Retired #MiddletownRI Police Chief Anthony Pesare recently released his second novel "Back In The Game." Pesare discusses his latest work, writing and more at Book online.
PESARE BACK IN THE GAME
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (DECEMBER 18, 2024) – No one can ever accuse Anthony Pesare of taking it easy in retirement.
Within days of stepping away as Middletown Police Chief capping a 40-year career in law enforcement, Pesare released his second novel in the Gino Peterson series Back In The Game.
Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and other retailers, the work follows the trials of Rhode Island State Trooper and his work investigating organized crime in the Ocean State.
Filled with twists and turns, the always modest Pesare said he feels like his second work was even better than his first.
“Back in the Game offers a unique insight into the world of investigation of the Mafia and the Rhode Island State Police,” the 72-year-old Pesare said. “It's an opportunity to understand the personal and professional toll it takes on those on both sides of the law.”
Pesare should know.
As a member of the State Police with 24 years of service achieving the rank of Major before coming to Middletown as chief, Pesare handled just about anything and everything.
Drug investigations, white collar crime, homicides, stone cold killers, the Mob, Pesare saw them all.
Pesare said one case in particular influenced him to write his first book They Always Win, which introduced readers to the character Peterson.
“When I was in the State Police Intelligence Unit, we investigated and convicted a mobster of a mob hit of another mobster,” Pesare said. "We used the testimony of three protected state witnesses. It was such a unique investigation and prosecution it inspired me to write my first book, They Always Win. This book continues that story using the same characters, but delves into the character's personal and professional lives more than the first.”
That’s something Pesare felt was important to delve into with his second book — and not just because it makes for interesting reading.
“The police and criminals face the same personal problems and emotional issues that we all face,” Pesare said. “Police work can consume you, and it is not a professional that readily accepts human frailty.”
Asked about how much of his writing was inspired by his past, Pesare’s response was telling.
“Almost all of it draws from my life and professional experiences,” Pesare said. “There are, however, portions of the story that are pure fiction.”
A big fan of both fiction and nonfiction, Pesare said he enjoys reading works of history, particularly about the Civil War and the World War II eras. His favorite authors include Dennis Lehane, Jeff Shaara and Joseph Wambaugh.
In terms of his writing process, Pesare said he doesn’t have one set way to attack his work.
“When I decide to write, I handwrite the pages on a legal pad and then type them into a Word document or Google Doc,” Pesare said. “Sometimes it's one page, and sometimes it's 20. Then, it's a matter of editing and rewriting.”
As for those looking to put together their own book, Pesare had one word for advice — write.
“I believe it was Stephen King who said that writing is rewriting,” Pesare said. “Writing is hard work, so my advice would be just to start writing, even if it's one page. If you have a story to tell, it will end up on the page if you work on it.”
The key to a good work, Pesare said, was pretty straightforward.
“If it is an interesting story with characters that make the reader want to know how it will all end, it has the chance to be a good book,” Pesare said.
Pesare retired earlier this month from Middletown Police. His second-in-command Jason Ryan was named as his successor by the Town Council on Dec. 16.
Before returning to the Middletown Police for a year and a half, Pesare also served as Dean of the School of Justice Studies at Roger Williams University in Bristol.
So is Pesare done with Peterson and writing now? Not a chance.
“It's only been a short time since I retired, so I'm still in a transitional period, trying to find my way,” Pesare said, laughing. “What has occupied my time is writing the third book in the series. I've just begun writing, but it is progressing.”
And he’s always making time for reading, regardless of what’s on his plate.
“There is something special about holding a book in your hands and reading,” Pesare said. “It reminds me of people who refuse to read a newspaper unless it's the print version. I enjoy printed versions but also read a great deal on a Kindle.”
Document Link: https://mdl.town/NYCU-Book
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