10 Questions with Alan Markovitz (Topless Prophet)

Please tell readers about the book, Topless Prophet.
Everyone is curious about what goes on behind the scenes in running a strip club empire. My book is a first-hand account of that. People want to know about what it's like to work so closely with beautiful women, who comes into the club, how do I stay in business against fierce competition, how do i hire the women, what kind of money can be made, etc. I also share personal stories of dating some of these women, being shot twice, having my business partner arrested by the FBI for trying to kill me, about my club being raided, and about how I once had an airline dedicated to running stripper-servied airflights. The book is a fascinating read that takes you from my humble beginnings as a scrappy Jewish kid growing up as the son of a Holocaust survivor near Detroit to becoming the owner of the nation's top-rated XXX establishment.

Who or what inspired the writing of this book?
Many people would hear me tell stories and say: "You should write a book." I got to thinking they were right. I made sure to entertain the reader and to also inform him. The book is evenly split with the sharing of humorous or interesting events -- along with business tips and insights that any entrepreneur could appreciate.

When did you know you would be writing this book?
Once I determined that I had more than enough material for a good book, one that had never been done before by someone like me, I began to write. After sharing some of this material with close friends I was convinced I was on to something. Then, as new experiences came about for me I would take note that they could be talked about in my book.

How long did it take you to write the book?
It took about four years to pull it all together. In between I was opening up new clubs, such as Penthouse Gentlemen's Club in Philadelphia, and looking to expand my business.

What was the hardest part of writing Topless Prophet?
I had to think about how far I would go to reveal the details and facts of the real-life experiences I had over nearly 30 years of being involved in theclub scene. I want readers to understand that as an owner of gentlemen's clubs that I was not the stereotype and that there are many business lessons to be learned from what I had gone through.

Do you have any writing rituals?
I like to let it flow naturally -- when the mood strikes me. I don't get a lot of down time from running my clubs but sometimes a fresh mental break allows me to write clearly.

Have you written any other books, or is there more to come?
I think I have a sequel in me. There are so many stories to tell and Topless Prophet has scores of them.

Any advice you can give to aspiring writers?
Putting a book together takes a lot of work. The writing part is one thing, but the process of getting it published and marketed is a whole other animal.

What are you currently reading, and how is it?
I enjoy books with photographs -- I am very visual, as you can imagine in my business.

How can my readers find out more information about you and your writing?

Please consult www.toplessprophet.com