Welcome Reader!
This is where I share my perspective about writing and reading good books.
An American businessman is imprisoned in Turkmenistan for a crime he did not commit. Who was responsible for framing him and will he be able to clear his name? Read The Expendable Man in print or for your e-reader. Click here to learn more.
Making the Grade: Shannon Lynch is promoted to detective grade on the Albany Police Department. Then her past catches up with her in ways she never could have foreseen. Available in print and e-book versions. Click here to learn more.
Another suspense novel, Last Stop takes place in Upstate New York–in the Adirondacks and in my home town Gloversville. Copies are available now in digital format from either Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Who is your favorite character?
What is important for readers to know about me as a writer?
I first envisioned becoming a writer as a teenager, but for years I did nothing to act on that desire, other than take a creative writing elective as an undergraduate. At times I would get an idea for a story or a novel and spend a few hours putting words on paper and later storing words on my computer. When I stopped working fulltime a few years ago, I began to wonder whether any of those fragments were worth trying to finish.
After reviewing several options, I made a commitment to myself to finish the story that now exists as The Expendable Man. It took me eight months to complete a first draft and another six months to whip it into its current shape (with the help of several volunteer editors).
Some writers spend months and even years trying to reach perfection. I’m not one of those writers. It’s not that I’m anxious to foist onto the world something that could be better, but I think I’m capable of recognizing at what point the price one has to pay to strive for perfection is no longer equal to the value achieved.
Thus, The Expendable Man became available early in 2011 and Making the Grade in the spring of 2012 and Last Stop on Desolation Ridge in January 2013. Meanwhile, I’m working on other projects, including a fantasy novel the first draft of which I’d like to finish by September 30, 2013. To keep track of my progress and to read about developments in the world of self-publishing, you can subscribe to a RSS feed of my Blog “Write or Wrong” or follow me on Twitter.
Peter G. Pollak, May 2013
Interviews with Peter Pollak
#1: Interview by Morgen Bailey, June 28, 2011/updated 5/10/2012.
#2: Interview by Mike Angley, July 1, 2011.
#3: Interview by Mark Tierno, March 4, 2012.
#4: Interview by Carolyn Arnold, March 25, 2012
#5: Pollak turns retirement into career in novel-writing, (Schenectady) Daily Gazette, April 21, 2013
Use the contact form on this website to invite Peter to speak to your bookclub or organization. If he can’t come in person, he’ll be there via the Internet.
A photographer’s outing to capture a morning sunrise on a desolate road in the Adirondacks takes an unusual twist when he discovers an injured man at the bottom of a roadside gully. The mystery deepens when waking in a local hospital the injured man can’t recall his name or how he ended up in such a life-threatening situation.
Last Stop on Desolation Ridge is the third novel by Peter G. Pollak, a native of Gloversville, New York and long-time Adirondacks summer resident.
“One of my favorite views in the Adirondacks can be found on NYS Route 10 across from where Avery’s Restaurant used to be,” Pollak stated. “You see an open valley with the West Branch of the Sacandaga River meandering through the meadow. With the mountains in the distance, the view is enchanting yet the quiet, the lack of any sign of humanity is intimidating. It was the inspiration for the title of my latest novel.”
Currently available only in e-book format (see links below), Last Stop will be released in paperback edition in February (2013).
Here’s some more information you may find useful:
When Shannon Lynch gets promoted to detective grade in the Albany (NY) Police Department, her past catches up with her in ways she never could have predicted. Will Shannon be able to keep her job or will a cold-hearted murderer and a felon just out on parole crash her dreams?
Bookstores carrying copies of Making the Grade:
You can also obtain print or e-book versions from:
In Print or e-book, order your copy from:
Read the Prologue of Making the Grade. Click here to download.
“Cancer may have been his only salvation. The Expendable Man is a novel from Peter G. Pollak as he writes of a wrongfully accused businessman who on medical leave from the Turkish prison he was doomed to, finds that he may just have a chance to find the truth. But there are those content with him being the fall man, and will do whatever it takes to keep it as such. The Expendable Man is a fine and much recommended addition to international political thriller fans.”
Review by Able Greenspan, June 2012 issue, MBR Book Watch
The Expendable Man tells the story of an American businessman who runs afoul of ruthless government officials who are not above sacrificing his liberty to cover up their mistakes.
It’s easy to obtain a copy of The Expendable Man for your IPad, Kindle, Nook or to read on your computer.
You can obtain a copy for the IPad by searching on the book’s title in the IPad library. Same for Kindle on Amazon.com and for the Nook at BarnesandNoble.com.
To obtain a print copy from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, search on the title, The Expendable Man or on Peter G. Pollak.
You can also purchase a print copy from the CreateSpace E-Store @ https://www.createspace.com/3537375
Or, you can purchase the novel in any of half a dozen digital formats on my Smashwords page.
Do you frequent an independent bookstore? Ask the store owners to use the contact page to obtain copies for and/or to invite Peter to speak to your book club, organization or meeting.
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Check out the first Chapter of The Expendable Man. Click here to download.
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I encourage all readers to rate and review The Expendable Man at the Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads and other websites.
Thank you.
Peter G. Pollak
Websites for Authors & Readers:
Blogs on Writing:
I read recently that to be successful an author needs 1,000 fans. Accurate or not, that seems to be a worthy goal.
If you become one of my 1,000 fans, I promise to keep you abreast of my writing projects, but not overwhelm your email box with trivia or self-serving appeals…
Well, I suppose I might send out self-serving trivia once in a while, but you’ll hardly notice. You’ll be busy enjoying my book reviews, comments on writing and news about my own writing projects.
Here comes the form:
Copies of novels by Peter G. Pollak can be found in the following book stores:
The Book House, Styvesant Plaza, Albany, NY | 518.489.4761 — SIGNED COPIES
The Open Door, 128 Jay Street, Schenectady, NY | 518.346.2719 — SIGNED COPIES
Mysteries on Main Street, 144 W. Main, Johnstown, NY | 518.736.2665
Ukazoo Books 730 Delaney Valley Rd., Towson, MD 21204 | 410-832-2665
Greetings & Readings Hunt Valley Towne Center, Hunt Valley MD 21030 | 410-771-3022
Pollak’s novels are available for the Kindle, Nook, IPad, Sony Reader, Kobo and in other formats.
For the Kindle, visit Amazon.com and search on Peter Pollak.
For the Nook, visit BarnesandNoble.com and search on Peter Pollak.
To read The Expendable Man or Last Stop on Desolation Ridge on the Sony Reader, Kobo or other formats, visit the Smashwords website and search on Peter Pollak. Making the Grade is only available for the Kindle or Nook. I-Pad owners can read it using the Kindle Ap.
I welcome your comments and questions and will reply promptly.
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