NEWSHenry Winkler Wraps Up Writing 'Hank Zipzer'
May 5 2010, Published 8:12 a.m. ET
Henry Winkler's last book in his Hank Zipzer children's series is being released, but these are still Happy Days for the actor.
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Henry spoke with PopEater about how he's proud to have co-authored more than a dozen books following a fifth-grader with learning difficulties, which was inspired by his battle with a long-undiagnosed dyslexia.
"The publishers decided 17 would be a good number," Henry explained on why this is his last Hank Zipzer book. "I'm not upset. I understand business is business. We wrote 17 novels and I'm overwhelmed. I can't even imagine that I wrote one."
And he was very surprised they were so successful!
"All I knew was someone suggested I write books for children about my learning challenges. I met co-author Lin Oliver, we sold it, we had a contract for four books, and now I'm on an 11-city book tour," he explained. "Truly, I'm speechless. I was told I would never achieve, that I was lazy, that I wasn't living up to my potential, and apparently that is not true."
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He more than reached his potential by playing the coolest guy on TV, Fonzie on Happy Days.
If Happy Days is the first mention in his obituary, he won't mind one bit.
"It won't upset me at all," he told PopEater." He introduced me to the world. He put food on my table. He paid for my kids' education. I'm very appreciative."
He's also very blessed and knows it!
"That is the word I used to describe my life," Henry said. "People ask me two words to live by, and I say to be tenacious and gracious."
