Bellmore resident explores Queens culture in new book

A war-torn veteran; a young, affable Puerto Rican girl; the old-age architecture that defines much of Queens — such images are only a few of the intricate scenes shared by Bellmore resident Mike Figliola in his new book, “The Slow Midnight on Cypress Avenue.”

Figliola knows the street well. For the past eight months, he has studied life on the central block that runs between Queens and Brooklyn as he gathered material for his book, which offers a snapshot of one Sunday in the area. “Slow Midnight” is a linear story but also a collection of vignettes that focus on an eclectic array of characters.

Figliola grew up in Queens, too — “I’ve lived there basically my whole life,” he said. As a self-proclaimed “child of the 80s,” Figliola’s childhood was largely spent outdoors on the streets of New York, where he would play in school yards, explore railroad tracks and venture wherever he could go.

“That inspired me to write this love letter to that time in my life,” Figliola said, “and to Queens in general.”

Life on Cypress Avenue is quaint but also constantly bustling, inhabited by working class residents who take the bus and shop in their local delis. Even the architecture can feel “as alive as the people,” Figliola said, with fire escapes and stoops every few feet.

“One thing I wanted to make palatable is, whether you live in Bellmore or you live in a rust belt state, everybody is a neighbor,” Figliola said. “This book is about people who all know each other; they all live in the same area and share small-town gossip, and it’s a day in the life of these folks.”

“Slow Midnight” is a “real character study,” Figliola said, and is divided into three parts that break up the day into morning, afternoon and night.

Figliola moved to Bellmore with his wife and daughter in December. The residential nature of the area reminds him of his home borough, he said, but he now has a nature preserve practically in his backyard.

“It’s not just a Queens story — it’s palatable across any place you live,” Figliola said. “It’s a neighborhood book.”

Figliola is active on his social media pages; he can be found at @mikefigs on Twitter and @MikeAFigs on Facebook.

“The Slow Midnight on Cypress Avenue” is available through most major retailers, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.