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The Harlem Hellfighters

Photo: Some of the men of the 369th (15th N.Y.) who won the Croix de Guerre for gallantry in action." Left to right. Front row: Pvt. Ed Williams, Herbert Taylor, Pvt. Leon Fraitor, Pvt. Ralph Hawkins. Back Row: Sgt. H. D. Prinas, Sgt. Dan Strorms, Pvt. Joe Williams, Pvt. Alfred Hanley, and Cpl. T. W. Taylor. 1998 print. Records of the War Department General and Special. Staffs. By an unknown photographer / Public domain The Harlem Hellfighters was the nickname given to the...

August 14, 2020By John NuckelBlog1 CommentRead more...

Game Six

A recent episode of the new show “This is Us” focused on the family’s tradition of rooting for the Pittsburg Steelers. I was touched because I have two long standing sources of comfort in my life. Baseball and strong women. It started with my mother, of course. She grew up two blocks from Ebbet’s Field in Brooklyn. Her bedtime stories were about Duke Sniders swing or Jackie Robinson’s lead off second base. I was 10 during the 1969 World Series...

July 31, 2020By John NuckelBlog0 CommentsRead more...

Drive audiobook – sneak peek!

I'm very excited to share the news that my Drive, the first book in my Volunteers series, is being turned into an audiobook! The talented Garfield Maitland is narrating and I can't wait to get this out into the world. In the meantime, click here to listen to this short sneak peek and let me know what you think!

June 10, 2020By John NuckelBlog1 CommentRead more...

Launch of Harlem Rhapsody

On May 26, 2020, the Historical Novel Society hosted the Facebook Live launch of event of my latest book, Harlem Rhapsody. During the event I talke about the Jazz Age in New York, read an excerpt from the book and answered some attendee questions. You can watch a replay of the event here: https://www.facebook.com/jnuckel/posts/3800888083319101

May 28, 2020By John NuckelBlog0 CommentsRead more...

Nine Shiny Dimes

I’ve been in the financial industry for 37 years. I’ve screamed in the trading pits and presented financial plans in board rooms. In all those years there has been one consistent revenue stream for industry professionals. They count on retail clients preferring nine shiny dimes to one crumbled dollar bill. In my early days the shiny dimes were glossy brochures or steaks and scotch in a power restaurant. Now it’s algorithms and video presentations. All of these shiny objects are presented to convince you to hand...

January 27, 2020By John NuckelBlogfinancial1 CommentRead more...

I don’t care!!

Those words were the beginning of the end to my career on Wall Street. It was the first time I realized that everything I had learned about my profession would soon mean nothing. To be honest, the words were a bit harsher. More vulgar and dismissive. At least the guy was up front with me. I knew my life would change the moment I heard those words. I was one of the first brokers in the trading pit of...

December 17, 2019By John NuckelBlog3 CommentsRead more...

Charles and Belle at the Cotton Club (Upcoming Book Sample)

Charles didn’t have to approach Belle. A few minutes after he walked back to the warehouse, one of the bottlers walked over to him as he was talking to Moses. “There’s a funny man here to see you.” Charles turned. “A funny man?” “Well, funny-looking, for sure.” The man turned and walked away. After getting a few more instructions on where Moses wanted the barrels placed, Charles walked towards the front of the warehouse. There was indeed a funny-looking man standing near the...

November 19, 2019By John NuckelBlog, Upcoming Book Sample0 CommentsRead more...

Joe Doyle (Upcoming Book Sample)

Meet Joe Doyle. A character in my upcoming book who’s story is based on my Grandfather, Joe McNally. A proud Irishman and American. Doyle stood and walked over to a window that looked out on the Hudson River. He leaned against the frame and crossed his arms. “Soldier to soldier. I have spent my entire life fighting against tyranny.” He suddenly slipped into a heavy Irish Brogue. “I was just a lad in Donegal when I saw my first act of terror. It...

January 17, 2019By John NuckelBlog, Upcoming Book Sample3 CommentsRead more...

A Night at the Cotton Club (Upcoming Book Sample)

All of Harlem was buzzing over Ellington and his band. He had been playing over a week but tonight was the first chance for Charles Merritt to see him. He dropped off a case of Rye and stood behind the bar near the exit door. He made sure to have his best suit on, it seemed like the thing to do.

December 10, 2018By John NuckelUpcoming Book SampleDuke Ellington, The Cotton Club1 CommentRead more...

Owney Madden and the Gopher Gang Cotton-Club-NYC-1920s

Breaking noses

By the time he was nineteen Owney Madden was running the Gopher Gang. He got to that level because he knew how to handle any mug that crossed him. One of his trademark moves was the way he would bust a guy’s nose. Left him marked for life. All of New York knew that if you crossed Owney Madden, you’re gonna remember it every time you look in the mirror. He taught each new member the way he wanted...