South Brooklyn in the 1980s: The Importance of Setting in True Crime Book Development
Setting is a critical element to a writer when considering taking on a non-fiction book project. That's why, when I received a call from famous NYPD Detective Thomas Dades offering to introduce me to a former 13th Avenue Colombo gangster interested in a book project, I jumped at the opportunity. Of course, Carmine Imbriale was a complex, remarkable, even relatable character. Not only was Carmine once deeply involved in organized crime in … [Read more...]
Meet Author John Wesley Anderson
My name is John Wesley Anderson. I am a former homicide detective, turned full-time author after retiring from a 30-year law enforcement career. I hold an MBA, from Regis University, and am the author of seven published books. I began my law enforcement career with the Colorado Springs Police Department in 1972, which is where I first met the legendary Detective Lou Smit. I eventually became one of Lou's detective partners and we worked major … [Read more...]
Lost in Translation: The Challenge of Sharing a Ukrainian/Russian Story in English
Craig McGuire’s True Crime CARMINE AND THE 13TH AVENUE BOYS on Audiobook, Narrated by Johnny Heller
A rare street-level look at what life was really like in the South Brooklyn mob in the 1980s, as the rackets descended into a bloody civil war. How much did Carmine Imbriale know about the South Brooklyn rackets? Following two decades as a street-level operative on 13th Avenue in one of the most violent crews in the Colombo Crime Family, his cooperation set in motion a sequence of events that help end a bloody Mafia civil war and put more than 40 … [Read more...]
In Full Review, The Jerusalem Post Urges Readers To Set Aside A Few Hours For Levison’s A NEST OF SNAKES
Put aside a few hours to read this novel - like a snake that traps its prey, it will seize your imagination until you turn the final page. -LAUREN ADILEV, The Jerusalem Post In her review, Adilev reacts to Deborarh Levison's recent thriller A NEST OF SNAKES, calling it a reflection on "what happens in a society where kids are merely accessories" and "exquisitely written." Read or listen to the full review. The book is about a man, suffering … [Read more...]
Author Anne K. Howard Shares “The Harrowing Story Of A Ukrainian Dog”
S.L. Ditmars On Writing About Dogs
I'm a dog guy. I love dogs. I'm the type of guy that, when out walking through the hills here in Prescott, stops and pets other people's dogs. Why not? Dogs, for the most part, have an incredible capacity to give. I also write about dogs. Well, not just dogs, but they are principal characters in my stories. I could write just about dogs, but they are just so much more enjoyable with people. My specific area of interest is police dogs. I was a … [Read more...]
Robert Dodge
I was born and raised in North Dakota and attended college at North Dakota State University. I graduated with honors in history and was awarded one of the twenty-two National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Post-Graduate Scholarships given nationwide to scholar-athletes. I began law school at the University of Minnesota the year graduate school deferments were ended. While waiting for my time in the army I transferred to history, then … [Read more...]
“So, you want to write a book?” Debut author S.L. Ditmars on embracing the process
I had an idea in my head... After I retired, I had an idea in my head for a book. It was loosely based on my work with the Long Beach Police Department using K9 scent detection and trailing. The story is fiction, but many of the small details of the story are based on things that happened during my career. I had no idea how to write a book. All I had were a series of short stories. I call them scenes that were in my head. When I went to bed at … [Read more...]
