Author interview

Mysteries, conspiracies and a 2nd novel?

By Angie Hund | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor author Vito Racanelli recently published his debut novel, The Man in Milan. The story follows two NYPD officers investigating the murder of an Italian air force pilot who unexpectedly gets caught up in the potential suppression of the Ustica massacre. That disaster was the mysterious crash of an Italian airliner that killed all 81 passengers and crew. Racanelli’s novel takes that tragic event and spins a tale of intrigue and mystery, while also taking inspiration from his time as the Associated Press-Dow Jones bureau chief in Italy during the mid-’90s.

Manor Ink recently talked with Racanelli about the book and about the art of writing a novel.

What led you to the Catskills?

I’ve lived in the Catskills for the past 13 years and have felt quite inspired by the surroundings. I love the quiet, the people and the rhythm of life here. In fact, I’ve written some short stories set in the Catskills and may publish a book of “upstate/downstate” stories in the future.

What should I know before reading The Man in Milan?

This novel holds one true fact and the rest is fiction. The Ustica conspiracy really hit home with me. It affected me while I was in Italy and inspired the fictional story.

What inspired you to begin writing and eventually become an author?

I have always loved writing and enjoy many different authors. Authors Dorothy Hughes and Leo Sciascia were a real inspiration for my novel. Hughes’ novel In a Lonely Place is the greatest noir book ever written.

How long did this project take?

It took about a year to write, but it took a long time to get published. I was writing one hour per day before work. Actually, if you write one page per day, you can produce a novel per year.

Who is the target audience for your book?

There is no specific age range for my book, I would recommend 17 and up, even aged 16.

How has the process of writing the book changed your life?

Writing has made my life good. I was a journalist for a long time and enjoyed that. I lived In Italy, getting to know the people very well. I am American yet proudly of Italian extraction.

Why do you think this interests people?

The Man in Milan is not just cops solving a crime. I tried to weave in themes of humanity and human behavior as well. Readers love detective novels. The Ustica massacre was clearly a crime. Despite what the Italian and American governments may say, the plane did not have a catastrophic mechanical failure or fallout in the sky. The conspiracy runs deep. When investigators looked for video recordings of fighter pilots, an air traffic controller inexplicably dies and the story becomes darker from there.

Are you working on anything new?

I’m in the process of writing a second novel. The same characters investigate a new crime.

To learn more about Vito Racanelli and The Man in Milan, visit vitoracanelli.com.