Mid-South native pens book on post-college life
Issue date: 9/14/07 Section: Entertainment
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During this time, Frey said he partied too much. In an effort to make up for this, he is planning on donating 50 cents of every copy sold to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
"I had some ups-and-downs, with drinking especially. I was a bad social drinker," he said. "People are careless with their drinking and they get away with it. Most of us get away with it, and I'm so blessed that I did."
His book is written in journal format, which he was able to accomplish by keeping old ticket stubs and pictures with friends. The book took him nearly three years to complete. Putting those memories together has helped him keep in touch with friends he had not talked to in years.
"It's just fun for them to be associated with the project," he said. "It helped me reconnect with a lot of them, too."
Frey made his publication process a family and friends affair. His father edited the book, his sister proofread and a cousin designed the cover. A friend from high school designed the Web site, while a friend's father helped him print the book. Without them, Frey said he is not sure he would have gotten the book published.
"It's almost like forming a band in a way," he said. "They feel involved in the project, and that's really the reason it came out so nice."
Frey said looking back on that time of his life brings fond memories, and he hopes relaying his memories to college students will make them realize college is the best time of their lives. He said it is important to enjoy the experience and be with friends.
One lesson he said he hopes his readers take to heart is to be careful while you are having fun, because drinking can cause problems if people are not cautious.
"Think about your actions and the consequences," he said. "When you are 33 and you look back to when you were 22, you just shake your head and think 'Wow. That was really stupid.'"
Frey said he hopes his book can serve as a comfort to those who are fresh out of college, and to reassure them they are not the only ones who have a hard time finding a job or getting started with life.
"If you are sort of at a point where it's like 'What now?', then I think you might get something from it," he said. "I don't profess to have answers, but I think this is something you can relate to."
You can purchase Two Sides of a Cypress Wall at JoelFrey.com.
"I had some ups-and-downs, with drinking especially. I was a bad social drinker," he said. "People are careless with their drinking and they get away with it. Most of us get away with it, and I'm so blessed that I did."
His book is written in journal format, which he was able to accomplish by keeping old ticket stubs and pictures with friends. The book took him nearly three years to complete. Putting those memories together has helped him keep in touch with friends he had not talked to in years.
"It's just fun for them to be associated with the project," he said. "It helped me reconnect with a lot of them, too."
Frey made his publication process a family and friends affair. His father edited the book, his sister proofread and a cousin designed the cover. A friend from high school designed the Web site, while a friend's father helped him print the book. Without them, Frey said he is not sure he would have gotten the book published.
"It's almost like forming a band in a way," he said. "They feel involved in the project, and that's really the reason it came out so nice."
Frey said looking back on that time of his life brings fond memories, and he hopes relaying his memories to college students will make them realize college is the best time of their lives. He said it is important to enjoy the experience and be with friends.
One lesson he said he hopes his readers take to heart is to be careful while you are having fun, because drinking can cause problems if people are not cautious.
"Think about your actions and the consequences," he said. "When you are 33 and you look back to when you were 22, you just shake your head and think 'Wow. That was really stupid.'"
Frey said he hopes his book can serve as a comfort to those who are fresh out of college, and to reassure them they are not the only ones who have a hard time finding a job or getting started with life.
"If you are sort of at a point where it's like 'What now?', then I think you might get something from it," he said. "I don't profess to have answers, but I think this is something you can relate to."
You can purchase Two Sides of a Cypress Wall at JoelFrey.com.