A West Conshohocken Native Pens His First Novel By Jack Coll

A West Conshohocken Native Pens His First Novel

“UNLESS”

The Reviews Are All Four Stars Excellent!

 By Jack Coll

8-30-16

An unlikely phone call caught my interest in a hurry, the voice on the other end of the wire said he was Craig Borzelleca, I’ve known Craig Borzelleca from the day he was born.  “Mr. Coll, I just finished my first book and I thought you would like to take a look at it,” said Craig—Boy would-I, I didn’t know Craig was a writer, apparently he didn’t either until, well, let’s start at the beginning.

I said to him, “You said you just finished your first book, is there a second?  “Oh yea,” said Craig, “but I’ll get to that in a minute.”

What’s the name of your first book? I asked, “Unless” was his reply.  “It sounds like an interesting title for a book so tell me about it,” I asked.

Craig replied with “let me start at the beginning,” I said skip the beginning because I already know you were born in West Conshohocken, you played little league baseball in Conshohocken, you participated in the Conshohocken Annual Soap Box Derby following in your brother David’s footsteps who was a two time champion in the mid 1980’s.  I also know that Craig grew up at McKenzie Park in West Conshohocken under the guidance of an excellent Parks and Rec staff in the small borough.  I also know he went to Upper Merion High School and later attended West Chester University studying Business or management, something along those lines.

“So tell me the middle part,” I ask.  “Well following college I mixed with a number of friends in different circles doing what restless kids do in their mid-20’s.”  “OK,” “Well there was gambling, drugs, rock n’ roll and some other good stuff,” said Craig.

I said, “Get to the good stuff.”  “Well” said Craig, “Next thing I know I’m serving fifteen months in prison for some really lousy conduct.”

I asked him “When do we get to the book?”  “Well I’m there!” he said.  “While in prison which by-the-way I accept full responsibility for my actions, I started writing poetry as therapy and to help pass the time.”  (Fifteen months in all)

The book man, get to the book.  “Well I enjoyed writing poetry and decided to write a chapter for a book.”  Craig said. “So you decided to write a chapter for a book that you weren’t even writing at the time,” I ask.

“Well I wanted to see how I would do and where it would go, if I liked it I would continue writing,” said Craig.  “Go-on” I replied.  So I wanted to write a fiction about a group of kids who were young and experimenting with drugs.”  Craig explained that the easiest way to write this chapter and parts of the book was to reflect on his own life.

In order to accomplish that he needed characters, fiction characters of course, a drug-user, a girl, a cop, a probation officer, a small group of friends, maybe six or seven friends.  Among the friends was a Dealer, a dating couple-maybe two, a few party-goers and so-on.  The probation officer was to be a former marine and the Bad Guy in the story.  I thought it sounds like a pretty good cast of characters.

So as Craig tells me the story of a journalist named Jason Stacks who goes to Iraq to cover parts of the American conflict and is befriended by a marine named Jimmy Patroli.  The journalist witnessed a number of international crimes while overseas committed by the marine Captain.

The writer later decides to write a book and that’s when this action adventure book takes-off.

Back in the States the story lands in the real-life town of Conshohocken Pennsylvania, Craig noted that it was easy for him to write and connect with an area he knows best and Conshohocken is referenced many time throughout the book.  Keep in mind that although Conshohocken is mentioned many times in the book the book is entirely fiction.

Captain Patroli returns to the States and is currently employed as a Probation Officer.  One of his clients, Erin Casper, a heroin addict apparently headed to prison offers herself up in exchange for her freedom.  It’s not long before Erin and Jason meet in Conshohocken Pa, and Captain Patroli’s name crosses both of their lips and the book really takes off from there.

This is where the small group of friends gather including a semi-professional hockey player and a drug dealer among others and embark on a journey that has small town love and loyalty up against corporate town greed and ego

So I stopped Craig in his tracks, “You were in a cell three minutes ago writing poetry and a book chapter, one chapter, how did it become a book?” I asked.

“Well, by the time fifteen months were up I came home with a stack of hand-written chapters for this book and all I needed was an editor and publisher” said Craig, and he found Ron Poundstone, a former English Professor from New Jersey.  Mr. Poundstone gave some very high marks for story-content and writing style.

With an edited version of the book a publishing offer followed, the book was released a week-ago on August 25, 2016.

The book has been labeled as an inspirational read about hope, faith and discipline. After listening to Craig ramble on for 45 minutes taking me through the book I smiled and asked him, “How does it end?”

Craig smiled and said it ends by going to http:/www.blackrosewriting.com/ to order the book.  I smiled and said, “You’re not going to give me the ending, after all it all happened in Conshohocken?”  Craig said with a smile, “you’re gonna love the ending!!”

“But I’ll tell you this” said Craig, “My next book is titled “The Concert Was Over.”  “What’s it about,” I asked, “You’re gonna love it, as soon as it’s out I’ll be sure to give you the website to order it from.”

I see that business degree from West Chester University really paid off!