A multi-award-winning author of supernatural mysteries, ghost stories, Gothic fiction, and dark fantasy, Paula Cappa has created a strong name for herself with her 'quiet horror' style or celebrated editor work. Now, in honor of Women in Horror Month, I talk with her about her early interest in the industry, her upcoming novel, "Draakensky," and other projects.
Me: Hello and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, when did you get into horror in general? What films specifically got you into watching horror movies?
Paula Cappa: I have been drawn to ghost stories since I can remember. Edgar Allan Poe's stories and his poetry. Most impressive was reading Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and the film The Haunting, directed by Robert Wise. That, and the fact that I always wanted to meet up with a ghost in a cemetery. And I have. It was a subtle presence but unmistakable. Most ghosts don’t want to be seen; they want to be known.
Me: Who were some of your favorite writers growing up? Do you try to take influences from their style with your own voice in your work?
PC: I began with Nancy Drew mysteries. In college years, it was Poe. The Shadow. The Black Cat. Fall of the House of Usher especially impressed me. Although I wasn’t a Frankenstein fan, I loved Mary Shelley’s short fiction: The Dream and Matilda.
Me: What was the starting point of becoming a writer? Were you always into writing growing up?
PC: Not really. I was a voracious reader and loved the world of imagination. I didn’t get into writing stories until high school, and then I was dreadful at it. In college, I found my creative skills.
Me: Is there any specific genre you prefer to write? Is there a style or format that you find easier to get into, even if you don't have a preference?
PC: Short stories were my preference. And still are. Ghosts, locked-door mysteries, murder mysteries. I write fiction to find out what I think about something in the world beyond. For a short story, I explore a single question or one aspect of a mystery. I write a novel to do the same, but it becomes several questions requiring different answers, which is exciting and goes deep. The novel is real life. The short story is a day in that life.
Me: Having contributed to various anthologies early in your career, what tools and skills do you acquire working on those that transferred to future projects?
PC: The short story is a quick dive into creativity. It requires character development and scene setting—one meaningful purpose. A novel requires the same, but you need to build it inside a plotline of time and history. The novel is a deep dive into high rolling waves, sometimes against a stormy sea. That is the long-term excitement that requires full commitment.
Me: What is the general process for getting involved in these projects?
PC: Discovery is always the purpose of writing. I engage with Nature all the time. And during those moments of sitting in the sun or watching rain fall, it’s like something is speaking to me. Every story I’ve ever written came from a communication from Nature.
Me: How did you settle on the plots for your writing? What type of prep-work goes into making sure everything contains the proper atmospheric touches?
PC: I don’t use any outlines. Nothing is predicted. Characterization and setting come first for me. A person in a place is the door that opens. I use the blank page, handwritten, for the initial creativity. Once the story is fully written and rewritten (several times), I put it away for weeks or a month. Then I do another rewrite with a clean eye and mind on the page.
Me: What is your writing process? How do you stay focused on writing?
PC: I never have trouble staying focused. My stories are very intuitive and lead me into the story elements. Dreams play a role. I wrote Night Sea Journey about angels and demons from a vivid dream I had on a beach when a firehawk broke through the waves. I wrote The Dazzling Darkness while sleeping with a quartz crystal on my night table. Draakensky developed when I toured a windmill in East Hampton, NY, and I found a story in my head that very night. Inspiration is everywhere.
Me: Your most recent novel, “Draakensky,” mixes witchcraft and high fantasy elements with your traditional Gothic storytelling. Did that change of style challenge your writing skills?
PC: Not in the least. The flow felt very natural to me, although I hadn’t planned it. I set out to write supernatural mystery: ghosts and murder. The characters directed the story. A wind witch appeared and I didn’t know much about witches so it was fresh and exciting to me. The fantasy elements grabbed me with high energy. And I’m not much of a fantasy reader, so again, the discovery of magick in my story thrilled me.
Me: Is there anything while writing the characters that you were surprised by in telling their stories?
PC: I wasn’t prepared for the sex magick in Draakensky. Sex scenes in my novels are fairly subtle. I write them as highly provocative—not explicit descriptions. Because sex magick by its very nature requires an extravagance, I struggled fiercely to keep it realistic and dignified. I rewrote it dozens of times, cut it, put it back, changed the POV. In the end, the ‘magickian’ won, and that chapter became a centerpiece for the story. I had no idea, nor any intention for that to happen. But I was grateful that I had found the courage to follow the integrity of the scene for the good of the novel.
Me: Once it was finally written, what was the process for having it published?
PC: Being indie-published with Crispin Books in Wisconsin for my earlier three novels (Crispin Books had closed), I had to start all over to find a publisher. This was during Covid time and many indie-publishers were closed to submissions. Fortunately, I was able to get a reading at Crystal Lake Publishing (even though they were also closed to new submissions), through an editor friend. CEO, Joe Mynhardt read it and within a week offered me an excellent contract.
Me: What do you do to keep your creative energy flowing?
PC: For one thing, I love being creative. Cooking, flower arranging, nature walks, reading poetry, all feed my imagination. Classical music is another source that stimulates my intuition because it’s so relaxing. Because Draakensky has a lot of Celtic folklore in the story, I listened to Celtic music while writing it.
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
PC: Wolf Magick, Secret Mysteries of Draakensky, due to release June 5, 2026 by Crystal Lake Publishing. This is a companion book in the epic storytelling that began with Draakensky, A Supernatural Tale of Magick and Romance, which won the Gold Medal for Gothic at BookFest Book Awards. Wolf Magick continues the love story and the magickal mystery between Charlotte Knight and Marc Sexton in Bedford, New York.
Me: Lastly, being that this is our Women in Horror Movement, what special message do you have for any women out there looking to join in the industry in any capacity as you are one yourself? Thank you again for your time!
PC: In horror or any supernatural mystery, there is a rich darkness. The writer helps the unknown to become known. Being a writer is a calling of creativity. Please honor this as an art, not just a skill to achieve money or fame. No hack AI shortcuts, please. AI is destructive to a true writer’s creative talents. Each story you write is a personal journey that possesses a magnificent harvesting for you. If you honestly have the urge to write, then honor that calling. Honing the craft of writing takes time to build and time discover your creative process. Study. Practice. Hire a good editor with experience to act as a guide. Be true to yourself as an artist and the passion of your imagination.
To follow her online, check out her social media links:
Website/blog, Reading Fiction Blog:
Facebook Profile:
Bluesky:
LinkedIn:
Instagram:
Amazon Author Page:
YouTube Channel:
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