Real Mob Shakedown Mirrors Plot of My Novel, "Cliff Walk"

Reality follows art:

In my forthcoming novel, "Cliff Walk," to be published by Forge on May 22, a Rhode Island mobster named Sal Maniella shakes down Providence strip clubs for protection money.

Today, several Rhode Island organized crime figures, including my old pal Baby Shacks Manocchio, have agreed to plead guilty to doing the same thing to the tune of $800,000.

A link to the Providence Journal story about the plea agreement can be found here.