Uncorking a Story

Hosted ByMike Carlon

Stories influence, teach and inspire us, but what about the storytellers who create them? Uncorking a Story profiles storytellers to uncover how their background and life experiences influence the stories they create. We learn what motivates them, their path to success, and what fuels them to keep creating. It all starts by asking one simple question, where does your story begin? Welcome to uncorking a story. All of the books promoted on Uncorking a Story can be viewed and purchased here: https://bookshop.org/shop/UncorkingaStory

Murder, Mobsters, and the Dark Side of Power, with Jeffrey Konvitz

Share the goodness!

If you remove the rule of law, the dark side of human nature is very powerful—and in this period, there was no law. — Jeffrey Konvitz

In this riveting episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike chats with entertainment attorney, screenwriter, producer, and bestselling author Jeffrey Konvitz—known for The Sentinel and now Circus of Satan. Jeffrey takes us deep into the violent, forgotten history of the Irish mob, the collapse of their political grip, and the rise of organized crime in America. He also reveals the decades-long journey behind writing Circus of Satan, why lawyers make great writers, and what he’s planning next. Fans of Boardwalk Empire, Gangs of New York, or The Godfather—don’t miss this one!

Key Takeaways:

  1. How a Shakespeare essay at Cornell started Jeffrey’s writing journey—despite earning a “D”!
  2. The origin story behind his bestselling novel The Sentinel and its surprising success.
  3. Why Circus of Satan took 25 years to write and how it bridges a forgotten era of organized crime history.
  4. The untold story of how Irish gangs controlled U.S. cities—and how that power ultimately collapsed.
  5. The challenges (and rewards) of weaving fictional characters into rigorously researched historical events.
  6. The surprising similarities between writing novels and trying complex legal cases.
  7. Jeffrey’s advice for anyone pursuing a creative passion—even if it takes decades to complete.

Buy Circus of Satan: Murder, Revenge, and the Rise of Organized Crime 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4jUQJ9m

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781662950353

Connect with Jeffrey

Website: http://www.circusofsatan.com

X: https://x.com/JeffreyKonvitz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffreykonvitzauthor/

Connect with Mike

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#UncorkingAStory #JeffreyKonvitz #CircusOfSatan #HistoricalFiction #IrishMob #OrganizedCrimeHistory #MobStories #TheSentinel #WritersLife #PassionProjects

Meta Description

Bestselling author Jeffrey Konvitz joins Uncorking a Story to reveal the hidden history behind Circus of Satan—a gripping novel about the Irish mob, corruption, and the dark side of power in early 20th-century America. A must-listen for fans of crime and historical fiction.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices