Writers Tricks of the Trade January-February 2015 | Page 30

PRESS “CONTROL” THEN CLICK BUY TO PURCHASE THE BOOK Life Stories EXCERPT FROM THE BOSS ALWAYS SITS IN THE BACK BY JON D’AMORE Huh? JON D’AMORE BUY JON D’AMORE TAKES US ON A PERILOUS, HYSTERICAL ADVENTURE INTO THE INNER WORKINGS AND INNER SANCTUM OF MOBSTER MENTALITY AS ONLY A FAMILY MEMBER CAN. WITH A ROLL OF THE DICE, WE’RE CAREENING ALONGWITH JON IN SUMPTUOUS 1970S VEGAS HOTEL SUITES AND AT THE CRAP TABLES. HE BREATHES TECHNICOLOR LIFE INTO CHARACTERS WHO NEVER, EVER BECOME CARICATURES. Like all children, I was influenced by the things around me during the formative years. Some children grow up in a family of doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, owners of small and large businesses, police chiefs, insurance salesmen, stockbrokers, corporate executives, or small town and big city politicians. If something went wrong in their family they usually blamed it on families like mine...or they came to families like mine for help. In my immediate family there were no doctors, lawyers, investment bankers and so on. This is my story, based on actual events, of living on the fringe of what some people call “the Mafia.” You see, several members of my immediate family were connected. Connected simply means that through blood, honor or business...you have a direct connection to the Cosa Nostra, the Mafia, Our Thing, La Famiglia, the Mob. And those members of my family made a very comfortable living for many, many years through this affiliation. I thought about becoming more involved when I was in my early 20s, but at the time it was the mid-1970s. I was a professional musician and having too much fun living the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. I was living every dream of most of my high school and college buddies (and at the time...that mattered!), so why would I want to cut my hair, wear dark suits and ties...and take the chance of getting whacked? Instead, I decided to watch da guys from the sidelines. I was able to enjoy the best of a few worlds. I was having my little slice of rock ‘n’ roll success, I had a great social and family life, I got to play with my connected relatives...and I also got to hang with The Boys From Hudson County. I got to be a part of the games, the hustles, the respect, the scams, the Federal investigations, the women, the stories, the parties...and the cash. I got to do some wild things...and I got to meet some very interesting and unique people. A lot of them aren’t with us anymore. Most of them are dead. A Cont’d… JAN-FEB 2015 PAGE 22 WRITERS TRICKS OF THE TRADE