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Cross Bronx: A Writing Life
In his inimitable prose, master storyteller Peter Quinn chronicles his odyssey from the Irish Catholic precincts of the Bronx to the arena of big-league politics and corporate hardball.
Cross Bronx is Peter Quinn’s one-of-a-kind account of his adventures as ad man, archivist, teacher, Wall Street messenger, court officer, political speechwriter, corporate scribe, and award-winning novelist. Like Pete Hamill, Quinn is a New Yorker through and through. His evolution from a childhood in a now-vanished Bronx, to his exploits in the halls of Albany and swish corporate offices, to then walking away from it all, is evocative and entertaining and enlightening from first page to last. Cross Bronx is bursting with witty, captivating stories.
Quinn is best known for his novels (all recently reissued by Fordham University Press under its New York ReLit imprint), most notably his American Book Award–winning novel Banished Children of Eve. Colum McCann has summed up Quinn’s trilogy of historical detective novels as “generous and agile and profound.” Quinn has now seized the time and inspiration afforded by “the strange interlude of the pandemic” to give his up-close-and-personal accounts of working as a speechwriter in political backrooms and corporate
“In a moment of upended expectations and fear-prone uncertainty, the tolling of John Donne’s bells becomes perhaps not as faint as it once seemed. Before judgment is pronounced and sentence carried out, I want my chance to speak from the dock. Let no man write my epitaph. In the end, this is the best I could do.” (from the Prologue)
From 1979 to 1985 Quinn worked as chief speechwriter for New York Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo, helping craft Cuomo’s landmark speech at the 1984 Democratic Convention and his address on religion and politics at Notre Dame University. Quinn then joined Time Inc. as chief speechwriter and retired as corporate editorial director for Time Warner at the end of 2007. As eyewitness and participant, he survived elections, mega-mergers, and urban ruin. In Cross Bronx he provides his insider’s view of high-powered politics and high-stakes corporate intrigue.
Incapable of writing a dull sentence, the award-winning author grabs our attention and keeps us enthralled from start to finish. Never have his skills as a storyteller been on better display than in this revealing, gripping memoir.
Cross Bronx is Peter Quinn’s one-of-a-kind account of his adventures as ad man, archivist, teacher, Wall Street messenger, court officer, political speechwriter, corporate scribe, and award-winning novelist. Like Pete Hamill, Quinn is a New Yorker through and through. His evolution from a childhood in a now-vanished Bronx, to his exploits in the halls of Albany and swish corporate offices, to then walking away from it all, is evocative and entertaining and enlightening from first page to last. Cross Bronx is bursting with witty, captivating stories.
Quinn is best known for his novels (all recently reissued by Fordham University Press under its New York ReLit imprint), most notably his American Book Award–winning novel Banished Children of Eve. Colum McCann has summed up Quinn’s trilogy of historical detective novels as “generous and agile and profound.” Quinn has now seized the time and inspiration afforded by “the strange interlude of the pandemic” to give his up-close-and-personal accounts of working as a speechwriter in political backrooms and corporate
“In a moment of upended expectations and fear-prone uncertainty, the tolling of John Donne’s bells becomes perhaps not as faint as it once seemed. Before judgment is pronounced and sentence carried out, I want my chance to speak from the dock. Let no man write my epitaph. In the end, this is the best I could do.” (from the Prologue)
From 1979 to 1985 Quinn worked as chief speechwriter for New York Governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo, helping craft Cuomo’s landmark speech at the 1984 Democratic Convention and his address on religion and politics at Notre Dame University. Quinn then joined Time Inc. as chief speechwriter and retired as corporate editorial director for Time Warner at the end of 2007. As eyewitness and participant, he survived elections, mega-mergers, and urban ruin. In Cross Bronx he provides his insider’s view of high-powered politics and high-stakes corporate intrigue.
Incapable of writing a dull sentence, the award-winning author grabs our attention and keeps us enthralled from start to finish. Never have his skills as a storyteller been on better display than in this revealing, gripping memoir.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2022
13 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Peter Quinn
79 books25 followersPeter Quinn is the author of the novel Banished Children of Eve (winner of an American Book Award) and previously served as speechwriter for New York governors Hugh Carey and Mario Cuomo. A third-generation New Yorker whose granparents were born in Ireland, he is currently Editorial Director for Time Warner and lives in Hastings, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 26, 2022
I believe everyone has a story to tell; the question is, are you a good storyteller? In his memoir, Peter Quinn proves to be a great writer and a delightful storyteller.
I’ll be honest, I’m not much into politics, so knowing that Mr. Quinn was a political speechwriter for years made me wonder how engrossed I would be in his story. Yet he writes with wit and even humor about events and people that I soon found myself flipping pages to find out what came next for him.
Peter Quinn has many credentials: teacher, court officer, political speechwriter, corporate scribe, political historian, novelist, husband, and father. You’ll hear about them in 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐱; these are his adventures, his journey - just a kid from the Bronx.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @paquinn47 for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
I’ll be honest, I’m not much into politics, so knowing that Mr. Quinn was a political speechwriter for years made me wonder how engrossed I would be in his story. Yet he writes with wit and even humor about events and people that I soon found myself flipping pages to find out what came next for him.
Peter Quinn has many credentials: teacher, court officer, political speechwriter, corporate scribe, political historian, novelist, husband, and father. You’ll hear about them in 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐱; these are his adventures, his journey - just a kid from the Bronx.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @paquinn47 for a spot on tour and a gifted copy.
September 20, 2022
Cross Bronx
“We carry the past with us like a book. Whether we open it or not doesn’t go away.” Most of us as the author begins this memoir, never get over childhoods because we never get out of them. His story focuses on the Bronx, growing up in Parkchester where his life begins as a young child, where so many things happen, school, longtime friends, taking us through the many places in the Bronx I felt at times that I was reliving my parent’s past as they as I did for a long time lived in the South Bronx. The novel by Peter Quinn takes us through his life and journey from the Irish Catholic precincts of the Bronx to entering the political arena and politics. The past never leaves us and the author relates his personal life story from his immigrant heritage, living and being brought up in the Bronx, family and neighborhood that each one of us feels a part of forever, shaping our lives, personalities and living so many careers .
The author describes the Bronx and Parkchester as subatomic particles.
He relates his time in the Bronx, taking us to Fordham Road, Arthur Avenue and let’s not forget Dion and the Belmonts from Belmont Avenue.
The geography was big and small, and it was the world that he lived in and the ground shaking subway beneath adding Kingsbridge Avenue. The Loew’s Paradise and the Grand Concourse. You feel like you are living the past along with him.
The author lived and is still living an interesting life. He relates his time as an ad man, plus teaching, archivist, Wall Street messenger, that sounded interesting, court officer challenging, political speech writer for Governor Carey, corporate scribe and most of all an award-winning author.
Belonging to the genius of Bronx Irish Catholic, the author attended St. Raymond’s Elementary school. He describes the students, the school. The Priests, the class signs and more. He went to Manhattan prep when Brother George was principal. His life was anything but dull and going to Manhattan College for his degrees, brought back memories of when I attended the school for my Administration and Supervision Masters and PD.
His family dynamics are filling d with stories about his parents, grandparents, and uncles, and aunts. With the closeness and ties plus the family gatherings, and churches they frequented and shared his lifelong shelter Island you feel like you are reliving the past along with the author. We enter courtrooms, boardrooms, CEOs, Governors, and an assistant that proved helpful to a point. Passing exams, getting hired by Carey, then Mario Cuomo, he wrote and created his speech for the 1984 Democratic Convention. He even wrote his address on religion and politics. Pages 142-143,outlines his time with Cuomo in detail.
Integration in his schools, black students enrolled, and community feelings expressed on both sides. Part three Killing Time and working at Time Inc. Decisions that are questionable and concerns about its future, how will it affect the author. The chapter I found most interesting was when he met William Kennedy the author.
Told in the first person and in the author’s voice, each part of his life from childhood until the present is told in an honest, humorous at times and engaging the reader on every page.
The chapter I found most interesting was when he met William Kennedy the author. Imagine writing your first novel and seeing someone holding it in their hands in the checkout line. What happens and what he says is hilarious. When Banished Children was published in March 1994, he was nervous, but it was out of his hands. Some good and some unfavorable reviews. The problem he says was the timing not the book. His book came out at the same time as Tom Flanagan’s The End of the Hunt plus two other major authors. He received a great review from the book reporter from the L.A. Times but not as favorable from someone who came to a reading at a bookstore in Philadelphia. But he still had a tour and when it was over back to work. Working on his OAF plan and not wanting to be borrowing to write a speech being lent out by his boss. He wrote for Jerry Kevin for 10 years and rode in planes and limos. He describes his time with him in detail on pages 185-189. His friendship and talks with William Kennedy taught him essential things important to writers. The effrontery to believe they have something to say, the hope they can say what’s been said before in ways that make it new and different and worth reading. Then the last paragraph on page 204 will bring a spring in your step a smile. The final chapter is an in-depth interview between Quinn and Kennedy. Read the reflections of Kennedy on life, art, and the Irish American experience, a self-portrait of an artist in progress.
A memoir that is unique in its presentation, takes us to many places he traveled to when part of the staff of the governors and other corporate heads. Peter Quinn gives an honest take on an inside view of his family, family life, the pictures included that bring it to life, and a definite way to remind everyone of the uniqueness, wonders, and beauty in my mind of the greatest borough The Bronx.
Fran Lewis just reviews
“We carry the past with us like a book. Whether we open it or not doesn’t go away.” Most of us as the author begins this memoir, never get over childhoods because we never get out of them. His story focuses on the Bronx, growing up in Parkchester where his life begins as a young child, where so many things happen, school, longtime friends, taking us through the many places in the Bronx I felt at times that I was reliving my parent’s past as they as I did for a long time lived in the South Bronx. The novel by Peter Quinn takes us through his life and journey from the Irish Catholic precincts of the Bronx to entering the political arena and politics. The past never leaves us and the author relates his personal life story from his immigrant heritage, living and being brought up in the Bronx, family and neighborhood that each one of us feels a part of forever, shaping our lives, personalities and living so many careers .
The author describes the Bronx and Parkchester as subatomic particles.
He relates his time in the Bronx, taking us to Fordham Road, Arthur Avenue and let’s not forget Dion and the Belmonts from Belmont Avenue.
The geography was big and small, and it was the world that he lived in and the ground shaking subway beneath adding Kingsbridge Avenue. The Loew’s Paradise and the Grand Concourse. You feel like you are living the past along with him.
The author lived and is still living an interesting life. He relates his time as an ad man, plus teaching, archivist, Wall Street messenger, that sounded interesting, court officer challenging, political speech writer for Governor Carey, corporate scribe and most of all an award-winning author.
Belonging to the genius of Bronx Irish Catholic, the author attended St. Raymond’s Elementary school. He describes the students, the school. The Priests, the class signs and more. He went to Manhattan prep when Brother George was principal. His life was anything but dull and going to Manhattan College for his degrees, brought back memories of when I attended the school for my Administration and Supervision Masters and PD.
His family dynamics are filling d with stories about his parents, grandparents, and uncles, and aunts. With the closeness and ties plus the family gatherings, and churches they frequented and shared his lifelong shelter Island you feel like you are reliving the past along with the author. We enter courtrooms, boardrooms, CEOs, Governors, and an assistant that proved helpful to a point. Passing exams, getting hired by Carey, then Mario Cuomo, he wrote and created his speech for the 1984 Democratic Convention. He even wrote his address on religion and politics. Pages 142-143,outlines his time with Cuomo in detail.
Integration in his schools, black students enrolled, and community feelings expressed on both sides. Part three Killing Time and working at Time Inc. Decisions that are questionable and concerns about its future, how will it affect the author. The chapter I found most interesting was when he met William Kennedy the author.
Told in the first person and in the author’s voice, each part of his life from childhood until the present is told in an honest, humorous at times and engaging the reader on every page.
The chapter I found most interesting was when he met William Kennedy the author. Imagine writing your first novel and seeing someone holding it in their hands in the checkout line. What happens and what he says is hilarious. When Banished Children was published in March 1994, he was nervous, but it was out of his hands. Some good and some unfavorable reviews. The problem he says was the timing not the book. His book came out at the same time as Tom Flanagan’s The End of the Hunt plus two other major authors. He received a great review from the book reporter from the L.A. Times but not as favorable from someone who came to a reading at a bookstore in Philadelphia. But he still had a tour and when it was over back to work. Working on his OAF plan and not wanting to be borrowing to write a speech being lent out by his boss. He wrote for Jerry Kevin for 10 years and rode in planes and limos. He describes his time with him in detail on pages 185-189. His friendship and talks with William Kennedy taught him essential things important to writers. The effrontery to believe they have something to say, the hope they can say what’s been said before in ways that make it new and different and worth reading. Then the last paragraph on page 204 will bring a spring in your step a smile. The final chapter is an in-depth interview between Quinn and Kennedy. Read the reflections of Kennedy on life, art, and the Irish American experience, a self-portrait of an artist in progress.
A memoir that is unique in its presentation, takes us to many places he traveled to when part of the staff of the governors and other corporate heads. Peter Quinn gives an honest take on an inside view of his family, family life, the pictures included that bring it to life, and a definite way to remind everyone of the uniqueness, wonders, and beauty in my mind of the greatest borough The Bronx.
Fran Lewis just reviews
September 21, 2022
This book chronicles Peter Quinn’s life over the past seventy-five years. It is a montage of flashbacks packed with lots of stuff: Irish-Catholic, Bronx, family, Governor’s mansion, corporate boardrooms. It’s a fast read, engaging, clever, and I didn’t want it to end. I think Peter intended it to be an illustration of his life for his family, both present and for future generations. He laments in the book for not having “known” some of his ancestors- this book is a gift to his future descendants- they won’t have to wonder about this piece of their heritage. It’s a beautiful story of an interesting life, well-lived. But for me, it was so much more than that. Having grown up in the US Midwest, I was always fascinated with NYC. It wasn’t until my twenties that I ever experienced a taxi, religious, ethnic and racial diversity, apartments. City life was only brought to me from television. It was exotic and foreign, and it wasn’t until my fifties, when my kids moved to NYC, did I begin to really explore and understand a bit about this frontier and its inhabitants (and come to understand Billy Joel’s lyrics, “I walked through Bedford-Stuy alone.”). Peter’s book is a time-travelogue. It took me back to a place and time of which I had only imagined. Read this book. If you are an old Irish New Yorker, you will feel at home among friends. If you’ve never been to NYC, it will help you understand the mystique and intrigue of what the Bronx is all about, and how it came to be. Either way, you will be transformed and touched by a man’s love and gratitude for his place in history.
November 3, 2022
In Cross Bronx, writer Peter Quinn describes his life growing up in the Irish Catholic section of the Bronx, Parkchester. His father was a congressman and a judge who helped guide Peter into a life of politics. He knew he didn’t want to be a politician, but he got involved in speechwriting. He wrote speeches for two New York governors, Mario Cuomo and Hugh Carey. He has also written several books, including an American Book Award winning novel, Banished Children of Eve.
I enjoyed this memoir! I’ve lived in NYC for 15 years and I always love heard stories about the city in different eras. NYC is such a melting pot; it’s interesting to read about all the little neighborhoods that still exist today. And I can agree, I’ve also never been to Canarsie. Plus marrying into an Irish Catholic family makes a lot of these stories ring true!
Thank you so much to @suzyapprovedbooktours @paquinn47 and @fordham_press for my gifted copy.
I enjoyed this memoir! I’ve lived in NYC for 15 years and I always love heard stories about the city in different eras. NYC is such a melting pot; it’s interesting to read about all the little neighborhoods that still exist today. And I can agree, I’ve also never been to Canarsie. Plus marrying into an Irish Catholic family makes a lot of these stories ring true!
Thank you so much to @suzyapprovedbooktours @paquinn47 and @fordham_press for my gifted copy.
October 3, 2022
This memoir is perfect for those that enjoy an inside look at politics, corporate speechwriting and all things the Bronx.
Peter takes us through his life as the son of a judge, his Irish-American heritage, and his education which never strayed far from home. I enjoyed reading as Peter’s shares his jobs over the years from a one and done high school teacher to a messenger and then court officer.
The bulk of the book Paul shares his many years of speech writing for 2 NY governors and for the executives at Time-Warner.
My two favorite parts of this book was when Peter shares his long courtship with his wife who he refers to as The Girl from Hot Dog Beach.
My other favorite part is when Peter talks about dedicating the time to write his novels while also writing speeches.
There is also a bonus interview with Pulitzer Prize winning author, Bill Kennedy, who is a friend of Peter’s.
Peter takes us through his life as the son of a judge, his Irish-American heritage, and his education which never strayed far from home. I enjoyed reading as Peter’s shares his jobs over the years from a one and done high school teacher to a messenger and then court officer.
The bulk of the book Paul shares his many years of speech writing for 2 NY governors and for the executives at Time-Warner.
My two favorite parts of this book was when Peter shares his long courtship with his wife who he refers to as The Girl from Hot Dog Beach.
My other favorite part is when Peter talks about dedicating the time to write his novels while also writing speeches.
There is also a bonus interview with Pulitzer Prize winning author, Bill Kennedy, who is a friend of Peter’s.
October 19, 2022
At just a little over 200 pages Peter Quinn details about his community, family, education, variety of jobs, politics and corporate speech writing to name just a few of his journey.
This is an enjoyable and interesting read that sparked my interest with fun and entertaining stories from the Bronx and more.
“A memoir isn’t a rearview mirror. It’s a scrim on which mélange of images is projected, some clear, some blurred, some amusing, others painful, an unfolding of revelations, indictments, vindications, a confrontation with “all I’ve done and failed to do””
This is an enjoyable and interesting read that sparked my interest with fun and entertaining stories from the Bronx and more.
“A memoir isn’t a rearview mirror. It’s a scrim on which mélange of images is projected, some clear, some blurred, some amusing, others painful, an unfolding of revelations, indictments, vindications, a confrontation with “all I’ve done and failed to do””
November 10, 2022
𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵-𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭!
What a great memoir, I wanted to add some books to my tbr for #nonfictionnovember and this story was just perfect. Beautifully writen, funny and entertaining, what more can you ask for?
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours l and Fordham University Press for for this tour invite.
𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘅 by Peter Quinn released September 13, 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
What a great memoir, I wanted to add some books to my tbr for #nonfictionnovember and this story was just perfect. Beautifully writen, funny and entertaining, what more can you ask for?
Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours l and Fordham University Press for for this tour invite.
𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘅 by Peter Quinn released September 13, 2022.
https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...
February 8, 2024
I normally would not have sought out this book. Instead a friend sent me this book because he thought I'd like it.
This book really grew on me as it aligned with my background. My family hails from the Bronx and I am an Irish Catholic Democrat who follows politics closely. So I was drawn to this book the way that I was drawn to Angela's Ashes.
Please give this book a chance. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This book really grew on me as it aligned with my background. My family hails from the Bronx and I am an Irish Catholic Democrat who follows politics closely. So I was drawn to this book the way that I was drawn to Angela's Ashes.
Please give this book a chance. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
November 4, 2022
Peter Quinn has led an interesting life and I really enjoyed reading about it - - his Irish Catholic roots & family dynamics plus his career which included serving as a court officer, speech writer for two governors & Time Inc. execs and also a novelist. I loved reading more about The Bronx and his upbringing there and loved seeing the photos of Peter with his family and career highlights.
September 30, 2022
Peter Quinn had quite the life. Working in advertising, a teacher, a court officer, in politics all while living in the Bronx in the 90s. Such a fascinating time in NYC. I love any book set in the city and this one was so captivating and real. A must read!
April 29, 2023
Enjoyable Read by a Bronx Boomer
Great summary of a life searching for meaning, while encountering the good, the bad, and the boring. The author provides a good insight into life and its complications. A BIC tells his story honestly.
Great summary of a life searching for meaning, while encountering the good, the bad, and the boring. The author provides a good insight into life and its complications. A BIC tells his story honestly.
November 1, 2022
A fascinating journey into a writer's life and career in New York.
August 7, 2024
Born,raised annnnd still in the Bronx this was a nice read he took me to the times a lot of my family members have mentioned. Nice read
November 18, 2025
Pete captures the grit, the flavor and bittersweet humor of growing up B-I-C in the 50s &60s in the Bronx.
September 13, 2022
Peter Quinn has lived a fascinating life. He grew up in the Bronx, he worked in advertising, he worked as a teacher, a court officer and a political speech writer and he is an award winning novelist. Cross Bronx is a chronicle of his life and experiences. I loved that so much of it was set in New York City. The city is always evolving and I really enjoyed the glimpses of what it was like, in his eyes, during the mid to late 1900s.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews