They Call Me Korney

New site

2010-12-09T05:24:00.000-08:00

Hello! I have merged all my book sites together at www.michaelfrizzo.com. Please visit there for new and updated information.

Mike Rizzo

Reading/Signing this Thursday!

2010-06-16T05:16:00.000-07:00

I will be at the Matt Urban Hope Center this Thursday at 6pm to discuss the book as well as sell a few copies. Stop by and say hi!

New signings

2010-05-07T04:44:00.001-07:00

Hey, I haven't updated in a bit, but I've done some great signings this year so far, including the last at the WNY Genealogical Society in early April.

I will be signing on May 8 at the Broadway Market around 11-1.

There are several other talks scheduled over the summer, with more to come.

I have also begun laying out my next book, with much of the work to be done still. It is another non-fiction tale, but let's just say this is the map to everything mafia in WNY.

Upcoming events

2010-01-28T16:52:00.000-08:00

I will be signing copies of the book at the following events. Other than Borders, I will also be discussing the book and reading from it.

February 13 Borders Amelia Dr. 2pm
February 20 Borders Walden Ave. 2pm
February 25 Marilla Kiwanis
April - tentative Polish Genealogical Society

Welcome Back!

2010-01-15T19:26:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I updated this blog. I had a busy fall and start of winter after the book was released, most of which had nothing to do with the book.

I have several upcoming events: Sunday January 17 I'm speaking at the Cheektowaga Historical Society, Sunday January 24 I will be at the Lancaster Historical Society, and Saturday February 20 I'll be at Borders on Walden Avenue.

The book is starting to get some feet and sales are picking up. If you like the book, please tell your friends and family.

A friend is reading the book and afterward we are going to collaborate on a screenplay. Probably sometime this summer.

The book is in most Buffalo stores and available at buffalobooks.com if you are out of town.

They Call Me orney Rolling into the stores

2009-10-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

Well, the book is slowly maing its way into the local stores. A half dozen stores have ordered, including two Borders, with more on the way. If you are not local, you can purchase direct from me for $16.95 plus $3 shipping, or check buffalobooks.com.

I have two book signings scheduled in November. Nov 1 at Lancaster Historical Society and November 5 at Barnes and Noble McKinley.

As more are scheduled, I will post them.

The book is released

2009-10-03T02:18:00.000-07:00

We had a great turnout last night for the release of the book. I'd like to thank everyone for attending. I think it was a great start to what i hop will be a popular book not just locally, but regionally, and even nationally. Sure, the story is about Buffalo gangsters, but the genre is something many people are interested in, so we wuill be marketing it across the country and targeting other Polish communities where it might be of interest.

Also, I was able to sell enough books to make a $100 donation to Green Options Buffalo, which is the parent of Buffalo Blue Bicycle. Not record-breaking, but it was something.

Hopefully we can get some pix and video up soon. Still trying to pack and get ready to move in a week.

Also, if you missed it, I was on Shredd & Ragan Thursday as part of their 10 town tour, which stopped in Cheektowaga. http://wedg.com/Article.asp?id=1526494&spid=22412 Nice little segment. Last week the event was listed in Am-Pol Eagle and on Buffalorising.com. The Buffalo News also showed up to take some photos last night, so we should have a little promotion from them.

Book Release!

2009-10-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

The book will be unveiled tomorrow night...and available in stores over the next few weeks. If your fav store doesn't have it, ASK them to get it!

If you are reading this and debating attending the unveiling, just come by. The festivities will start shortly after 7.

Book Launch

2009-09-25T16:14:00.001-07:00

So we are set for next Friday, Oct 2 at 7pm. I will unveil the book that evening at the former Precinct 17 at Colvin and Linden in Buffalo. Copies are on the way and expected delivery is Monday. I have some giveaway stuff, plus we'll have refreshments. I will be donating 25% of the sales proceeds that night to Buffalo Blue Bicycle, which is housed at Precinct 17.

It will be a fun night and I think this book will be quite popular.

Thanks and hope to see you there.

Mike

Book launch and Benefit set!

2009-09-19T14:02:00.001-07:00

Welcome

2009-09-09T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hello and welcome if you are new to this blog.

Every library and major bookstore in the area has been sent info on the book to whet their appetite. The final changes were made and submitted today and I wait for the final proof copy.

The release date has been almost pinned down to Friday October 2. That is a date that coincides with a major event in the book. As soon as we secure a location, the press will be notified across the board. For stores: copies can be ordered from Buffalo Books. For the general public: we will have multiple signings and readings across the area. The book will be available in all the local bookstores and online via Amazon.

I think we have a good story here and I'm considering writing a screenplay for it. In between moving, having a baby and possibly changing careers. It's going to be an extremely busy fall!

They shipped

2009-08-31T17:36:00.000-07:00

So the test went well. My original publisher was one day sooner. The cost savings per piece will save me a lot up front. The quality is nearly identical, so I'm quite happy with my decision at this point.

After doing a complete read-through and edit and had another person edit, I ordered one more proof. I re-wrote the back cover text to give a better outline of what the book is really about.

I also think I'm going to write a screenplay of the story, so I'm doing some research on that angle. At the same time I'm in the middle of a bunch of other things, including trying to work on a tour tied to the book and keeping The Mob Tours operational.

I think I have an idea of a weekend of events for the book relase. I am trying to pin down the locations.

Second Edit complete

2009-08-22T03:01:00.001-07:00

I am using a new publisher and decided to test the manufacturing and shipping speed of the new and the old. The old won by a day. The new wins in cost. Quality appears nearly identical. The only thing about the new is that you can only order one proof copy at a time. I like to get a few out at a time, which is one reason I used both services.

I finished doing a complete edit and proof. I have several others out and am waiting for some comments.

I was able to add a very interesting tidbit due to someone's diligent research.

There are 200 pre-ordered waiting to be sent to the local bookstores. In a feww weeks the PR campaign will begin. I'm still trying to figure out where to have the book release. Depew? Cheektowaga? East Side?

Proofs on way!

2009-08-11T20:48:00.001-07:00

I finished editing and sent for proofs yesterday. I received an email that some of them have shipped and I should have them tomorrow. I also visited Buff State and got some better copies of some photos. Still waiting for a few things.

One interesting side note...someone (Mike K) helping me with research has come across a startling piece of information we are just trying to verify. If we do it would be an interesting piece of evidence for the book!

You'll have to read about it of course.

Cover preview

2009-08-06T10:24:00.001-07:00

While not finalized, this is a sample of what the book cover may look like. So far so good. your opinion?

Preview available

2009-08-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

There is now an uncorrected preview of the first few chapters available for your review. Visit
https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1059505
and let me know what you think.

Title

2009-08-05T19:42:00.000-07:00

I've decided to go with "They Call Me Korney" as the book title. I'm nearly complete with the first major edit and, with some help, have chosen the cover photo.

Last night I was cleaning up one of the folders in Windows with several versions of the book. As I was reading one I realized there was some good dialogue and background story that I never put into the final version. I added that and bumped the page count up about 8 pages, to just over 200.

There are about 50 photos, most of which we hope to keep in the final version. I'm waiting for the archives to get back to me with availability and cost.

Also, there will be a hardcover version available for the first time. I have updated my last two books with a hardcover option, online only. (lulu.com)

New items

2009-07-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me some great copies of articles, some I did not have. Some were dupes, but from different papers. It's always good to have more research. I started collecting photos and have requested The News and Buff State to check their archives for me. It looks like there will be at least 15 pages of photos, some never before seen.

I'm about halfway through a major edit/revision. Some has been corrected in the file, and some I'm still doing on paper.

Hoping to finish the edit this week.

2009-07-24T14:14:00.001-07:00

If you want to be on the mailing list for our book release, please send me your name and address information. We are aiming for a late September release party.

Editing

2009-07-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

Almost another Saturday. I had a busy week and didn't get a lot done on the draft. I have been editing my initial draft, finding a few errors and correcting them, as well as re-writing a few parts.

I'm playing with two titles now "They Call Me Korney" and "Well Planned, Poorly Executed". Your opinion would be interesting.

I'm about halfway through my edit and might finish this weekend.

I did receive a great surprise in my email. About 4 years ago I did a Freedom of Information request to NY State for archive material and was told they had nothing left. An friend emailed me some copies of things he was able to get at some point. Fantastic, including photos, arrest records, etc. Some of these will definitely make it in the book.

Writing

2009-07-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday, almost evening. I've been writing for hours. Actually this week I put at least 20 hours of writing in. The good news is the first draft is nearly complete. I have a few details I'm double checking. I had a few dates that didn't coincide so I had to go back re-check everything.

The book is around 180 pages right now, and I think it will creep to 190 by the time I'm done. I think I'll have the draft done by Monday as tomorrow I won't be able to get much done.

The story is coming together quite nicely. A couple characters ended up with bigger roles than I anticipated, after putting it all together. After I proof and edit the first draft I will start posting some passages so you get a feel for the book. Right now I will give you a little taste.

Chapter 27
When Kalkiewicz came out of the house, his old suit on, Korney was waiting for him. He pointed to a spot behind the barn and told him to start digging. It was after eight o'clock when he began digging the grave. After about 45 minutes it was getting dark, so he found a search light and plugged it into the barn so he could see.

Korney looked at the dead body and told Kalkiewicz to take it to the ditch he dug. Now he realized what the hole was for. Korney grabbed the 27 year-old Chojnicki's shoulders and told Kalkiewicz to pick up the lifeless legs. They were surprisingly heavy he thought.

Of course everything is copyright 2009 Michael F. Rizzo

Maps

2009-07-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

So I was looking for this street in Depew called Wendell Avenue. it's named about 100 times in newspaper articles I have from 1929, eyt I couldn't find it on a map. So I called Depew public works department on Tuesday. The woman that answered said "I never heard of it. I have to answer this other phone. Bye." And thank you for your help.

So I called back yesterday and spoke with a lady who was very nice and said she would try to help. She called back an hour later saying they had found it, but it was actually in Lancaster. Thank you, that helps.

So we drove there last night. The GPS took us to the wrong street, so I looked it up on my trusty iPhone and found it, about a half mile away. The street was a block long and the numbers didn't correspond. It ended into a woods, which could have been a street at one time.

So I went to the public library this morning and searched the old atlases and found it. It is in Lancaster, but it was about 4 blocks long at that time and stretched right to the Depew border, which is probably why they called it Depew.

While there I looked up some other locations on the Sanborn maps whick helped to fill in some more information. I'll be writing this weekend and hopefully have that first draft done by the end of the month.

Photos

2009-07-10T02:08:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new site for They Call Me Korney: The True Story of the Korney Gang. The book is set to debut in Fall 2009 and this site will allow me to publish snippets of story to get you interested.

Tonight my wife and I started driving the city of Buffalo and photographing some of the old homes and businesses that were once part of this story. We will complete it early one morning this weekend, as everyone is not thrilled when you are taking photos of their neighborhood.

The story is moving along and I'm estimating the book will be between 175-200 pages and probably cost around $10.00

If you think you are related to any of the people associated with the Big Korney gang, please contact me.