Retired Game Warden John Wasserman Blends Fact and Fiction in New Book ‘Coyote Boy: Poacher on the Run’
By Kevin Rauch
RENOVO – Following the success of his first two books chronicling his career as a State Game Warden in Central Pennsylvania, retired officer John Wasserman stretched his creative writing in his third installment ‘Coyote Boy Poacher on the Run.’
Whereas his initial effort ‘Woods Cop’ and its follow up ‘Poachers Creed No Closed Season’ relied heavily on actual events and arrests that highlighted his 34 years with some creative liberties, Wasserman turned to a more fictional direction with last year’s release Coyote Boy.
Despite the more fictional offering this time around readers of the first two books will likely recognize the character Coyote Boy from the author’s previous works.
“I’d certainly have some more stories to tell of encounters that I had during my career, but I really feel that I chronicled the highlights in the first two books” Wasserman said of the decision to steer away from simply taking dramatic license this time around. In fact, the ending was written quite early in his writing process, as he allowed his imagination to work towards how such a story could unfold.
That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of references to the history of hunters and poachers from western Clinton County in the 1970’s and 80’s. It has become commonplace for readers from the area to compare notes and try to guess who and when the retired Game Warden was referring to in his previous books.
Worth noting, Wasserman is insistent that readers trying to make such guesses, to realize that it was a much different time that these stories took place, many of which include being set in the backdrop of Renovo’s declining economy during much of his professional career.
Coyote Boy is set in 1980 as the literature’s main character is immediately playing a cat and mouse game with Wasserman, the town’s game warden. Despite the turn towards fantasy the 172 page offering contains plenty of actual places and incidents that anyone middle aged or older from the Renovo area will certainly recognize.
Additionally, plenty of actual events and photos are depicted throughout the book. The old Enforcement Emblem of the 8-point Buck is featured that will certainly bring back memories of outdoorsmen, real photos of poached wildlife and even pictures and explanations of the difference between Game Warden’s Stetson and Campaign Hats provide fascinating lessons of the PA Outdoors.
Well into his retirement, Wasserman said that is beyond thankful for the responses and reviews that his books have garnered. Particularly coming off his latest offering, the retired Game Warden plans on turning to pure fiction in his next offering in a work that is still at the earliest of stages.
Coyote Boy Poacher on the Run can be found in bookstores, Amazon and https://www.johnwasserman.com/
Amazon Review:
This book, inspired by true events and real people, masterfully blends fiction and reality into a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Coyote Boy was an infamous poacher who prowled the backwoods of Pennsylvania. After spending four years in a coma, he awakens and sets out on a twisted path of retribution. He begins by shooting deer and elk in a sadistic game of thrill-kills. His vendetta soon becomes personal when he once again targets Lovely—a beautiful young woman he had stalked years ago, when she was a young teenager.
Lovely’s father, Big Nasty, had a savage reputation. His daughter’s safety meant everything to him. He realized he had to eliminate the threat posed by Coyote Boy once and for all. There was no way he would give him a second chance this time, and that worried me. The thought of him spending the rest of his life behind bars was unbearable. Big was my closest friend, and I was hell-bent on finding Coyote Boy before he did.
Unbeknownst to me, someone else was seeking a far more sinister retribution while I was hard on the heels of Coyote Boy. Vito “The Blade” Russo begged his grandfather, a respected Mafia Capo, to order a “hit” on me. I was responsible for sending him back to prison many years ago, and he was determined to settle the score.
Yolo, a hulking four-hundred-pound Mafia enforcer, was known for his brutality and loyalty to La Cosa Nostra. When the order came down to inflict severe pain rather than end a life, something inside him snapped. Yolo was a hitman; he didn’t believe in second chances. His dislike of the mandate and a brewing contempt for Vito set off a deadly confrontation.
