Thomas Fitzsimmons's Blog

Courtney at Crunchy Beach Mama recently reviewed "Confessions of a Catholic Cop." Check out her review and enter for a chance to win a free copy here: http://more.crunchybeachmama.com/2011...

Or read her thoughts below. Thanks Courtney!

Review from Crunchy Beach Mama:

What an intriguing title. Confessions of a Catholic Cop by Thomas Fitzsimmons. Not a “normal” read for me, but I’m all about mixing things up!

Let me tell you a little bit of background about the author…

A former New York City cop who comes from a family of cops, and have been a private investigator and bodyguard to A-list celebrities for the past 20years (the last nine spent bodyguarding Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas).

He is on call 24/7 when his clients are in town and structures the rest of his days around writing. He’s currently working on this third novel.

What the book is about…

The rough streets of the South Bronx. Home to countless gangs, pimps, and hustlers. Where a gunshot is as common as a baby crying. Where a day without a murder is an oddity. This is where ten-year police veteran Michael Beckett has spent most of his career.

When he lands a walk-on role on a popular network cop show, Beckett hopes to trade chasing rapists, drug dealers, and murderers for a new life in front of the camera…and maybe even settle down with the young, hot writer on the show, Solana Ortiz. But when Solana’s neighborhood goes up in flames in a string of arsons, Beckett must put aside his caviar dreams and do what does best – police work.

My thoughts…

I was impressed the book had high ratings on all the review sites I looked up, especially since Fitzsimmons was a first time novelist. I was anxious to get reading when it arrived and I soon found it to be an easy page turner. I instantly liked the main character Becket, but not so much his crazy partner Vinnie.

While happy I don’t live in the South Bronx with gangs & shady businessmen, I felt for Solana who grew up there, but was anxious to leave at the same time. Both her and Beckett get caught in a web of wanting to catch the bad guys and trying to protect the people and property of this shallow neighborhood. Fighting for their lives as many people die around them, they develop a relationship with each other. Can they save the neighborhood and a relationship at the same time? You’ll have to read to find out!

This is definitely a book that Hubby will enjoy and I’ll be passing it along!

Thomas Fitzsimmons didn't need to go to the public library, interview participants, or hire a team of high-priced researchers to write gritty stories. For Fitzsimmons, a former New York City police officer, NBC television personality, Ford Model, and soap-opera/TV commercial actor, business associate and friend to some of the country's most rich and famous, it was as simple as recalling his life.

Fitzsimmons, who has written two novels, a memoir, a short story collection, and three screenplays has sold stories in Esquire Magazine, and New York Magazine. He has optioned film treatments to Doug Wick, Academy Award wining producer of "Gladiator," to the actor Ray Liotta and Larry "JR" Hagman's Majlar Productions.

What are you writing at the minute?

I’m writing a third book with the “confessions” theme. First there was “Confessions of a Catholic Cop,” then “Confessions of a Suicidal Policewoman” (coming soon!), and now “Confessions of a Celebrity Bodyguard.” Since I’m a former New York City cop who comes from a family of cops, and have been a bodyguard to A-list celebrities for the past 20years (the last nine spent bodyguarding Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas), I guess I’m uniquely qualified to write these types of books.

Can you give us an idea of Thomas Fitzsimmons’ typical up-to-the-armpits-in-ideas-and-time writing day?

Since I’m on call 24/7 when CZJ & MD are in town, I’m forced to structure the days I’m free to write. I rise around 5:30 a.m., read the New York Times, and drink about six cups of coffee. Then I answer emails, speak to my identical twin brother (a retired cop; we speak every day), eat breakfast. I’m usually at the computer by around 8 a.m. at the latest. I’ll work non-stop until around noon, break for a sandwich, then back to writing. I knock off around 4 p.m., head down to the gym for a workout. Shower. Shave. Off to a pub for a pint or two followed by dinner at one of Manhattan’s fabulous restaurants.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

As mentioned above, I’m a full-time bodyguard and private investigator. The bodyguard work can be most challenging. Unfortunately, there are a lot of crazies in the world (they grow on trees here in New York) and my team and I must be alert and ready for anything and everything; from insensitive, overzealous fans to predatory stalkers.

Any advice for a greenhorn trying to break into the genre fiction scene?

How about I quote Stephen King? “Fiction writers, present company included, don’t understand very much about what they do—not why their writing works when it’s good, not why it doesn’t when it’s bad.”

Write what you feel, what you believe, what you’ve lived.

And every aspiring writer should read the “Elements of Style” by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White.

Which writers have impressed you this year?

Dennis Lehane—he keeps getting better. Donald E. Westlake—always makes me laugh. Walter Mosley—for his unique voice.

What are you reading right now?

I read several books at once: “Alone” by Lisa Gardner, “Early Autumn” by Robert B. Parker, and “Eightball Boogie” by Declan Burke.

Plans for the future?

I plan to keep writing as long as the ideas keep flowing. Seeing that I’m of Irish decent (Cavan, Donegal) and grew up in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx, I never seem to be at a loss for the blarney.

Also, I’d like to be a snowbird someday, live and write on a sunny beach in the winter, be home here in Manhattan in the summer.

With regards to your writing career to date, would you do anything differently?

I wished I’d started writing seriously earlier. But I was too occupied with women and beer—still am to a lesser degree. I wish I hadn’t listened to early critics who advised me to write for the marketplace—no author should.

Do you fancy sharing your worst writing experience?

Since the book business is subjective, the worst thing about being a writer is dealing with publishers. When my publisher Tor/Forge published “City of Fire,” which I have re-released as “Confessions of a Catholic Cop,” they published another book by the same title, with a similar theme, and similar cover art at the same time. When I objected, the publisher insisted that having the two thrillers in the same mystery/thriller sections in book stores at the same time wouldn’t be a problem, that there’d be no conflict. They, of course, were dead wrong. There’s also the fact that an author is forced to deal with the publisher’s totally overworked and grossly underpaid editors, marketing and public relations people. There’s no way they have the time to “get behind” a book.

Anything you want to say that I haven’t asked you about? -- What’s it like to be an A-list bodyguard?

It’s a high pressure job. The hours are brutal. You must be vigilant; watch everyone, trust no one. What makes my job worthwhile are my clients. I happen to work for decent, thoughtful, down to earth people who put their family first and above all else.


Thanks Gerard!

http://crimesceneni.blogspot.com/2011...

Happy Tuesday! Blogger BV Lawson chose me for an author Q&A on his mystery blog "In Reference to Murder." It is always nice to work with like-minded people who are interested in your writing. Check out his blog and our discussion below.

http://inreferencetomurder.typepad.co...

Thomas Fitzsimmons grew up in an Irish neighborhood in the Bronx, part of a family of career cops. He served in the Navy on a guided missile cruiser on its way to Vietnam after high school before joining the "family business" as a cop with the New York City Police Department. He spent 10 years in the precinct dramatized in Paul Newman's move Fort Apache, The Bronx, collaring armed robbers, drug kingpins and arsonists.

Then his career took an unusual turn. He came to the attention of a talent scout who signed Fitzsimmons up for modeling with the Ford Agency in his off hours, which eventually led to on-camera positions as co-host for the magazine-format talk show Now and stints on soap operas and TV commercials. But he never completely left his law enforcement roots, becoming a security consultant and bodyguard to A-list celebrities including Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow and appearing on shows such Good Morning America, Geraldo Rivera and Montel Williams as a security expert.

Turning his attention to writing, Fitzsimmons penned a memoir, two short story collections, three screenplays, pieces for Esquire and New York Magazine. His first novel, Confessions of a Catholic Cop, has an autobiographical edge, as it follows ten-year police veteran Michael Beckett, who lands a small role on Law & Order, and decides he can start a new life in front of the camera. But when the neighborhood of a young, hot Law & Order scriptwriter, Solana Ortiz, becomes the target of a string of arsons, Beckett uncovers a scheme that reaches into the deep pockets of power and greed in New York City and lands him on the same path as an old friend Beckett would rather forget.

Formally published by Forge Books as City of Fire (which sold more than 20,000 copies worldwide), Fitzsimmons has re-released Confessions of a Catholic Cop under its original title. A portion of the proceeds from the re-release will go to support the New York City Police Foundation, which works to make New York City a safer place for residents and visitors. He took some time out to participate in a Q&A:

IRTM: First of all, part of the proceeds from the re-release of Confessions is designated to support the New York City Police Foundation. Can you tell us more about that organization?

TF: The New York City Police Foundation was established in 1971 by business and civic leaders as an independent, non-profit organization to promote excellence in the NYPD and improve public safety. The Foundation supports programs designed to help the NYPD keep pace with rapidly evolving technology, strategies and training. The proceeds I donate are earmarked for their “Crime Stoppers” program which offers rewards of up to $2,000 for anonymous information to the 800-577-TIPS hotline, which leads to the arrest and indictment of a violent felon. This public/private partnership between the NYPD and the New York City Police Foundation has been an invaluable crime-fighting tool since the program’s inception.

IRTM: How did you get from police work, modeling and acting to becoming a security expert, bodyguard and private investigator? Were there classes or licensing you had to go through, or did you mentor with someone or work in a firm?

TF: I was an active duty cop when I started acting and modeling. I acquired a New York State license and bond and founded my own security company soon after leaving the NYPD. Once word got around that I was a cop, (and later an ex-cop who was licensed and bonded), celebrities frequently asked me for advice on everything from what to do about drug addicted children or spouses, to checking up on new employees, and even verifying the finances of potential film investors. If a stalker appeared on a film set, or a jealous spouse, or jilted lover, or if there was a physical altercation of any kind—you’d be surprised what transpires on film sets—I was the one they’d usually ask to handle the situation. Which I did with as little ruckus as possible.

IRTM: You've said you decided to turn to writing due to all the stories and unique characters you'd collected from your job as an officer and security expert. But you were initially discouraged from writing until Truman Capote read a short story of yours, told you that you had a future as a writer and introduced you to an agent. How did all of that come to pass, and were you influenced any by Capote's writings, such as In Cold Blood?

TF: Truman Capote and I worked out at the same gym, the now defunct Profile Health Club on East 47th Street in Manhattan. I also saw him frequently at Studio 54 and other nightclubs, and spoke to him at length about his writing and the merits of In Cold Blood and the novella, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, two books I related to. As a cop, I’d known more than my share of sociopaths, like Hickock and Smith, (the killers depicted in In Cold Blood). And I’d known more than one Holly Golightly; still do.

IRTM: You've mentioned Dennis Lehane, Donald E. Westlake, Walter Mosley and Robert B. Parker as authors who inspire you. What is it about their styles that impressed you, and do you see any parallels between their writing and yours?

TF: Lehane, Westlake, Mosley and Parker’s works are entertaining and readable. Judging by the fan mail I receive, my books are too—I hope.

IRTM: Confessions of a Catholic Cop has been called a "scandalous romantic thriller." What made you decide to choose that genre rather than, say, a straight hard-boiled police procedural or private-eye tale?

TF: I know it may sound like a dodge, but I didn’t decide on the genre; the characters in my book did. I had the general story in my mind, and when I began writing, the book sort of wrote itself. Although the book has elements of a typical hard-boiled police and private-eye tale, I felt like a spectator during the writing process, rather than the creative force behind the book. That make any sense?

IRTM: Since you're a former cop from a family of cops with lots of friends and connections in law enforcement—do you ever worry about getting a detail wrong? I doubt they'd ever let you live it down!

TF: A few would say that I have gotten a few details wrong already. In an early draft of Confessions of a Catholic Cop I had a cop clicking the “safety” off of a Glock .9mm. Half a dozen cops balked, told me that there is no such feature on a Glock—but there is, of course. It’s a custom gadget that several cops I know had installed. But, I took out the reference just the same. Also, because the Browning’s .9mm rounds didn’t photograph well for the front cover, the art director insisted on using .38 rounds—there’s no way that that Browning could fire a .38 round. I still get some grief from a couple of my cronies for that one.

IRTM: Did you base any characters on friends or colleagues? Has anyone given you a hard time thinking that you did? (Especially those celebrity clients.)

TF: One cop took a swing at me for using his name. (I ducked). The fact the character was nothing like him didn’t seem to make a difference. And so I avoid using the names of anyone I’ve worked with. In reality, all the characters are composites. Although everyone seems to recognize that the R. J. Gold character is, in reality, based on my old pal Donald J. Trump. Donald has yet to say anything to me.

IRTM: Publishing is a tough business, even for folks who have excellent credentials such as yourself. You apparently experienced this first-hand when Confessions was first published under a different title, and apparently you had one horrible experience after another during the publishing and marketing process. What would you do differently, if you had to do it all over again?

TF: In a perfect world I would have waited to find the right publisher. As it was, I jumped at the first opportunity to be published by a major publisher. Although there were early signs that my youthful editor was wrong for the project—he thought the cops on TV were for real—I figured things would work out. They didn’t. And once a publisher buys the rights to your book, you have little, if anything to say.

IRTM: What's next? As I understand it, there are Confessions of a Suicidal Policewoman and Confessions of a Celebrity Bodyguard in the works, which sound like continuations in your series with your fictional partners Michael Beckett and Destiny Jones. Any standalone thrillers ahead?

TF: Confessions of a Suicidal Policewoman is a Michael Beckett novel, but Confessions of a Celebrity Bodyguard is a standalone thriller. I’ve also written about 15 short stories that are standalones. “Rockers” is available everywhere. You can find more information on thomasfitzsimmons.com.

IRTM: So—the Yankees or the Mets?

TF: Yankees, dude!

I was recently featured in an Author Spotlight post in the GoodReads' Self Published Authors group. It is a great group with a bunch of helpful fellow authors - I highly recommend checking it out. Enjoy!

1.Can you give us a brief overview of your latest book?

“Confessions of a Catholic Cop” has been called a scandalous romantic thriller. The story follows Michael Beckett, an honest Bronx cop (who also moonlights as a supporting character on 'Law and Order' and is smitten with one of the show’s writers, Solana Ortiz), and his mercurial partner Vinnie D’Amato, as they investigate a string of mysterious arson deaths. It seems that an area of the Bronx has been ear-marked for demolition by a ruthless Manhattan real estate tycoon—the very area where Beckett’s unrequited love interest Solana resides. As clues bring him deeper and deeper into a murder-for-profit scheme and massive potential cover-up, Beckett fights to win Solana’s trust and save her life, all while agonizing over whether he should pursue a profitable and glamorous acting career or remain a New York City cop.

2. Did you try the traditional route to publishing, i.e. querying agents/publishers, or did you jump right into self-publication?

I tried the traditional route and quickly grew frustrated with unanswered query letters, stock rejections and idiotic suggestions by some agents and their staff. Self-publishing got me noticed and subsequently got me published—it’s the way to go. Especially today, unless you’re a celebrity writing a non-fiction tell-all, publishers act as printers and nothing more.

3. What factors influenced your decision to self-publish to Amazon?

I’m really focusing on marketing “Confessions of a Catholic Cop” as an eBook. Amazon is a great venue for self-published, eBook authors, since the website is very eBook friendly, and eBooks make up the majority of its sales. Buyers can easily upload books to their Kindle’s from the website, plus it’s simple for us authors to upload our eBooks to the site.

4. Did you hire an editor to review your manuscript before publishing? And if not, what method did you use for proofing?

Heck, yes. I retained an editor, a line editor, copy editor and proof readers. And I learned that the old adage—ask five editors for an opinion and you’ll get six opinions—is true. I also found that, while undergoing the editorial process, I developed an ear for solid constructive criticism as opposed to the common subjective bullshit. And, I found that virtually every editor wants to change a project, make it theirs, even if it means homogenizing the manuscript.

5. What have you've learned during your self-publishing journey? Any advice you can give to burgeoning writers?

My advice: “DO IT!” Self-publish and don’t wait for agents or editors—most are frustrated authors—to discover you. Get your book out there. Do it your way. Promote your book and don’t look back. Then if a publisher takes notice, as in my case, you’ll know what they know—literally. Publishing is not brain surgery.

6. Where have you put your work on sale? Is it available in only digital formats, or is there a physical edition available?

My books are available (although you’ll have to order them) in trade paperback format at all brick-and-mortar stores. There are also eBook versions in all formats on the websites of Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders. You can order books from my website, www.thomasfitzsimmons.com, as well. However I have not produced an audio version, yet.

7. What kinds of marketing are you involved with for promoting your book? Any promotional recommendations to new writers?

Due to the eBook revolution, we’re focusing on web-based marketing—banner ads on influential literary blogs—and editorial reviews. I tried social networking ads but found them to be a total waste of money because click fraud is rampant.

In the past I went into debt to promote a book. I produced a 15-second TV commercial that ran for six week, 20 times a day in the New York City tri-state area. I recorded five radio commercials that ran for a month, and purchased a mall marketing package—the same 15-second TV-spot ran on over 2,000 nine-foot screens in 150 class “A” malls across the country. All the malls had a major book store. The fact the publisher never got the book into the stores in the first place, or promoted the book as promised—they never even thought to inform the book stores in the 150 class “A” malls about the mall’s book promotion—is a baffling horror story that still keeps me up nights.

8. Do you find it difficult to manage your time, shifting focus between marketing your current book and writing your next book, as well as any day-to-day responsibilities?

Yes. It’s most difficult. I’m on call 24/7 for my day job as a celebrity bodyguard—I own the company—all the while promoting books, writing and juggling a full social calendar. As a result, I never actually take time off. Even when I manage to escape for a few weeks, I bring my laptop and write every day.

9. What's next for you? Any new books in the works?

“Confessions of a Suicidal Policewoman,” the second book in the series, will be out this month. I had the option of allowing my publisher to publish it, but after hearing the changes that the editor wanted me to make, I pulled the book and decided to self-publish.

Next is “Confessions of a Celebrity Bodyguard.” I won’t even bother showing it to the publisher. As with my other novels, I’m certain they wouldn’t understand it, or have any idea how to successfully promote and market it. And so I’ll self-publish.


Confessions of a Catholic Cop

I came across a post on The Creative Penn this morning about an author who landed a book deal through Twitter. Pretty amazing what social media can do. Check out the blog post here: http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2011/0...

Hey guys, here is a brief selection from the crime thriller "Confessions of a Catholic Cop":

Eric Stone moves farther down the hall, eyes fighting the darkness, and finds the apartment he’s looking for. He approaches, puts his ear to the door, hears a TV - a newscast in Arabic.

Cautiously, he tries the door. It’s locked. Stone removes a credit card from his pocket, slips it into the crack above the knob, trips the lock. Click.

Blam! A .357 Magnum discharges from the other side of the door. Metal splinters and wood chips slice through the air.

Stone is hit. Blown off his feet. He crashes against a wall and falls to the tenement floor.

***

The full text can be purchased here:
http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Cat...