthood. Without self-awareness, we can suffer our whole lives.” says Schwartz. “I hope this story inspires children to better understand their feelings and discover their own truth in a fun and entertaining way. Many parents and teachers tell me they enjoyed the book because its message resonated with them as well.” —- PRNewswire Link
Named to Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016, and IndieReaders’ Best of 2016 list on Huffington Post, Gary Schwartz’s heartfelt, hilarious, pun-filled middle grade novel, THE KING OF AVERAGE tells of an eleven-year old’s quest for love and self-acceptance in a land where psychological states are actual places.
Schwartz had the idea fifty-two years ago, when he was eleven: A neglected, abused latch-key kid of the late 1950s, he wondered if he could he be more average than anyone else—if he could be the most average kid in the world. The very idea made a shy boy who suffered from poor self-esteem feel special. Suddenly, the boy who wanted to be invisible and escape notice in a dysfunctional family now had hope. He could cope. It led him to pursue a successful career on stage, film and TV.
The King of Average (ISBN is 978-0-9975860-7-7) tells the tale of James, an average boy travelling his emotional landscape in the Realm of Possibility. He befriends a talking scapegoat named Mayor Culpa, a professional optimist and an equally professional pessimist called Kiljoy, and goes on a journey to become king of Average and reclaim his self-esteem and authenticity.
“We take the trauma of childhood with us into adulthood. Without self-awareness, we can suffer our whole lives.” says Schwartz. “I hope this story inspires children to better understand their feelings and discover their own truth in a fun way.”
Gary Schwartz had an idea when he was eleven years old: Told that he was only average, he wondered if he could he be more average than anyone else—if he could be the most average kid in the world. The very idea made a shy boy who suffered from poor self-esteem feel suddenly special. The boy who wanted to be invisible and escape notice and family pain now had a mission. He was somebody. He could cope.
One way that helped Gary cope was developing a sense of humor. By studying comedians on Ed Sullivan and practicing impressions, he could make kids at the school lunch table laugh. Two years later at age 13, he was selected to perform up and down the Hudson River with Pete Seeger and the great folk entertainers of the 1960s. His show business career had started.
Schwartz carried the idea of being the most average around for fifty years and decided to write a book about it. The King of Average (ISBN is 978-1-5137-0331-2) combines the wit and wordplay found in The Phantom Tollbooth with the tale of an average boy travelling his emotional landscape in the Realm of Possibility. He befriends a talking scapegoat named Mayor Culpa, a professional optimist and an equally professional pessimist called Kiljoy, and goes on a journey to reclaim his self-esteem and authenticity.
“We take the trauma of childhood with us into adulthood and, without self-awareness, we can suffer our whole lives.” says Schwartz. “I hope this story will inspire children to better understand their feelings and discover their own truth in an entertaining and fun way.”
Actor Gary Schwartz grew up in a dysfunctional family with unhappy and mentally challenged parents. He suffered abuse, both verbal and physical. To survive, he tried to be invisible and not cause any notice that would lead to bad consequences from his unpredictable parents. He remained under the radar, safe and away from chaos. He found the best way to do that was to be a good boy and act just like any average, ordinary kid. He was a good actor and it led Schwartz to begin his professional career at age thirteen as a professional mime.
Eventually his silent performing took him to Los Angeles where he studied acting, found his voice and ended up with a significant role in the cult-classic science fantasy film, Quest for Fire (1980) and then on TV in the children’s show Zoobilee Zoo (1985). He’s also lent his voice to hundreds of film and TV projects, including Star Trek, and is currently several popular video game characters in Team Fortress 2, Left for Dead 2, Dota 2. Borderland and Star Wars the Old Republic and so on. As a boy, he was seen and not heard and as a man, fifty years later, he’s heard and not seen.
Now he’s written his first middle grade novel. The King of Average.
Gary had an idea when he was eleven years old: What if you were more average than anyone else? But doesn’t being the best at something disqualify you from being average? How would that work?
Schwartz carried the idea of being the most average around for fifty years and decided to write a book in the style of one of his most beloved children’s books, The Phantom Tollbooth, which told the tale of a bored boy who enters a mysterious landscape of intellectual delights, befriending a watch dog named Tock, a Humbug and a Spelling B-e-e.
The King of Average combines the wit and wordplay found in Tollbooth with the tale of another boy travelling his emotional landscape in the Realm of Possibility. He befriends a talking scapegoat named Mayor Culpa, a professional optimists and equally professional pessimist and goes on a journey to reclaim his self-esteem and authenticity.
“I developed a sense of humor as a socially acceptable calling card, but had life-long issues dealing with depression, authenticity, self-loathing, rage and doubt. These soul-wounds from childhood can derail even the most luminous performing careers. Take Robin Williams for one.” says Schwartz, a successful improvisational acting coach, comedian and voice actor. Who resolved those childhood traumas with therapy, twelve step programs and the philosophy of great child psychologists, Alice Miller (The Drama of the Gifted Child) and John Bradshaws “Championing your Inner Child”.
“We all take the trauma of childhood with us into adulthood and without awareness, we can suffer our whole lives. I hope this story will inspire children to better understand their feelings and discover their own truth in an entertaining and fun way.”
Suscrible to get my newsletter directly into your inbox.
Gary Schwartz is an award-winning, TV and film actor, director, comedian and a master improvisational acting coach whose 30 years as a performer and improv teacher has helped transform the lives of thousands of people, both on- and off-screen.
Copyright © 2024 Gary Schwartz, All rights reserved.