Walker Lamond

Walker Lamond is a writer and television producer. His documentaries have appeared on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, TruTV, and HBO. He has written for numerous publications including Stop Smiling magazine, Valet, Babble, and Asylum. His popular book 1001 Rules for My Unborn Son is a poignant, humorous read filled with delightful morsels of sharable rules. AmericanProject.TV discusses the rules and more with stylish and busy Mr. Lamond.

Okay Mr. Walker, In your view, who is Walker Lamond? 

I am a father, a husband, and a writer--sometimes for television. What I am not, is an expert.

I'm an unabashed fan of 1001 Rules for My Unborn Son, it just oozes civility. Were you surprised by the book's success? 

The book is based on a blog of the same name. I was surprised by the blog's success, certainly. The internet can be a tough audience, and it was nice to see how many people all over the country were appreciative of content that wasn't snarky or ironic.

I wouldn't call the blog and book a runaway success, but it's been a good run. We'll see where it leads.

Do you think the rules stand the test-of-time? 

Most of the rules come straight from my father, and presumably his father before that. So yes, there is a certain timeless quality to many of the rules. But despite the throwback vibe of the book, of course not everything old is good.

I've tried to cull the classics from the outmoded, and also include some updated rules of civility based on my own experiences.

Were your parents able to see to enjoy the success of book?

I lost my dad about 15 years ago. In fact it was his passing that really inspired me to write the book because I wanted to make sure I remembered the things he taught me so I could pass them down to my own son. My mom is still around, and she is thrilled. Although I probably don't give her enough credit. She was as much a part of making me a man as my father was.

You're a writer and television producer. How did these artistic passions evolve?  

After I quit a banking job in New York I began working for documentary filmmaker D A Pennebaker. I always wanted to make movies. I learned the doc film trade from him, and after a few years began making television shows for National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Now I specialize in true crime shows, which lets me play out my fantasy of being Raymond Chandler.

From where do you draw your inspiration?  

Grandfathers the world over. I have a deep respect for the generations of men that have come before us, sacrificed, worked hard, and solved problems. One of my worst fears is that we are just mucking up what they accomplished.

Yeah, I'm a bit of a nostalgist, but not dangerously so. I love old movies, rock and roll, American suits, crime novels, flea markets, and everything New York City.

What publications are on your must read list?  

In the back of the book I list all the Essential Reading for Boys, which is a list of books I think every kid should read. I don't subscribe to any magazines anymore besides New York, but online I really enjoy Valet and get my media gossip from Gawker.

Tell us about your current or most recent project. 

Well some folks out in Hollywood are keen on making Rules for My Unborn Son into a television show. But I've learned never to count my chickens. As the rule goes, don't boast about a project in progress, celebrate its completion.

What does the future hold for Walker Lamond? 

I'd like to know. I've worn a lot of hats in my short life. I'm still looking for one that fits.

You can learn more about Walker Lamond at http://walkerlamond.com/ or you can purchase his book 'Rules For My Unborn Son' at Amazon.