A Dollop of Toothpaste

A Dollop of Toothpaste is the fourth book by singer, actor, music historian Billy Vera and is his first novel. In it, he uses his years of experience in the often treacherous world of show business to tell the story of guitarist Johnny Santoro, his 98 year old uncle Nicky, head of the New Orleans Mafia, his best friend Pete and his young lover Paulette.

Our story begins on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and the destruction of a major US city by enemies unknown. Uncle Nicky sees this as an opportunity to bring the mob back to its rightful place in US politics and seeks help from Paulette's 33rd degree Freemason father to seat a President of his choosing.

This is a book filled with authenticity, from the music, the food, the dialects and in the locations rarely seen in other books. It is also about Love, of friends, of two unlikely lovers and the love of three very different families and how they converge.