Occupation: I have been a full-time, freelance writer of business books for 15 years. I am also a tour guide. I lead groups through Japan. I did it for the first time last year and will do it again in November. I took Japanese in college. I could not do this guiding without Japanese. We go where no one speaks English. When people on the tour ask questions, I have to be able to ask a native if I don’t know the answer. I have a bachelor’s degree from the School of General Studies at Columbia University and have completed all but the thesis for a master’s degree at City College. The thesis would be a novel, and I never finished it.

How Long in Newtown: I have lived here for seven years this month. Prior, I lived in Yonkers, N.Y.

Biggest Change Seen in Town: The same as everybody, the houses. I like the new library. We got involved with the book sale the first year we were here. My wife was president of The Friends of the Library when they were working on the addition. We still work for the book sale each year.

Family: My wife, Marian, and I have been married for 15 years. I have three children from a previous marriage, Gregory, who is head of security at a nightclub in Honolulu; Victoria, who is a freelance copyeditor and mother in Lee, Mass.; and Jefferson, who teaches fourth grade in Natick, Mass. I have one granddaughter, Amelia, who is 2½.

Hobbies: I have lots. Japanese, studying, translating, and teaching at Wilton Continuing Education. They keep offering Japanese though sometimes there are not enough students. I am involved in building the Habitat for Humanity housing on Philo Curtis Road. The experience is great, and the cause is great. You also learn a lot. Now that I know how houses go up, I’ve been able to help my daughter and son-in-law with a problem with their house. I run ski trips for Winterset Ski Club on nine Sundays in the winter. The club has been around for 25 years. I like to ski. I also have been teaching writing at Garner Correctional for the last six and a half years. I have five students.

Favorite Books and Authors: I read a lot of Japanese literature in translation. At this moment I am reading The Wild Sheep Chase by Hiruki Murikami. I also finished a fascinating book, Michiko’s Diary, the translation of a diary of a young wife that was kept in 1910. Another interesting book is The Professor and the Madman, the story of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Favorite TV Show: I never watch television. 

Organizations:  Winterset Ski Club, and I have been a member of the board of Newtown Friends of Music for five years.

Most Vivid Memory of Newtown: The opening of the annual book sale on Labor Day weekend, when the book dealers have been lined up since midnight. Last year there were 300 people lined up to go in when it opened. At one book sale, one man ran directly to the chess table, through his arms over all the books, and bought every one of them, over $700 of chess books.

Favorite Vacation Spot: I have no individual spot. There are too many places I want to see.

Personal Philosophy: This is all there is so you better make the most of it, and try to make it a little better than when you got here.