LORENZO'S NEWSLETTER
Lorenzo keeps readers informed about his work, travels and
more through his newsletter. Here you can read the most recent
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May 17, 2010
Lots going on since the last newsletter went out. Taking the news in no
particular order, let’s start with the very nice review MIDNIGHT ANGELS
received from Publisher’s Weekly and one which Web Master Clay and Guru
Nick sent out to each of you the day after it first appeared. That
review, coupled with two major blurbs from Douglas Preston and Alafair
Burke, have helped build a good feeling for the book, and, if you toss
in one amazing cover, it might just have a solid chance of finding a
welcoming audience. Of course, the reviews that matter most to me are
yours—the ones who lay down their money and expect a good story in
return. I’ll be anxious to hear what you think of the story, the
characters, the cover and anything else that catches your eye.
The orders for hats, totes and T-shirts are in and
should be delivered in plenty of time to send your way once you’ve
bought your copy. Remember, that first week is the most crucial for a
new book (think of it as the opening weekend for a movie) so if you are
planning to buy MIDNIGHT ANGELS, either pre-order it now or get it
during the week of July 6-13 from your favorite store.
This past weekend was Murder and Mayhem time at the
three Book Hampton stores on the eastern end of Long Island. They are
always fun events, where readers get to listen to and mingle with their
favorite authors. I did three events and got to connect with a terrific
crew of writers (I’m as big a fan as the next guy) and was especially
impressed by Heywood Gould, Andrew Gross, Andrew Grant and Alex
Berenson. If you get a chance and have the time, get their books, each
one a thrill to read. Grant (whose brother is the mega-selling Lee
Child) is out with his second book and will soon be a force in the
thriller field and Berenson and Gross are already there. Gould is a
wonderful novelist and an ace screenwriter (he wrote the scripts for
“The Boys From Brazil” and “Fort Apache: The Bronx” among others). It
was a fun time listening to their stories and answering questions from a
relaxed and well-read group of readers.
Then, came the news LAW&ORDER was canceled after a
20-year run (at least that’s the case as I write this; Dick Wolf may be
closing a TNT deal this very second to get another season). My memories
of working on the show are pleasant, but what I most bring away from it
was my time spent writing for and getting to know Jerry Orbach. Jerry
was one of those actors who simply made you want to go out and do
better. Not just give it 100%, but write at your highest level possible.
He was a true pro, a terrific talent (no American actor has performed on
a Broadway stage as often as Jerry did) and was one of the funniest and
kindest men I’ve been around. It was a true honor to be in his company.
But the show will live on and so too will Mr. Orbach.
As to my own personal movie and TV watching these
days—I saw a wonderful Italian movie called “Mid-August Lunch,” which
will be on DVD very soon. It is a very sweet and warm little film and
co-stars three of the most natural actresses you will ever see—and none
had acted until this film. It’s one of those little gems you come across
every once in a while and I’m glad I did. I also finished the second
season of “Damages” on DVD and while not as good as season one, it still
delivers.
And last week, I took my son and some friends to see
Ricky Gervais in concert and he put on quite a show—another pro, working
at the top of his game.
We’ll speak again next week, by which time the Mets
will either have rebounded and be back in first or find themselves still
in last with a new manager at the helm; the Yankees will figure out a
way to stay in the thick of it, despite losing Nick Johnson to injury;
and the Knicks will still be wondering if they will be able to get King
James into their uniform next season.
Meantime, the countdown to MIDNIGHT ANGELS continues.
Thanks to all of you who have already pre-ordered your copy and now back
to the next one whose deadline fast approaches.
Stay well and safe,
Lorenzo
May 2010 Newsletter
I know it’s been a long time between drinks and I apologize for
that. I am pleased so many of you stuck around and I truly appreciate
your patience. And for you newcomers, welcome and I hope you’ll enjoy
your time here.
As you can see, the web site has been updated. There
are still changes to be made and updates to be put in place, but 90% of
it is there thanks to Web Master Clay and the driving force himself, the
Nick Man.
As you can see, we’re gearing up for publication of a
new book, MIDNIGHT ANGELS, hitting stores on July 6, but available for
pre-order anytime you care to click one of those colorful little buttons
at the bottom of the site. The book, my eighth, is a bit of a departure
for me—it’s an art history thriller set in Florence centered on the
discovery of a lost work of Michelangelo. Over the next several weeks,
I’ll give you some background on the story, why I decided to write it
and some interesting (I hope) insights into the many new characters you
will meet—from our heroine Kate and her mentor the Professor, to the
industrious student Marco, police Captain Rumore and the villainous The
Raven. I’ll also include a tour of Florence, my favorite city on the
planet, and point out the real sites that were used in the novel.
In the past I would do a newsletter a month. This time
around, I’ll write one a week. In addition, you can follow me on
Facebook and read some of my ramblings on all sorts of subjects in “The
Red Zone,” a column I occasionally write for True/Slant.com.
And, as in the past, there will be prizes doled out to
many of you kind enough to buy MIDNIGHT ANGELS. In addition to the usual
array of T-shirts, hats and tote bags, we will also be awarding bottles
of wine and tickets galore—from theater to basketball to baseball to
hockey.
Here’s what is needed—the first week out of the gate,
MIDNIGHT ANGELS must sell 2,000 copies in order to make the bestseller
list (that’s why pre-orders are so important). Keep your receipts from
Amazon, Barnes & Noble or any of the independent stores you shop in—that
will give us proof of purchase. The 2,000 books must be sold between
July 6 and July 13 (all pre-orders are counted in that first week
total). If that happens, MIDNIGHT ANGELS will be considered a hit and we
should have quite a few happy winners on our hands. Not to mention, one
very happy author.
For those of you living outside the US, you can still
order your book from Amazon and B&N. I will, of course, need a mailing
address from each of the buyers.
I think this will help make the launch for MIDNIGHT
ANGELS an exciting one for all of us. I’m a sports fan and I love a good
race and what better race is there than to see a book come charging out
of the starting gate and nosing ahead of the competition, even for a
short while?
Thank you all again. It’s great for me to be back in
your company.
As soon as Web Master Clay tells me how to respond to
e-mails, I’ll make sure to answer each and every one sent my way.
For now—Stay well and safe and we’ll speak again next
week.
--Lorenzo Carcaterra
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