P.D. Workman's Blog, page 113
April 4, 2017
Excerpt from Command Authority
It’s April, and that means I’ve started work on a new book. I am working on book three in my new cozy mystery series. 10,000 words and counting!
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
I’ve just started on another Tom Clancy/Mark Greaney book in the Jack Ryan series, Command Authority. Like all Jack Ryans, it is raw, fast paced, with a complex political background and lots of historical interest. And of course, if you are familiar with the series, the characters are as familiar as family members. As a warning, I do think this one has a few more f-bomb in it than previous books…
I might not see the iceberg in our path, but when those in charge are looking for the … lifeboat, I’m smart enough to pay attention.
Tom Clancy & Mark Greaney, Command Authority
Decades ago, as a young CIA analyst, President Jack Ryan Sr. was sent out to investigate the death of an operative—only to uncover the existence of a KGB assassin codenamed Zenith. He was never able to find the killer…
In the present, a new strongman has emerged in the ever-chaotic Russian republic—the enigmatic President Valeri Volodon. But the foundations of his personal empire are built on a bloody secret from his past. And none who know of it have lived to tell. For he has set a plot in motion—a plot to return Russia to its former glory.
But when a family friend of Ryan’s is poisoned by a radioactive agent, the trail leads to Russia. And Jack Ryan Jr.—aided by his compatriots John Clark and the covert warriors of the secretive Campus—must delve into an international conflict thirty years in the making, and finish what his father started.
With President Ryan fighting the political battle of his life, and his son fighting a silent war against a ruthless foe, global conflict becomes imminent—and the possibility of survival may soon be lost for all…
March 31, 2017
More freebies this weekend
[image error]Here is one last opportunity to download Chloe, Between the Cracks #4 for free April 1-2. Chloe is book number four in the series that started with Ruby, Between the Cracks, which made the Top Ten Books for Teens list put out by In The Margins Committee of School Library Journal in 2015. (You can also download Ruby for free for a limited time.) However, you can read Chloe as a standalone.
I have also pulled together a few other weekend freebies for you. Keep scrolling down to find more.
Download Chloe now, or keep reading!
About Chloe
Chloe had always been the perfect daughter. Diligent, obedient, good at caring for the other children when Mom wasn’t home. She always worked hard and did everything she was asked.
But she couldn’t please her mother and the parade of stepfathers. It seemed like the harder she tried, the worse the abuse got.
Chloe had known for a long time that she was two people. The Chloe who watched and the Chloe who experienced. She had been watching for so long, she wasn’t sure she could feel anything anymore. But if she can’t overcome her past and start living in the real world, she knows she will lose herself forever.
Praise for Chloe
— I love that P.D. Workman takes you into the darker sides of life and makes you realize after reading one of her books that you shouldn’t judge someone by how they act or look because you don’t know all that they have been through. Chloe is a very shocking and riveting story about all the risks one girl will take just to try and keep a part of her family together, no matter what it costs her. This book will have you not wanting to put it down until the end because you can’t bear to not know what is going to happen next.
—This is one of the more disturbing stories I have ever read… I don’t think I will ever forget Chloe’s story.
—It feels like I’m reading about my best friend or a family member. I’m thinking about the characters even when I’m not reading the book. [P.D. Workman’s] writing style captivates me like no other.
—I could never be as strong as Chloe, the way she grows throughout the book with her strength and learning how to overcome the tragic things that took place in her life. I kept wanting to know more… [it] made my heart happy. Thank you so much for another great read!
More freebies for you!
[image error]Be Mine, by Rick Mofina
A personal message written in human blood is left for crime reporter Molly Wilson at the murder scene of her boyfriend, San Francisco Homicide Inspector, Cliff Hooper.
The horrific death of a revered cop shocks the San Francisco Police Department’s Homicide Detail. Shaken to the core, his grieving fellow detectives go flat out to find his killer under the glare of the city’s news media.
[image error]Fyre, by Katherine Bogle (Instafreebie)
Haven has always hated royal gatherings, and jumps at the chance to sneak away for a race through town on horseback. But when the young princess is injured, her ancestry is brought into question.
[image error]Gone to Green, by Judy Christie
Will a big-city journalist find love and happiness in small-town Louisiana? An ambitious newspaper editor trades her corporate life at a large paper for the ownership of “The Green News-Item” in rural Louisiana — and finds friendship with an unlikely group of people. Ready to fight for right, she is unexpectedly drawn into new causes — and attracted to an appealing high-school coach who raises catfish part time.
[image error]Bitten: Resurrection, by Tristan Vick (Instafreebie)
Amid the rising dead and ensuing chaos, Rachael Ramirez searches for her missing son. Teaming up with a young veterinarian named Alyssa Briggs, the two of them search for survivors while trying to escape Newcastle City. Little does anyone know, however, that Rachael holds a shocking secret to the “Resurrection Virus” that may prove to be humanity’s salvation. She was bitten on day one but never turned.
[image error]Beyond Cloud Nine, by Greg Spry
Ace fighter pilot, Brooke Davis, is speeding through Jupiter’s orbit, dreaming of becoming the first human to fly faster than light. Instead she is drawn into a criminal conspiracy— involving terrorists, aliens, and the highest level of government, including her boss at the U.N. — that threatens not only her shot at history, but the future of the solar system.
[image error]The Scarecrow & Lady Kingston, by Tristan Vick (Instafreebie)
John Scarecrow is a living, breathing, talking scarecrow with a heart of gold and has joined the LAPD to fight for truth and justice. Julie Kingston, a beautiful yet emotionally volatile cop with a penchant for bending the rules, is his partner. She doesn’t mind the fact that her partner is a scarecrow. In fact, she prefers it that way.
[image error]A Fall from Yesterday, by Norah Wilson
Ocean Siliker has come back to Harkness, New Brunswick in defeat, after failing to set New York on fire with her playwriting. The first item on her agenda? Climbing White Crow Cliff, where her best friend Lacey Douglas died six years ago. If she conquers the mountain, perhaps she can rediscover her courage. But the only thing she finds herself is … lost.
[image error]Magick, by Mira Monroe (Bookfunnel)
Willow and her best friends, Emily and Lucy, are making plans for a great senior year and daydreaming about life away from sleepy Chepstow, Massachusetts. Willow tries for a life under the radar, where her biggest adventure is dating Daniel – voted best all-around guy.
Her life is perfect, until a long-lost grandmother reveals that not only does she come from a long line of Wiccans, but she’s also part of the royal family – and next in line for the crown! Not everyone is happy to discover this outsider is about to take the throne, and Willow’s life is in danger – along with those around her.
[image error]The Enforcer, by Nikki Worrell
Lacey Benoit is in need of a fresh start. Her best friend, Dr. Zoe Millis, has been begging her to make the move from Maine to California. Taking a leap of faith, Lacey does just that.
Living in San Diego definitely has its perks, such as, sunshine and beaches. The best part of moving to the west coast, however, is that Steven is still on the east coast. Catching your almost husband having sex with one of your bridesmaids on your wedding day would make even the strongest woman jaded. Therefore, Lacey has sworn off men for a while, especially men who travel a lot that have easy access to loose women.
[image error]Endless Evil, by Amanda Feyerbend
Peaceful life in a small Georgia county is shattered when women’s bodies begin turning up on the side of the highway; the women raped and then strangled to death.
At first Detective Alex Gray does not realize these cases are related, but then Megan Crawford survives. Suspected of being an accomplice to a string of rapes in the past, Megan falls under suspicion again. Is she the key to solving this case, or is she part of the deception? With no evidence and no leads Alex must try everything he can to stop this killing spree, even if it means involving the one person who may be hiding secrets of her own.
[image error]Vernal Equinox, by Lincoln Cole
A collection of short stories by Kindle Press published authors set in the worlds of their novels, themed around the idea of redemption, rebirth, and new beginnings. Check out these stories and then find your way into their books, published through Reader Powered Publishing on Amazon’s Kindle Scout program!
March 28, 2017
Excerpt from The Beautiful Mystery
[image error]Making Her Mark was released recently. Have a look at it, and some other great new releases too.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
I have posted about the Inspector Gamache series before. It’s fun reading well-written mysteries that are based in Canada and around Canadian Culture. Louise Penny does not disappoint with The Beautiful Mystery, a murder mystery set in a fictional monastery in the wilds of Quebec.
A throat cleared.
In the great silence it sounded like a bomb. And to the abbot’s ears it sounded like what it was.
A challenge.
Louise Penny, The Beautiful Mystery
No outsiders are ever admitted to the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, hidden deep in the wilderness of Quebec, where two dozen cloistered monks live in peace and prayer. They grow vegetables, they tend chickens, they make chocolate. And they sing. Ironically, for a community that has taken a vow of silence, the monks have become world-famous for their glorious voices, raised in ancient chants whose effect on both singer and listener is so profound it is known as “the beautiful mystery.”
But when the renowned choir director is murdered, the lock on the monastery’s massive wooden door is drawn back to admit Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and Jean-Guy Beauvoir of the Sûreté du Québec. There they discover disquiet beneath the silence, discord in the apparent harmony. One of the brothers, in this life of prayer and contemplation, has been contemplating murder. As the peace of the monastery crumbles, Gamache is forced to confront some of his own demons, as well as those roaming the remote corridors. Before finding the killer, before restoring peace, the Chief must first consider the divine, the human, and the cracks in between.
March 23, 2017
Free YA Books – A World of YA Fiction
[image error]Questing for a Dream and 29 other Young Adult novels are currently available as an Instafreebie download through Megan Crewe’s A World of YA Fiction promo.
About Questing for a Dream
[image error]Nadie is a bright but rebellious teen growing up Manitoba Cree. Living in abject poverty, she tries to help care for the younger children in the band. Devastated by the drowning death of her little cousin and unable to overcome her grief, Nadie leaves the band.
How can she find her own place in a foreign world where she is abused and discriminated against, and for the first time in her life, completely alone?
Praise for Questing for a Dream
“Brilliant masterpiece”
“Easily one of the most thought-provoking and compelling reads of the year, Ms. Workman has written a masterful contemporary account of one native teen’s journey from home and the possibilities for hope even for those drowning in poverty, prejudice, and addiction … A must-read tale for any book lover!”
“P.D. Workman’s skilled narrative of Nadie and her poignant journey to wholeness is a thoughtful exposé of shattered dreams and tragic youth sure to resonate with every reader.”
“An inspiring book which can encourage the reader to face the challenges in life’s journey and to accept the lessons that come as a result.”
“An amazing book, very well written; a heartbreaking story of loss, suffering, and self-realization.”
“I enjoyed this from the bottom of my heart.”
“My hat goes off to P.D. Workman for bringing such an amazing story to the market with emotional detail and intriguing characters. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone.”
“The author’s writing was so good. At first I thought this book would be a difficult read since I don’t normally read books with cultural substance but the way it was written in an engaging way made the experience enjoyable for me.”
“What I found absorbing, what caught me up unaware was the power of this writer to translate Native American experience without once falling into any subtle sense of stereotyping.”
“An absorbing and satisfyingly complex tale.”
“This excellent and realistically wrought story will bring you to tears.”
“It was a GREAT read! I could hardly put it down. Very insightful. Will definitely read more of PD Workman’s books.”
Making Her Mark and other weekend freebies
[image error]Making Her Mark is free on Kindle March 24-26.
You don’t need a Kindle to read it. Kindle Apps are available for most phones and platforms, or you can use the Kindle Cloud Reader in your browser.
I have also gathered together a variety of other freebies that you might enjoy!
Secrets and lies.
When everything changed, Kelli thought she would be happy. But nothing really changed.
Kelli’s life has never been easy. She’s always faced her problems head on. She’s strong and savvy and in charge of herself. All of that is about to change.
Her life is turned upside down when she discovers the secret that her mother has been hiding from her for years.
Kelli thinks this is her one chance at happiness. But is it?
Praise for Making Her Mark
“Another amazing read. The way [Workman] writes makes me feel like I’m living the story through the main character … I love [Workman’s] writing so much I build this relationship with the characters and it makes me think about them even outside of reading about them.”
And more freebies!
[image error]Tied, by Lee Gabel (Instafreebie)
Two sisters: They each want a way out. They each have a plan…
Rejected by her older sister’s gang, Jess joins a rival gang and fights for her life on the streets of South Los Angeles.
Note: Please be aware that this novel contains strong language and gang violence.
[image error]Nag, Nag, Nag, by Kathy Steinemann (multiple vendors)
If you’re allergic to laughter, get your meds ready. Nag Nag Nag will exercise your laugh muscles. It might even make you wet your pants.
Megan and Emmett share many of the same quirks and problems as other married couples. The way they deal with them might take you aback.
[image error]Sketches of Wakefield, by Philip Ross
Sketches of Wakefield is a book of digitally enhanced original photographs taken in and around the Wakefield district and edited to represent pencil sketches.
The Historic value of Wakefield is also available free!
[image error]Condemned by Fate, by V.L. McBeath (Instafreebie)
Rural England in 1839 shouldn’t be a place of conspiracy and betrayal. But when farm labourer Charles Jackson is imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, he wants answers … and revenge.
From the fields of Staffordshire to the despair of a squalid prison cell, one thing is clear. Charles has enemies.
March 21, 2017
Excerpt from Michael Connelly’s The Drop
[image error]Did you miss the new release of Making Her Mark on St. Paddy’s Day? There are lots of other new releases that might excite you as well, so drop in for a look.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
I am reading another Michael Connelly novel today, one of the Harry Bosch series, The Drop. The title is a clever double entendre (or triple). Bosch is investigating two cases, and I don’t know whether they are going to intersect or not. I am interested in seeing how it is all going to play out. As always, Michael Connelly keeps you on your toes!
“It came from a small smear of blood,” Shuler said. “It was found on her neck, right below the right ear. She had no wounds in that area. It was assumed that it had come from the killer, that he had been cut in the struggle or maybe was already bleeding. It was just a drop. A smear, really.”
James Connelly, The Drop
Harry Bosch has been given three years before he must retire from the LAPD, and he wants cases more fiercely than ever. In one morning, he gets two.
DNA from a 1989 rape and murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist. Was he an eight-year-old killer or has something gone terribly wrong in the new Regional Crime Lab? The latter possibility could compromise all of the lab’s DNA cases currently in court.
Then Bosch and his partner are called to a death scene fraught with internal politics. Councilman Irvin Irving’s son jumped or was pushed from a window at the Chateau Marmont. Irving, Bosch’s longtime nemesis, has demanded that Harry handle the investigation.
Relentlessly pursuing both cases, Bosch makes two chilling discoveries: a killer operating unknown in the city for as many as three decades, and a political conspiracy that goes back into the dark history of the police department.
March 17, 2017
New Releases, including Making Her Mark
[image error]Today is launch day for Making Her Mark!
About Making Her Mark
Secrets and lies.
When everything changed, Kelli thought she would be happy. But nothing really changed.
Kelli’s life has never been easy. She’s always faced her problems head on. She’s strong and savvy and in charge of herself. All of that is about to change.
Her life is turned upside down when she discovers the secret that her mother has been hiding from her for years.
Kelli thinks this is her one chance at happiness. But is it?
Other exciting new releases:
[image error]In the Market for Murder, by T.E. Kinsey
Spring, 1909, and Lady Hardcastle, amateur sleuth and all-round eccentric, is enjoying a well-deserved rest. But a week after a trip to the cattle market, Spencer Caradine, a local farmer, turns up dead in the pub, face-down in his beef and mushroom pie. Once again, it is up to Lady Hardcastle and her maid, Florence, to solve the case.
Armed with wit and whimsy, not to mention Florence’s mean right hook, the pair set out to discover what really happened and why. Was it poison or just ill luck?
[image error]Umbrae, by Debbie Manber Kupfer
Miri’s world at P.A.W.S. in St. Louis is falling apart. First, Danny is accused of stealing her opapa’s charm. But before he can defend himself, he mysteriously disappears. Miri seeks Josh for help and advice, but he too has gone missing.
[image error]Island of Glass, by Nora Roberts
As the hunt for the Star of Ice leads the six guardians to Ireland, Doyle, the immortal, must face his tragic past. Three centuries ago, he closed off his heart, yet his warrior spirit is still drawn to the wild. And there’s no one more familiar with the wild than Riley—and the wolf within her…
[image error]Redemption, by T.L. McDonald
Hanna Harper did the only thing she could do—she stabbed Jared, the love of her life, through the heart to stop the apocalypse. But she was too late. The Fallen were released, and now that Jared has ascended, they intend on using his blood to complete their plan to end the world.
[image error]Norse Mythology, by Neil Gaiman
I’ve been hearing a lot about this one!
Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants. Once, when Thor’s hammer is stolen, Thor must disguise himself as a woman—difficult with his beard and huge appetite—to steal it back. More poignant is the tale in which the blood of Kvasir—the most sagacious of gods—is turned into a mead that infuses drinkers with poetry. The work culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and rebirth of a new time and people.
[image error]Buried, by Elisa Dane
High school senior, Claire Reilly’s world revolves around All-Star cheerleading. The Diamond Girls, are gearing up for a major competition, which, if they win will allow them to compete at Worlds for the first time. But the unimaginable happens, and both Claire and her team are rocked by a devastating loss. Determined to get to Worlds any way she can, Claire finds help from the last person she imagined would give it—up and coming UFC fighter and notorious bad boy, Ryker Vaughn.
[image error]Never Never, by James Patterson and Candice Fox
A month without a new release by James Patterson? I don’t think so!
Never assume you know someone. Harry Blue is the top Sex Crimes investigator in her department. She’s a seasoned pro who’s seen it all. But even she didn’t see this coming: her own brother arrested for the grisly murders of three beautiful young women.
[image error]The Boy Next Door, by Jo Ho
It’s the summer break before Kim starts college, but instead of spending it with Chris and their large group of friends, she finds herself isolated from everyone she knows and loves.
The day she starts to notice the strange boy next door, however, her life begins to change as she starts to worry about someone other than herself.
[image error]My (not so) Perfect Life, by Sophie Kinsella
Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie’s life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle—from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she’s trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she’s desperate to make her dad proud.
[image error]Arrows & Angels, by Kristin D. Van Risseghem (preorder – release date March 31)
Kieran’s job of being a guardian angel is straightforward: observe and learn—and don’t intervene in their lives. But then he watches as his first charge dies at the hands of evil while he does nothing to help.
Overcome with grief and doubt, Kieran flees back to the safety of heaven. With guidance from his mentor, he learns all he can about the Battle of the Fallen and the creation of evil itself. With renewed determination, he vows he will save the Ordinaries in his care.
[image error]Right Behind You, by Lisa Gardner
Once upon a time, Sharlah’s big brother saved her life. Now, she has two questions of her own: Is her brother a hero or a killer? And how much will it cost her new family before they learn the final, shattering truth? Because as Sharlah knows all too well, the biggest danger is the one standing right behind you.
[image error]Crashing Into Me, by R.L. Jackson
A year after being left at the altar, headstrong E.R Nurse, Lana McKenzie is finally piecing her life back together. Tired of dealing with seeing her ex and his new girlfriend at every turn, she longs for blissful solitude and can’t wait to enjoy a peaceful vacation alone in the mountains. However, her plans go awry when a rude stranger literally embeds himself into her life and mind.
March 14, 2017
Excerpt from Gone Again
[image error]I am publishing Making Her Mark later this week. Read a free preview here and sign up for the Goodreads Giveaway for chance to win a paperback copy.
I also finished the first draft of a new project yesterday. It’s a new kind of project for me, but I can’t tell you about it yet!
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
I am currently reading Gone Again by James Grippando, a legal thriller in which Jack Swyteck is trying to save a death row inmate from his imminent date with the electric chair. Dylan Reeves was convicted of killing a seventeen-year-old girl, but the mother of the victim doesn’t belief she is dead. I recognized almost immediately that RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) was going to play a big part in this book, which means that so far, I have anticipated all of the twists. But I am still enjoying it!
“No, you don’t understand. Sasha isn’t dead.”
Jack did a double take. “What?”
“My daughter is alive.”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know. But Sashi is alive. I know she’s alive. And I need you people to help me prove it, before they execute this man for killing her.”
James Grippando, Gone Again
Sashi Burgette vanished three years ago on her way to school. The night after the teenager’s disappearance, ex-con Dylan Reeves was stopped for drunk driving.
An article of Sashi’s clothing was found in his truck, and a police videotape of his drunken explanation under interrogation sealed his fate at trial. Now, just days from Reeves’s execution, Sashi’s mother visits Jack Swyteck, doing pro bono work at the Freedom Institute, and delivers shocking news: “Sashi called me.”
The police dismiss the call as a cruel hoax. The State Attorney refuses to consider the new evidence, insisting the case is closed. An innocent man may be executed and time is running out—unless his lawyers can locate Sashi.
A man of principle who believes in justice, Jack jumps into the investigation. But nothing is what it appears to be. Not the victim. Not her alleged killer. And definitely not Sashi’s parents. As their gut-wrenching and hopelessly conflicting version of events unfolds in a Miami courtroom, it becomes clear there is something even more difficult to find than a long-missing girl . . .
The truth.
March 9, 2017
Goodreads Giveaway! Making Her Mark
Making Her Mark will be released soon. Be one of the first to read it by entering to win a paperback copy through this Goodreads Giveaway!
Secrets and lies
When everything changed, Kelli thought she would be happy. But nothing really changed.
Kelli’s life has never been easy. She’s always faced her problems head on. She’s strong and savvy and in charge of herself. All of that is about to change.
Her life is turned upside down when she discovers the secret that her mother has been hiding from her for years.
Kelli thinks this is her one chance at happiness. But is it?
Praise for Making Her Mark
“Another amazing read. The way [Workman] writes makes me feel like I’m living the story through the main character … I love [Workman’s] writing so much I build this relationship with the characters and it makes me think about them even outside of reading about them.”
Praise for P.D. Workman
“Every single one of [P.D. Workman’s] books has spoken to me in ways no one or almost anything else has. And I have found strength in the books I’ve read.”
“The way that P.D. Workman writes just flows amazingly and allows the reader to get really invested in a book.”
“This is one author I certainly will be looking out for, I can’t recommend it enough. A fantastic book.”
March 7, 2017
Excerpt from On Turpentine Lane
Don’t forget to check out all of the great deals on Smashwords’ World eBook Week!
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.
I picked up On Turpentine Lane by Elinor Lipman on a whim, not having read anything by Lipman before, and knowing next to nothing about the book. While the description and the book begin with the description of mysterious artifacts in the attic, it is not a murder mystery, but a romantic comedy. Not one of my usual genres. It had me laughing out loud a number of times. Elinor Lipman is definitely an author I would read again, and the narrator of the audiobook captured her voice exactly.
I gave it some time—accepting the new, softer, vegetarian Stuart 2.0. When friends heard about his walk and asked me if he was a nonconformist or a nut, I told them that this was just a new lifelong goal, to find himself by crossing the country on foot, a sabbatical of sorts after his agency had closed its doors.
Elinor Lipman, On Turpentine Lane
At thirty-two, Faith Frankel has returned to her claustro-suburban hometown, where she writes institutional thank-you notes for her alma mater. It’s a peaceful life, really, and surely with her recent purchase of a sweet bungalow on Turpentine Lane her life is finally on track. Never mind that her fiancé is off on a crowdfunded cross-country walk, too busy to return her texts (but not too busy to post photos of himself with a different woman in every state). And never mind her witless boss, or a mother who lives too close, or a philandering father who thinks he’s Chagall.
When she finds some mysterious artifacts in the attic of her new home, she wonders whether anything in her life is as it seems. What good fortune, then, that Faith has found a friend in affable, collegial Nick Franconi, officemate par excellence…
