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The book is available at major book chains, as well as at Amazon.com. The following are official press materials for the book from Hyperion. We'll also be posting a review soon in this space. Hyperion's Q&A with Nancy How did you get the part of Bart? I had been doing voice-over work for nearly 8 years when I got a call for an audition for The Tracey Ullman Show. I was originally called to read for the part of Lisa. Once I arrived, though, I saw the sides for Bart and decided that this was the part I wanted to play. His dialogue was more intriguing and his attitude was pure chicanery ... right up my alley. Do you play any other characters on the show? Absolutely. I am Nelson Muntz, the bully (Haw-haw!) and Ralph Wiggum, Bart's innocent friend ("My cat's breath smells like cat food."). I am also Todd Flanders, the older of the two Christian neighbors who live next door. ("I get to anoint their feet."). I also voice Kearney, another one of the bullies. And finally, a recurring character, one of the computer nerds, Database. What is your favorite episode? This is a very difficult question to answer. There are so many themes, so many subjects, so many guest stars, that it is exceedingly difficult to pinpoint any one episode. Besides, after recording well over 250 episodes, I can barely remember some of them, let alone figure out which one is my all-time favorite. I do have a special fondness for the musicals. I love singing but Bart definitely sings better than me! "Streetcar Named Marge" was excellent. So was the "Baby on Board" episode, about the barbershop quartet. I absolutely love the spoof on The Sound of Music. I have a special place in my heart for "Lisa's Substitute'' -- when she gets a crush on her teacher. I also loved the episode when Michael Jackson and I sing "Happy Birthday" to Lisa. Another favorite is when Bart accidentally shoots a mother bird. Very poignant. I also loved the show where Bart is put on an anti-depressant and eventually goes totally wacko. It makes a very strong statement about the tragedies of Ritalin. Excellent show. Who was your favorite guest star? Some guests are just more memorable than others. Meryl Streep is a real fan of the show and I got to work with her in a private session. Mel Gibson was totally silly, doing sound effects and cracking us up. Elizabeth Taylor brought her entire entourage with her and became the star she is right before our eyes. Who is your favorite character? Of the ones that I do, I have to admit that Ralph is my all-time favorite. He is so innocently silly. Eternally wide-eyed and constantly speaking with a smile on his face, Ralph is practically guaranteed a laugh every time he opens his mouth. Of the other citizens of Springfield, I love Krusty, Professor Frink, Mrs. Skinner, Sideshow Mel, and Gil. What inspired you to write MY LIFE AS A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY? After 20 years in the entertainment industry, I was doing exactly what I had set out to do: like the greats before me (Daws Butler -- Huckleberry Hound, Yogi Bear, etc.; Mel Blanc -- Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, etc.; June Foray -- Granny, Rocky J. Squirrel). I wanted to create memorable characters in the animation industry. I wanted to set a precedent for other voice-over artists and eventually produce animated projects of my own. But the first stop was to document "my journey" thus far. I had kept every script and had written diaries regarding the "behind-the-scenes" of the show. I documented working with guest stars and began to visit Film Roman, the studio that does the animation for our show. As a kid I was fascinated with animation, but never found any books on it. There are some books that were written by some of the great animators, but I don't know of any book still in print that was written by a voice-over talent about the experiences of working on a particular show. Being the voice of Bart is a big responsibility. It is something that I totally aspired to do and it is only fitting that a book be written to share this uniqueness. Part of the uniqueness of doing voice-overs is that you retain your anonymity. Aren't you concerned that by having your face on the front of the book that you are totally "blowing your cover"? I think that I might be surprised and that yes, people will certainly recognize me more after the book comes out. However, it isn't like I am a series regular on a sitcom every Thursday evening. This book will be released and, in time, it will eventually move off the front-of-the-store rack and go on the shelf next to the other books on animation or biographies. I am not worried about it. I believe that I will still be able to have a personal life ... a pretty doggone ideal scene! The official news release My Life as a 10-year-old Boy By Nancy Cartwright Know the voice, but can't place the face? Don't have a cow, man! Meet Nancy Cartwright, mother of two and the voice of that spiky-haired ten-year-old terror Bart Simpson on Fox's popular animated series The Simpsons. In her new book, MY LIFE AS A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY (Published by Hyperion; October 31, 2000; $19.95), Nancy reveals the inside story on her career and offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of today's most popular television series. Nancy Cartwright is the ultimate Simpsons insider. In MY LIFE AS A 10-YEAR- OLD BOY, she traces her life as Bart going back to the early days when she received that fateful call from her agent about an audition. The casting director was looking for the voices for some animated "interstitials" that were going to be sandwiched between commercial breaks and The Tracey Ullman Show. And interestingly enough, Nancy was asked to read for the role of Lisa Simpson, age eight, middle child. At the time, Lisa's description seemed like an animated kid with no personality, so Nancy quickly tossed Lisa's part aside and took a look at the role of Bart: Age: 10 Personality: Devious, underachieving, school-hating, irreverent, clever That seemed more like it! And when she read the role, Nancy was offered the part on the spot! Little did she know that these interstitials would later become an Emmy Award-winning hit. MY LIFE AS A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY traces The Simpsons' rapid rise to wild popularity, and offers hilarious anecdotes about the cast and guest stars, including Mel Gibson, Meryl Streep, Phil Hartman, and Elizabeth Taylor. Cartwright also explains what actually goes into making a half-hour animated series and reveals what it feels like to be at the center of an American institution that has forever changed the face of television. Chock-full of riotous chapters, including "Good Grammer," "Do the Bartman," and "Be Still My (Brave) Heart," MY LIFE AS A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY is packed with more information than has ever been revealed about the first prime-time animated hit in twenty-five years. The book is sure to appeal to the millions of Simpsons fans that can't seem to ever get their fill of America's favorite dysfunctional family. About the Author Nancy Cartwright is familiar to millions around the world as the voice of Bart Simpson, a role she has been performing since 1987. She lives in the Los Angeles area. By Nancy Cartwright Published by Hyperion October 31,2000 $19.95
The official bio of Nancy Cartwright
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