We’ve all heard that age-old wisdom—write what you know. Personally, I’ve always rebelled against this advice and opted for a different philosophy—write the book you want to read. This always ended up having little to do with the life I knew.   So it was really interesting when I found myself writing my ninth novel, “No Funny Business”, about what I know—stand-up comedy, cross country road trips, classic rock music, and dead relatives (but don’t worry, it’s a comedy).   Because of where I was in my life (trying to survive a global pandemic), I knew I had to reach into the depths of my life to bring this book alive. Sprinkling in my real-life experiences had to be part of the recipe.   Here are five story elements in “No Funny Business” that were inspired by my real life . . .   My Favorite Pastime   For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved to laugh. My dad was a stand-up fan, and we’d listen to comedy specials on vinyl. I awaited weekly sketch comedy shows like “In Living Color”, then snorted laughter in my teens watching stand-ups like Chris Rock, Judy Gold, and John Leguizamo. It…