Today’s
special guest is mystery author Lanny Larcinese. He’s chatting with me
about his new crime novel, Death
in the Family.
During
his virtual book tour, Lanny will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble
(winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for
a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of
winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!
his virtual book tour, Lanny will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble
(winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for
a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of
winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!
Bio:
Lanny Larcinese’s short work has appeared in magazines and has won a handful of
local prizes. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He’s a native mid-westerner
transplanted to the City of Brotherly Love where he has been writing fiction
for seven years. When not writing, he lets his daughter, Amanda, charm him out
of his socks, and works at impressing Jackie, his long-time companion who keeps
him honest and laughing—in addition to being his first-line writing critic. He
also spends more time than he should on Facebook but feels suitably guilty for
it.
Welcome,
Lanny. Please share a little bit about your current release.
Death in the Family is the story of Donny Lentini, a talented young man caught between
unrequited love from his mother and a father who is a low-level mob wannabe.
When the father is found murdered with his hands cut off, the mother urges
vengeance. An obvious mob hit, Donny doesn’t know exactly who or why, nor does
he know why they are suddenly interested in Rosie’s Diner, owned by his
girlfriend Pepper’s family and run by her. The two mysteries converge as Donny
becomes more and more adept at dealing with his adversaries with the help of
two close buddies. Donny’s fate at the conclusion of the story may come as a surprise
to many.
Lanny. Please share a little bit about your current release.
Death in the Family is the story of Donny Lentini, a talented young man caught between
unrequited love from his mother and a father who is a low-level mob wannabe.
When the father is found murdered with his hands cut off, the mother urges
vengeance. An obvious mob hit, Donny doesn’t know exactly who or why, nor does
he know why they are suddenly interested in Rosie’s Diner, owned by his
girlfriend Pepper’s family and run by her. The two mysteries converge as Donny
becomes more and more adept at dealing with his adversaries with the help of
two close buddies. Donny’s fate at the conclusion of the story may come as a surprise
to many.
What inspired you to write this book?
Interesting question. It began as a simple but vivid image that without
any discernible provocation, popped into my head: two high school boys, one a
bully, meet behind the gym for a confrontation. It was so vivid I had to write
it out and describe it. Then I asked myself, why are they there? So I wrote
that out. Then, what is their backstory? I wrote that out. So like a Big Bang,
the entire story unfolded over months and successive drafts and three years and
many versions later, will see the light of day. Of course, I did much other
writing as Death in the Family lay dormant.
any discernible provocation, popped into my head: two high school boys, one a
bully, meet behind the gym for a confrontation. It was so vivid I had to write
it out and describe it. Then I asked myself, why are they there? So I wrote
that out. Then, what is their backstory? I wrote that out. So like a Big Bang,
the entire story unfolded over months and successive drafts and three years and
many versions later, will see the light of day. Of course, I did much other
writing as Death in the Family lay dormant.
Excerpt from Death in the Family:
Meanwhile, I kept my job at the Association. Dad was networked
into its clients and I could keep watch over him. But it also meant I had to
put up with German’s side-eye and petty bullshit. He couldn’t push me around
like Dad, I was too valuable. I’d mention Joojy’s name, hint how Dad was under
Joojy’s umbrella and watch the green bile of German’s envy flare into blue
flame. Fuck him.
into its clients and I could keep watch over him. But it also meant I had to
put up with German’s side-eye and petty bullshit. He couldn’t push me around
like Dad, I was too valuable. I’d mention Joojy’s name, hint how Dad was under
Joojy’s umbrella and watch the green bile of German’s envy flare into blue
flame. Fuck him.
“But so what,” I said to Dad, “why would you take such risks
to impress bad guys? I don’t see the payoff. What would happen to Mother and me
if something happened to you? Do you ever think of that?”
to impress bad guys? I don’t see the payoff. What would happen to Mother and me
if something happened to you? Do you ever think of that?”
“You’d both be well taken care of.”
“You talking money? I’m not talking about money. I’m talking
about a knife in the heart, especially Mother’s. Where is your damned head? You
can be such a fool sometimes.”
about a knife in the heart, especially Mother’s. Where is your damned head? You
can be such a fool sometimes.”
I regretted it as soon as it came out. He said nothing but looked
away, unable to see that being on the wrong track meant every station he went
by was the wrong station. I didn’t know how to help him understand his aching
need was little more than a screwed-up premise. Joojy owned him now. Dad had
fully slid into the life. He had made life easy for me—a grassy neighborhood of
playing fields and schools with talented friends who played tennis and
squash—unlike his life of craps, three-card Monte and burning numbers slips. My
life was so much better because he ate shit along the way, but his naïve impetuousness
made him reliable as a tendril of mist and
away, unable to see that being on the wrong track meant every station he went
by was the wrong station. I didn’t know how to help him understand his aching
need was little more than a screwed-up premise. Joojy owned him now. Dad had
fully slid into the life. He had made life easy for me—a grassy neighborhood of
playing fields and schools with talented friends who played tennis and
squash—unlike his life of craps, three-card Monte and burning numbers slips. My
life was so much better because he ate shit along the way, but his naïve impetuousness
made him reliable as a tendril of mist and
vulnerable as a puppy in traffic.
“Just look over your shoulder, okay?” I said. “Those guys could
shoot a pregnant woman and eat a tuna melt on her belly. You know that, right?”
shoot a pregnant woman and eat a tuna melt on her belly. You know that, right?”
“You been watching too many movies, Donny. They only want
to make money. If you play it straight nobody gets hurt. That’s in the
Statutes.”
to make money. If you play it straight nobody gets hurt. That’s in the
Statutes.”
Right. The South Philly Statutes. Some laws.
What exciting story are you working on next?
My work in progress is called “Fire in the Belly,” a novel inspired by
an actual event in 1985 in Philadelphia during which the police dropped a
satchel charge on the row house fortress of the weird, militant cult MOVE.
Sixteen people burned to death and sixty-two row houses allowed to burn to the
ground.
When
did you first consider yourself a writer?
While struggling through my first
novel, caused by my delusion that a facility with language and occasional
eloquence naturally resulted in story-telling skills, I wrote short stories. I
submitted them in contests. When my short work resulted in first prizes at
three successive Philadelphia Writers Conferences, and other work was published
online, I thought, “I can do this.” Much education about craft followed before
I became comfortable with novel writing. (Not sure “comfortable” is quite the
right word; let’s just say, “not intimidated by…”)
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do
you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Writing comprises the dominant part of
my time, psychic energy, activity, and conversation. I am a man whose life has
been one of serial obsessions and writing is certainly one, but also by far the
most gratifying and fulfilling over many others that have been rewarding in
their own way. I awaken some mornings with a thank-you prayer, as it’s a
gift—not necessarily skill which may be arguable—but the endeavor.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I can’t shut up about it, and have to be on guard not to be a boor and
leave space for others to talk about their interests and projects.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
leave space for others to talk about their interests and projects.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A businessman, which I became, in many expressions. I also wanted to be
like my dad, a strong man, a reliable and competent one, a protective and
generous one.
like my dad, a strong man, a reliable and competent one, a protective and
generous one.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
We need readers, the ultimate arbiters of our work. Love to us is when
a reader gets what we’re trying to do and likes the way we do it. “All stories
have been told, different only by the manner in which they are told.”
a reader gets what we’re trying to do and likes the way we do it. “All stories
have been told, different only by the manner in which they are told.”
Links:
Thanks for hosting!
Hello! Thanks so much for sharing your book with us. Always fun reading about another book to enjoy.
Lisa, add my thanks to Goddess Fish Promotions. BTW, your site is very well constructed and easily navigable. It's a pleasure to be on it.
James, thank you for your comment. I hope you enjoy the book. It's a complex story — not difficult to read — but layered as to external and internal events and agendas.
Great post, sounds like my kind of book!
Sounds like a good read.
Victoria and Rita, you'll forgive me for not posting directly under yours. I am a cyber-dummy akin to a medieval nun. But thank you for your comments. I hope you read and enjoy the book. I certainly enjoyed writing it.