Winegardner interviewed in Plain Dealer

Godfather' novelist: Don't pigeonhole me
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Michael Heaton
Plain Dealer Reporter

Mark Winegardner What: The author of "The Godfather's Revenge," a third novel based on the Corleone family, returns to Cleveland to read and sign his new book. When: 7 p.m. Wednesday. Where: Joseph-Beth Booksellers, 24519 Cedar Road, Lyndhurst. Cost: Free. 216-691-7000.

Novelist Mark Winegardner has completed the "Godfather" trilogy launched by Mario Puzo. "The Godfather's Revenge" follows his 2004 success, "The Godfather Returns."

Winegardner, an acclaimed novelist ("Crooked River Burning," "The Veracruz Blues") and nonfiction author ("Prophet of the Sandlots") had to compete against other authors for the chance to carry on the Corleone history. The Bryan, Ohio, native and former assistant professor of English at John Carroll University created the character Nick Geraci, a Cleveland mobster who becomes Michael Corleone's primary nemesis. The book begins with an Ohio reference: Geraci comes out of hiding from an underground retreat on Lake Erie's Rattlesnake Island, the real-life private resort. Winegardner discussed the new book by phone from New York.

Q: So this is it, right? No Part Four?

A: It seems so. When I inherited this project, I always envisioned it as a big, two-volume novel. I feel like I finished the job. It feels resolved. But they say, "Never say never."

Q: You spent five years on this. Was it hard leaving the characters?

A: I was caught off-guard by how sad I felt. It was unnerving. It was like killing off your imaginary friends. I spent more time with these people than with my family. I spent 1,000 pages developing these characters. They're like people you went to high school with. But it's time to move on.

Q: Did you actually go to Rattle snake?

A: I never set foot on it. But I read a lot about it. It has a mysterious history and links to the mob during the Prohibition era. I was happy to be able to use it in the book.

Q: What page has the first dirty part?
A: I don't really know. I don't get sexually aroused by my own sex scenes.

I don't think that would speak well of an author or his prose. Maybe I could find it by hitting "control F" and doing a word search. My publicist tells me it's a scene between Johnny Fontane and Francesca Corleone (page 285).

Q: What was it like being Godfather Guy?

A: It was weird. I feel like I have been inappropriately pigeonholed during my whole writing career. My first two books were nonfiction but I always felt like a novelist. When I wrote "Vera Cruz Blues," I was pegged as the baseball guy. Then after "Crooked River Burning," I was the Cleveland guy. I just hope to continue to confound all the people who try to categorize me.

Q: Do you feel Italian after writing these two books back to back?

A: Definitely. All books do that to you. A good book takes you places you haven't been and gives you experiences you haven't had before. My stock answer is that I'm German Irish just like [Corleone consigliere] Tom Hagen.

Q: Have you spoken with Francis Coppola? Where's the movie deal?

A: I can't comment on that right now. Paramount has the rights. It's complicated. It's in development. I think it's inevitable. But who knows?

Q: What's next?

A: I've been threatening for years to write a novel about a mild-mannered businessman from Cleveland who turns the country upside down with his porn empire. I compare it to "All the Kings Men," but about porn.

Q: Your dedication in the front of the book: "Ancora una volta, allia mia famiglia." What does that mean?

A: Once again, for my family.