Reacting to Online Ratings and Reviews I don’t know what is was like to be an author 40 or more years ago when reviews came out almost entirely in print or broadcast media. I assume that such reviews were limited to a handful of cultural gatekeepers whose reputations were weighty enough to make a difference...Read More

Christmas and one of the First Nick Temple Files I’ve written six books in the Nick Temple File Series. Each book chronicles a fictional Cold War episode involving Temple and those close to him in the CIA. I began thinking about the character and what he might be involved in when I was stationed in...Read More

A Positive Review for Greg Scarpa, Legendary Evil from an Author/Reader on BookBub Author Archibald Fitz has reviewed Greg Scarpa, Legendary Evil and given it 4 out of 5 stars on BookBub. Along the way, he had a number of positive things to say about the book starting with it “deserves a space on your...Read More

A Great Interview about Greg Scarpa, Legendary Evil As noted here in my most recent post, last week I appeared on Vic Ferrari’s podcast. Vic is a former NYPD officer turned author. He has a wealth of experience and it showed during the podcast. He asked a number of probing questions about Greg Scarpa, Legendary...Read More

Putting a Shine on a Compelling Cover & More Marketing updates: My publisher, WildBlue Press, is in the process of revising the cover of Greg Scarpa, Legendary Evil to include the Independent Author Network’s Book of the Year finalist medallion in a nice conspicuous spot. The current, and perhaps final, iteration is on the left....Read More

The Logic of an Award and Book Sales Post hoc, ergo propter hoc is a logic fallacy. The Latin is translated as, “After this, therefore because of this.” The easiest example demonstrating the fallacy is, “The sun came up after the rooster crowed, therefore the sun came up because the rooster crowed.” Conflating coincidence with...Read More

At the Literary Intersection of Thanksgiving and Existentialism Thanksgiving is my favorite of the big holidays. Always has been. The lack of robust ornamentation, the cultural appeal of an accessible myth, and the first decent break in the school year all attracted me when I was young.  (As a teacher, by Halloween I would mutter...Read More

The Effect of The Opinions of Strangers As noted here a couple of days ago, Greg Scarpa, Legendary Evil, my first work of nonfiction, was selected as a finalist in the true crime category in the 2025 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards. I entered their contest shortly after my book was published...Read More

Finalist in the 2025 IAN Book of the Year Awards! I just learned that Greg Scarpa, Legendary Evil, my first work of nonfiction, has been selected as a finalist in the true crime category in the 2025 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards. I’m pretty excited about it, honestly. The book was one of only three finalists in the...Read More

Reflecting on Service During the Cold War Tomorrow is November 11. What was once Armistice Day became Veterans Day in the U.S. in 1954. My service in the Army began in May of 1981 and lasted until June of 1986. By the time I joined, the draft was a thing of the past. I volunteered....Read More