Joe Strazi is represented by Robert G. (Bob) Diforio and the D4EO Literary Agency. Bob is the founder and principal agent of the agency. If you are interested in the manuscripts for any of Joe’s books, please contact Bob at bob@d4eo.com.

Jack ‘Hammer’ Garrett is six feet tall and weighs 195 pounds. He graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and an emphasis in criminology. During his collegiate wrestling career, he garnered four NCAA Division I All-American titles and three NCAA Division I National Championships, finishing with a record of 162-9-1. During his professional fighting career, he amassed a record of 32 wins and 3 losses. His fighting styles included wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Muay Thai. His current occupation is rancher and owner/instructor of a shooting school. Jack’s hometown is Fredericksburg, Texas. He and his wife, Hannah Callahan Garrett, have three children: Liam, Noah, and Hunter. His parents are U.S. Congressman Louis Garrett and Dottie Baker Garrett. Jack was a UFC fan favorite and touted as the best pound-for-pound fighter during his ten-year career. His passion for the outdoors is surpassed only by his love for his family. He is a gym rat and appreciates a good firearm. Jack likes all genres of music-from Ray Charles to Foo Fighters. He loves creole & Cajun food, Thai food and sushi, and enjoys a fine bourbon while sitting around an open fire. Boiled crawfish is his specialty (earning him the nickname ‘Mudbug’ from some of his friends), and he can smoke a mean brisket.

Danny Hinojosa is the sheriff of Presidio County. Marfa, the small town located in the high desert of the Trans-Pecos region in far West Texas, is the county seat of Presidio County. Danny had lived in Marfa since childhood. He came to the states as an infant when his parents immigrated from Mexico. As a law enforcement officer, he was well respected by his fellow citizens. He had been a high school football star as the starting quarterback, leading his small-town school to a state championship in his senior year. Danny was the first in his family to attend college. A full athletic scholarship to Texas State was cut short when he blew out his knee during his sophomore year. That’s when he decided on a career in law enforcement. With a thick black mane of hair paired with a tall, muscular build, he still looked like he could play ball, even though he was several years removed from his playing days. Danny was finishing his breakfast at one of Marfa’s local dives, Marfa Burrito, when the call came in from the dispatcher on the two-way direct push-to-talk radio attached to Danny’s uniform. Danny’s day was about to take an unexpected turn for the worse.

“HAMMER is a roller coaster of personal conflict, avarice, and retribution across three continents. Joe’s protagonist, Jack Garrett, brings a conflicted, relatable character forced to evolve from the role of victim to that of avenger. Revenge thriller fans…strap in for a bumpy ride.” - Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Terminal List, True Believer, Savage Son, The Devils Hand, In The Blood, Only The Dead and Red Sky Mourning.

Bob Higgins is the general manager of the Terlingua River Ranch, located about 20 miles south of Marfa, Texas. Bob is what you would call uptight. Always serious with an air of nervousness and always business first. Not particularly fit, he is a man of short stature in his late fifties with thinning hair and a big ego. He is always dressed impeccably. Bob prefers Earl Gray tea with his morning breakfast. He has been employed at the ranch for several years and loves his job. It’s unfortunate that tragedy will soon force him to seek another line of work.

Abel is the only child of Elijah and Marguerite Cargill. What Abel lacked in common sense, he made up for in self-confidence and bravado. Heavy-handed with the help, he was even more treacherous when fueled by alcohol and drugs, which he was on most occasions. His father had placed him in charge of transportation operations for their worldwide medical charity.

Abel was a foul-mouthed womanizer who knew how to schmooze and bribe government and municipality officials, using his father’s money, of course. His fuse was short, he was prone to physical violence, and he did not tolerate insolence or the questioning of his authority. The weekly dosing of steroids only added to his inability to assess a situation before acting upon his emotions.

Daddy tolerated his bad habits because Abel got shit done.

Hannah Callahan Garrett is the wife of Jack Garrett and a mother to three boys-Noah, Hunter and Liam. She and Jack met while attending college at Louisiana State University (LSU-Geaux Tigers!) While they did not date in college, Hannah and Jack reconnected later during Jack’s fighting career. Hannah graduated LSU with a master’s degree in wildlife habitat conservation and management. She manages the wildlife program at Hammer Ranch and is the business manager, handling operations and guest bookings. Hannah has a passion for animals and the outdoors and a enjoys a well-crafted Old-Fashioned cocktail.

At an elevation of ten thousand feet and a cruising speed of one hundred and seventy nautical miles per hour, the Cessna 208 Caravan turboprop sliced through the darkness as it made its way over Marfa, Texas, flying south towards the U.S.-Mexico border. One of its passengers glared out of the aircraft’s window towards the ground and took note of the remote town’s sparse lights. Seated to his left, a man topped off a magazine with 115-grain hollow point ammunition. He favored the round for its deep tissue penetration and expansion capabilities upon impact with human flesh and bone. Loading the magazine in his 9mm suppressed pistol, equipped with a Holosun 507C X2 Red Dot sight, he racked the slide to chamber a round, completed a press check, and shoved the weapon into the tactical holster attached to his right leg. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and briefly contemplated the task ahead.

His traveling companion ran a thumb along the blade of his Gerber Reserve Terracraft tactical knife, checking the edge of its blade before returning it to the leather sheath attached to his belt. Retrieving a handheld thermal monocular from his rucksack, he confirmed the device’s charge level was adequate and that its calibration mode was set to automatic. He returned the monocular to the rucksack and unzipped a separate small compartment on the side of the pack. Retrieving a small glass vial and unscrewing its top, he methodically tapped his forefinger against the outer surface of the vial, depositing two thick lines of cocaine on the tray table situated over his lap. He inhaled the lines, one through each nostril, and ran the remaining residue from the table over his teeth and gums with his forefinger.

This was not their first execution, nor would it be their last.

Elijah Cargill was not born into wealth and his formative years were difficult. He was the juvenile target of an alcoholic father who was abusive Monday through Saturday. Every Sunday, however, his father would parade the family up to the front pews of their San Antonio church to ask for the Lord’s forgiveness. The beatings would commence the following day. It was probably why Sunday was always Elijah’s favorite day of the week. A day of reprieve from the belt, book, rope, or whatever his father found near to exact discipline. Elijah went on to become a wound care surgeon, founded an innovative medical device company, and used his wealth to launch an international medical outreach charity known as “Helping Hands Across Borders”.

"HAMMER is an electrifying tale of vengeance, resilience, and redemption. This gripping novel transcends the boundaries of the typical revenge thrillers to deliver a heart-pounding and emotionally charged narrative. Joe masterfully combines the world of mixed martial arts with a riveting and complex plot, creating a unique and compelling storyline that keeps readers hooked from the very first page. HAMMER is not just about revenge; it is a story of resilience, sacrifice, and the enduring power of the human spirit.” - Rick Franco, former Marine Infantry Officer, CIA protective contractor, Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection contractor; Co-Founder, Four Branches Bourbon

Marguerite is the wife of Elijah Cargill and mother to Abel. She was only twenty years old when she and Elijah first met. A business major at Lourdes University, a Catholic and Franciscan college located in Sylvania, Ohio, she’d attended the university at her father’s insistence, with plans for her to eventually take over the family business. Marguerite is a master manipulator, the absolute ruler of her household and the guiding force behind her husband’s success. She will smile at you as she plans your demise and has an obsession with footwear from Christian Louboutin.

Stepping inside the room, he glanced around the corner towards the rear of the expansive suite. He noticed first the pools of coagulating blood on the area rug which partially covered the Saltillo tile floor. His knees locked and he froze in place. Richard slowly glanced up from the floor and saw their feet. Droplets of more coagulating blood hung thickly from the toes of each body as if they were melted candle wax. He looked up toward the ceiling, his mouth agape. His sunglasses fell from one hand, the box lunch and thermos from the other. That’s when he saw them—two nude, bloody, disfigured bodies hanging from ropes, stretched across a mesquite rafter.

“HAMMER is a rollicking thriller that moves from Texas to Bulgaria to South Africa…and shoots right through your nerves as Joe’s dialogue, wit, and artful use of metaphor take readers on an unforgettable journey of greed, despair, vengeance, and love. We haven’t heard the last of Jack Garrett…nor Joe.” - Chris Dorsey, President/CEO of Dorsey Pictures, Forbes Contributor, Author

FBI Special Agent Frank Sizemore is based out of the El Paso, TX field office. You will usually spot him wearing a white button-down dress shirt, navy sports coat, solid color tie, khaki pants, Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses, and sporting a short-cropped haircut. Sizemore’s athletic build is deceiving for his age, but the years of sleepless nights, long hours of surveillance, and extended criminal pursuits are displayed in the lines on his face, like a road map of dark alleys and corrupt city streets. With previous assignments in Chicago, New York City, Atlanta, and now El Paso, he has witnessed his share of murder victims, random attacks, mob hits, domestic violence, and more. Sizemore has served as an FBI agent for over eighteen years.

“When I read HAMMER, I thought it would be my book of choice for the next week or two. However, I couldn't stop without knowing what happened to our hero next and got through it in two cross-country flights. This book is as entertaining as any of Jack Carr's books and as thoughtfully researched as Connor Sullivan's Sleeping Bear. Thriller fans, prepare yourself for a new series to love.” - Brad Lutrell, Co-founder, and CEO of GoWild

Just a few great tools to help with the writing process. Here are a few I use: Scrivener (a great way to get started & get organized); Fictionary (analyze and self-edit your work); and Unsplash (when you are stuck for great photos and don’t have the budget for images of all kinds).

Over the years, I have written a lot of marketing copy, press releases and articles for conservation and outdoor publications. In 2019, I began writing fiction. My journey began, not unlike so many others, with an idea. I had no clue about how to write a book or even where to begin. An author friend recommended I try a software program called Scrivener. Once I became familiar with the program, it was game on.