On a professional level, 2025 was an exceptional year for me, a year of firsts. After querying more than 40 agents and publishers, I was offered a publication agreement for Greg Scarpa, Legendary Evil, my first work of nonfiction, by WildBlue Press. In late July, after several rounds of detailed editing, agreeing on interior and exterior formats, and the creation of promotional materials including a YouTube trailer, the book was released.
To support the book’s release, I appeared on a dozen podcasts, most recently as Vic Ferrari’s guest on his show NYPD Through the Looking Glass. The book quickly reached #1 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases of Biographies of Organized Crime. In November it was selected as a finalist in the True Crime Category of the 2025 Independent Author Network’s Book of the Year Awards.
The detailed reviews for the book have been solid. Author Archibald Fitz concluded his lengthy BookBub review by calling the book “An Excellent Read.” Another reviewer declared the book “will stand the test of time.” And a third reviewer, who gave the book 4.5 out of 5 stars, stated, “The book succeeds in painting a portrait of a truly chilling individual, a man who seemed to revel in brutality and betrayal. While the subject matter is inherently grim, the author’s presentation keeps the reader engaged, albeit with a sense of unease.” Informally, an author I hold in high regard described the book to me as “scholarly. It covers the waterfront.”
And to end the year, a few days ago WildBlue Press noted the book is one of its “bestsellers” on a variety of social media sites.
Marketing the book will continue into 2026, and I look forward to additional contributions to WildBlue Press’s ongoing efforts in that regard. While I’m of course hoping for continued success with the book in 2026 and beyond, it will be hard to top 2025, my best year as a writer to date.
