Gregory Zschomler

Disneyland fan Gregory Zschomler is serious about play. And he believes under-appreciated wage-slaves should examine their lives.

“I am 65 years old and have been working all my life and I have always played,” the Ocean Park resident said. “I look at the economy and my children’s lives and how hard they work to make a living. These days the balance is off. You shouldn’t have to wait till retirement — because you may not have a retirement.”

The concepts are among those highlighted in his latest publication, “Live a Little: Balancing vocation and vacation.” The self-help work is the 18th book written by Zschomler, who promotes his books in person at the Farmers’ Market at Veterans Field in Long Beach Friday afternoons into September.

More Information

More Information

“Live a Little: Balancing vocation and vacation”

By Gregory Zschomler

Amazon, $9.99; or at Long Beach Farmers’ Market, Fridays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. through September.

Zschomler will also be among regional authors appearing at the PNW Authors’ Book Fair 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Peninsula Church Center, 5000 N Place, Seaview. More details will be announced.

He describes the work as a “how-to handbook for maximizing life by balancing work and leisure in life.” The 104-page paperback is steeped in biblical quotes, reflecting his Christian faith. Motivational quotes which begin each chapter come from broader sources, including Mark Twain, Tolkien, Einstein and George Bernard Shaw.

“It’s all different concepts that I have learned along the way — I want people to have good lives,” he said.

Output

Zschomler grew up and attended college in Vancouver. He worked in technology at churches and later operated an independent bookstore in Aberdeen, Wash., where he encouraged other authors. He lived in Cannon Beach for a couple of years before moving to the Long Beach Peninsula three years ago.

His literary output in the past 10 years has included his “Bayou Boys Adventure Series,” which targets young teen readers, a zombie novel, other self-help publications and an adult novel called “Hell, Heaven and Back” about a church worker who encounters issues. He likes to write in coffee shops rather than libraries, believing they provide just the right amount of noise, and strives for 2,000 words each day.

‘Afraid’

“Live a Little” is intended for a broad audience, but Zschomler hopes younger people will embrace its concepts, including the need for rest as well as play. He recalled as a 21-year-old, he was a club DJ from 1979 to 1980. “It was $10 an hour — part time, but that was good. It was not a day at work.

“My reason for writing is, ‘I aspire to inspire,’” he added, repeating a motto unveiled during earlier interviews. “That’s my goal. I live to encourage people in their dreams. I know people who have been in the same job for 37 years. That person is afraid to venture into anything else. I know someone of 45 who just changed, but it was really scary for him.

“We are always afraid of things,” he added, bringing up the concept of risk. “We all should challenge ourselves.”

Cogs

He admires examples of work-leisure balance in European countries, especially Spain and Scandinavia. He hopes people stand up to those who exploit them, mentioning Disney cast members whose strike threats earned concessions from its highly paid chief executive.

“The average wage earner is not looked at as important,” Zschomler said. “We are cogs in a wheel. These days, it is hard to get a quality employee. The people who do want to work, we need to compensate them better.”

The book concludes with an eight-page “bonus” segment featuring tips on how to best plan a vacation, including money-saving ideas and travel strategies.

Next for Zschomler is a book on prayer, which he hopes to publish in time for a writers’ gathering being organized by Jan Bono in Seaview in early October.