Books’ content based on growing up on Long Island
Janet (Finno) Sierzant, a hometown girl from North Massapequa, and student from Farmingdale High School, has just released her second novel Searching for the Shire.
In Shire, Amanda Marcella wanted to be a housewife. After 20 years, she finds herself divorced and begins to rebuild her life. But someone is watching. Her life begins to unravel and she is thrust into a world of jealousy, obsession and revenge. Shire begins in Massapequa and Farmingdale, and then moves to Georgia with frequent return visits to Long Island.
Sierzant confides that her novels are truth-based, and she says many tell her that her works are easy-reads.
Her first book, Gemini Joe, Son of a Mobster is about Joe, the main character, growing up in Brooklyn, during the Depression-era. After his father’s death, he moves to Long Island and gets involved with politics during the Nixon campaign.
When the Observer asked what kind of readers would find each of her books most fascinating, she said, “My target market for Searching for the Shire are women readers, especially women ages 18 and up, who are juggling careers and family life or those women who are settling in their marriage; and my target market for Gemini Joe are readers, [ages] 18 and up, especially those who are familiar with Brooklyn and Long Island.”
Her research for Gemini was based on audio recordings from her own father “about his youth in Brooklyn and his experiences on Long Island.”
“The later half of Gemini Joe is based in Massapequa, Amityville, Town of Oyster Bay, Mineola…etc.,” said Sierzant.
Gemini took her five years to complete, from start to finish. Shire took three years, and a third book that she is currently working on is nearly finished.
“I write all genres,” said Sierzant. “I have written a poetry book which won the Paris Book Festival Award in 2009, two children’s books, and I am currently working on a screenplay for Gemini Joe.”
Sierzant has been affected with the writing bug. She told the Observer, “I can never stop writing.” Her next project is a book based on “a true story about a woman who gets tangled up with a good looking, smooth talking sociopath.” She continues to gather material for a fourth book, a screenplay, and “perhaps one more children’s book for my granddaughter.”
She still has family in Farmingdale, and scattered around Long Island. “I visit at least two times per year and miss Long Island terribly,” Sierzant said.
She told the Observer that her fondest memories of growing up in the area were cutting school, and hanging out at the Village Green in Farmingdale. Although Sierzant says she really was not inspired to write when she was younger, she maintains that Dean Murphy and a teacher, Mr. Libberman, were some of the biggest influences in her life in general.
Sierzant, who was born in Brooklyn and grew up on Long Island, now lives in Florida. She is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree. She is a member of the Florida Writer’s Association and the Treasure Coast Writer’s Guild. Her books are available at http://www.lamaisonpub.com/ and also at Amazon.com, in print or Kindle editions.
