Originally posted by Sonny:
I have gotten the novel Fools Die about a couple of weeks ago. I haven't read it yet as I'm reading another quite boring book (but it's against my nature to switch books in the middle).

Anyway, I scanned through Fools Die and noticed that it has [b]a lot of names that coincide with those in The Last Don. Examples are, Clericuzio, Santadio, Xanadu, Gronevelt...etc. I know that you probably were not intimate with Mr. Puzo (RIP) back when Fools Die came out. But did he ever talk about why he re-mentioned those names in The Last Don?

Hi Sonny,
I was around when Fools Die came out. I was taking care of Mario's wife who was terminally ill. And the reasons he used some of the same names and characters again was to tie the threads of Vegas and the mob together. Besides, the Xanadu and Gronevelt were favorites of his.

I read somewhere that his cousins/mother were named Clericuzio and that he absolutely loved that name. So I understand if he wanted to use it again. However, why the other names as well?

Yes, his mother and his half brothers and sister were named Clericuzio, and he did love that name he thought it sounded ominous. In fact he wanted to name "the Last Don" The Clericuzio but the publishers didn't believe anyone would be able to pronounce it, so they chose The Last Don.

Finally, did he ever mention how he came up with the names he did? I mean, how did he ever think of Corleone, Andolini, De Lena, Barzini, Tattaglia..etc Did he use friends' and family members' names? Or did he use celebrities' names? Do you have any idea about that?

Thanx.[/b]