Writing the Billy Boyle World War II mystery series has brought me an immense amount of joy.  I've gotten to meet people in person and online from all over the country (and the rest of the world) and hear their reactions, feedback, and most importantly, their own stories. 

My idea for a historical mystery series set within the Allied High Command during the Second World War began with the first title, "Billy Boyle", which takes place in England and Norway in 1942. The second, "The First Wave", carries on a few months later during the Allied invasion of French Northwest Africa.   The third, "Blood Alone" continues the story through the Allied invasion of Sicily.  Soho Press has released the fourth installment, "Evil For Evil" (September 2009) in which Billy Boyle voyages to Ireland.

The fifth book in the series deals with the infamous Katyn Massacre of Polish Officers by the Soviets, and how the uncovering of that crime affected the war, especially Polish-Americans and the Poles in exile in England.  It is titled "Rag and Bone" (from the Yeats poem), and due to be released in September 2010.  I am currently at work on number six, tentatively titled "Mortal Terror".  It is set in southern Italy and within the Anzio beach head, where Billy tracks down the Red Heart Killer, who is targeting officers of increasingly senior rank.  Mortal terror also refers to combat fatigue and the terrible effects of prolonged exposure to the not only combat but t the rigors of winter in the mountains.

One recently completed work is "Souvenir", an exploration of the effects of World War II combat on one man during three stages of his life.  This is not a mystery, and is available for any interested publishers to read!  Another available manuscript is "On Desperate Ground", a WWII thriller set during the last days of the war.

I live in Hadlyme, Connecticut, with my wife Deborah Mandel, a psychotherapist who offers many insights into the motivations of my characters, a good critical read, and much else. Our dog Ranger lives with us.  We have two sons, Jeff and Ben, and seven grandchildren (Camille, Claudia, Emma, Luke, Nathaniel, Noah, Oliver).

I'm a graduate of the University of Connecticut and received my MLS degree from Southern Connecticut State University. I am a member of the Mystery Writers of America, and the Author's Guild. I've worked in the library field for over twenty-five years and currently work in educational technology to earn a living so that I can write. Would that it could be otherwise.

I've learned two valuable lessons since I started writing which have helped me greatly. The first is a quote from Oscar Wilde, who said "The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of one's pants to a chair." The second is from novelist Rachel Basch, who told me "the story has to move down, as well as forward." Both sound simple. Neither is.

For those interested in learning more about writing, I suggest starting with this list of books about reading and writing.  The first three are accessible for anyone who wants to read and understand more deeply, as well as learning writing skills.  The fourth is for serious students of writing only:  Books On Writing