paulottowrites

About Paul

I’d like to introduce myself. I’m new as an indie author, and it’s been a long time coming. Thirty years ago the idea struck me, and I started writing in all kinds of genres — short stories, a novel, poems, and a few pieces that border on the philosophical. Then life got in the way, and the writing went by the wayside.

Now that I’m retired and have the time, I’ve decided to return to the passion I set aside all those years ago.

I live in Long Island’s Suffolk County; Long Island has always been home. Weather permitting, most mornings start with coffee on the deck, and most afternoons end with a few pages of writing. I’m drawn to stories that explore everyday life and the surprising places it takes us — the strange moments, the unexpected turns, the things people overlook.

I’m the author of Jacks: Seven Short Stories, a collection that grew out of years of ideas typed on an old Apple computer. My upcoming novel, Deep Code, is a near‑future thriller rooted in the polarization and distrust of today’s U.S. electoral system. Interestingly, the story line from thirty years ago seems surprisingly current today.

When I’m not writing, I’m usually outside gardening or hanging out with Liz, my wife, and my dog Jessie. Both keep me honest about taking breaks. When I wrote the original stories, I was an avid runner — two thousand miles a year, two NYC Marathons, and numerous halves. The stories began in my mind on those long runs. I worked for 34 years for the NYC Board of Education, but now I enjoy the slower pace that comes with retirement. Looking back, all those parts of my life ended up influencing the stories I wrote then and the ones I write today.