PAPERBOY (A Dylan Tomassi Novel) by Dan Romanello

Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 332 pages

Genre: Coming of Age Contemporary Thriller

Publisher: Sanitas Publishing, Inc.

​Publication Date: August, 2022

Synopsis

Abandoned by his father as an infant and raised by a single mother among the wealthy and privileged in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Dylan Tomassi grew up poor. As a boy he is befriended by a mysteriously reclusive widow he meets on his paper route. She mentors him with sage advice on matters facing a young man growing up without a father. She never pays for her newspapers, and he never asks for the money because of all the good advice she dispenses. When she finally does square up, it changes his life forever.

Dylan relocates to Florida and becomes a successful private investor, wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. His newfound socioeconomic status introduces him into the upper echelon of Florida society where he finds many things going on in the world simply don’t make sense. With the help of his old friend and mentor, he navigates life in a turbulent modern-day society and vows to use his wealth to make a difference when he’s not sidetracked running into nefarious characters or busy keeping his best friend, wealthy playboy Alex Malloy, out of hot water. With corruption, debauchery, deception, and murder swirling around him, Dylan proves nice guys can finish first.

Amazon * BAM * B&N * Bookshop

Indigo * Indiebound * BookBub

Interview with the Author

Were any of the characters in PAPERBOY based upon real life people you have known?

The short answer is no. All the characters were derived from my wildly vivid imagination, although some of the book’s villains share characteristics with people you may be reminded of and that was done intentionally as part of the extrapolation feature of the writing.

Are you sure Dylan Tomassi is not based on you?

That’s probably the most frequent question I get from readers, and the answer is a resounding no. Dylan is tall, handsome, smart, and extremely well-grounded. He came from a hardscrabble background and became incredibly wealthy and successful. Along his journey, he is guided by an unrelenting work ethic and strong moral compass and his somewhat naïve outlook allows him to view the ways of the world through an apolitical perspective of common sense and reasonableness. He’s almost too good to be true, and I am far from that.

Is there anything that you and Dylan have in common?

We both grew up in Connecticut, had paper routes, and relocated to Florida after graduating from college. We also both enjoy sports and fitness. The similarities pretty much end there.

The central characters in the book, Dylan, Alex Malloy and Esther Lott are all very different but equally likeable and relatable. How did you go about creating such awesome characters?

My primary objective in writing the book is to entertain readers and provide them with an escape. When I read fiction, particularly a series, I am always drawn to books where I develop an affinity for the recurring characters, and so I tried to do the same. Additionally, the three you mentioned all play very different roles in the story and their personalities and character lend credibility to the situations they find themselves in.

At times the book goes into terrific detail on the background of various subjects, including the college sports recruiting process, the state of the newspaper industry, and the criminal justice system. Where do you get that information and is it all fact based?

Regarding the subjects you mentioned, it’s no coincidence that I have, at various times in my life, coached college athletics, worked in the newspaper industry, and served as an assistant state attorney. So much of the detail regarding the inner workings is drawn from real life experience. The story lines themselves are fictional, but I do try to be factually accurate when describing the fundamentals of the various institutions.  

What can we expect to see from Dylan in the future?

You won’t have to wait much longer. He will be back soon in the second book in the series, BLINDSIDED JUSTICE. As of now, no release date is set, but it will be sometime in the spring. You can read a preview on my Website.

About the Author

DAN ROMANELLO began his career working for a large Florida newspaper before attending law school at the University of Florida. After serving as an assistant state attorney, he entered private practice where he spent more than 20 years as a civil trial lawyer litigating cases in courtrooms throughout Florida. He retired from the active practice of law in 2017 and, before writing PAPERBOY, spent four years coaching college athletics. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ BookBub ~ Goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win a signed copy of PAPERBOY (A Dylan Tomassi Novel) by Dan Romanello and a $50 American Express gift card.

USA only

Ends Mar 24

PAPERBOY Book Tour Giveaway