Interview with Author Giacoma Giammatteo

Today we're talking with Giacomo Giammatteo, author of Murder Takes Time: Friendship and Honor Series, Book 1

FQ: First of all, I love the title of this book. How did you happen to settle on this particular title?

The series name (Friendship & Honor) came from the theme of the books, but the title of this book, Murder Takes Time, I came up with after considering the plot and how things developed. As soon as I thought of it, I knew it was right.

FQ: It must have been quite a culture shock to move from a busy neighborhood in Delaware to the great state of Texas. Part of my family moved from a tiny town in Connecticut to a Dallas, TX suburb and loved it from the start. I assume with all the animals that you are in the country. How does your present life differ from the past?

Differs completely. Even though Wilmington, DE has a small population, it always seemed more like a big city. A "little big city" I like to call it. When I was growing up, it had the feel of a big city, complete with the ethnic neighborhoods and all that went along with that—good and bad.

By contrast, where we live now is secluded. We're close to malls and everything else but we're surrounded by woods.

On one hand, I love the seclusion, especially for the sake of the animals, but I miss the city, too. I loved the city.

FQ: I’m anxious to read the next installment in the Friendship and Honor Series. When do they come out?

The second book in Friendship & Honor will be out at the end of the year, but the first book in another series, Blood Flows South, will be out in September. The third book in Friendship & Honor will be released late spring of next year, with others following every six-eight months.

FQ: I live with a writer, my daughter, and know that sometimes she does her best writing at night. But, I see that you have a busy day job also. When do you sleep?

It's been getting more and more difficult. Between the day job, and helping my wife take care of the animals, I'm forced to do my writing late. I guess I'm lucky that I don't need much sleep.

FQ: Did you have a lot of problems trying to get your first book published? Being a former librarian, I have heard many stories of the publishing world and I admire anyone who can stay with it long enough to actually get some recognition.

I had more than trouble. I tried the traditional route for almost two years. Murder Takes Time was rejected more than 100 times. I think 103 was the actual count. Finally, I said, enough of this, and did it myself.

FQ: I really enjoyed your book as you didn’t use any of the usual Godfather quotes such as: I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse and Everytime I try to get out they pull me back in. Your story seems so true to life and tells the family stories behind these characters. How did you manage to tell a mob-related story and not get into all the expressions that are always used in mob books and movies?

I know this is going to sound crazy, but I never viewed this as a mob book. This is a book about three kids and how their lives changed. It just happens to have mob elements. As far as the dialogue, I tried to stay as true to life as I could. The stuff you see in movies is great, but it's for movies.

FQ: I always, in author interviews, ask if the author has any animals. Well, I can see that you do and admire you and your wife very much for taking these animals in. Even the Wild Boar. Is he really your buddy? He looks very formidable in his photograph. We have a very large, black Belgian Shepherd that looks very scary but, is really a big baby.

Ah, the animals! Besides my family, the animals are my real passion. And yes, that crazy wild boar is my best buddy. It's a long story about him, but I rescued him from dogs when he was about a week old. The vet suggested we put him to sleep as he wouldn't make it. He's now a little over two years old and about 350 lbs. I go for walks with him every day and he's very playful. The trouble now is he's getting too big to be playful. When he runs and hits against me, he knocks me on my butt.

FQ: Thanks very much for taking the time to answer these questions and I’m looking forward eagerly to the next installment.

To learn more about Murder Takes Time: Friendship and Honor Series, Book 1 please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

Book Review - Murder Takes Time

Murder Takes Time: Friendship and Honor Series, Book 1

By: Giacomo Giammatteo
Published by: Inferno Publishing Company
Publishing Date: April 2012
ISBN: 978-0-9850302-0-9
Reviewed by: Mary Lignor
Review Date: August 12, 2012

On the cover of this fascinating book there is a little blurb stating, “They swore to be friends forever, but life had a different idea.” If you are interested in Godfatherly books you won’t be disappointed in Murder Takes Time, a debut novel that is well written with very believable characters and a book that doesn’t lag in the narrative. It’s very clear and concise and the reader never gets confused - you always know who is who and what they are up to.

The story begins in New York with a horrific murder that makes Detective Frank Donovan sit up and take notice. He seems to remember other crimes and also childhood pranks from his old neighborhood that are much like the crime that was just committed in his precinct.

Some years ago Frank and his buddies Nicky and Tony took a vow of Friendship and Honor. These kids all grew up in Wilmington, Delaware in a neighborhood that contained mostly Italian and Irish people and it was said that the former grew up to be mobsters and priests and the latter, cops and priests. It seemed to work out for these three boys as one grew up to be a cop and his childhood cohorts were on the other side of the law. Frank chose the law as he came from a home that he couldn’t stand and made some bad decisions in his life he wanted to rectify. Nicky’s mother had died in childbirth and he grew up with a very caring father while Tony’s mother Rosa took very good care of him and helped bring him up. As they grew up one of them had a secret that he kept from the others, a secret that would have destroyed a friendship. Another had to go to jail for a time and lost the love of his life. When they became adults they all ended up in New York City and got together on occasion. Frank had to be careful as he was a cop and the others were criminals. This could have gotten him into trouble if the wrong people observed him with his friends.

To get back to the original murder, Frank is assigned to investigate and it appears to him that evidence is being left behind at the scene. This evidence reminds Frank of something that happened during his childhood and it makes him suspect one of his old friends is involved in the murder. As Frank remembers the vow of Friendship and Honor he made as a child, he doesn’t want to tell anyone until he knows for sure who is responsible. It quickly becomes harder and harder to keep his vow.

There are more murders and the author takes the story back in time to see what happened in each man’s life that help to explain the directions that they go in as they become adults. Things that took place over 30 years ago up to the present time that had to do with who these boys would become. The author keeps the readers informed about all the characters and does a tremendous job of it. Switching between past and present is sometimes hard to take but not with this author. Readers will not become lost as the author explains everything in detail and you can keep up with the story without going back or forward to find out where you are.

Quill Says: This is a truly honest portrayal of the code of honor talked about in the boys' past and one of the best mob-related mysteries that I have ever read. As this is the first book in the Friendship and Honor Series, readers will be waiting impatiently for the next.

For more information on Murder Takes Time: Friendship and Honor Series, Book 1, please visit the author's website at: www.giacomogiammatteo.com

Book Review - The Story of the Costume Drama

The Story of the Costume Drama

DVD 2-Disc Set (5 episodes)
Distributor: Acorn Media Group
ASIN: B007TSV4HE
Release Date: July 2012
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: August 11, 2012

Real television. Not reality television - real television! This DVD brings back all the memories of the most iconic television shows, movies and miniseries that we all wish would be on all stations at all times of the day in order to step away from an age that seems to be filled with nothing but Real Housewives and silly competitions.
This DVD set is all about the Brits - the ‘best of the best’ when it came to the BBC - and offers clips, interviews, backstories, behind-the-scene looks and a history of images that are still embedded in our minds. Remember Jeremy Irons in Brideshead Revisited? Not only was this one of the most romantic and best-written tales, as well as the first that actually opened the door to ‘gay’ characters, it was also a story that offered pure sophistication, stunning locales and fashion that the world absolutely fell in love with.

From The Adventures of Robin Hood (the first show that was ultimately aimed at young boys who wanted to be heroes); to the only ‘soap opera’ that was beyond impressive, Upstairs, Downstairs, which offered a look at the separate worlds of the wealthy and their servants - these costume dramas were unforgettable.

The DVD takes a look back at when the costume drama changed; when it suddenly turned into something that the world swooned over. Yes, that was Pride and Prejudice, when Colin Firth (Mr. Darcy) stepped out of a lake and became the sexiest man in television history. Viewers also receive ‘nuggets’ of information such as the fact that vicars changed the time of church in order for people to run home and watch The Forsyte Saga on television - one costume drama that spawned a national debate.

These shows offered lessons in deportment and etiquette, while at the same time breaking through boundaries where television was concerned. There’s also a focus on actors who entered into the world of costume drams to show they were far more than their popular roles. Example: Gillian Anderson gave a stunning performance in Bleak House in order to come out of the shadows of ‘Scully’ and the highly popular X-Files. My Boy Jack was another, which was a stunning costume drama where Daniel Radcliffe showed the world that he was an award-worthy actor as he dropped the boy wizard persona to give a powerful performance.

This fantastic DVD also includes interviews with the people who made these dramas truly shine, as well as the directors who worked hard in order to make them unforgettable. From Helen Mirren who could never be outdone when it came to English royalty to Keira Knightley in Doctor Zhivago to an exploration of I, Claudius as well as Moll Flanders, which was the first to truly focus on a passionate female who lived life by her own rules.

Beyond fascinating, this DVD allows you to sit back and see the romance, beauty, stunning locales, and unbelievable costumes that all came together to make BBC the absolute ‘masters’ of the miniseries’ and shows we will always love!

Quill Says: Truly captivating, this DVD collection is not only a must-see, it’s a must-buy!

Book Review - Deception

Deception

By: Kris Kennedy
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publishing Date: July 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4391-9591-8
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: August 11, 2012

Bringing readers back to 13th century England, this tale focuses on Kieran, a man who has enjoyed many successes in the ‘confidence game’ (AKA: He’s a brilliant con artist). Unfortunately, he has also experienced one failure in the past that he has yet to fix in order to redeem himself.

Kieran has worked as a “Piper” which, loosely defined, is a man who plays a game by tempting extremely immoral wealthy men into deals with other extremely immoral wealthy men. This, for a time, was a very profitable way to live for a person like Kieran who has no conscience whatsoever. However, folks begin to turn the tables against Kieran which brings him to the edge of anger, and soon he’s planning to make them pay for their betrayal in order to be the one who gets the last laugh.
Everything for Kieran’s revenge is put into motion when a young lady from his past, Sophia Darnly, suddenly reappears and throws a monkey wrench into the whole plan.

Sophia is the daughter of Judge Darnly, who was hanged as a traitor. She’s on the hunt for her father’s ledger that contains deals made by the most evil and richest men in England which she needs in order to get her revenge on the people who have ruined her life.

As the plot thickens, Sophia and Kieran find themselves walking down the same path. Once lovers, Kieran left her and Sophia had been forced to disappear after her father’s tragic demise. After many ‘overheated discussions’ they decide to team up and go after the wealthy who deserve to pay for their mistakes and the real fun begins.

This book is not your usual romantic adventure that can be categorized among the ‘bodice rippers.’ Instead, Deception is a truly exciting and fascinating adventure with a plot line that will keep lovers of action/adventure on the edge of their seats.

Quill Says: A good novel that gives readers a thrill ride for the afternoon!

Book Review - Raja: Story of a Racehorse

Raja: Story of a Racehorse

By: Anne Hambleton
Publisher: Old Bow Publishing
Publication Date: December 2011
ISBN: 978-0615540290
Reviewed by: Holly Connors
Reviewd Date: August 6, 2012

Raja was a beautiful young colt and his owners had high expectations for him. A Thoroughbred of noble bloodlines, the hopes were that he would one day compete, and maybe even win, the Kentucky Derby. But when Raja was still a foal, a thunderstorm came roaring through his pasture and a bolt of lightning struck, and killed, his mother. That one event, and Raja's resultant fear of lightning, would shape his life for years to come.

Raja soon grows into a strong and fast horse. He, and a few of his pasture-mates, are sent off for training and it looks like Raja will truly become a famous racehorse. He wins race after race and is headed for the Kentucky Derby, but then a freak starting gate accident, caused by Raja's reaction to a bolt of lightning, ends his racing career.

His racing career behind him, Raja is sold and winds up in the capable hands of Michelle, a show trainer with a knack for understanding horses. She loves Raja's beauty and large size, as well as his powerful hind end. Michelle believes that Raja would make an awesome jumping horse and her assumption is soon proven true. Raja blossoms under Michelle's care, but their relationship is cut short, and the horse finds himself being sold again.

From Michelle's farm, Raja is bounced around between various owners, occupations, and locations. His fear of lightning comes into play several times, so that just when things seem to be going well, a fierce storm comes rolling through and the beautiful horse's natural instincts take over, each time with unpleasant results. Will Raja ever find a "forever home?"

Like most young adult horse books, the human characters talk to each other throughout the story. However, Raja adds another dimension because the narrator is actually the horse. We see events from the horse's point of view, with various equine characters talking to each other. Rather than simply see the fear or confusion in Raja's eyes, the reader is given an insider's look into what the horse may actually be thinking. We read what Raja is thinking as a storm approaches, and how he feels as he is sent through an auction. Horse action is authentic and it's obvious that the author has an extensive background with horses. Races, jumping scenes, and the horrors of horse auctions, are all realistically portrayed. Anyone, young adult or adult, who loves a good animal story, should check out Raja.

Quill says: Horse fans will be rooting for Raja, hoping that the talented horse is finally given the chance he deserves to rise to the top.

Book Review - Peril in Paperback

Peril in Paperback: A Bibliophile Mystery

By: Kate Carlisle
Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: August 2012
ISBN: 978-0451237620
Reviewd by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: August 2012

Brooklyn Wainwright was missing Derek Stone, her boyfriend, because he was on a special overseas assignment, but the week promised to be a good one. Grace Wheaton, big time gaming entrepreneur and “self-made billionaire,” was opening up her manse for a week of fun and games. Well, not all of the guests there would be habitués of the gaming world and there would be a few bookish types in residence, something Brooklyn would relish. The house was lavish in a preposterously bizarre way with pinball machines, secret corridors, and even a giant human mousetrap just waiting to capture the unsuspecting. Brooklyn brought her book repair supplies for the occasional boring moments, but, unbeknownst to her, they would be few and far between.

“Your aunt is crazier than a bagful of monkeys,” Vinnie spouted off to her partner, Suzie. Perhaps, but being a bit on the macadamia side was a whole lot better than some of the nasties that were placing their tootsies over the threshold. Sybil, Madge, and Grace’s despicably disgruntled lawyer, Stephen Fowler, made Brooklyn’s nemesis Minka LaBoeuf look good. That “haughty cow” was starting to look positively saintly in comparison. Rare books were turning up in the most unusual places, but when Grace started turning over tarot cards, the atmosphere became more subdued. “You gave me the Death card, you twit!” Was this simply a game or was it indicative of something more serious?

Mysterious villains galore could be found in the pages of Grace’s pulp fiction collection, but there were more of them in her mansion. Her gonna-tell-it-all fictionalized exposé was going to rattle more cages than that mousetrap. The Red Room séance gathered friend and foe together around a table. “The spirits are restless! They know we seek answers!” Brooklyn only wanted to know who that woman was who answered Derek’s phone and couldn’t care less about Grace’s spirits. Footsteps, a gasp, and a pretty darn good imitation of a choking sound filled the room. It wasn’t the spirit of Uncle Cuthbert, but rather Bella and when the lights came up her eyes had more glaze to them than honey dipped donuts. Brooklyn seemed to attract more bodies than books and this time there was a real live murderer in the room, but who was it?

This fun, sometimes hysterical cozy mystery, has more panache than Miss Congeniality. What surprised me the most was that the dignified and classy aura of the book never wavered. Scenes that could conceivably come straight out of the Soaps were somehow delightfully realistic. I half expected Dr. Marlena Evans to exit left after the séance, but instead, Brooklyn’s friend, Gabriel, unexpectedly showed up to help solve this whodunit. The cast of characters ranged from classy to quirky and the unexpected twist and turns kept me wondering what would happen next. If you like your cozy mysteries threaded together with a dollop of slapstick, Brooklyn Wainwright is at your beck and call!

Quill says: This amazingly fun and intricate mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat with its roller coaster-like twists 'n turns!

Books In For Review

Here's a sample of the books that have come in for review recently.  Check them out and then stop by soon to read the reviews.  Enjoy!



Fall From Grace: The Scribing of Ishitar (Volume 1) by Carrie F. Shepherd Ishitar, born of both the Heavens and Hells, is tasked with bridging the ever growing rift between them. To do so, he must first become a master at the game of kings' castles. Fall From Grace delivers the most important rule of the game: The face across the kings' board may not be the only player. . . Malicious intent is the best friend of your enemy. Excerpt from the book: He sat beside her open grave, staring at the palms of his hands. They were dirty from his task and crusted with blood from the rocks within the earth which had scraped them. Though he knew it was past time for him return to face his punishment, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her on this uninhabited world. "As alone dead as you had ever been during your life." After he dug into the clay and stone of the ground, he gently wrapped her in his clothes, laid her body into the soil and covered her with the earth. He then allowed himself to weep before casting himself out to find a grave marker. After her epitaph was chiseled into the stone by his sword, he sought a weed which bore a small white flower upon it that would grow over her to tell all creatures of any world where she lay. Naked but for his small clothes, he rolled his eyes closed and then opened them so he could look up to the sky. Another night at his Lady's side, he decided. And who, honestly, would miss him?

Fear Itself by Andrew Rosenheim Set in the tense and uncertain years before the Second World War, when America was still largely conflicted about entering the war on either side, Andrew Rosenheim’s thriller Fear Itself offers a rich depiction of history as it was—and as it might have been. Jimmy Nessheim, a young Special Agent in the fledgling FBI, is assigned to infiltrate a new German–American organization known as the Bund. Ardently pro-Nazi, the Bund is conspiring to sabotage American efforts against Adolf Hitler. But as Nessheim’s investigation takes him into the very heart of the Bund, it becomes increasingly clear that something far more sinister is at work, something that seems to lead directly to the White House. Drawn into the center of Washington’s high society, Nessheim finds himself caught up in a web of political intrigue and secret lives. But as he moves closer to the truth, an even more lethal plot emerges, one that could rewrite history.

French Bulldogs (Breed Profiles Series) by Susanne Saller-Schneider The first title in Barron's brand-new, beautifully produced Breed Profiles series gives a detailed account of a breed that has recently soared in popularity among dog lovers. The small, flat-nosed French Bulldog is both affectionate and lovable, with its bright saucer eyes and huge ears. This large-format book tells prospective owners everything they need to know, with chapters that describe: The Bulldog Throughout History: Origins as a mixed breed, and the breed as it's recognized today My Bulldog: Purchase and selection, breeding and breeders, getting a good start with your French Bulldog Leisure Time with the Bulldog: Education as a necessity for both you and your dog, play activities, your dog and exhibitions The Healthy Bulldog: Diet, care, disease prevention Diseases, Dangers, and Problems: Bulldog diseases and potential Bulldog problems The book is filled with large color photos showing French Bulldogs in progressive stages of growth and development, as well as at play, with kids, and simply enjoying life. A large double-page photo shows an ideal example of the breed and includes labels pointing out AKA standards.

When Love Goes Bad: TruLove Collection Anyone who's ever loved and lost will relate to the tales of timeless relationship-busters like controlling creeps, two-timing traitors and maniacal mothers-in-law! Even "been there, done that" readers will be surprised by the extraordinary accounts of love destroyed by an affair exposed on national TV, a Botox babe, and a handsome, but heartless, doctor. Twelve unique stories chronicle the relationship rollercoaster of highs and lows that so often define romantic love.

Falling in Love...Again: TruLove Collection Whether you're heartbroken or have sworn off love forever; it's perfectly timed or when you least expect it, this collection of fourteen inspirational stories will convince you that there's always a chance you'll...fall in love again. It's hard to imagine that out of the depths of despair can eventually come a new opportunity for love, but in these tales you'll meet a jilted bride, a single mom, a 9/11 widow, and a bitter city girl who all get a second chance at loving happily ever after.

The Harbormaster's Daughter by Heidi Schmidt On a freezing January night, LaRee Farnham answers a knock at her door to find a policewoman holding three-year-old Vita Gray, whose mother has just been murdered a few miles away. LaRee raises Vita with fierce love and attention, at the same time trying to shield her from the aftermath of the murder, which has deeply divided the histoiric village of Oyster Creek. Born out of wedlock, Vita is the product of the town's two very different cultures: the hard-working fishing families of Portuguese descent and the "washashores" from the mainland, who've drifted to the coast for its beauty. At sixteen, Vita is shy and isolated, estranged from her father, and bullied at school, but she is determined to come out of herself, step-by-step. When the shocking details of her past surface suddenly, Vita feels utterly betrayed by those closest to her, and the fraught tension between Oyster Creek's two cultures comes to a head. LaRee must ask hard questions about herself as a mother, while Vita turns to unexpected avenues to find meaning and discovers that the truth is almost never found in black-and-white...