Meet Tony the Wolf

     For a refreshing change of pace, we have a unique guest with us today--a man near and dear [?] to my heart, the 'bad guy' [next only to Dickhead that is] in Sharon Buchbinder's An Inn Decent Proposal. He's a character, to put it mildly. So grab a cuppa and empty your bladders 'cause heeeere's Tony . . .

Where are you from originally?

Who’s askin’? What are you with the feds, or sumpin’? You got ID? No? Youse is just some nosy reporter? Fine. I’m from Jersey. That’s all youse needs to know.

What is An Inn Decent Proposal about?

It’s about how I got screwed outta a sweet deal. I was gonna build a casino, move in my crew, get some respect, if you know what I mean. The chief of police, Dickhead, he told me we had a deal. He lied to me. Him and his big-titted, useless wife, Beth, Betty, whatever. I get to the auction, which is supposed to be rigged for ME. That place was MINE. Then outta the blue these two saps walk in, actin’ like they ain’t seen each other in twenty-five years--baloney. They had a plan. I figured that out pretty quick. They out bid me. ME, Tony the Wolf. And, Betty, Beth, she insisted they got it fair and square. Man, I wanted to off that broad, but I needed her around for the paperwork.

What did you think the first time you saw Jim and Genie.

If that little bimbo, Genie King, hadn’t pissed me off, I think she and I woulda gotten along just fine. Big ass. Nice set of jugs. I could get lost in that kinda woman. Lots of meat. Not bony like those women who starve themselves alla time. Then it turns out she’s with James Rawlings, aka, Ichabod Crane--and she outbids me? ME? I wasn’t takin’ that crap lyin’ down. Might as well paint LOSER on my forehead. I would never hear the end of it from my boys back in Jersey.

What was your second thought?

She and her stupid boyfriend needed to be taught a lesson about who was in charge, and it wasn’t them. It was me. Tony the Wolf.

Did you think it was love at first sight?

Love is for suckers.

What do you like most about Jim or Genie?

Her tits—no, her ass. Both. But, she pissed me off. I had to show her I was in charge. It was MY deal, not hers or his.

How would you describe Genie?

Ever see that movie, Sweet Charity? Like that, with the red hair, but wearing a suit that shows all her curves. Tits, baby, nice tits. The guy was tall, skinny. Women would say he looked like Nick Cage. I thought Ichabod Crane. He coulda played the part in a movie.

How would she describe you?

To be honest, she don’t care for me much. Called me a hairy knuckled Neanderthal. She and Ichabod thought they was alone, havin’ pillow talk. Ha. I was listening. I heard what that bitch said. She and I had a private conversation goin’--until that idiot Ichabod Crane showed up.

What made you choose mob underling as a career?

It’s a callin’ really. Some people are just meant to be who they are. Vinny needed some help, put out the word, and bada-bing, here I am. It’s whaddya call it? Kismet. That’s it.

What is your biggest fear?

It ain’t WHAT--it’s WHO. Vinny DeCapo is my biggest fear. That and looking like a LOSER.

How do you relax?

I have a drink, watch some “adult” TV.

What's your favorite fictional character and why?

I don’t know nothin’ about fiction. I like to stick with reality TV. Like Tony Soprano. He’s a GOD. I want to be him when I grow up. I tried to track down his people in Jersey, even went to that meat market. They said they didn’t know what I was talking about. Pretty slick. He inspires loyalty even at the meat market, they don’t give nothin’ away on him.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?

Don’t leave no witnesses.

To Sharon, the author: What movies or books have had an impact on you?

      This is like asking me if I like air or water. Almost every book I read has some impact--positive or negative. The ones that I enjoy reading most have elements of mystery, horror and romance. Of course, that’s what I write, too. I started out reading Nancy Drew (yes, that was me snooping around your house!) moved on to Asimov, Bradbury and Heinlein, while devouring Agatha Christie. Met Dean Koontz reading Lightening and fell in love with that story (big romance plot) and pursued the rest of his stories. With respect to romance, I used to subscribe to Harlequin’s Romantic Suspense and Intrigue series. I learned how to plot fast-paced romance and suspense together through reading those books. I have stacks of to-be-read books in my overcrowded library and now have a Kindle and a Nook so I can store my books electronically and carry them where ever I go.

     With respect to movies, I love thrillers. Man On Fire with Denzel Washington and Enough with Jennifer Lopez are the two I’ve watched most recently while torturing myself on the elliptical trainer. Body Heat is one of the best noir films ever made. Kathleen Turner is hot and an amazing man eater. She inspired me to write my man eating character, Isabel Ramirez, in Desire And Deception. However, unlike Kathleen Turner’s character, Isabel redeems herself at the end.