Writing Portfolio

Lorenzo Mancuso is a guy with secrets. As a kid, his broken family spilled him onto the streets of Philadelphia. His childhood buddy brought him into the home of the family that ran the Family—the biggest crime Family in that city. He grew up and muscled for them on the streets, but, with his head for numbers, he ended up helping to run the business. Lorrie achieved his dream of being important, trusted and valued. Right up until he wasn’t. Lorrie worked for the Family but wasn’t actual family— and having the Family’s secrets marked him for death. Lorrie made a quick, strategic choice and stayed alive by taking his secrets to the FBI. The Mafia bosses went to prison, Lorrie got a one-way ticket to New Mexico and a new identity. The FBI kept him safe, hidden there for thirty years. Then, without their permission, he moved to an upscale retirement home in Florida. What’s a guy like Lorrie—with time on his hands and crime on his resume—do to keep himself entertained? What secret brought him to Florida? What happens when, for the very first time, other people become more important to him than himself?

I wrote this when I became familiar with upscale retirement homes. There are fascinating people with widely varying backgrounds to be found. Hmm.. mobsters retire, they have to go somewhere. What would they do to keep entertained? What ulterior motive would place them there? Yes, Hijinks ensue...

After he mysteriously inherits land on Steens Mountain in Oregon, Hector Eladio Xavier—Hex—leaves his home in Los Angeles for a weekend trip to dispose of the property. Weeks later he finds himself saddled with cattle and horses and frustratingly entangled int he community. As a young urban professional, he's unequipped for life in a small cow town and bewildered by the culture of the people who live there. Experience as a Latino gang member, Army Ranger, and businessman has to keep him alive to solve a thirty-year puzzle. Mystery, danger, and comedy mix with ulterior motives and rural quirks. Hex grapples with small-town crazy and is forced to confront his own brand of crazy as well. 

This is the first book in the Steens Mountain Series. 

I wrote this to explore how country people welcome those from a different culture. We sometimes get unfairly painted as anti-outsider. What happens when you put someone urban into rural? How would it go right? How could it go wrong? What actions make them succeed versus fail?