Writing has always been a passion. I write what I know. Having spent 20 years in the NYPD, and more years than I care to admit working as a PI, I’m also a Vietnam combat veteran, and teach in a local university. I have more than enough material to work with.

Patrick W. Picciarelli – 26 October 2018

The Back Flap

A ten-year-old double homicide leads private investigator Ray Yale to a psycho ex-policewoman, a megalomaniacal shock-jock with a Svengali complex, and an investigation so bizarre that it could bring down the NYPD. Teamed with a former detective who has seen better days, Yale must find the reason behind a series of brutal murders before he becomes the next victim.

The first Ray Yale novel, Blood Shot Eyes mixes mystery and suspense in chronicling Yale’s determined pursuit of justice. Yale’s journey continues in the sequel, Pop Line.

About the book

What is the book about?

Private Investigator Ray Yale, formerly a lieutenant with the NYPD, is hired to find the killer of a 20-something party girl, a murder which remains unsolved after 10 years. During the course of the investigation, Yale connects with retired detective Charlie Wright, now suffering from AIDS and under a self-imposed exile from society. The trail leads to a megalomaniacal NY radio shock-jock with a Svengali complex and a psychopathic former policewoman who does his bidding. Yale must find the reason behind a series of brutal murders before he becomes the next victim.

When did you start writing the book?

Shortly after my retirement from the NYPD.

How long did it take you to write it?

Six months.

Where did you get the idea from?

The story is based on a case I handled after I left the NYPD and became a private investigator in New York.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

This was my first novel, but because of the link to a real case I’d handled, I didn’t experience any struggles.

What came easily?

Pretty much everything. The characters are based on real people, so it was like a stroll down memory lane, with more drama added.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Virtually every major character in the book is based on a real person, some of whom were directly involved in the case I’d investigated.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

There are so many, but those writers that rise to the top are Lawrence Block and John Sandford. Both have an excellent ear for dialogue; Block in his Matt Scudder series, and Sandford for his Lucas Davenport series. The Scudder series is centered in Manhattan, which comes alive as a character, and the Minnesota-based cop Davenport’s dialogue with his fellow cops is the way cops really talk – this observation coming from me, a former NYPD lieutenant.

Do you have a target reader?

Readers of gritty crime fiction will enjoy this story for its reality-based investigative techniques and colorful characters. Extra points if you’re a New Yorker.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I set a goal of a minimum goal of 1,000 words a day, five days a week.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

I use a basic outline – a beginning, middle, and end – and go where the story takes me. Often my completed book has scant resemblance to my outline.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I don’t edit until I’m finished with a rough draft, unless I recognize a glaring error.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No, I need absolute quiet and isolation.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I’ve had the same agent for 18 years.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

The books in the Ray Yale series are stories I wrote at the beginning of my writing career. I resurrected them, deciding to go with the indie publisher route to experiment with that option.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I designed it myself but had someone who knows computer graphics bring it to life.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have a decent following from previously published books, so I’ll approach those readers, along with public speaking and social media venues. I’ll also experiment as I go along.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Have your work professionally edited. Very important.

About You

Where did you grow up?

New York City.

Where do you live now?

South Western Pennsylvania.

What would you like readers to know about you?

Writing has always been a passion. I write what I know. Having spent 20 years in the NYPD, and more years than I care to admit working as a PI, I’m also a Vietnam combat veteran, and teach in a local university. I have more than enough material to work with.

What are you working on now?

My next book, which I co-authored with actor Gianni Russo, Hollywood Godfather: My life in the Movies and the Mob, will be published by St. Martin’s Press on March 12, 2019. Because I’m currently finishing up my doctorate in criminal justice, I have abandoned commercial writing until May 2019, when I’m scheduled to graduate. I plan on continuing with book #3 in the Ray Yale series, and completing my novel in progress, The Crowed Hour.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Blood Shot Eyes from Amazon US or Amazon UK.