The two Young Turks materialized from the loo, the one in the tropical shirt zipping his fly. Recessed ceiling lights accentuated his long face and pug nose and cut across his partner’s cheeks illuminating the ravishes of teenage acne, blemishes that scarred his soul as much as his skin. Jack watched them settle near the waitress’s station, surprised that he had no idea who the hell they were. He whispered: “Wayne, tell everybody be careful.” He noted the purplish blotch on the left bicep of the Shirt, a failed attempt to remove a tat. The pumped arms suggested that he came from a gym amped on ’roids for what he was about to do. “The guy in the flowered shirt’s really wired. I can’t tell if the other one’s carryin’, but he’s wearin’ dark glasses so let’s assume he’s high too.” Fucking amateurs, Jack thought. The one in the shades angled his face toward the African with a look both cocky and tense, daring him to hold his gaze, which the African did effortlessly. Up close the African looked like Yaphet Kotto, a resemblance he resented. Kotto was a minor movie star in the ‘70s and ‘80s but it wasn’t because of his looks. “Hold on” Jack said, pressing the left earpiece for better clarity. Shades asked “You da Nigerian?” The African nodded. Jack placed the accent as Brooklyn or northern Jersey. Given their clothes and mannerisms, he figured Bensonhurst. Shades leaned in, lowered his voice for dramatic effect and said “Follow us” as he and his pal retreated down the long narrow hallway and disappeared around a corner.
Today we talk about Collins, a book by Peter Noel Duhamel published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author Peter Noel Duhamel to get to know him better, if there was a particular moment in his life that brought him to the writing of his book Collins, as well as how he felt to see his novel published.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Is there a particular moment in your life that led you to the writing of your book? What was it?
The short answer is No. Much of the material in Collins is a distillation of the experiences I had during the decades I lived in NYC where I worked as an Assistant United States Attorney and then as a professional actor. I’ve been writing since grad school and was encouraged by a gracious rejection letter I received early on from then-Random House Senior Editor Toni Morrison.
- What would like to hear from you readers?
Their response to the material, subject matter and prose. I am not looking for critiques, merely impressions. As a filmmaker I learned not to ask audience members for feedback because invariably they took it as an invitation to serve as art critics. My preference is gut reactions to the story. That would be helpful.
- Is there a book you are particularly attached to and that has taught you something?
I’m attached to writers more than to particular books. From Camus and Herman Hesse in my post-university days, to Daniel Silva, John Sandford, Jo Nesbo, Lee Childs, et al.
- How did it feel to see your noir novel published?
Having acted professionally for a number of years, my reaction is not one of excitement at the finished product. I did the best I could and am pleased with much of the work. My focus is what I could have done better. I feel that I learned a lot that will make my next manuscript better and more challenging.
- Are you planning to write more books?
I’ve already begun a sequel, working on drafts of the opening chapters while I continue my research and flesh out possible story lines. Carter and Thad return, as have some of the others. Some have not made the cut.
Europe Books thanks the author Peter Noel Duhamel once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside him on the editorial path that led to the publication of his book Collins. We wish him the best of luck for his book and for his future works.
To you, my dear reader, may this book capture, amuse and intrigue your reading time so that you don’t want to close it ever!
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!