Ask the Author: Paula Cappa
Answered Questions (28)
Paula Cappa
Hi Cameron, nice to connect to you. Greylock is a good one for readers who like supernatural mysteries with a murder ( a music phantom haunts a composer). Greylock is very popular with my readers. Night Sea Journey, A Tale of the Supernatural is more horror, dealing with angels and demons and has a spiritual element. Or, you might want to try one of my FREE short stories to get a flavor of my writing. Beyond Castle Frankenstein is very popular, a ghost story about Mary Shelley. Thanks for your interest and support, Cameron. Let's keep in touch.
Paula Cappa
Wonderful. I will message you with my email address for you to contact me. If for some reason that fails, you can contact me via my website "contact me" page at https://paulacappa.wordpress.com/cont...
paula
paula
Paula Cappa
Have not read it. Thanks for the tip.
Paula Cappa
Haven't read it, no. Sounds pretty good though.
Paula Cappa
The funeral for my murdered husband was lush with flowers dripping the coffin, the vicar’s prayers softly falling, and the kindest of whispers from my friends who didn't know the truth. No one could see my Noah standing behind me, hands thrust tight around my throat, dragging me to his grave.
Paula Cappa
Which story is it, Jeff?
Paula Cappa
Yes, in the sense of dream communications from those passed away and in what I call a "sense" apparition where I've felt dead ones sending me messages. One time when my aunt died and we were at her grave site, as the priest was saying last prayers, I saw a distinctive cross of clouds appear in the sky above the cemetery where we were standing. I immediately felt my aunt's presence and took the sign that she was safe. I believe the dead send us messages all the time, if we know to watch for them and know how to read the signs.
Paula Cappa
Anna Karenina for sure. I'd love to observe Tolstoy's Russian world, watch the characters in action, and listen deeply to their inner thoughts.
Paula Cappa
Not an easy task, Anna. I try to limit my time on social media so that doesn't suck up too much of my time. My novel Greylock, which is a haunting story about the supernatural powers in music, is still building readership so taking a lot of my time. My earlier two novels (The Dazzling Darkness about a haunted cemetery, and, Night Sea Journey about a haunted soul) still require my attention too. And I work as a copy editor. Very busy days!
Paula Cappa
As a writer, I have to keep polishing my craft. I like to read books on writing and creativity so I am now reading "Writing Subtext by Dr. Linda Seger: plan to read Soul at the White Heat Inspiration, Obsession, and the Writing Life by Joyce Carole Oates. For fiction, In Sunlight or in Shadow, Stories Inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper edited by Lawrence Block, and, Haunted Castles by Ray Russell. I also read lots of short stories by various mystery writers.
Paula Cappa
When birds fly into a window. This is such a spooky event when you hear that bang! and see a bird spin off and drop to the ground. Why do they do that? One time I had several birds fly into my windows and that same week an owl sat on a tree branch outside my kitchen window for hours during in the daytime. An omen? Or does this happen because
birds are speaking to us, telling us to watch out. Here's an opening to such a mystery:
The dawn was still dark when the owl stared out at me with eyes glowing yellow. He stood in the hawthorn tree, stiff as if he were dead--or stuffed. How odd, every feather on him was sable black. I remember my mom telling me that dark-hued owls were killed by other owls. What was this one doing alive and perched outside my kitchen? Did he want to come in?
I stepped out on the porch and heard the blast of a rifle from the distant woods.
birds are speaking to us, telling us to watch out. Here's an opening to such a mystery:
The dawn was still dark when the owl stared out at me with eyes glowing yellow. He stood in the hawthorn tree, stiff as if he were dead--or stuffed. How odd, every feather on him was sable black. I remember my mom telling me that dark-hued owls were killed by other owls. What was this one doing alive and perched outside my kitchen? Did he want to come in?
I stepped out on the porch and heard the blast of a rifle from the distant woods.
Paula Cappa
Laura and Rob Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke Show (Mary Tyler Moore). They seemed to have an admirable marriage and family life. Truly in love with each other and lots of respect and cooperation. Yeah, it was TV land but the values there were unforgettable. In books I'd have to say Anna Karenina and Alexei Karenin and Count Vronsky as the most exciting love triangle, passion, and family conflict; the Russian history and culture provides a rich fictional world. I love that in reading and in my writing too.
Paula Cappa
I loved Anna Karenina. Strong woman with high emotions in a society were feminine weakness and male domination were the norm. Tolstoy's characters were so alive on the pages. It's what I strive for as an author: to achieve real characters in the world. Except my fictional worlds are of the supernatural element, so the challenge is higher. In The Dazzling Darkness that takes place in modern day Concord, Massachusetts, Antonia Brooke must figure out where her missing son Henry is, and the complication that there may be ghostly powers controlling her search.
Paula Cappa
Hi Cheral: Thanks for your question. I have three novels, "The Dazzling Darkness" about a family drama of a little boy Henry missing, and the mystery revealed in the search for him in a cemetery in Concord, MA (ghost story). "Night Sea Journey, A Tale of the Supernatural" is about how we deal with power of evil. My latest novel "Greylock" is about the supernatural powers of music and is an exciting supernatural thriller incorporating whale songs and a classical pianist living on Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts. My favorite, though, is Night Sea Journey because the story examines angels and demons and who they are in our world. Night Sea Journey is not one of my best sellers (The Dazzling Darkness is) probably because a lot of people are shy to read about demons. The book is more spiritual than anything else and has a powerful redemption. The demon (a firehawk) in the story is unlike the typical demons in literature. Some readers object to the ending. But it's really the ultimate love story. Night Sea Journey won an Eric Hoffer Book Award, so I'm pleased that a panel of intelligent and avid readers found it worthy.
Thank you again for asking! Stop by my blog sometime.
paulacappa.wordpress.com
Thank you again for asking! Stop by my blog sometime.
paulacappa.wordpress.com
Paula Cappa
Hi Cindy: Yes, I do. I have my new novel "Greylock" (supernatural mystery) coming out in October. If you are following my blog here at Goodreads or at my paulacappa.wordpress.com, you'll get the announcement for date of release in ebook on Amazon and Barnes&Noble. Here's the synopsis for Greylock:
Four wicked murders in Boston, beautiful betrayals and lies, a steamy romance, and the phantasmagoria. Inside the supernatural realm beats sinister music. Ask violinists Paganini or Tartini about their deals with the devil. Pianist Alexei Georg harbors a dark secret—he finds an old Russian sonata in a 19th-century sea chest. When Alexei plays this handsome music, a creature of darkness appears in the audience, in the aisle, on the stage with him. This is no ghost. This faceless menacing presence follows him from Boston’s music society to the White Sea in Russia, where Alexei seeks the songs of the beluga whales. There, a Siberian shaman knows the lingering sea spirits and can “see” the trilling black entity clinging to Alexei. When Alexei goes to live on the summit of Mount Greylock, fleeing the suspicion of the Boston murders, he must unmask the music that hunts him down, or surrender. Tchaikovsky believed that without music we would all go mad. Alexei Georg believes that it is this phantasmal music that creates his madness.
Thank you for asking! I'll be doing some prelaunch promos soon.
Paula
Four wicked murders in Boston, beautiful betrayals and lies, a steamy romance, and the phantasmagoria. Inside the supernatural realm beats sinister music. Ask violinists Paganini or Tartini about their deals with the devil. Pianist Alexei Georg harbors a dark secret—he finds an old Russian sonata in a 19th-century sea chest. When Alexei plays this handsome music, a creature of darkness appears in the audience, in the aisle, on the stage with him. This is no ghost. This faceless menacing presence follows him from Boston’s music society to the White Sea in Russia, where Alexei seeks the songs of the beluga whales. There, a Siberian shaman knows the lingering sea spirits and can “see” the trilling black entity clinging to Alexei. When Alexei goes to live on the summit of Mount Greylock, fleeing the suspicion of the Boston murders, he must unmask the music that hunts him down, or surrender. Tchaikovsky believed that without music we would all go mad. Alexei Georg believes that it is this phantasmal music that creates his madness.
Thank you for asking! I'll be doing some prelaunch promos soon.
Paula
Paula Cappa
Hi Mark,
This is an interesting question. "Great" endings are not the norm. As writers, we have to know how to build the structure for a great ending. That means careful foreshadowing throughout the body of the work so the conclusion clicks in, has strength,adds a dimension, and satisfies the reader. When I read Susan Hill's The Woman in Black, I thought the ending was superb (not the film; that ending was different, although still satisfying,)
This is an interesting question. "Great" endings are not the norm. As writers, we have to know how to build the structure for a great ending. That means careful foreshadowing throughout the body of the work so the conclusion clicks in, has strength,adds a dimension, and satisfies the reader. When I read Susan Hill's The Woman in Black, I thought the ending was superb (not the film; that ending was different, although still satisfying,)
Paula Cappa
When a character is "alive" on the page, they are real people. I loved Anna Karenina. I loved Una in Ahab's Wife by Naslund. Creating a character that breathes with the reader is a challenge. I have to live with my characters so they become real people: I eat what they eat and talk like them, dress like them, think as they do.
Paula Cappa
I read classic horror, the master writers like Poe, MR James, Lovecraft, Mary Shelley, Algernon Blackwood, Ambrose Bierce. The more you read, the more you expand your own imagination.
Paula Cappa
Hi Chloe,
In terms of my writing journey, the hardest part is the first draft. When all the characters and actions are jumbled in my head and I have to make order and sense and wrap it in suspense and tension. It can be maddening! But once I get it all written out, and I start the rewriting, then I'm humming along. The publishing journey has been full of rejections, just like any other author. Because I write short stories too and send them out regularly I get lots of rejections. But the key is to keep writing and keep putting the work out there. I was fortunate that when I self-pubbed my two supernatural mysteries, a small indie publisher read them and offered to publish them in soft cover (Crispin Books). And I've had several of my short stories published in Ezines and literary journals because I just wouldn't give up and continued to study my craft. Good quality writing, lots of stories, and persistence are the three keys to getting there. Thanks for your interest!
In terms of my writing journey, the hardest part is the first draft. When all the characters and actions are jumbled in my head and I have to make order and sense and wrap it in suspense and tension. It can be maddening! But once I get it all written out, and I start the rewriting, then I'm humming along. The publishing journey has been full of rejections, just like any other author. Because I write short stories too and send them out regularly I get lots of rejections. But the key is to keep writing and keep putting the work out there. I was fortunate that when I self-pubbed my two supernatural mysteries, a small indie publisher read them and offered to publish them in soft cover (Crispin Books). And I've had several of my short stories published in Ezines and literary journals because I just wouldn't give up and continued to study my craft. Good quality writing, lots of stories, and persistence are the three keys to getting there. Thanks for your interest!
Paula Cappa
I am currently working on flash fiction. Writing 100-word story (for a contest) and gosh is it challenging to write a story in literally one paragraph. Every single word is paramount. Also, I am writing my third novel "Greylock" about the supernatural power of music. Very exciting for me because the research about how music affects the soul, thinking, and conjures deep feelings that can drive a person to ... oh I shouldn't tell. Like my other books, this is supernatural mystery with a twist.
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