American Horror Story

(Legendary Bowery Gang Leader, Mose Humphrey) “The deaths are three each day. This is in the parish of Tuoist. The people are buried without coffins, frequently in the next field. (There is) no noise or sign of grief for the dead; every thought is selfish and unfeeling…” – Irish official during potato famine, 1847. – The [...]

THE PAIN

(My grammar school photo) “Just hit the fecking thing,” Joe Steers had said. “But you have to break the bone. Skull’s the best spot. That’s all a man has to do and he’s golden.” I looked down at the diabolical weapon in my grasp that he had been showing me how to use. It was a wooden stave with [...]

Into Darkness – Christmas Day, 1853

   (View of Brooklyn Heights, 1849 – from digital New York Public Library) You had to be there before nightfall. These ships always came in the middle of the night, and they wanted you there earlier to wait. They wanted to watch, you and the others… – Miller’s Landing was a rickety old wharf on the [...]

Gorged

 (Greek Salad – food photos uncreditted) No one goes to a diner in NYC unless you live in Staten Island and don’t know any better. I know Seinfeld did, but he went with a TV crew and George Costanza, and then made comic history. All I can think is because of that awesome show, Diners, Drive-ins [...]

Hello Again!

(Brooklyn Bridge – historic Tobacco Warehouse – Photo and Photoshopped by Joe) Okay, I’m back after a hiatus from posting. Who cares, right? No one. I sure as heck don’t. Anyway, things haven’t been going so well on my side of the fence. I’ve been living at my boss Nick’s house, yet not going to [...]

Chapter Three: “A Glorious Death”

(“Catcher in the rye” by Kamiyari) Chapter Three     Two hours later, Karl was still parked outside the Sisters of Charity Children’s Home. He lowered his torso as a compact green-colored car passed. Behind the wheel was a brown-skinned woman with tight curly hair. She drove by at least three times a day, though never [...]

Notes on my Max Beckley novels

(*Old Mill Road, Richmond Town – Photos by Joe) The most exciting thing about starting the novel process for me is that the impetus forms completely outside of my control. That is to say, I could never write a novel, but there’s something outside of my scope of understanding that can. In the beginning, silly, abstract thoughts form the basis for what I believe [...]

Chapter Two: “In Her Arms”

(Heaven in Her Arms-WALL by ‘vhm-alex) Chapter Two     Four people appeared in the gloom above Max’s crib. His eyes darted to the small-featured face of Father Raja, and then settled on the compassionate, lighter-brown face of the nun, Tooti. He looked deep into her eyes and wanted her to lift him so he [...]

Chapter One: “God is Forgiveness”

 (Most Holy Redeemer Church, NYC - Photo/Photoshopped by Joe)   Chapter One      Late one morning Karl became aware of a subtle change in the air. He had been sitting in a car, stationed outside a Miami orphanage. Through the back window, he spotted a taxi that had just turned onto the street. An uncanny, [...]

Max’s Story

(Max Beckley – Uncredited picture Photoshopped by Joe) For way too long I’ve been yakking about how I wrote two books about Max Beckley’s plight. He’s a Revolutionary War soldier that was abducted during the Battle of Brooklyn by the same demons that haunt me now. I’m gonna share the first few chapters of the first novel. They are still a bit rough. The [...]

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