Dani Capello: Shadows of Men received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author M.S. Izbicki.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Dani Capello: Shadows of Men, Published January 3rd, 2023
What’s the book’s first line?
“I was hiding in my room again.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
“Dani Capello: Shadows of Men” is a unique twist on a classic mob story. Told from the point of view of a teenager whose family has ties to organized crime, the story explores normal teenage problems (first loves, growing up, parties, college admissions, etc) with a sort of ever-present threat of mob violence.
Book Blurb:
Dani Capello is a quick-witted sixteen-year-old girl with a knack for getting into trouble. With high school, parties, and college on the mind everything seems normal enough… except one minor detail: her family is in the mob.
After picking a fight with a high-ranking “friend of the family”, Dani is forced to leave home and attend an elite Catholic boarding school. Dani struggles to cope with Willard Academy’s strict rules and religious nature, but finds relief when she meets Emma, Madeline and Whitney, who show Dani the ropes of fitting in, finding parties, and sneaking off campus.
Dani and Emma quickly form an intense friendship and time away from home allows Dani to discover a new side of herself. But as her relationship with Emma grows more serious, it becomes nearly impossible for Dani to hide her family’s secret… and she is forced to confront the very dangerous cost of her family’s criminal activity.
Dani Capello: Shadows of Men is an exciting and unforgettable literary debut about life, love, growing up and finding the courage to live by your own rules.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
As a storyteller, I enjoy blending genres, and exploring complicated family/social issues, while showcasing powerful female characters and strong female friendships. I’ve always been interested in coming-of-age stories, especially gritty ones and I’ve always had a passion for a good gangster flick. When I decided to write the book, I knew I wanted to blend these elements together somehow– which is where I got the idea to tell a mafia story from the point of view of a teenage girl.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
Dani Capello: Shadows of Men is a gripping and heartfelt genre blend– part LGBTQ+, Coming-of-age, Romance, and Thriller– this book doesn’t nearly fit into a single genre but is a captivating and incredibly unique read.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Dani Capello is an intelligent and strong willed protagonist that could best be described as a mix between Meadow Sprano from “The Sopranos” and Cameron Post from “The Miseducation of Cameron Post”.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing books, I’m pretending to be a rock star. You can catch me singing lead vocals in my alt. punk band, Cigarette Juliet, and my country/pop band, Myles and Ash.
My other hobbies include drinking gallons of boxed wine, accidentally killing plants, spending time with my two insanely mischievous dogs, and watching endless hours of animal documentaries.