three years working on
tale of greed, redemption
Professor
produces
first novel
Paul Kushel spent
three years working on
tale of greed, redemption
By Anna kreyman
Staff Writer
Paul Kushel
MARLBORO — What do author Paul "Cash" Kushel and his new book Lotto Trouble have in common? Cash, cash, cash.
For the past 15 years, Kushel has been synonymous with cash for his career with investment banks and other financial organizations.
Kushel, a Marlboro resident for 23 years as well as a husband and the father of three children, has recently published his first novel and is currently working on two more.
In an interview with the News Transcript, Kushel said he is very excited about the novel. He said that in a very short time, he has already had positive responses from readers.
"What is gratifying is that people are enjoying it so much," Kushel said. "Readers are telling me that they can’t put it down and can’t wait to find out what happens next. This is a book everyone can enjoy this summer when sitting at the beach."
Kushel, 49, was thinking back to his adolescent years when he said, "I always wanted to write a novel, but never had the time even after graduating college."
Kushel holds a doctorate from the University of Texas and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from New York University. He is a full-time professor at Fordham University, The Bronx, N.Y., and a consultant for financial organizations. His jobs as a consultant keep him on the go.
The question came up as to how he managed to find the time to write a 400-page novel. Kushel said he wrote on planes and late at night in his hotel room after finishing his work.
"I started writing the book in 1998 and finished in 2000," he said. "After numerous edits and revisions, I was proud of what I had written. This novel has opened a whole new world for me."
The professor has received numerous teaching awards for his work at Fordham and New York universities as a professor of accounting and taxation.
"I believe that I am a teacher at heart," he said. "I teach banks and people very dry and complex ideas. I think that by being an Kushel has published articles in academic and practitioner journals, and he has been a guest on CNBC as a legislative analyst.
"I appeared on Squawk Box in 2002 and discussed various economic topics like the Enron situation," he said.
Kushel was asked how the plot of his book relates to him or his career.
Kushel answered by stating that first and foremost, the book is purely fiction, although it is based on a lot of real-life issues.
"The main scenario in this book could really happen," he said. "I am surprised that it hasn’t already happened."
Lotto Trouble centers on the situation of selling a winning lottery ticket and the schemes involved with a person trying to steal the $20 million ticket. One character in the book lives in Marlboro, and a lot of the action takes place in Marlboro and surrounding towns, Kushel said.
"This book is about greed, ethics, corruption and redemption," Kushel said. "People have told me they love my assortment of characters and how they all tie together. It’s just a great story."
Kushel will autograph copies of Lotto Trouble on June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Marlboro library Wyncrest Road and Route 520. The book will be available for purchase that night. The author has a Web site at www.lottotrouble.com.