Lindsay A. Curcio
This month, The First Two Pages continues to feature posts by some of the authors who contributed stories to Where Crime Never Sleeps: Murder New York Style 4​ ​(Level Best Books, September 2017), the fourth anthology of crime and mystery short stories by members of the New York/ Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime.
The New York/Tri-State Chapter of Sisters in Crime initially discussed an anthology theme of New York City landmarks. I immediately thought of the main US post office in New York City, the James A. Farley Post Office on Eighth Avenue. It’s a big Beaux Arts style building, covering the area from 31st to 33rd Streets. I like the building for several reasons. Its staff lovingly processes letters to Santa. (Think of Miracle on 34th Street–Macy’s is just a block away.) It’s open 24 hours a day. (As an immigration lawyer, I have made many trips to this post office over the years, at all hours, to meet deadlines.) And it serves as a base where the homeless can claim their mail.
Lindsay, I like the high energy with which you start your story. Johnny Monroe is brash and loud and confident about his views and sitting on top of the world–very much like the part of midtown Manhattan where you’ve chosen to set his story. But you also give the reader a hint from the very beginning that things may not be quite what they seem, and Johnny’s world could come crashing down. Great work!
Well you hooked me. I haven’t read your story yet but I really need to know Johnny’s secret. I like the immigration angle too. Really looking forwar to reading “I Gotta Be Me.”
And you know, I’ve also often wondered whether these talk show hosts that I think are crazy, really believe what they’re saying.