This week we take some time to hear from author Paul Carro, about his new release "In the Shadows Where the Boys Used to Play."
Having read this as an early ARC, I highly recommend picking this one up if you enjoy demonic possessions stories. I found this one to be original and creative with truly chilling and visceral imagery of Hell as imagined by Paul. Overall, this is a tragic tale, with horrific imagery, that ends on a rather unexpected note. I've enjoyed all of Paul's books and this one just adds to his range and skill as a masterful storyteller.
Read on to learn more about Paul Carro and his new story!
If you had two minutes to pitch IN THE SHADOWS WHERE THE BOYS USED TO PLAY to a new reader, what would you say?
It is about an American priest plunged into a mystery. He is sent on a mission without even knowing what the mission is. It soon becomes clear that evil has taken a liking to the Romanian orphanage. Battling such forces will test his faith and sanity.
What sparked the original concept for IN THE SHADOWS WEHRE THE BOYS USED TO PLAY and how long did it take you to write the story?
It was originally going to be a short story in The Little Coffee Shop of Horrors Anthology 3. That is a series I have done with my nephew, where we visit 12 different coffee shops around the country and allow the setting to inspire a tale. On my way to one coffee shop, I saw this boy's Christian school that always seemed abandoned, even though I knew it to be a working school. The place is incredibly eerie. That inspired this story which grew into a novella.
The story is full of disturbing scenes, many are quite gory. Were there any parts that had you stepping away for a bit to regroup before continuing?
I don’t know if it is too gory, but there are elements that are horrific and a bit profane. Evil has to live somewhere and when we see where it resides, yeah, that was intense. I am okay with writing that stuff though. Put me on the receiving end and not so much, but from the safety of my keyboard, I'm cool.
Is there a favorite character or characters that resonate with you more so than the others? Why do you think that is?
Father Parnell has already proven to be a hit with readers. What i love about him is his whole why me? Attitude. As he says, he is just a mook with a mic. (He is a priest and a podcast host.) If the church has the resources to battle evil that they do, what is he and a nun supposed to do?
Tell us about a favorite moment in the book. What makes it your favorite?
I think when he discovers something I cannot talk about because of spoilers. But his reaction to what is really going on in the orphanage is very human and actually kind of funny.
Tell us about your writing process. Have you found that it changes with every story, or do you have an established routine?
I try to rise early before the world wakes. Having grown up in poverty, staying home was not a good thing because it was not a good environment. I only bring that up because to this day I leave my home to write. That is the number one thing. I’m not saying I don’t write at home occasionally, but generally I need to escape to free my mind.
What one thing must you always do or have while writing and why?
Change up the environment. If I have been writing for more than a few hours, I need to get up and move. Generally, I will move to a new coffee shop or go write outside in the woods or by the beach or somewhere.
What has been your favorite or most proud moment of your writing journey thus far?
Getting accepted into the Horror Writer’s Association off the success of my first horror book was awesome. I did not know for some reason that it has always been possible to join without being an author. I would have done this since my teens. Hit me up if you have questions about joining, anyone out there. Not free, but a great group and lots of resources.
What has been the best thing that you have learned about writing and/or the publishing industry itself?
I have films I sold and optioned a decade or more over the years that have not been produced yet. Made money, great, but writing is already solitary. Having no one but a few execs seeing the work is not rewarding. Publishing allows authors to get their books out relatively quickly to the world. Gatekeepers and waiting are not high on my list, so self-publishing works great for me. I am not opposed to finally working with some small presses in the future, though I am more likely to create my own.
Along those same lines, what is the most valuable piece of advice that you WISH you had been given when you were starting your career?
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket case. If someone tells you something negative, that is not constructive or actionable, move on, next. Find a better business partner or mentor. And if you are leaning on one person in the industry, be careful. Their baggage can become your baggage. Don’t rely on one person if you wish to grow as an author.
What book are you currently reading and what is the last book that you read?
Reading a lot: Horror in the Highlands: Collected Horrors From the Ozarks by Richard Beauchamp which is fantastic. Puzzle House by Duncan Ralston. And the latest Year’s Best Horror edited by Ellen Datlow. 2 out of 3 are anthologies. You can see where my heart lies, and why I want to be editing all the anthologies and appearing in them someday.
What I recently read was the Found Anthology, which I was shortlisted for but did not get into volume 2. (bummer.), and a Primer to Steve Rasnic Tem edited by Eric J Guignard. I am also reading a great novel by my HWA mentee. She is a terrific author and I think she has a hit on her hands.
What current projects are in the works that you would like to mention?
Volume three of Coffee, as I mentioned earlier. The plan was always to write three volumes with my nephew, then branch out to a more traditional anthology with multiple authors. In that vein, we have hired one exciting author who will be in the volume with us. We have yet to announce it so I can’t say anything yet, but all will be revealed soon. I also have a new novella debuting early next year before finally returning with a new novel that I am very jazzed about.
Paul Carro's Bio:
Paul Carro is an active pro member of the HWA. His debut novel The House made Comic Book Resources top ten horror books for two years running in 2021 and 2022. His screenplay Penance is set up with legendary producer Michael Phillips. He also served as a producer on the reality show Operation Repo for six seasons. (And had his own car repo’d once during his time on the show. Karma or a misunderstanding?) Born and raised in Maine, he has lived in Los Angeles since college and goes to every horror movie ever released.
Grab "In the Shadows Where the Boys Used to Play" here"
Check out Paul's other work here:
Comments