Interview with Author Joe Perrone

I would like to introduce Author Joe Perrone

Thank you Joe for the pleasure of this interview. Could you please tell us about you book, Opening Day.

Opening Day is the second in the Matt Davis Mystery Series, and is set in Roscoe, NY, a small fishing village where I used to be a fly fishing guide. Matt Davis is a former NYPD homicide detective who has taken early retirement following a near-death experience on the job, and has taken a relatively laid-back position as Chief of Police of a three-man department. While out fishing on the opening day of trout season, he stumbles across the badly deteriorated body of what turns out to be a young woman. The body is unclothed; there is no physical evidence or apparent motive; and the victim's identity is unknown. As the story unfolds, readers are introduced to three different young women at a time prior to the murder, any one of whom might be the victim. Their stories are interwoven with the ongoing events and investigation, until eventually two are eliminated, leaving the remaining woman as the victim. Suspects are numerous and diverse, and murderer's identity is not revealed until the final chapter of the book.

Were there any scenes you found more challenging to write than others?

The most difficult scenes to write were those that introduced possible suspects. I wanted to give readers clues, but none so obvious as to actually give away the identity of the murderer. They were a real challenge.

Is there a character in your story you are partial to? Please explain.

I am most partial to two characters: Matt Davis, the Chief of Police, and Frank Kuttner (based upon an actual person, a friend of mine who permits me to use his real name and character in all the books of the series).

How long did it take you to write, Opening day?

Opening Day took approximately a year to write.

What is your next book project?

After I published Opening Day in 2010, I wrote the third Matt Davis Mystery, Twice Bitten, which I published in January of this year. I'm now writing the fourth Matt Davis Mystery, Broken Promises. When that is finished, I will resume work on a literary novel I began about six years ago, entitled Changes, which is about a man struck by lightning and the conflicts arising as a result of his experience.

What do you think contributes to making a writer successful in self-publishing?

Aside from the obvious requirement of producing a good, solid book that readers want to read, I believe it mostly boils down to a lot of very hard work. This involves editing, cover design, and promotion, through networking, word-of-mouth, and paid advertising. I also believe it is critical to keep writing and developing your "brand" or identity as an author. The more work you have out there, the better chance of developing a following and of selling lots of books.

What advice would you give to an aspiring author?

Be patient, don't get discouraged, and don't be afraid to take chances. This includes exploring every possible opportunity to promote your work. Most of all, hone your craft and develop your own unique style. Develop good work habits, such as scheduling a portion of each day to write, part of which should be devoted to editing and re-writing what you've written in your previous writing session. Also, now more than ever, if you're a self-published writer, it's imperative to network. Fellow authors and readers are the best allies you can have. Treat them with respect, and always be willing to go the extra mile to help other authors. Last, but by no means least, if you're a writer of fiction, learn how to write effective dialogue; without it, you might as well be writing non-fiction.

Who is your favorite author?

I have a number of favorites, among them are William Goldman, Truman Capote, and Harlan Coben.

Is there part of the day you feel most inspired to write?

Without a doubt, I prefer to write very early in the morning, often as early as 4 a.m. Otherwise, I try to write after breakfast on most days. However, I want to stress that the best time for me (or anyone, for that matter) is whenever I really feel like writing. It's important to at least "try" to write every day, but for reasons that only writers will understand, that is not always possible. So, if the spirit moves you, write!

What is your favorite quote?

Carpe diem! (Latin for Seize the day!)


Author Bio & Links:

Joe Perrone Jr. worked as a sportswriter for the Passaic-Clifton Herald News in New Jersey, as well as a freelance advertising copywriter. He is perhaps best known for his Matt Davis Mystery Series, which includes As the Twig is Bent, Opening Day, and Twice Bitten (published in that order). Opening Day was recently awarded an Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion. Joe's first novel, Escaping Innocence (A Story of Awakening), was published in 2008, and is an evocative coming-of-age novel set in the turbulent '60s. In addition to his four novels, Joe has authored two non-fiction works, A "Real" Man's Guide to Divorce (First, you bend over and...), published in 2009 and Gone Fishin' with Kids (How to Take Your Kid Fishing and Still be Friends), co-authored with Manny Luftglass, and published in 1997. As The Twig Is Bent was translated into Portuguese as Pau que nasce torto in 2011 by Rafa Lombardino of Word Awareness, Inc. of Santee, CA. Plans are underway to also translate Opening Day and Twice Bitten in the very near future.

Joe was a professional fly-fishing guide for ten years in the Catskill Mountains of New York, and has had several fly-fishing short stories published in the Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide. Both Opening Day and Twice Bitten are actually set in Roscoe, NY, the small Upstate New York fishing village where Joe was a guide. He is currently at work on a fourth Matt Davis Mystery, Broken Promises, which is scheduled for publication in early 2013.

Joe’s future plans include completing a literary novel, entitled Changes, an examination of the life of a man who is struck by lightning and the resulting conflicts he must resolve within his circle of family and friends. The book was begun in 2006. All of Joe's books are available in paperback or in Kindle editions on Amazon.com.

Joe lives in Western North Carolina with his wife, Becky, and the couple's two cats, Callie and Cassie. He enjoys fly fishing, cooking, music, and of course writing. Joe also enjoys interacting with his readers, and can be reached with comments and questions via Email at: joetheauthor@joeperronejr.com or by visiting his website at www.joeperronejr.com.


We are delighted that Stephanie has chosen to interview Joe Perrone who is the author of Opening Day, one of our medallion honorees at www.bragmedallion.com. To be awarded a B.R.A.G. MedallionTM, a book must receive unanimous approval by a group of our readers. It is a daunting hurdle and it serves to reaffirm that a book such as Opening Day merits the investment of a reader’s time and money.

IndieBRAG

Thank you,

Stephanie