Better Be Home When the Streetlights Come On: Remembering the Summer of 1963 follows three eleven-year-old boys as they spend their summer going on adventures and making memories. There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?

The three main characters and most of the supporting cast are loosely based on my childhood friends. Brain, the Jewish kid, was the smartest among us and Chief an African American kid was simply our friend – we didn’t care about race. The important traits are just ”kids being kids” and navigating the challenges and landscape of 1963.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I wanted to give the reader a sense of what it was like growing up in Braddock 1963. Beginning with a macro view of Braddock as a steel town shaped by Andrew Carnegie, steel-making technologies, and the environmental advantages of proximity to the Monongahela River and the rich coal seams. Next, I focused in closer on the neighborhood, stores, and the culture of the times. From then on through the rest of the book I follow the major events of their summer vacation. Another theme is the challenges of aging with the older versions of the friends as they reflect on the childhood memories.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

I am going to go in a completely different direction and write a non-fiction book. I had the honor and privilege to serve in Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) roles in several iconic organizations including but not limited to the Naval Nuclear Program, US House of Representatives, American Red Cross (from 9-11 to Hurricane Katrina), and AMTRAK. Over 40 years of experience, I will write about the evolution of the CISO vocation in the context of meteoric advancements in technology and the means to protect the organization against internal and external threats. As to when it will be available, TBD.

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