Unlikely author pens book about hope and faith

You probably won't find a more unlikely writer of a novel about good versus evil, hope and enlightenment than Louis Anthony Agnello Jr.

Agnello, the author of "The Devil's Glove" will be in Cape Girdeau Friday, when he'll do a book signing at Barnes and Noble Booksellers in West Park Mall from 5 to 8 p.m.

Agnello, a former soap opera actor and exotic dancer who went by the stage name of "Cousin Vinny," once was hailed as the "Stripper King of New York City." In 1991, Agnello had a vision so powerful it eventually compelled him to turn that vision into a published novel and leave behind the world of acting and exotic dancing.

"There's not a more relevant book out anywhere," Agnello said of his debut novel in an interview with the Southeast Missourian.

"The Devil's Glove" tells the story of Satan's revenge on God through baseball. Bitter at having been cast out of Heaven, Satan devises a way of exacting his revenge by cursing a baseball glove that travels through two generations of baseball players.

Louis Anthony Agnello Jr., aka Counsin Vinny (Submitted photo)

"This broken-hearted baseball player who is stuck in the minor leagues uses the devil's glove to coach the next victim of the glove's curse -- a young boy with similar dreams -- only to find himself trapped in a living hell," says Agnello.

"[The book] covers an addiction that we really don't think about too often. You always hear about drugs and alcohol. Well, this book covers the addiction about people who want to be great in order to be loved."

Agnello finds it significant that though he had the vision for the novel in the 1990s, long before the steroid scandals that plagued the sports world, he didn't write the book until recently.

"I don't believe the book would have had the profound effect in the mid-1990s that it does today," Agnello said. "It's about cheating and the consequences of cheating, which is kind of an analogy for life the way it is today."

Agnello had the vision for the book in 1991 during the heyday of his exotic dancing career.

"It was a great life," says Agnello. "I was going to the top parties, making money hand over fist, and not really working too hard. It was all fun and games."

But most in Agnello's circle at the time dismissed his vision as foolery.

"When I would talk about it, people would look at me like I was insane," Agnello said.

He nearly completed the first draft of the book in 1993, but put the project on the shelf for 16 years.

He finally resumed writing the book in 2009.

"They started phasing me out [as the top male stripper in New York City] in 1993, and I had to go out and find real work," said Agnello, who then became an agent representing other, younger male dancers.

"Then, in 2001, the strippergate scandal happened," Agnello said. "That gave me a greater understanding of Eddie [one of the book's two main characters] and the horrors of addiction. He treats the glove like it's cocaine; he thinks he needs it."

The so-called strippergate scandal took place in September 2001 and received major media attention, Agnello explained.

"It was the high school football team stripper party chaperoned by a big man on Wall Street up in Chappaqua, New York, in the first days of September 2001," Agnello said. "That was the party where Bill Clinton allegedly lived in the neighborhood, and late night talk show hosts were making jokes about former President Clinton hiding in the woods and watching the action. The punchline was Bill Clinton allegedly stopped a high school kid sprinting away from the party into the woods and asked him, 'Hey kid, when's the next party?'"

Agnello stresses that this is a non-denominational book about faith.

"I've had both Christians and Jewish people [compliment the book]," says Agnello. "Its message is meant to lead everyone to a higher power, whatever that higher power is."

Agnello wants "The Devil's Glove" to be a book about hope and enlightenment.

"No matter where you are in your life, or how dark it might be, there is still a light out in the distance," Agnello said.

Playing on his baseball-themed novel, he adds, "God will give you more than one turn at bat."