Recommendations (Books by People I Know)
Considering how many published authors I know personally, I decided to be a nice guy and help them out with book sales by advertising their books on my website. While I have not read them all, yet, I have read most of them, as I do have a copy of every book shown. I hope you will take the time to look through this page and perhaps something might interest you. Click on the title links and they will take you to a website, where you can purchase a copy. If you click on the authors' names, you should be directed to their Goodreads Author page, Facebook page, or personal website.
Unfortunately, there are books by a few other authors that I did not list because their books are more difficult to obtain due to the fact they are out of print. Sorry, guys. Wow! I know A LOT of published writers!
Unfortunately, there are books by a few other authors that I did not list because their books are more difficult to obtain due to the fact they are out of print. Sorry, guys. Wow! I know A LOT of published writers!
Benjamin LevyMy uncle, who is a rabbi in NJ, wrote a few books as part of his required work. These books are geared toward people with a specific religious faith, so they are not for everyone. I can say that my uncle is an intelligent well-respected man of his community with a good sense of the world and a great sense of humor, so I am sure the books are well-written and quite informative.
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A Faithful Heart (2001)
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A Faithful Spirit (2008)
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Cornelius Moore
Cornelius and I go way back to high school. He was actually my best friend during those years. Who knew we would both be writing books in the future? I'd like to think I inspired him to get up off his behind and get writing. I remember being very proud of him when I read his first book. I know he was proud of himself. It is a great achievement. Now, he has three books! Check out these fictional stories that take place in NY, where we live.
The Club (2016)
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The Boogie Down (2019)
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The Arrangement (2021)
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David M. FlynnDavid is a retired employee of the Smithtown Building and Planning Office on Long Island. When I was doing research on Kings Park, he was a tremendous source of information for me providing me with access to historic aerial images dating back to the 1930s. His book that he wrote on the early houses of Kings Park was also helpful in so many ways because it allowed me to see the progression of construction over the years, as well as learning the names of the early home owners in the area. The book is not widely available, so I was considering not posting it here. However, a limited number of copies are still available at the Kings Park Heritage Museum. If you are looking to learn more about the early history of Kings Park, then I suggest you consider getting this book.
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Early Houses of Kings Park (2004)
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Dennis RodriguezBelieve it or not, Dennis and I went to junior high school together in the Bronx during the 1980s. We were in a special program class that allowed us to go from 7th to 9th grade skipping the 8th grade. Yes, we were smart kids. Who knows what went wrong? Seriously speaking, that actually messed me up with math by the time I was in high school. Anyway, fast forward many years into the future and we are both writing books! Isn't life amazing? Dennis published his book before my first book was ready. In his book, Dennis explores how fear affects humanity, especially in a time right before the foreboding end of the Mayan calendar in 2012. It was a time many believed would be the end of days. I guess not. I guess you had to be there.
You can also check out his Facebook Page: The Super Human Effect |
The Super Human Effect (2011)
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Donna Parish-BischoffDonna and I met through our mutual love of Halloween and everything paranormal. She grew up in Yonkers, where I live. During that time she lived in a haunted house on Lee Avenue. Both of these books recount those early years of her life in great detail. Although she moved away from Yonkers several years ago, her old neighborhood still has a local reputation of being quite haunted.
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The Lee Avenue Haunting (2013)
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Growing Up Paranormal (2014)
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Gil ValleGil and I worked together as police officers in Manhattan, until he had the misfortune of becoming infamous overnight. You might have heard of the so-called "Cannibal Cop." Well, truth be told, he never actually ate anyone. They were all fantasies that he concocted on the Dark Web. After being imprisoned and exonerated, Gil had to pick up the pieces of what remained of his life. He decided to put that vivid imagination of his to good use by writing books, although not just any books. After reading his books, I can honestly say they are the darkest most extreme horror novels I have ever read. If you want to read something that will absolutely blow your mind, then you are in for a special treat. While his first book, written with the help of Brian Whitney, tells his true tale about how he lost his job and family because of his thought crimes, the other novels are purely fictional. They take place in the same universe, but you can read them as stand alone stories, too. Of course, if you want to do it right, then you should read them in order. Be warned, you will probably have nightmares and find yourself being a little paranoid from now on. You will never look at social media in the same way, once you are done with these books. I should mention he wrote one book in collaboration with Bridget Lee.
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Raw Deal (2017)
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A Gathering of Evil (2018)
The Lake Tahoe Ten Killings (2019)
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Joan Jennings
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Joseph M. GalanteI became acquainted with Joe through Facebook, although we did not meet in person, until years later when I visited the Pilgrim Psychiatric Center Museum, where he was a volunteer. He helped me out a great deal with my research on the Kings Park Psychiatric Center, and I hope my books eventually helped him with his research in return. If you enjoyed my KPPC books, check this one out.
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John LazzaroJohn is an avid photographer, who makes photography into his artwork. He photographed the Kings Park Psychiatric Center like many others before him, including myself, and created this great coffee table book. These beautiful images of the abandoned state hospital reveal hints of the past along with the ruins of the present. Check it out!
John also has his own website: John Lazzaro Photography |
The Walls Still Talk (2019)
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John used to have his own website called LIOddities.com, but sadly it is no longer active.
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Long Island Oddities (2013)
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King Pedlar (& Bradley Harris)I first met King Pedlar through the Kings Park Heritage Museum. When I was doing my research on the Kings Park Psychiatric Center, I was told he was the man to talk to because he is a local historian with extensive knowledge of the hospital. It was true. King helped me with so many things from information to contacts to historic photos. We soon became friends and I wanted to honor him, so I named a character in my first book, No Hope for the Hopeless at Kings Park, after him. Well, technically I added King Pedlar as a character to the book. It was him. He objected to the idea, at first, but when I sent him a sample, he liked what he read and agreed to let me keep the character in the book. King grew up in Kings Park, having spent his youth at the St. Johnland home near Sunken Meadow State Park. King would later spend many years working at the hospital, before retiring shortly before it closed in 1996. Afterwards, he enjoyed spending his days walking through the former hospital grounds, which is now a state park. He used his historical knowledge to help write this book about St. Johnland together with fellow local historian Bradley Harris. It is only available through the Kings Park Heritage Museum.
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Sean Austin (& David Weatherly)
Sean and I have a mutual love for investigating the paranormal. That's how we know each other. We both have had paranormal experiences at some of the same locations in Westchester County. We have even done an investigation together, as well as appearing on an Internet show together about Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers. Sean has also been on two paranormal television series, one in which he was a co-team leader. Suffice it to say, he has an impressive resume when it comes to the paranormal, which includes knowing some famous people in the field. It all had to start somewhere. In his books, he discusses those first experiences that led him on the path of becoming a well-known and respected paranormal investigator and demonologist. If you notice his guitar on the cover of the first book, he is also a talented musician and singer. His songs are available on itunes and Spotify.
You can also check out his Facebook Page:
Sean Austin
You can also check out his Facebook Page:
Sean Austin
Shadow Chaser (2018)
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Shadow Chaser-The In Between (2020)
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Stephen Weber (& Katherine Plant)Steve is a friend of mine, who I met during my research of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center. He is a well-respected man in his community, who is politically active and liked by many. Several years after we met he had a serious accident, while riding his new Harley Davidson. He was in a coma for weeks and doctors did not think he would survive, but he did. During his comatose state, he remembers being in a place he describes between Heaven and Earth. Steve had what is known as a near-death experience. He almost died, but was lucky enough to survive. Fortunately, he made a miraculous recovery. Just as he was done with his road to recovery, he suffered a great personal loss that once again made him come face to face with the place between here and there. Together with Katherine Plant, Steve tells of his heart-felt true experience. Steve was once a skeptic, but now he is a very spiritual person with an open mind. Read this touching story and see what you believe. In the least, you might find yourself thinking twice before getting on a motorcycle!
Check out their Facebook page: Between Here and There |
Susan HendersonSusan and I met at an event in Kings Park sponsored by the Kings Park Heritage Museum. We shared mutual friends. We began talking about our books and she told me about the ones she had written. At the time, her second book had just been published. I immediately purchased these two books to show my support. After all, she had my books on the KPPC. It was only fair! Both of these novels deal with women as the protagonists, who face real life problems, one taking place in the past of the old west and another dealing with a past she cannot forget.
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Up from the Blue (2010)
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The Flicker of Old Dreams (2018)
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Tiffany Seals (& Debbie Seals)
In 2013 I used a photo of my cousin, Tiffany, for the cover of my second book, The Diary of Audrey Malone Frayer. Today, she is the author and artist of several children's books and coloring books. I am so proud of her. Please, check out her books, especially if you have children in your family.
ABC's of Halloween Coloring Book (2021)
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Grammy's Girl (2021)
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Roman the Narwhal (2021)
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Yonkers Historical Society
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Then & Now: Yonkers (2008)
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~ Adverti$ement ~
My wife, Jo-Ann, is selling jewelry, purses, and other accessories through Stella & Dot. Please, indulge yourself and peruse the merchandise. Maybe you'd like to get a gift for that special someone? Check out the website! You might see something you like. Thanks!
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You can also check out her page on Facebook: Stella & Dot with Jo-Ann