The following is an interview with writer/director Adam Nimoy regarding the upcoming release of his memoir, The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy, through Chicago Review Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Nimoy about his creative process in bringing the personal narrative to life on the page, what he hopes that readers may take away his own story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: What inspired you to share your story with readers?
Adam Nimoy: I have been in 12-Step recovery meetings for many years and have repeatedly shared the story of how recovery enabled me to reconnect with my father after years of periodic conflict and finally estrangement. I shared all this anonymously; most people had no idea that my father was Leonard Nimoy. After these meetings, people would come up to me and tell me the story inspired them to try and repair family relationships that had also proven to be troublesome.
BD: What can you share with us about your creative process in bringing this personal narrative to life on the page, and what did you find to be the most challenging or rewarding aspects of this creative journey?
AD: With this particular narrative I had to be very careful, because I was determined to give an honest portrayal of some of the things that happened with my father, the good and the bad. The challenge was that my dad happens to be adored by millions of fans all over the world, and I wanted to be respectful of that simple fact. Although I wrote about some of the problems in my relationship with my father, this book is not a tell all; some things were best left unsaid. I also made sure that the reader understood that I was always proud of my father and what he had achieved, and that when we were finally able to reconcile by using the tools of 12-Step recovery, much credit goes to my father for being willing to participate in that process.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that your story – and your willingness to confront topics like addiction and recovery – may connect with and impact readers?
AD: Talking about recovery has become critical now that we have experienced the opioid epidemic which has led to a very dangerous situation with Fentanyl. My addiction to marijuana seems benign compared to the life-and-death struggle many people are facing today. This is why I’m an active board member at Beit T’Shuvah, a residential addiction treatment center. It is essential for the community to work together to get us through this crisis, and at Beit T’Shuvah we are saving lives one day at a time. This is an integral part of my recovery and the basis for all programs of recovery: to help another addict or alcoholic.
BD: What makes Chicago Review Press the perfect home for your story?
AD: One of the things I like about Chicago Review Press is that it’s been part of their mission since they were founded in 1973 to help play a critical role in shaping cultural conversations by publishing work that reaches beyond the trends. They certainly understand the role this story has in a larger context of culture and pop culture, and yet they also understand that I hope by sharing my own experiences, it may help others facing similar challenges.
BD: Is there any other news that you are able to share with our readers?
AD: I’m appearing at events around the country this summer, including the ST-LV Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas (August 1-4, 2024) and Fandom Fest in Schenectady, NY (August 10-11). I’m looking forward to all of them.
BD: What is the best way for our readers to find out more about The Most Human?
AD: My website is adamnimoy.com.
And there’s a direct link to the book here.
I’m active on Instagram here: @adam_nimoy
And on X/Twitter here: @adam_nimoy
