Rockville Centre author Zach Downing writes his second novel

With summer now in full swing, we’re in need of the perfect summer beach read, and that’s what Rockville Centre author Zachary Downing had in mind for the release of his second novel, “Manhattan To Montauk.”

Downing, 34, a 2006 graduate of Oceanside High School and a Long Island native, categorizes his story as a “romantic coming-of-age” tale that is set in the area he knows best.

The time period, however, required a bit of research on his part. “Manhattan To Montauk,” is a tale of two lovers, Daisy and Chris, navigating their way through the summer of 1995 — a transitional period of history, mirroring a transitional period in the lives of two young adults who meet in the most transient of seasons.

“Summer can feel like its own existence,” Downing said, and the built-in expiration date of Labor Day raises the question, can a summer romance between the two main characters survive?

Being an author wasn’t in Downing’s plan. His usual method of self-expression was music. A songwriter turned novelist — he notes that “Manhattan To Montauk” came from a song he wrote a long time ago.

At the start of the pandemic, Downing found himself with a lot more downtime. That’s when the idea for his first book, “Flounder,” popped into his head. Downing began to write a little bit every night, teaching himself the ins and outs of long-form writing.

And while a song tells a story in a catchy and concise way, nurturing the story of a novel was far different from the storytelling Downing was used to.

Long-form writing has a structural demand that Downing had to learn on his own, but after trial and error and some input from beta readers, he finally polished his first book, which was published by through his own independent company, Beggie Books, at the start of 2022.

“Flounder” follows a college freshman in the early 2000s who struggles to find balance in his new life as a college student. His debut novel required little research, because Downing had been a freshman himself in 2006, starting his collegiate career at SUNY-Geneseo, and drew off of his own life experience to set the stage for his story.

Unlike the main characters of “Manhattan To Montauk,” Downing wasn’t a young adult in the mid-’90s, and so his second novel challenged him even further as an author. This time he needed to do research to get the story straight.

From New York City life at the time to the societal and cultural intricacies — Downing made sure to fact-check all the details in order to write an accurate, nostalgic tale. He even references the 1995 Montauk Pine Barrens fire, which is a major turning point in the story.

“The ’90s are coming back in a big way,” Downing said. This makes “Manhattan To Montauk” a suitable read for all ages — including those who lived through the turbulent era of the ’90s and members of the younger generation who are inspired by it.

Besides that, we can all relate to the hazy feeling of summer until we’re faced with the stark “implied responsibility” and reality of the fall. So, while you’re still in the dream of summer, add “Manhattan To Montauk” to your beach book list.

For more on Downing and his work, visit his website, ZDowning.com.