Carson Morton was born in London, England and moved with his family to the United States when he was eleven. He worked as a professional musician for many years, making an album for United Artists Records with his group Razmataz, and playing with the likes of John Sebastian, Billy Preston, and many others. He is a screenwriter and published playwright, and has worked in television as a consultant and composer.
His recently released first novel is
Stealing Mona Lisa.
Recently I asked Morton what he was reading. His reply:
Lately, it’s been non-fiction, perhaps in an effort to find ideas for future books. Just finished Lost in Shangri-la by Mitchell Zuckoff. This one was purely for fun and adventure. During 
the Second World War II, two American servicemen and a beautiful WAC get shipwrecked (actually planewrecked) in a hidden valley in New Guinea amidst lost-in-time headhunters. What a hook! Still reading David McCullough’s wonderful The Greater Journey about Americans in Paris in the Nineteenth Century. Having just spent a week in that wonderful city, to read how it became a Mecca to Americans who wished to study art, or medicine, or wanted to write in such a nurturing atmosphere, is an inspiration. Finally, I wandered into a used book store on a steamy hot day in Nashville while I waited for my glasses to be repaired. Its cool air and reassuring walls of books were a welcome relief to the 
inferno outside. I was determined to find a book and finally, voila! John Keegan’s The Face of Battle: A Study of Agincourt, Waterloo, and the Somme. And at the right price to boot! Keegan is a brilliant writer (perhaps at times, a little too brilliant?), but he makes the personal experience of the participants of these historic battles come alive like no other writer has (okay, maybe Stephen E. Ambrose). The take away? You didn’t want to get wounded in battle in those days, trust me.
Wow, heavy stuff. Time for a nice enjoyable beach read. Too bad I’ve already read Stealing Mona Lisa…
Learn more about
Stealing Mona Lisa at
Carson Morton's website.
The Page 69 Test: Stealing Mona Lisa.
My Book, The Movie: Stealing Mona Lisa.
--Marshal Zeringue
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