FEATURED AUTHOR: J.R. LINDERMUTH

ABOUT THE BOOK

A young girl is murdered and a feeble-minded youth obsessed with her is the prime suspect. Evidence against the youth is circumstantial and there are other suspects. Influenced by the boy's stepsister and a woman he is beginning to love, the detective puts his job and reputation on the line to assure the boy a fair trial.

INTERVIEW WITH J.R. LINDERMUTH

John, how did you get started writing?
I showed a talent for drawing early on and by age 10 was taking lessons from a local cartoonist until he decided there wasn't anything more he could teach me. At some point thereafter I started writing stories to go with my drawings. That's when I discovered I enjoyed writing as much as drawing and as I began high school started thinking about a dual career. In fact, I'd just enrolled in art school when I got my draft notice in 1961. I had some small success with articles and short stories while in the Army and later, but didn't publish my first novel until after I retired from the newspaper business in 2000.

Do you write every day?
Absolutely. I don't set a word goal, but I believe the persistence is important.

What do you wish you’d done differently when you first started the publishing process?
I wish I'd known about all the wonderful small publishers out there looking for interesting manuscripts. Since I was ignorant of the fact, I published my first two novels with iUniverse, an expensive mistake.

What’s more important—characters or plot?
Characters, definitely. If you don't have characters your readers can relate to, then the best plot in the world isn't going to hold their attention.

What books do you currently have published?
Schlussel's Woman (historical fiction), St. Hubert's Stag (a novella), Something in Common, Cruel Cuts, Corruption's Child, Being Someone Else, Practice to Deceive and A Burning Desire (Sticks Hetrick mystery series; Shares The Darkness, 7th in the series is now in the editing process), The Accidental Spy (historical fiction), Watch The Hour (historical fiction), The Limping Dog (standalone mystery), Fallen From Grace and Sooner Than Gold (Sheriff Tilghman historical mystery series; (The Bartered Body, 3rd in the series, is in the editing queue). The Tithing Herd (Western), Something So Divine (historical mystery), Digging Dusky Diamonds (a regional history about the lives of coal miners) and a story in the mystery anthology, Four of a Kind.


Do you have any secret talents?
It's not exactly a secret, but I serve (temporarily on leave because of health) as librarian of my county historical society, assisting people with genealogy and research. I also write a weekly history column for my local paper. I mentioned my art above. I don't promote it much anymore but my work is in private collections in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky.

Awesome! Is writing your dream job?
Absolutely.


What is the worst job you’ve ever had? What did it teach you?
When I was building a house and ran short of funds I took a part-time job at a chicken processing plant. It taught me how tough a life some other people lead and, if I ever needed money so badly again, to look for an easier job.

If you could only watch one television station for a year, what would it be?
The local PBS station. Where else would I find those great British mystery and comedy shows along with some wonderful documentaries? Other than the occasional movie discovery, most of television is a wasteland to me. I'd rather read.

Agreed! How often do you tweet?
At least once daily.

How do you feel about Facebook?
I prefer it to Twitter. It's great for making contact with fans and potential fans and for keeping up with out-of-the-area family.

What scares you the most?
Spiders and going into a new environment. I have no fear of snakes, large beasts, etc., but spiders scare the bejasus out of me (bit by one as a kid). Despite my years in the military and newspapers, I'm still very much an introvert.

What five things would you never want to live without?
Books, my vision, untrammeled nature, warm sunny weather, Italian food.

What’s one thing you never leave the house without (besides your phone).
A notepad and pen. (I know, that's two things. But one is useless without the other and no writer should ever be without them.

What do you love about where you live?
Pennsylvania's anthracite coal region can appear bleak to outsiders. I'm fascinating by the history. The people (a great ethnic assortment) are generally among the friendliest who'd ever want to meet and have interesting stories to tell. And, there's beauty if you know where to look for it.

What is one of your happiest moments?
Aside from the birth of my children? Publication of a new book.

What do you like to do when there’s nothing to do?
Read.

Of course! Stupid question, right? What’s your least favorite chore?
Mowing the lawn. Because it's boring and you're just done when it needs doing it again. I've often said, if I ever got rich (fat chance), the first thing I'd do is hire a gardener and a driver (I'm not fond of driving myself either; I tend to be distracted by my thoughts, scenery or other more interesting things).


What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to write?
As a reporter, writing the obit of some kid killed in Vietnam or one of the later wars. War is such a waste of young lives and seldom accomplishes the goals set for it. In recent years we've participated in too many unnecessary conflicts and have misused or ignored diplomacy which was once one of our greatest talents.

Where is your favorite library, and what do you love about it?
My hometown library. It didn't exist until I was in high school, but has been a home away from home since then. The librarians have been very generous in their support, stocking my books and hosting events. Can't say enough good things about them. And, sadly, libraries are generally so under-supported these days.

Very true. Who is your favorite fictional character?
Don Quixote. 



What do others say about your driving?
My kids say I should stay off the roads and leave the driving to someone else.


Yikes! What is your favorite movie?
There are a lot of great films out there. Still, my all-time favorite is The Gods Must Be Crazy. I know some of it is just plain silly, but it's one of the most original and thought-provoking films of all time. Jamie Uys is a genius.

Do you have a favorite book?
Don Quixote.

What are you working on now?
Chemotherapy has slowed down my production in recent months to mostly short stories and articles. I am, however, working on an eighth novel in the Sticks Hetrick series.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native of Pennsylvania, J. R. Lindermuth is a retired newspaper editor. He is the author of 14 novels and a regional history. His articles and short stories have appeared in a variety of magazines. He is a member of International Thriller Writers and is currently vice president of the Short Mystery Fiction Society.


Connect with John:
Website  |  
Blog  |  
Facebook  | Twitter  | Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Sunbury Press  |  Barnes & Noble

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: SHERIFF PROMISE MARY FLYNN

ABOUT THE BOOK

Years after the Willis Asylum closed, the secrets of its past lingered in its decaying halls as a reminder to the good people of Auburn Notch—when Evil closes a door, he also opens a window. Sheriff Promise Flynn was new to the town, and she was about to find out some windows should never be opened. 

Promise Flynn is an overly impulsive Metro Detective whose disregard for procedure finally resulted in her being shot and left for dead during an investigation. To repair her bruised ego and splintered confidence she abandons the callous dark alleys of Chicago to patrol the quiet, birch-lined streets of Auburn Notch—a favorite vacation spot of her youth. For two years everything was idyllic, until the body of a young girl found in the abandoned asylum outside of town awakens the insecurities she thought her new life would insulate her from. As the new Sheriff she begins her investigation ignoring the similarities between the young woman’s death and her own case, oblivious to being unexpectedly recognized and penciled in at the top of a clever murderer’s To-Do list. Her internal struggle intensifies when a discredited crime reporter from the past suspiciously arrives in town to resurrect his threadbare reputation, along with an FBI agent chasing down a lead in a cold case. Both men quickly become entangled in Flynn's investigation and her attempts to finally put her past to rest. Flynn reluctantly accepts the murder of the young girl might be the work of the two men responsible for her hasty departure from Chicago, but Agent MacGregor insists the evidence points to a man he’s been chasing. As the rising current of her past threatens to pull her under, Flynn finds herself unprepared for option three.

ABOUT SHERIFF PROMISE MARY FLYNN

Promise Mary Flynn was a decorated Metro Detective, one of the youngest to achieve the rank. She was overly impulsive, charging right into danger without regard to procedure at times.  She ruffled a lot of feathers on her way up the ranks, but she didn’t care. Her penchant for disregarding procedure when it suited the situation finally resulted in her being shot and left for dead during an investigation. It had a devastating affect. Her was ironclad outer shell was shattered, along with her confidence. To repair her bruised ego and splintered confidence, she abandons the callous dark alleys of Chicago to patrol the quiet, birch-lined streets of Auburn Notch where she spent summers with her family. What follows is anything but therapeutic.

INTERVIEW WITH SHERIFF PROMISE MARY FLYNN

Sheriff, how did you first meet your writer?
Michael also spent a good deal of his youth in New Hampshire. He was very familiar with Auburn Notch, so when it came time to develop a new mystery series he decided to use our town as the setting. I was delighted to be included, though I could do without the murder and mayhem that goes along with his stories. Just don’t tell him I said that.

Want to dish about him?
He’s a very polite and modest kind of guy. I wouldn’t want to embarrass him. I can tell you he’s incredibly creative when it comes to new ways to remove people from this world. He doesn’t just use the old bang-bang-shootem-up methods, he’s always looking for new ways to surprise a reader and raise a few eyebrows. If you want to know what I mean, in this first book I would have never guessed you could kill someone that way.

Did you have a hard time convincing your author to write any particular scenes for you?
I’m a little irritated that the only men I meet are either deranged or a bit slimy around the edges. Michael and I have had a small discussion about this, and he has assured me in the next book I’ll be meeting a “rather dashing fellow,” as he put it. I’m looking forward to it, but I’m sure there will also be a few strings attached.

Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
For the most part I get along with most of them. Sure councilwoman Johnson and I have words every once in a while, but at the end of the day we’re friends. My deputy, Hank, and I had a rough start, but we worked it out just in time. Agent MacGregor is as good as any fed could be. The only problem is he just shows up at the worst times, and trouble is not far behind. I’ll let you size up Bob Clayton for yourself, just don’t do it at night alone.

Do have any secret aspirations that your author doesn’t know about?
As my confidence is returning, I sometimes think I’d like to go back to a big city. Not Chicago, but maybe Boston.



What's the worst thing that's happened in your life?
The worst thing that happened is a result of the stupidest thing I’ve done, but it turned out to be the best thing I’ve done. I was a Metro detective in Chicago when I ignored procedure and followed up on an anonymous tip without backup. It lead me right into a trap, where I was shot and left for dead. If it weren’t for Williams, my partner, I would have died that day. I won’t admit this in public, but it was an irritating reporter that had been shadowing us during a case involving a serial killer that alerted Williams to my stupidity. The one good thing that came out of that whole ordeal is I came to Auburn Notch to recuperate and never looked back . . . at least not until the incident at the asylum. I wouldn’t have put the two together if it wasn’t for that black candle they left burning in the window.

Tell us about your best friend Dr. Laura Dearing.
She is the precinct’s clinical psychologist in Chicago and my close friend for many years. It was Laura’s suggestion for me to return to the quiet, pleasant ambiance and familiarity of Auburn Notch to recuperate. We met there years ago during one of our family summer vacations. We were so surprised when we both ended up in the same precinct in Chicago. It didn’t take long to rekindle the friendship we enjoyed so many years ago.

What are you most afraid of?
The bitter scent of ash, and lets just leave it at that. 



What’s the best trait your author has given you?
My ability to size up a person within minutes of meeting them is the greatest strength he’s given me. It’s come in handy more than once. 
What’s the worst?The most irritating trait, and I’m embarrassed to say it, are what he refers to as my “runway looks.” I’d be much happier with a pleasant expression and authoritative glance.

What do you like best about your deputy, Hank Harris? Least?
Hank and I started out on a friendly note when I first arrived in town. He knew I was a detective from Chicago, but he didn’t know what brought me to Auburn Notch. There was a mutual respect for the badge between us. Everything changed when the mayor offered me the sheriff’s position. Hank became gruff, deliberately irritating, and went running to the town council about every little decision I made. I began to wonder if I could trust him. I found out he did a little digging into my past, which fueled his fire even more. He also felt he should have been made sheriff instead of me. I’ve worked with a lot of cops. Hank is a good one, but still a little wet behind the ears. This became very evident, even to him, when we found the body of that young woman in the abandoned asylum. Our relationship changed dramatically after that. I’m so happy it did, otherwise I might not be here today.

What’s your author’s worst habit?
He has an uncanny knack for digging up the worst humanity has to offer and giving them directions to Auburn Notch. Sure, he dresses them up a bit, makes them appear somewhat normal, but it isn’t long before I start to unravel their true character. And people in town wonder why I’m so suspicious of every stranger that strolls into town.

What aspect of your author’s writing style do you like best?
Michael has an artist touch when it comes to describing the setting of a chapter. I really believe it gives the reader a deeper understanding of the surroundings. He doesn’t just explain where the scene is taking place; he places the reader in the room experiencing all the sights and sounds the characters experience. At times it’s quite creepy.

If your story were a movie, who would play you?
This is the one reason I would be happy about my looks and say I would be thrilled to see Charlize Theron play my character in a movie. Putting her stunning looks aside, she has just the right edginess to her attitude and the toughness to carry the badge.

Describe Auburn Notch.
Auburn Notch is a quiet New Hampshire town nestled beneath the shadows of the White Mountains. I spent many summers here as a young child with my parents, so returning after so many years felt like going home. The people are friendly, the air is clean and brisk, and the fresh scent of pine lingers over the town like a delicate lace throw. It’s the complete opposite of the gritty streets of Chicago I left behind. It’s the last place you would expect to find crime, but unfortunately it rears its ugly head from time to time even in this tranquil setting.

What makes you stand out from any other characters in your genre?
That’s a tough question. I don’t know whether I would want to stand out from others in my genre. What I would really like is to be accepted as an equal to some of the great characters that have come before me. Having accomplished that would be a great achievement.

Will you encourage your author to write a sequel?
I’m very excite to say I just found out a second book has been submitted to Sunbury Press for publication toward the end of this year. It details a very strange occurrence in town, and will introduce readers to Alice Norbury. Alice is the town matriarch, and she becomes embroiled in an eco-terrorist plot after the mysterious death of her husband. I’ll tell you this one is not a story to miss. They say it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature; but when you do, look out. Her fury has never been so threatening. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael is a classically trained artist turned mystery writer. By combining his creative talents with a passion for mysteries he conceived his first series—The Ernie Bisquets Mysteries. It introduced Ernie Bisquets, a retired London pickpocket who decided he was going to assist the London police with their most difficult cases—whether they want his help or not. Michael has completed 3 books in the series, and has plans for at least five additional books. Book 4 is in the works now.
   
Michael travels a bit, especially to Great Britain, but also has a fondness for New England. He spent many winters in the shadow of the White Mountains, skiing and enjoying the beautiful countryside. Those fond memories are the backdrop now for the new Auburn Notch Mysteries being published by Sunbury Press. The main character is Sheriff Promise Flynn—an ex-metro detective who left a dark past and her big-city detective shield behind and moved to a small New England town.
   
When he’s not painting or writing, Michael is an avid antique collector, filling his current home—an 1894 Queen Ann Victorian he, his wife, and son are restoring—with an assortment of antiques from around the world. Michael also enjoys cooking, working in the garden, and playing in the yard with their two rescues, Beau and Pup.

Connect with Michael:
Website  |   Blog  |   Facebook  |   Twitter  |   Goodreads  

Buy the book:
Amazon  |  Barnes &Noble  |   Sunbury Press  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Featured Author: Nina Post

ABOUT THE BOOK

After returning to his hometown, a homicide detective investigates the brutal murder of his childhood friend, but as the evidence points to another face from his past, he must decode a cryptic series of clues to track down the killer.

INTERVIEW WITH NINA POST

Nina, tell us about your series. Is this book a standalone, or do readers
need to read the series in order?
The Shawn Danger Mysteries series is about homicide detective Shawn Danger, who
works in northwestern Pennsylvania. Shawn is patient, focused, very good at his job, and has an unusual approach to running the case. You don't need to read the books in order – they can be standalone.

Where’s home for you?
Washington state, home of the Sea-Tac Sloth.

If you had an extra $100 a week to spend on yourself, what would you buy?
Books, and books, and books.

What do you love about where you live?
Birds, trees, mountains, ferries, and the weather. Also, the Sea-Tac Sloth.

What makes you nervous?
Children.

What makes you happy?
Fruit festivals.

What makes you scared?
Most things.

What makes you excited?
The growing field of international cat tax law.

If you could only save one thing from your house, what would it be?
Assuming my husband is safe: my bowling ball collection, my anvil collection, and of course, my cast iron stove grate collection.

What brings you sheer delight?
Breakfast.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
"She imagined that whenever she left the house, an all-points bulletin was sent to every freak in the city, who went screaming after her with single-minded purpose." -Middle Men, Jim Gavin

How did you create the plot for this book?
It came out of the protagonist's background. Then I outlined it. And then I did my Swedish plotting dance.

Who are your favorite authors?
A. A. Milne, E.B. White, L.M. Montgomery, W.B. Yeats.

What book are you currently reading and in what format?
Unlikely Allies: How a Merchant, a Playwright, and a Spy Saved the AmericanRevolution, by Joel Richard Paul – in hardcover.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your writing?
"Once someone reads one of your books, they're going to want to read all of your books."

That's petty darn great. What would your dream office look like?
The 'English Great Room of the Late Tudor Period, 1550-1603' from The Art Institute's Thorne Miniature Rooms.

What are you working on now?
I'm working on the sequel to my international thriller, The Zaanics Deceit. You can find out more about the first book at my website.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nina Post is the author of seven novels, including Danger Returns in Pairs, Danger in Cat World, Extra Credit Epidemic, The Last Condo Board of the Apocalypse, The Last Donut Shop of the Apocalypse, One Ghost Per Serving, and The Zaanics Deceit. She lives in Seattle.

Connect with Nina:
Website  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads | Amazon

Cool Book of the Week: Secrets of Hallstead House

Secrets of Hallstead House

by Amy Reade

Would your grandmother like this book?
My grandmother would love this book. It’s more sweet than spicy, and it’s been compared to books by Phyllis Whitney, Victoria Holt, and Daphne Du Maurier. My grandmother loved Phyllis Whitney, and in fact, it was at my grandparents’ home on the St. Lawrence River where I first discovered Phyllis Whitney’s books. I was there for the day because I was sick and couldn’t go to school and I was looking for something to read. 

P.S. My grandmother would love anything I write just because I wrote it. Isn’t that what grandmothers do?

What is your elevator pitch?
Macy Stoddard moves to the Thousand Islands following a family tragedy in New York, but finds that she is unwelcome and despised for reasons she doesn’t understand. She is forced to make a choice between going back to New York and helping an elderly woman uncover the secrets that haunt her.  

How did you come up with the plot?
When I was thinking about the plot, all the action in my head just naturally occurred in the Thousand Islands, near where I grew up. I knew the novel would be set there, and I knew I wanted to write a story about family secrets and betrayal and that my main character would be a woman. The details just grew and blossomed at that point.


How is this book different from other books in this genre?
Secrets of Hallstead House is categorized as romantic suspense, but I think it also has a gothic feel to it. Not in the sense that there is anything supernatural going on (no magicians, no vampires), but in the sense that the setting is very important to the story. The house and the island where the story takes place are almost characters in their own right. I’m so pleased when a reader tells me that I’ve inspired them to visit the Thousand Islands through the atmosphere that I’ve described in the book.   


Why is your book cool?
My book is cool because it appeals to readers who like romantic suspense that is more suspense than romance. It’s cool because I wrote something that I’m not embarrassed to let my kids or my parents or my own grandmother read! It’s cool because the story is a nice introduction to the Thousand Islands. And it’s cool because it’s been compared with some of the greats of romantic suspense and Gothic literature!

About the book:

Macy Stoddard is a young nurse from Manhattan who loses both parents in a drunk driving accident. She takes a job as a private nurse to Alex Hallstead in the Thousand Islands of upstate New York in an attempt to get a fresh start, a fresh perspective.

But soon she realizes that not everyone on the island welcomes her. The boat captain is aloof and suspicious of Macy, the sour and domineering housekeeper and her simpering husband obviously resent her presence, and Alex’s handsome nephew seems to delight in tormenting Macy for reasons known only to him.

Macy learns of Alex’s tragic past and of the fears that continue to haunt her. And when Macy learns about her own connection to the island, one she never dreamed of, she has to choose between her own sanity and helping Alex discover the truth behind the mysteries on Hallstead Island.

Why reviewers think Secrets of Hallstead House is cool:

"I was unable to put down Amy Reade's debut novel "Secrets of Hallstead House." The descriptions in the novel transported me to the Thousand Islands and I could actually feel the chill in the early fall air. I also enjoyed learning the history of the Thousand Islands and the trips made to Boldt Castle and the other islands. The romance between Macy and Pete was beautifully written. Amy Reade's second novel cannot come soon enough for this reader."

"This story has twists and turns so you don't know what will happen until the very end. It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I especially like the true historic stories woven through the book. I thought I knew about this area of the St. Lawrence River, but I was mistaken."

"I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, and those who like to be drawn into the setting as they read. I believe this is Amy M. Reade’s first book and I will definitely be looking for more books by this author."

About the author:

Amy M. Reade grew up in upstate New York, just a few miles from the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Islands region. After graduating from college and law school and practicing law in Manhattan, she moved to southern New Jersey, where she lives near the ocean with her family and three pets, two of whom treat her more like staff than owner. Her second novel, The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, is set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and will be released in April, 2015. She is currently working on her third novel, set on the Big Island of Hawaii. 




Connect with Amy:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter 

Buy the book:
Amazon | Google | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Apple 

Featured Author: Giacomo Giammatteo

Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours brings Giacomo Giammatteo here today to talk about his mystery/suspense novel, Murder Has Consequences, published by Inferno Publishing Company.

About the book:

For a select few people, friendship lasts forever. Nicky Fusco and Frankie Donovan were friends like that, but that was years ago. Now Frankie’s a detective in Brooklyn’s Homicide department, and Nicky is a reformed hit man. But when Frankie gets in trouble—and the law can’t help him—he turns to Nicky.

The problem is that Nicky promised his family, and God, that he’d go straight. 

Book Trailer

Interview with Giacomo Giammatteo

Giacomo, how did you come up with the title Murder Has Consequences?

Murder Takes Time is the first in the Friendship and Honor series. In MTT, there is a set of six rules for murder. Murder Has Consequences is rule number two. All of the books will follow a rule of murder, so the next one out is Murder Takes Patience which is rule number three.

Excellent. Do you have another job outside of writing?

I’m a headhunter in the biotech and medical device industry. I’ve been doing this for thirty years.

How did you create the plot for this book?

All my plots are created in the same basic way. I have a concept or theme that I follow for each series. This is the Friendship and Honor series, so the theme revolves around the problems/conflicts that might arise out of a pact or oath of F&H. All I have to do is imagine a scenario that would create conflict and go with it. I always have an ending before I start, and then I work backwards. I despise a novel where the ending seems fabricated, so I swore I’d never do that.

What’s your favorite line from a book?

I’m a huge fan of the old noir films/books. Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett...and I have to say my favorite lines from all time are from the scene with Sydney Greenstreet and Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon. Some of my other favorites are from Casablanca.

Tell us a book you’re an evangelist for.

The Count of Monte Cristo. My favorite book of all time.

How do you get to know your characters?

They’re real. I base them on real people, or on combinations of real people. I’m a huge believer in knowing my characters and not just the main ones. I think it is just as important, if not more so, to know your secondary characters as it is to know the primary ones. And when I say know them, I mean down to the core. Know what they’d do in a given situation, how they’d react if someone challenges them, if someone kisses them, if someone betrays them. That, in my opinion, is how great characters are created.

Which character did you most enjoy writing?
Nicky Fusco.

You say your characters are based by real people. Who?

Most of them. Can’t say.

Understandable. Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.

The scene where Nicky goes to see Millie in the bar. It seems like such a simple, nothing scene, but it isn’t. That scene allowed me to show so many things about Nicky, about the way things have changed in the neighborhood, and about the kind of conflict and respect Nicky had for people. I loved it.

Who are your favorite authors?


Alexandre Dumas, John Sandford, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Frank Herbert, Donna Leon, and when I need to laugh out loud, Luciano De Crescenzo.

How long is your to-be-read pile?

Far too long, unfortunately. And since I’ve been published it’s grown considerably. I’ve met so many wonderful authors, and they have books I want to read. My iPad is stocked with a lot of titles.

You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?

Me. If I find time, I’m going to try it myself.

What book are you currently reading and in what format?

I’m reading an ebook, Sleep Not My Child, by Christopher Bartley. He’s a gifted author, and I love his work.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

I write mostly in the kitchen, and I start about 10:00 at night. If I have blog posts to write, I usually do those earlier, and if I have editing or proofreading to do, that comes before writing. My writing I like to do late.

Where’s home for you?

I live in Texas, outside of Houston, but I grew up in Wilmington, Delaware.

Your last meal would be…

Veal Marsala with good bread, and a good wine.

You won the lottery. What’s the first thing you would buy?

A lot of land for my animals.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Italy.

What are you working on now?

This is a loaded question. I always have a lot going on.
Mystery: A Bullet From Dominic, Blood Flows South book II
        Necessary Decisions, first book in new series, Redemption
        A novella about one of the characters in Necessary Decisions
        Murder Takes Patience, Friendship and Honor book III
        Old Wounds, a Redemption Novel

Non-fiction: No Mistakes Interviews, book II of the No Mistakes Career series
       No Mistakes Guide to Misused Words

Fantasy: Vengeance is Mine, Book IV of the Rules of Vengeance series

I realize this seems like an awful lot to be working on, but it’s how I work. I actively write on a non-fiction and a fiction (or 2) at the same time, depending on the mood I’m in, and I actively plot and write scenes as they come to me for the others.

I'm the same way. Good luck with all of your projects, and come back anytime!

Other books by Giacomo:

Murder Takes Time | A Bullet For Carlos | Finding Family | No Mistakes Resumes

Excerpt from Murder Has Consequences

Actions have consequences. I learned that long ago.

• I learned it when I was five years old and got caught stealing cigarettes.
• I learned it when Mikey “The Face” Fagullo beat our asses for not giving him a cut of the smokes we stole from a boxcar.
• I learned it when Father Tom caught us playing cards instead of attending mass.
• Mostly I learned it when I shot Freddy Campisi. That lesson cost me ten years in prison.

Different actions yield different consequences. Do something wrong—-get sent to prison. That’s one kind of consequence. But that’s the easy one. If you go to prison, you do your time and get out. It’s over. Done with.

But there is another, far worse, consequence-—the one you have to live with day in and day out. The kind of consequence you beat yourself up over. The kind that won’t go away. I did my time for killing Freddy Campisi. The other things I’ve done I have to live with. Those are between me and God. They are my cross on earth.

Nicky Fusco

About the author:

Giacomo Giammatteo lives in Texas, where he and his wife run an animal sanctuary and take care of 45 loving rescues. By day, he works as a headhunter in the medical device industry, and at night, he writes. 

Connect with Giacomo:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter |

Buy the book:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple | Kobo