Lorenzo Carcaterra
is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Sleepers, A Safe Place, Apaches, Gangster, Street Boys, Paradise City, Chasers, and Midnight Angels. He is a former writer/producer for Law & Order and has written for National Geographic Traveler, The New York Times Magazine, Details, and Maxim. His most recent novel is The Wolf. He lives in New York City with Gus, his “Olde English Bulldogge.”
What are you working on currently?
Currently, I’m working on my new novel, Tin Badges, for Ballantine Books. It’s a crime novel featuring an ex-cop leading a rogue team in a hunt for a killer. They are joined in the chase by his recently orphaned 15-year-old nephew, a budding Sherlock Holmes. It is the first in a planned series and will quickly be followed by The Widow Maker, the sequel to The Wolf.
I also sold a spec script for a TV series to [producer and director] Joe Roth, and we are working to gear up the pilot. The series is called The Prosecutor.
When and how do you find time to write?
You make time. I usually work on the books in the mornings and the scripts in the afternoon. Layered in between are walks with my dog; a workout and reading — papers, books, magazines. I make my own hours and luckily don’t need much sleep, so if you total it all up — I probably write for about 8 hours a day; read about 2-3; workout for 2; and watch as many movies and TV dramas as needed — it’s all part of the job.
How much and what kinds of marketing do you personally do? How do you feel it works for you?
I have a web site, I blog occasionally for it; Facebook and Twitter — which everyone does. Someone does Instagram for me from photos I send her. It’s like chicken soup — it can’t hurt. I have to decide to devote more time to social media — making a bigger footprint in that arena. I notice it does pay off for some writers I know and, while I plan to do more, I don’t know how well it works for me. I still believe the best way to sell a book to a reader is by word of mouth. I do enjoy going out and speaking to groups — I prefer speaking to reading — and those I find very useful, fun, and productive. Last year I spoke to 500 folks at Boeing headquarters in D.C., had a blast and sold over 600 books and ended up on the Washington Post bestseller list — that’s effective marketing.
What fictional detective would you like to be and why?
Lt. Columbo — smart, funny, sharp, and always caught his suspect.
In five words or less, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Read everything. Watch everything. Pray.
Photo by Kate Carcaterra.
Dear Mr. Carcaterra,
I have been a fan for many years and thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your novels. That said, are we going to have a sequel to “The Wolf”? — I hope so.
Sincerely,
Gladys Catalano
P.S. Also, my son who is not much of a reader loves your books.
I’ve been following Mr. Carcaterra since way back when he was an entertainment reporter at the Daily News. I particularly loved Sleepers and Gangster. But I missed The Wolf and will go out and get it now.