- The novel is set in Fredonia, NY, with a few shorter scenes in Dunkirk and Forestville. Jamestown, NY, and Erie, PA, are also briefly mentioned.
- The novel began as a five page assignment in a creative writing class at Jamestown Community College in the late 1990s. I dabbled with the story for a few years before it was published, and then a couple years later, I attended SUNY Fredonia for my English degree. Talk about putting the cart before the horse : )
- The book version was originally released exactly nine years ago this past February.
- The character named Connie in the novel is based on my sister’s vivacious personality. Some of Connie's comments, especially those about cheeses, are exact quotes from Donna's witty banter.
- Some of Dylan’s struggles were taken from actual experiences in my own life.
- If you liked the movie Fireproof, you may like The Missing Piece.
- Jim Kelly’s (former Bills quarterback) wife, Jill, sent me a thank you note after receiving a copy of my book from the hostess, Linda Pellegrino, when I appeared on AM Buffalo (morning television talk show) in 2003.
- A few years later, Jill Kelly spoke at the Chautauqua Suites in Mayville, NY, and I had my picture taken with her (see above).
- One of the quotes in my book (“Friends don’t let friends wear puffed sleeves”) was featured on a site, alongside a dozen famous people, like Naomi Judd and Bill O’Reilly, who also skewed the original quote of "Friends don't let friends drive drunk."
- The revised version of The Missing Piece in eBook form contains a few additional scenes and is 40 pages longer throughout. (If it were in book form it would be 280 pages.)
Thank you! <3