Pump Up Your Book Chats with Thriller Author Vincent Zandri
Author Interviews, Featured — By Dorothy Thompson on January 28, 2010 at 10:10 am
Vincent Zandri will be right in this very spot live on Friday, February 12 from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m., answering any questions you may have about his thriller novel, Moonlight Falls (R.J. Buckley Publishing). Leave a question or comment (along with your email address) between now and 11 p.m. on February 19 and you may win a free autographed copy of Moonlight Falls!
The lucky winner will be announced on February 22.
ONLY THOSE LEAVING EMAIL ADDRESSES ARE ELIGIBLE. YOUR EMAIL 
ADDRESS WILL ONLY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTEST.
Thank you and good luck!
Moonlight Falls author Vincent Zandri, is an award-winning novelist, essayist and freelance photojournalist. His novel As Catch Can (Delacorte) was touted in two pre-publication articles by Publishers Weekly and was called “Brilliant” upon its publication by The New York Post. The Boston Herald attributed it as “The most arresting first crime novel to break into print this season.” Other novels include Godchild (Bantam/Dell) and Permanence (NPI). Translated into several languages including Japanese and the Dutch, Zandri’s novels have also been sought out by numerous major movie producers, including Heyday Productions and DreamWorks. Presently he is the author of the blogs, Dangerous Dispatches and Embedded in Africa for Russia Today TV (RT). He also writes for other global publications, including Culture 11, Globalia and Globalspec. Zandri’s nonfiction has appeared in New York Newsday, Hudson Valley Magazine, Game and Fish Magazine and others, while his essays and short fiction have been featured in many journals including Fugue, Maryland Review and Orange Coast Magazine. He holds an M.F.A. in Writing from Vermont College and is a 2010 International Thriller Writer’s Awards panel judge. Zandri currently divides his time between New York and Europe. He is the drummer for the Albany-based punk band to Blisterz. You can visit his website at www.vincentzandri.com, his blog at http://vincentzandri.blogspot.com/ or connect with him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VincentZandri or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/vincent.zandri?ref=profile.
Thank you for this interview, Vincent. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?
I didn’t write stories exactly, but I was an avid reader and often acted out scenes of what I’d read. I was particularly fascinated with the crucifixion scene in the Bible. Mel Gibson actually scooped me! Once my parents caught me trying to reenact Jesus on the cross. I think they considered psychological evaluation. Ha! In any case, the actual writing bug came later when I was mature enough to be able to put words and sentences together. My first published piece was called “Home.” It went into a now defunct, but very good literary journal called, Mildred.
What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?
By far the most frustrating side is looking for that first big break. But what’s even more frustrating is getting the big break only to have your publisher get bought out by another. Suddenly you’re without your editorial support and the bastard child of a publisher who didn’t want you in the first place. Sales plummet and naturally, it’s all your fault. In any case, I never let the business people get me down. The writing comes from too deep a source. By the way, that’s my second answer. By far the most rewarding thing is the writing.
Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?
I’ve been married and I’ve been not married. Right now I’m the latter and I hope to stay that way. In both my marriages, my writing became a kind of illicit affair that my respective spouses came to resent. They thought I put my writing first before them and the kids. While I would gladly take a bullet for my kids, I would not take one for either wife. Ha ! So, yes, in that respect, the writing has come first.
What do you like to do for fun when you’re not writing? Where do you like to vacation? Can you tell us briefly about this?
I spend a couple of months each year in Florence, Italy and other parts of Europe. Europeans aren’t like Americans who are obsessed with making money. Europe is a sensual place full of history, culture, and great mystery. The food is fresher too. There’s something intensely gratifying about finishing up a morning’s writing and making a pilgrimage on foot to Dante Alighieri’s home. There also happens to be a good bar right around the corner.
Moonlight Falls by Vincent Zandri (click on cover to purchase at Amazon)
If you could be anywhere in the world for one hour right now, where would that place be and why?
Paris, Café Deux Maggots, sitting outside on the St. Germaine by the Cathedral. Why? Because there is no more wonderful place on earth for drinking café and completing an interview for Pump Up Your Book!
Who is your biggest fan?
My mother. Duh!
Where’s your favorite place to write at home?
My bedroom. I have a desk right beside my bed.
What’s your favorite library and why?
I don’t visit libraries other than to give readings. Libraries remind me of studying and school. I was a terrible student. My own home library is extensive.
What’s your favorite bookstore and why?
Shakespeare and Company in Paris. It’s a museum and it was one of Hemingway’s favorite haunts.
Do you have any pets?
Two teenage sons. Pets are easier to clean up after and cheaper to feed.
What are you reading right now?
The Bottoms by Joe Landsdale, McCarthy’s The Road and a book of essays by Oliver Sacks.
Tell us a secret no one else knows.
My birthmark is located on my….
What’s the first thing you notice when you meet someone?
Their eyes.
Have you ever won anything?
Never (well, not exactly true. I’ve won some journalism awards)
What’s on your to do list today?
Run, lift weights, make a deadline, complete this interview, get some work in on my new book, rehearse with my punk band, The Blisterz (http://www.myspace.com/theblisterz) and eventually, crack a beer and play some pool with my girlfriend.
I understand that you are touring with Pump Up Your Book Promotion in February and March via a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?
Logistically speaking, it’s impossible to hit every bookstore in the nation, much less my home state. Many newspapers, including major newsprint publications, no longer maintain a budget to run book reviews (sad but true). What they do instead is farm reviews and interviews out to bloggers who then publish them on the paper’s website. When I asked my traditional publisher what was the one thing I could do to guarantee that word about Moonlight Falls was spread all over the globe, she issued two words “Virtual Tour!” She also reminded me that unlike traditional print media, online reviews, interviews, profiles and blogs remain in cyberspace forever…It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
Thank you for this interview, Vincent. Good luck on your virtual book tour!
Thank you for having me.
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39 Comments
Hey Vin,
Since I am a newbie to your writing; could you please list the titles of your books and indicate those that belong to a series in sequence?
As a mystery lover, I am dying to read you!
Evan
Hi, Vincent,
In my mind’s eye I can picture your favorite cafe in Paris! Sadly, I’ve never been to France, but I have my own favorite coffee shops to write in. There’s something special and unexplainable about sitting in a cafe while writing. Also, I envy you for your 2 months in Florence, Italy every year. My dream is to go to Italy!
About Moonlight Falls~~ It’s not every day someone tries to prove they murdered someone. What inspired this idea? Does the title have duo meanings?
Best of luck with your “new book!”
Hi Vincent,
I’m new to your fiction and we’ve just befriended each other on Facebook. I look forward to being here on February 12th. How fantastic to be able to sip some java in Paris and let the atmosphere dictate to your Muse. I’m stuck at a Borders with bad music distracting me over the speakers. LOL.
Patty G. Henderson
Hi Vincent, I totally enjoyed reading your interview. You are one very funny man, any pets? I envy you, I would love to go to Europe one day.
As for Moonlight Falls, it sounds like a intriguing story.
Hey all,
Great to hear from you so soon and I look forward to the 12th.
To answer Evan’s query, here’s the books in their order:
Permanence (a rarity now…but worth it if you can find it)
As Catch Can
Godchild
Moonlight Falls
Talk on the 12th !!! :))))
Cheers
V
Hi Vince
You probably may not know or remember me, but our parents were best friends years ago (Marie and Lonnie Fitzgerald) I am also distantly related to your cousin Joey Pucci, I believe your moms were sisiters? My mom and Joe were cousons.enough of the family history lesson! Out of all of you books that you wrote and had published do you have a favorite? One that is your “special charm, baby etc” the story that just grabs at you more than the others?
MaryLnn
With the current ease of writers to self-publish through print-on-demand sources do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing? Is more good literature reaching the public that otherwise might not, or is there just too much bad writing out there?
Hi Mary Lynn,
I do remember you. How are you? Wha a blast from the past. :)
Vin
Hey Dan,
That’s a good question. I’ve always been extremely suspicious of self-published material, especially having been to war and back trying to find legitimate publishers of my own work. Thus the 8 year gap between published novels for me. However, the mainstream pub business is dying a slow death so alternative means of publishing is becoming a legit alternative for some authors. Indy press is a big now. And many of them, like mine, publish traditionally utilizing POD. The book is beautiful, and as an author, I’m not really concerned whether or not its pub’d digitally or traditionally so long as the end product is a nice one I can be proud of. But I do know that some bookstores have trouble moving POD because it’s expensive. I learned this the hard way during my first signing. But it was a success nonetheless. I do see POD as the wave of the future. That and Kindle, etc. My editor at Bantam Dell told me just the other day they struck a new contract with a self-published author because his book sold like a 1000 copies on Kindle! It kind of saddened me to be honest. I’m still a traditionalist and will always seek legitimate publishing…but who knows….
V
Hi Vince,
Will Moonlight return again in a future book? He would be an interesting character to follow.
Love Florence and Paris ,would they fit as background cities for your wonderful writing? So much history ,art and intrigue.
Congratulations on the success of Moonlight Falls !
Continued success with the next book.
SG
Hi Sandi,
I’ll be seeing your talented son later this afternoon in the recording studio…To answer your question, it’s very possible Moonlight will return for another case…I have to find the right one for him however and under the right circumstances. What those are I’m not sure…but I’ll think of something….
Cheers,
V
This book totally fascinates me. The cover makes me want to read it. I had to come and comment. I have seen the cover in several places around the web. It is one you can’t get out of your mind. Great job!
Best of luck with your novel and on your blog tour.
GL
Thanks Gale,
I think it’s my favorite out of all my books!!!
Vin
Hi Vincent! Glad to have you here today!
Hi Dorothy,
Played with my punk band the Blisterz last night into the wee hours so a little slow going this morning. But I’ll be around all day and event to answer any questions anyone might have about my books, writing, publishing, food, travel, rock n’ roll or just about anything you can think of to talk about. I also look forward to someone winning a free copy of my new thriller Moonlight Falls….
V
WOW you certainly are a man of many talents! How often does your band material cross into your writing or vice versa?
Do you ever have periods where you are just stuck in one art form over another? Do you draw/illustrate as well as create art with words and music?
BTW I have one teenager, one 10 year old – 3 cats, a dog and several fish ( as well as a 45 yr old husband) and I agree the pets are MUCH easier to take care of :-)
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions today! I love really getting to know new authors !!
Debi in South Jersey ( still diggin gout from alll THAT snow @@)
dsalanitro1967 at yahoo dot com
I’d love to here more about Italy…a place that I’ve always wanted
to visit. Looking forward to reading your book.
Fun review! The cover art reminds of a “B’ grade monster movie, which being a SciFi freak intrigues me even more. Congrats on your success! :O)
Really enojoyed your interview, Vincent. I hope I will a copy of this book. I really want to read it. I am fascinated by your cover.
Best of luck on your tour and with your book.
GL
HI I can answer the band question with, you guessed it another interview that just came out this morning:
http://blog.timesunion.com/localmusic/beyond-the-music/2425/
Italy…well, Italy is my escape!!! And I’m also a freelance foreign correspondent for global television and multi-media networks like RT (Russia Today TV)….
V
Libby, he actually wrote a guest post about Italy…go through his stops…not sure if it’s come up yet but if not it’ll be live shortly. I think that’s the most wonderful thing to be able to travel to Italy just to write and get away from it all. I’d love to know more about this. Vincent, do you have people you stay with or do you rent a villa or something? What’s the views like?
Speaking of his band, his trailer ought to be finished over the weekend – that’s the plan. You won’t believe how well this guy drums!
Thanks for the chance!
As for Italy, I like to rent a room in a guest house not far from the train station. it’s a five floor walk up with a great view and it’s quiet. I’m thinking of renting an apartment however, as my stays are getting longer and longer….
Hi Vincent,
I love this interview! You have a great sense of humor. I swear I’ve heard your name around lately and it wasn’t with this tour. It’s driving me crazy because I can’t remember. I’m in the midst of helping plan a local writers conference so all the names are beginning to blend together.
Your book sounds fabulous, and if I didn’t have 56 other books in my TBR pile, I would buy it today. Guess it will have to go on my wish list for now.
I have to ask, is is convenient having a desk right next to the bed? Don’t you ever smack your shins on it getting up? I would be black and blue. How often do you find yourself getting up in the middle of the night because an idea has struck?
Best of luck with the tour. I hope to read more about Moonlight Falls this month.
Cheryl
What a wonderfully fun interview! Moonlight Falls sounds awesome and I would love to read it!
So, sense it sounds as though you had a delight marriage a time or two, do you ever put your ex-wives into book characters via victims?! LOL
I also love the phrase about online tours/reviews being the gift that keeps on giving!
April
Ajpohren@iowatelecom.net
HI Cheryl,
Yah, having the bed is awesome, especially when I feel like taking a nap, which I’m about to do right now!!! LOL…There are occasions where I get up and pitch a breaking news story overseas because to a news network because they’re 8 hours ahead or something…But generally if I get a fiction idea while lying in bed, I’ll let it sit and see if it’s still seems like a great idea in the morning…:)
Love to get your take on MF:)))
V
Hey April, Yah, Moonlight Falls is full of my ex wives… and they know it, and when I see them they just shake their heads at me with that all too familiar “What an ass I married!” look. But I can’t help but laugh. In many ways I’ve never been cut out for the steady suburban home life and I think that’s where my marriages went wrong. But then, who wants to drive to work in the morning, hating your job, knowing that even though you work 50 hours a week you still have to pay the property taxes with the credit card?????? Anyway, I’ve been there and it’s a place I never want to go back to. People often ask me, Aren’t you afraid of being alone when you’re old? I remember my grandmother when she was old. She had a million friends. Of course they were all in her head, but she seemed happy enough:)))))LOL….
Thank you for sharing this interview! I so enjoyed learning more about your books and you!
Thanks to you Ginny.
Let me know what you think of Moonlight Falls!!!!
V
Vin,
Hey my man, congratulations on Moonlight Falls!!
Seems like I waited a long time for a new Zandri novel.. but it was worth the wait!
Maybe you can help me find an apartment in Italy the next time you’re there? I could use a vacation.
E
Yo Ed,
Great to hear from you dawg…..
One of these days we will get around to making a movie!!!!!
V
Hey Vincent, do you think you can check back now and then to see if there are anymore comments? I’d love to keep this conversation going as we go further along in your tour…I still have questions! Had to work and just now getting back on the computer…
Okay here is my new question…I am dying for you to tell everyone about last night’s radio interview!
Ha, you mean the interview I conducted from bed?????? :)))
Well, just so the audience knows, there will be a video blog coming out soon called “Vincent Zandri Under Cover” which will feature the radio interview I did a couple of nights ago with author and blog radio host Kim Smith!!!! It should be hilarious!!!! And yes, please come back anytime to post your questions and comments and I will respond to them ASAP…But for now, off to NYC for Valetines with my honey!!!! :)))
Cheers all and don’t forget to let me know what you think about Moonlight Falls!!!!!
Thanks Dorothy XXOOO
V
Favorite person: my Dad. Favorite library: any library. Hugs.
Hey rock on Ernie!!!
And rock on Dads!!
V