My Top Heroes from Books I’ve Read

10. Roland Deschain

Books in which this character is featured – Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series (8 books)

Characteristics – Roland appears to be detached or unsympathetic, often reacting with seeming uncaring or anger at signs of cowardice or self-pity, yet he possess a strong sense of heroism, often attempting to help those in need. He is shown to be mentally scarred from the deaths of all his friends and family, often thinking about their words and actions, and he is said (on more than one occasion by himself) to greatly lack imagination.

Why this character is on the list – As a reader, this seemingly callous character is one that brings out a great deal of empathy. You feel his pain even though he suppresses it and seems unable to express it. I will say that the end of the series was somewhat anticlimactic, but overall, the saga of Roland was enjoyable to read.

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9. Myron Bolitar

Books in which this character is featured – 10 books by Harlan Coben

Characteristics – Myron Bolitar was a basketball prodigy until a career ending injury in his first game as a Boston Celtic caused him to go to law school and landed him in a career as a sports agent/private detective. He is a study in contrasts. First, he is white, Jewish and from New Jersey, not the usual background of a basketball star. Second, although he is often in dangerous situations, he doesn’t take himself, or the danger seriously. Coben weaves in humor and has given Bolitar a strong sidekick to play off of.

Why this character is on the list – I like the detective angle mixed with the sports aspects of this character. The books featuring him are, for the most part, Coben’s best with the exception of Tell No One, which is his best book overall.

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8. Daniel Torrance

Books in which this character is featured – The Shining and Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

Characteristics – This is an odd choice, but, in my opinion, a valid one. Danny Torrance, the child in The Shining, is an innocent victim of a power he doesn’t understand. In Dr. Sleep, Torrance is 36 years older. He is a flawed adult, but has at least learned to use his power for a noble purpose. He becomes a hero by seeking out another with ‘the Shining’ and defeating unspeakable evil. It’s a unique situation of a character developing over time who pulls heroic actions from poor circumstances.

Why this character is on the list – Danny Torrance, the child transforms to Daniel Torrance the hero. He reaches out to his mentor from the Shining for advice, he deals with his demons and has more ultimate success than his father and he essentially embraces his power for the benefit of others. King did a great job of taking this character to a new level.

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7. Jack Reacher

Books in which this character is featured – 21 Novels by Lee Child (James D. Grant)

Characteristics – Reacher is an enigma. He is military through and through and is often cited as one of the best military policemen to ever wear the uniform. He is a victim of downsizing but has difficulty leaving his military ways behind. He doesn’t believe in owning anything. He buys clothes as he needs them and tosses them away when they’re worn or beyond repair from whatever scrapes he’s gotten into. He has a strong moral code, but doesn’t play by the rules if they stand in his way of righting a wrong. My one problem with this character is his portrayal in the movies. Although Tom Cruise is a bankable star, at 5’7″ he is not close to Reacher’s 6’6″. Reacher is in his mid 30s to mid 40s. Cruise is in his late 50s. Of course, if I were approached for a movie deal where Tom Cruise was going to portray my character, I’d probably take it as Grant did.

Why this character is on the list – Reacher is the ultimate anti-hero. He doesn’t believe himself to be a hero. He does extremely brutal and often, illegal things to accomplish his goals. Yet, you find yourself cheering for him.

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6. Jack Ryan

Books in which this character is featured – 9 Novels by Tom Clancy

Characteristics – Jack Ryan is another reluctant hero drawn into unwanted action by his sense of duty and in defense of his family. He is a brilliant intelligence analyst with an advanced degree and a background in the U.S. Marine Corps. Through Clancy’s books, he advances up the ladder and eventually, through tragedy, becomes the President of the United States. Ryan is a fiercely loyal family man, friend and patriot, in that order..

Why this character is on the list – Ryan is the antipathy of Jack Reacher. He thinks through every move, he follows the rules, he thinks of the consequences of his action, but, at the end of the day, he does what’s necessary to protect what is threatened.

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5. Lisbeth Salander

Books in which this character is featured – 3 Novels by Stieg Larsson, 1 novel by David Lagercrantz

Characteristics – My first female hero is Lisbeth Salander suffered a traumatic childhood leaves her highly introverted and asocial. She has difficulty connecting to people and making friends. She is particularly hostile to men who abuse women, and takes special pleasure in exposing and punishing them. She is also a computer hacking genius and uses her talents to uncover and bring down scandalous people.

Why this character is on the list – Lisbeth Salander is a powerful hero because of the adversity she has overcome. She is much more realistic than some of the YA heroines that have gained much more popularity. Her character is well written (in the books by Larsson, anyway) and engaging.

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4. Jake Brigance

Books in which this character is featured – A Time to Kill and Sycamore Row by John Grisham

Characteristics – Jake Brigance is a man of principles. He is a small town attorney in the southern United States that takes on an African-American client in a no-win situation and prevails. Throughout his work on the case, his life, home and family are threatened.

Why this character is on the list – Grisham revisits this character in Sycamore Row. It takes place several years after the events in A Time to Kill and realistically portrays life after the big case. It’s not all smooth sailing for Brigance. He is in poor financial straits and is still facing backlash for defending a black man in the deep south. This kind of character development is intriguing and makes me appreciate the author’s work.

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3. Bill Hodges

Books in which this character is featured – Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers and End of Watch by Stephen King

Characteristics – Bill Hodges is a stereotype that has been used in entertainment many times. He’s the retired police detective with that one case that was never solved. He obsesses over it and it has contributed to the decline of his quality of life. There is a twist, however. Hodges is being taunted by the perpetrator in the case and, instead of doing himself in, as is the intent of the taunting, he becomes reinvigorated and sets out to bring him to justice. In the process, his health improves, he falls in love and forges a new career as a private investigator.

Why this character is on the list – In this trilogy, King was masterful in taking a central stories and weaving three unique stories around it tying the saga together in the third book. While doing this, he takes the Hodges character through a unique arc and also develops the characters around him bringing the story to an exciting climax. King is not known for detective novels, but he certainly mastered the genre in this trilogy.

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2. Alex Delaware

Books in which this character is featured – 32 novels by Jonathan Kellerman.

Characteristics – This character first appeared in 1985 and has persevered as an interesting protagonist. Delaware is a child psychologist who frequently works on homicide cases with his friend and longtime collaborator Milo Sturgis. He gives the investigations the psychological angle, but occasionally has to get his hands dirty as well. There is an element of humor in his personality and he is also a musician that drives a vintage Cadillac.

Why this character is on the list – It’s difficult to sustain a character over three decades and over 30+ books. Kellerman has done this well. What strikes me the most is the slow, realistic evolution of the characters over time. Delaware has matured and learned from his mistakes. He has been in, out and back in his long-term relationship. There are also constants that are like a favorite old sweater to the loyal reader. I admire the level of the writing craft in this series.

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1. Atticus Finch

Books in which this character is featured – To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman

Characteristics – Much like Jake Brigance in John Grisham’s books, attorney Atticus Finch has the task of defending a black man in the deep south. He faces some adversity, but the real depth of this character is his role as a single father to his children. His virtuous nature is somewhat tarnished in the questionable second book as some of the real motivation of his actions is revealed. Finch’s character is revealed through the eyes of his seven-year-old daughter, Scout and is done in the no-filter way a child would talk about a parent, warts and all.

Why this character is on the list – To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite book. I was compelled to read it as a teenager, picked it up again in my 30s and then re-read it once more in my 50s in anticipation of Go Set a Watchman. Each time I got something different from the book. When I read it in my 50s, my own daughter was seven. As Scout talked about her ‘old’ father and his inability to play with her like other fathers that were younger, it resonated with me and made me wonder if this was how my daughter viewed me.

Thank you for indulging me as I revealed my literary heroes. I could have included others from books I’ve admired like Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter, Mitch Rapp, Travis McGee and others, but I wanted to limit the list to 10.

Who are your literary heroes? It would be fun to see others create a post like this one.

An Exciting Adventure to Take My Writing to the Next Level – Please Help

You’re among the first to know about this

I’m extremely excited to announce that my new book, Blood Match, is enrolled in the Kindle Scout program.

What is the Kindle Scout Program?

Kindle Scout is reader-powered publishing for new, never-before-published books. … Selected books will be published by Kindle Press and receive 5-year renewable terms, an advance,  royalties and featured Amazon marketing.

Why is it important?

If my book is selected for publication by Kindle Scout, it can help take my writing to the next level.

How can you help?

First and foremost, you can vote to nominate my book. The campaign goes up on September 20th at midnight and will continue through October 20th. You can vote for it and preview the opening of the book by clicking HERE.

As a blog follower, how can you really help?

Spread the word. I’ve made that easy for you using something called Thunderclap. Thunderclap is a social media tool that allows you to effortlessly spread the word using your social media accounts with a pre-written message. All of your followers will receive the message. You can help by signing up for the Thunderclap campaign HERE.

What’s in it for you?

Apart from my eternal gratitude, if my book is selected, you will receive a free pre-launch copy from Amazon and will have the opportunity to officially review it before its launch. That is a free book for you, but it also helps me, yet again, by launching with established reviews.

Please check out the Kindle Scout page and vote if you’re so moved. If you want to enroll in the Thunderclap campaign, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Don Massenzio

Sharing a chapter from my second book in the Frank Rozzani Detective Series – Let Me Be Frank – And it’s $.99 for a limited time

Publishing your first book is a scary proposition. The only thing that might be more scary is publishing your second. When I wrote Frankly Speaking, I set it up as the first book in what would be at least a trilogy. That forced me to begin writing the 2nd book.

I Let Me Be Frank, I tried a new technique at the suggestion of my friend and editor, Catherine Violando. It’s what I like to call the Columbo technique. On the American detective show, Columbo, the episode often started with the crime and sometimes even revealed the killer to the audience. The rest of the show was centered around how the seemingly bumbling Columbo would trick the brilliant criminal into revealing their crime.

Let Me Be Frank starts with a seemingly senseless murder and then spends the rest of the book following Frank and Jonesy around the southeastern United States as they piece together the motivation for the crime. I used New Orleans as a setting for a good portion of the book because of it’s colorful culture and to tie it to one of my short stories, Play it again Des, from my short story book, Random Tales, as I continue to have all of my books and stories exist in the same universe.

It’s a transformative book for some of the characters and advances the development of the Frank and Jonesy relationship.

I’m sharing the first chapter and, for a limited of time, I’m offering the book at $.99 from Tuesday, 1/31 until Saturday, 2/5. Please enjoy this first chapter of Let Me Be Frank.

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CHAPTER ONE

 Things were turning around. Since coming to Jacksonville six months ago, Dani was finally starting to feel like life might turn out okay. Thanks to Uncle Sam she had a place to live and money for food and to buy a few things. She was so lucky that Sam Monreaux remembered her family and had taken her in. For the first time in a very long time, she felt like there was some hope. She could feel the bills from the tips she earned in her pocket. She might be able to buy a television for her apartment with the money she had saved.

As she walked home after closing time at the Sun Dog, she thought of all the possibilities. She turned down the dark alley that was a shortcut to her apartment building. Sam owned the building and many of its occupants worked at the Sun Dog. Rent was paid based on what she thought she could afford. Sam never asked for more. She thought about how fortunate she was to have this second chance. As she walked she listened to Lorde on the second-hand iPhone that someone had given her. She enjoyed walking home. It was late. The Sun Dog closed at 2AM and she had worked serving drinks and bar food until then. Frank Rozzani’s trio was playing tonight and the drummer had offered her a ride home. The walk was short, though, and she enjoyed walking in the humid air with the smell of the saltwater in her nostrils. The area was safe, and, even though he seemed nice, she didn’t want to accept a ride from a man this late. She just couldn’t do it.

She didn’t hear the white panel van stop at the end of the alley or the approaching sound of footsteps. The two men pursuing her were surprisingly quiet considering their size. One man carried a pistol and the other a tarp. They were cold and calculating in their mission. Their boss had been very clear. There was to be no mercy. The girl must die to deliver a message.

She didn’t hear them coming until it was too late and there was no escape. She started to run, but tripped and fell forward in the alley, catching herself with her hands. Her iPhone screen was smashed as it flew from her hands and skidded under a dumpster. She could feel the gravel bite into the skin on her palms. She tried to get up and run again when one of the men chasing her wrapped his arm around her neck and held a pistol to the back of her head. He pulled the trigger. The small caliber pistol caused little immediate mess as the bullet careened around in her skull, but did not exit.

The two men quickly rolled her into the tarp and carried her back to the van at the end of the alley. They threw her body into the van and drove off to dump it somewhere where they knew it would be discovered quickly.

The white van pulled into the park entrance. It was dark. Not city dark where the illumination of the streetlights, storefronts, and houses give off a dull glow. This was pitch dark where you couldn’t see your hand in front of you. The van backed into its assigned spot and the two occupants exited the vehicle. They grabbed the tarp with its lifeless cargo wrapped inside and trudged off through the moist undergrowth toward the short stretch of woods that separated their assigned parking spot from the mountain bike trails.

“Tony, I didn’t know we were going to kill her.”

“What did you think it meant, Joey? I told you we were being paid to take care of her, take her out to dinner?”

“I thought we were going to scare her. I just didn’t know. What did she do anyway?”

“You ask too many questions bro. She didn’t do anything. Somebody wanted to send a message. When uncle says take care of her, you’ve got to know what he means.”

“I’m not sure I want to be part of this.”

“Well, that’s a problem. First, you were already a part of it. Second, you want to be part of this family business then what’s good for the business comes first. If you want out, there’s only one way out.”

“Hey. I didn’t mean it. I’m just… I’ve never…”

“I know bro. It was your first time. I was nervous when I had my first job. Hopefully, if we do a good job on the next few, we can work our way out of the front-line work and into something more lucrative.”

“How long do you think it will be before they find her?”

“Pretty soon. After the sun comes up. We left her right next to that bike trail. Somebody passing by that log wouldn’t be able to miss her. That was the whole point. She’ll be found. The message will get back to Monreaux and her family.”

“After the message is delivered, do you think we’ll get caught?”

“I doubt it. We’ve got no ties to her or her family.”

“It just seems senseless because she was innocent.”

“She wasn’t as innocent as you think. She’s had a past and her family is what got her killed. Right now, we’ve gotta ditch this ride and pick up a new one. That’ll help you get this behind you.”

“How are we gonna ditch it?”

“Joey, I’ll show you. Just like everything else on this job, we’ve got to be careful.”

 

Post Release Lull

Well, my book was released Friday, April 29th and it is one of my most promising launches so far. Thank you to those of you that took advance reader copies and posted reviews. I have 16 reviews between Amazon and Goodreads. I’m very appreciative to those of you the reblogged my announcements. I’m sorry if they were annoying. Writing is what I do, so I have to spread the word.

Normally it would be a lull, but I am already six chapters into the next ‘Frank’ book and it is the most exciting one yet for reasons that I will reveal over the coming month. It’s going in a bit of a new direction, but so far, it seems to be a great turn of events.

On that note, If you’d like to pick up a copy, you can do so by clicking on the book cover below:

 

Here is a synopsis:

Frank Rozzani, a transplant to Jacksonville, Florida from Syracuse, New York, has left his tragic past as a police officer behind for life as a private detective. Frank and his partner Clifford “Jonesy” Jones work with the local police to solve crimes that are virtually unsolvable.

In Frankly My Dear, the fourth in the Frank Rozzani Detective Series of novels, Frank and Jonesy are at it again and this time the case is one of the most bizarre that they have faced. Their latest client, arrested for domestic abuse, swears that he is the victim of one of the most vengeful women on the face of the earth.

Frank and Jonesy must determine if their client is telling the truth. As they investigate the case, they again pay a personal price for their involvement. Is their client trying to get away with his crime or is his ex-girlfriend continually coming up with new ways to damage him and his reputation?

Follow them as they navigate the twists and turns in this exciting new installment in the series, Frankly My Dear.

Here is the trailer:

It’s Here and I Already Have Reviews on Amazon and Goodreads

Well, my book was released yesterday and, between the pre-orders and the reviews on the day of release, it is one of my most promising launches so far. Thank you to those of you that took advance reader copies and posted reviews. I’m very appreciative to those of you the reblogged my announcements. I’m sorry if they were annoying. Writing is what I do, so I have to spread the word.

On that note, If you’d like to pick up a copy, you can do so by clicking on the book cover below:

 

Here is a synopsis:

Frank Rozzani, a transplant to Jacksonville, Florida from Syracuse, New York, has left his tragic past as a police officer behind for life as a private detective. Frank and his partner Clifford “Jonesy” Jones work with the local police to solve crimes that are virtually unsolvable.

In Frankly My Dear, the fourth in the Frank Rozzani Detective Series of novels, Frank and Jonesy are at it again and this time the case is one of the most bizarre that they have faced. Their latest client, arrested for domestic abuse, swears that he is the victim of one of the most vengeful women on the face of the earth.

Frank and Jonesy must determine if their client is telling the truth. As they investigate the case, they again pay a personal price for their involvement. Is their client trying to get away with his crime or is his ex-girlfriend continually coming up with new ways to damage him and his reputation?

Follow them as they navigate the twists and turns in this exciting new installment in the series, Frankly My Dear.

Here is the trailer:

Coming Soon

Only a few more days until the official release of my new book, Frankly, My Dear. I’ve received  positive comments from the beta readers and the advance readers in a couple of weeks. It’s up for pre-order on Amazon and will be released on April 29th.

If you’d like to pick up an advance copy, you can do so by clicking on the book cover below:

Here is a synopsis:

Frank Rozzani, a transplant to Jacksonville, Florida from Syracuse, New York, has left his tragic past as a police officer behind for life as a private detective. Frank and his partner Clifford “Jonesy” Jones work with the local police to solve crimes that are virtually unsolvable.

In Frankly My Dear, the fourth in the Frank Rozzani Detective Series of novels, Frank and Jonesy are at it again and this time the case is one of the most bizarre that they have faced. Their latest client, arrested for domestic abuse, swears that he is the victim of one of the most vengeful women on the face of the earth.

Frank and Jonesy must determine if their client is telling the truth. As they investigate the case, they again pay a personal price for their involvement. Is their client trying to get away with his crime or is his ex-girlfriend continually coming up with new ways to damage him and his reputation?

Follow them as they navigate the twists and turns in this exciting new installment in the series, Frankly My Dear.

Here is the trailer:

Announcing the Release of Frankly, My Dear

Things are coming along well with the new book, Frankly, My Dear. I’ve received  positive comments from the beta readers and the advance readers in a couple of weeks. It’s up for pre-order on Amazon and will be released on April 29th.

If you’d like to pick up an advance copy, you can do so by clicking on the book cover below:

Here is a synopsis:

Frank Rozzani, a transplant to Jacksonville, Florida from Syracuse, New York, has left his tragic past as a police officer behind for life as a private detective. Frank and his partner Clifford “Jonesy” Jones work with the local police to solve crimes that are virtually unsolvable.

In Frankly My Dear, the fourth in the Frank Rozzani Detective Series of novels, Frank and Jonesy are at it again and this time the case is one of the most bizarre that they have faced. Their latest client, arrested for domestic abuse, swears that he is the victim of one of the most vengeful women on the face of the earth.

Frank and Jonesy must determine if their client is telling the truth. As they investigate the case, they again pay a personal price for their involvement. Is their client trying to get away with his crime or is his ex-girlfriend continually coming up with new ways to damage him and his reputation?

Follow them as they navigate the twists and turns in this exciting new installment in the series, Frankly My Dear.

Here is the trailer:

An Excerpt from Blood Orange

I’m proud of the performance of this book so far. It’s been live on Amazon for about five months now and has an average review of 4.8 stars after nearly 30 reviews.

For those of you who have not read it, I’m devoting most of this post to sharing  the initial chapter of my book, Blood Orange. This chapter describes the action at one of America’s premier sporting events and the confusion over what happens as it comes to its conclusion. Please enjoy this excerpt from Blood Orange, which is now available on Amazon in both paperback and e-book formats. You can get your own copy by clicking here.

Chapter 1

It was the perfect storm. College basketball heaven. The men’s championship game had finally come to Syracuse, NY. For decades, the college basketball Mecca had tried every strategy to lure the big game to arguably the most famous arena in the sport, the Carrier Dome. The governing body of college sports, despite its often tenuous relationship with Syracuse University, could not refute the long and storied love affair that the school and the surrounding community had consistently demonstrated for college basketball. Finally, with a concerted effort from the Mayor, the university, and local businesses, the three games of the national Division I men’s basketball championship were being played in Syracuse to a sellout crowd from all over the nation. The basketball court had been reconfigured in the center of the Dome so that nearly 65,000 screaming fans could have seats to watch the game with countless others watching via live television.

Just hosting the game would have been enough, but to make this event even more meaningful, the two teams that met on this unseasonably cold and misty April night in Syracuse were the hometown Orange and the Blue Devils of Duke University. In the years since Syracuse joined Duke’s athletic conference, an instant rivalry had emerged between the two schools. They were headed by the number one and number two active coaches with the most wins under their collective belts. The two coaches were also close friends and had together coached the USA Basketball Team to multiple Olympic gold medals.

It had been a whirlwind season. Duke had beaten Syracuse at home in the teams’ first meeting by one point in overtime. Syracuse then took Duke to three overtime periods in the Dome for a two point victory. In the conference tournament, the two teams met again in the championship which also went to Duke by three points. Amazingly, the only losses the teams had suffered during the season were to each other.

Both teams had then sliced their way through the tournament field like a hot knife through butter. There were no upsets by Cinderella teams. Both coaches and their squads seemed intent on meeting in the big dance which would be played on Syracuse’s home turf. The other teams in the tournament semi-finals were immaterial as both were beaten by over twenty points. It seemed to be destiny. This was not lost on the coaches. They held an unprecedented joint press conference the day before the game to announce that both of them would be retiring following the game. An uncharacteristically emotional Syracuse coach said that he could not imagine a better way to end his career than by playing the ultimate game against his best friend in his home town. While he did not say it the media would add to his comment, “on the court bearing my name.”

The city of Syracuse was electric in anticipation of hosting the big game, but now there was an unprecedented frenzy. Offices were empty on this Monday preceding the game. Businesses were bracing for the onslaught of overflow fans that could not afford tickets to see the game in person. The area around the Carrier Dome was crowded with people looking to be close to the action.

Now that the game had started, it was shaping up to be another classic Duke/Syracuse back and forth battle. The Duke team fought through the famous Syracuse zone defense with lightning quick passes and a hot three point shooter. The score was tied at halftime. The crowd was going crazy.

As the second half progressed, it was proving to be another close game that would go down to the wire. Thousands of fans in Syracuse and millions around the country were glued to their television sets waiting to see how this game would end. With two minutes to go, the score was going back and forth with a one point advantage to each team with a two point basket. Then, with ten seconds to go, the Syracuse point guard was fouled on a missed layup. He missed the first free throw and then sank the second tying the game. Duke had the ball. The Blue Devils took their time working the ball up the court. The clock counted down as the team worked for the final shot. Five, four, three, two, one…

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Armory Square, the destination of many basketball fans that couldn’t be at the big game in person, was overflowing. In an unprecedented move, sections of Franklin, Fayette and Walton Streets had been shut down to vehicle traffic so that revelers could enjoy the game. Many of the local establishments had put large screen televisions outside so that overflow crowds could watch the game as they drank specialty orange drinks from large souvenir cups. It was like Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl all rolled into one. The sense of pride in the city as it hosted the big game was higher than it had been in recent memory, maybe ever.

The collective noise of the crowd was audible for blocks and increased in intensity with each basket, turnover, and foul. The game was more than living up to the hype. The frequent lead changes and outstanding performances by players on both teams made it both a thrilling and maddening situation for Syracuse fans. As the game progressed, the fever pitch of the crowd rose. Finally, as it looked like the game was coming down to the last shot with the score tied, the fans huddled together and became quiet. They clung to each other as Duke brought the ball up the court and prepared to take the last shot against the formidable Syracuse zone defense. Just as the Duke point-guard launched a three point shot toward the basket, a bright flash of light was visible two miles away in the direction of the University. It was visible for many miles around and the low rumble that occurred afterward was felt and heard throughout the city. The quiet of the crowd was replaced by collective screams and wails of disbelief.

What had happened on the hill?

The crowd that had been mesmerized by the game was now completely silent staring at the flash of light followed by a small mushroom cloud visible in the distance. Lights went out on the hill, including the famed Crouse Irving clock tower. Lights began to come back on as emergency generators kicked in revealing a cloud of smoke and debris hanging over the area.  Fans in Armory Square clung to each other in horror as the audible sound of sirens began to head in the direction of the Dome. Many covered their faces in horror as the sound of cheering turned to silence and then to muted sobs.

What had happened on the hill?

Short Stories for Your Enjoyment

My first venture into published writing was to write short stories and publish them as Kindle Singles for $.99. After I completed four stories, I thought it would be fun to put them into a collection, Random Tales. Three of these four stories were submitted and accepted by magazines. They are available separately on Amazon.com for $.99 each, but, you can pick up the entire collection for $.99 as well.

Crazy you say? Well maybe. I wanted to give potential readers a way to sample my writing without a huge investment. The cover for the collection is clickable and is shown below:

Here is a description of each of the stories:

• Heal Thyself – A man who is in a terrible accident wakes up to find that his life has changed forever in a very unexpected way.

The short story, Heal Thyself, holds a special place in my heart. It was the result of my first serious attempt at writing. It was the first short story that I completed and had published. I remember when I heard back from ‘Down In The Dirt’ magazine that they wanted to publish my story. I received no money and actually had to buy a copy of it myself, but hey, I was in print.

The story emerged from reading news headlines. I saw a story about a man riding a motorcycle that had been in a horrific crash and his injuries had paralyzed him from the neck down with multiple internal injuries.

Instead of this inevitable outcome, I started thinking about what alternative endings there might be. I have always been an avid reader of everything written by Stephen King and I began thinking of his book, The Dead Zone which centers on a man that wakes from a coma with psychic abilities that end up torturing him. Thinking of that story gave me a direction for Heal Thyself and I was off and running.

• August 1963 – A story that was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I have a dream’ speech about a young boy transplanted to the South in the early 1960’s.

This story was written to mark the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. There are a few things to note about this story. First, the main character tells the story in first person, which was something I wanted to try. Second, the character is a transplanted northerner moving to the south at a time when the Civil Rights movement in the US was at a fevered pitch. Although I was less than a year old when this story takes place, I experienced some of the same issues that the main character faced during my own move to the south over 30 years later. Finally, if you’ve read “Frankly Speaking” or “Let Me Be Frank”, you might notice some familiar names and references. This is something that I’ve started to do in my work. I want to have a common underlying thread or universe of characters throughout my work.

This story very much echoes my own feelings on prejudice and racial inequality. One theme that rings through is, no matter how enlightened we think we might be on either side of the race issue, we don’t truly understand what is going on in the hearts and minds of others involved in the struggle. I was able to weave in music as a common thread that binds the characters together. You will see the use of music in many of my stories. Besides writing, it is another passion in my life.

One change that I made in this version of the story from the original that was published as a single, is using the actual n-word instead of masking it. I received some reviews and messages saying that this would make the piece more authentic. I struggled with this as the word has become so controversial and I have always viewed it as offensive. I was convinced when I recently re-read my favorite book, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. When Scout uses the word in the book as a young child, her father tells her not to use the word because it is “common” meaning “low class” in the context of the time and place. I am using it in my story even though, like Atticus Finch, I consider it “common”.

• Play It Again Des – A young piano player realizes his dream of being one of the greats, but at what cost?

This story is about the consequences of taking shortcuts. In my career, I have reached heights higher than I thought I would, but it has been a slow and steady climb. I have refused to play politics or to “sell my soul” to get ahead. I don’t golf. I don’t go to cocktail parties. I would rather color with my seven-year-old than hang out with a bunch of “Masters of the Universe” at a country club on a Saturday morning.

The main character of this story, Desmond Brown, takes a shortcut and suffers the consequences. His shortcut is the result of youthful impatience and coercion by an evil entity. In my corporate career, I have seen both of these at work and have somehow failed to succumb to either. My career ascension may have been slow, but I am able to sleep at night.

Note: If you’ve read my novels, you will see other common threads in this work from the “Frank” universe. Pay attention to the location in New Orleans in particular.

• Lucy’s Christmas Miracle – A dog saves the day and makes Christmas memorable.

I wrote this story completely on a flight from Atlanta to Boston. It was about a two hour flight in rough weather. It was inspired by the dog, Lucy, in my Frank Rozzani Detective Series books. It’s a light-hearted story about a child that goes missing and the events leading to locating her.

It was meant to be a quick tale to get readers interested in my books and as a special Christmas bonus to those who have read the books to whet their appetites for the third book.

I had written the dedication to my youngest daughter who is sometimes wise beyond her years. A freaky thing occurred when I asked my usual provider to create a cover for the story. It came back with a picture of a little girl being guided by a dog. I had to take a second look at the picture as the little girl has a strong resemblance to my daughter mentioned in the dedication. The designer has never met or even seen my daughter, so the coincidence was interesting.

The book is only $.99 in the Amazon Kindle format. I think these stories are worth reading and I want to get them exposure. Also, for those of you that have not read my work, this is a great way to introduce you to my writing.

If you want to pick up a copy you can download it here.

Just For My Blog Followers

Things are coming along well with the new book, Frankly, My Dear. I’ve received  positive comments from the beta readers now and it has started going out to advance readers in anticipation of the April 29th release.

Here is a special offer for my followers:

I’d like to have more advance readers. My goal is to release on the 29th with 50 reviews on Amazon. I know that, in order to do this, I need to put more advance copies out. If you’d like to be an advance reader, please send me an email at don@donmassenzio.com and I’ll send you a PDF copy. Once I reach an acceptable number, I’m going to cut off this offer, so if you want one, please email me soon.

As an advance reader, I am sending a copy of the book at no charge. In return, I only ask three things:

• Do not distribute the book to anyone else
• When the book goes live on April 29th, please leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Reviews can be a single sentence or even a few words. It’s the volume and the rating that helps authors get visibility on Amazon.
• If you like the book, spread the word. Tell your friends, family, book club, etc.

Remember: The book doesn’t release until April 29^th, so you won’t be able to leave a review until then. I will send you reminders the week and the day before to remind you to post a review. It is so important to hit the release date with as many reviews as possible.

Thanks again for your help. Feel free to email your comments on the book to me as well. I always love to hear what readers think as I release a new book.

Of course, you can pre-order a copy by clicking on the cover below:

Here is a synopsis:

Frank Rozzani, a transplant to Jacksonville, Florida from Syracuse, New York, has left his tragic past as a police officer behind for life as a private detective. Frank and his partner Clifford “Jonesy” Jones work with the local police to solve crimes that are virtually unsolvable.

In Frankly My Dear, the fourth in the Frank Rozzani Detective Series of novels, Frank and Jonesy are at it again and this time the case is one of the most bizarre that they have faced. Their latest client, arrested for domestic abuse, swears that he is the victim of one of the most vengeful women on the face of the earth.

Frank and Jonesy must determine if their client is telling the truth. As they investigate the case, they again pay a personal price for their involvement. Is their client trying to get away with his crime or is his ex-girlfriend continually coming up with new ways to damage him and his reputation?

Follow them as they navigate the twists and turns in this exciting new installment in the series, Frankly My Dear.

Here is the trailer: