A Conversation With Guido

Join me for a tongue-in-cheek interview with one of my favorite characters, Detective Guido Angelista, a character from my forthcoming novel, “Child of Emptiness.”

Of all the characters I have created in my books, my favorite is Italian police detective Guido Angelista. A pivotal character in “Child of Emptiness,” Angelista is nicknamed “The Fox” because of his striking red-gold hair and his amazing psychic ability to sense the presence of evil and solve crimes. 

In the novel, Guido becomes the guardian of priest Anthony Rosario. A visual and literal “Angel of Fire,” he defends Rosario time and again in confrontations with the forces of darkness. Guido’s enigmatic power and strange psychic abilities are both a burden and a gift. The sweeping story of the war between good and evil covers a span of thirty years, and Guido is an integral figure throughout, standing ready to make the ultimate sacrifice—or to exact the ultimate price from Rosario’s adversaries.

Should “Child of Emptiness” make the big or small screen, the actor chosen to play Guido will have his hands full and his talents stretched. Read on for a taste of the streetwise Guido Angelista’s personality in the conversation I’ve conjured up between him and me.


Biff: “Where do you think this psychic “gift” you have comes from?”

Guido: “You ask me such a question? You wrote the story. It’s you!”

Biff: “Hey, this is fiction! Guido, help me here! I’m serious.” 

Guido: “You Americans need all the answers to everything. I don’t know. Wherever it comes from, it’s hard to deal with at times. If you ever feel true evil like I have on too many occasions, well, it can be overwhelming. I am both blessed and burdened with the ability to see our enemy for what he truly is—evil beyond words!”

Biff: “Are you ever afraid?”

Guido: “Only idiots and madmen aren’t afraid. However, Father Anthony Rosario faithfully serves the most loving and powerful force in the universe. I am privileged to protect him, and in doing so I must overcome any fear that would prevent me.”

Biff: “Did you really kill the three Mafia men who murdered your brother?”

Guido: “Who told you that?”

Biff: “I wrote the story.”

Guido: “Now, you’re the one who is being the smart guy!”

Biff: “Sorry. I’m simply trying to find out more about you.”

Guido: “There’s an easy answer to your problem.”

Biff: “What is it?”

Guido: “Read the book!”

Biff: “Now who is being the smart guy?”

Guido: “Bravo!”