Local Landmarks Come to Life in Linda Leuzzi’s New Novel, “Car Dogs”

Longtime Long Island journalist and author Linda Leuzzi is turning familiar South Shore places into the backdrop for her latest novel, “Car Dogs,” a story inspired in part by her own experiences as a reporter, dog owner and Sayville resident.

Published in June by Solstice Publishing, “Car Dogs” is set in and around Bayport-Blue Point and features recognizable locations including the Bayport Aerodrome, Bayport-Blue Point Public Library and Meadow Croft, the former summer estate of John Ellis Roosevelt, a cousin of President Theodore Roosevelt.

The novel follows 17-year-old Amanda Caminetti, whose parents give her an unusual assignment to help her become more observant: drive the family dogs around town five times a week and record what she notices. Those trips eventually lead Amanda to Bernice, an 80-year-old Irish immigrant who once worked as a housekeeper for the Roosevelt family at Meadow Croft, and an unexpected friendship develops across generations.

Leuzzi drew on details from her own life, including drives with her late dogs Bridget and Lucky when she was searching for story ideas. Even Amanda’s 1983 Datsun has a real-life connection to a car Leuzzi once owned.

Leuzzi has spent decades covering South Shore communities and has received more than 20 New York Press Association awards. Her new novel brings that same attention to local people, history and places into a work of fiction.

Read the original story in Fire Island News