Today, we have an opportunity to talk to PD Alleva. PD has written the book, Golem, a
psychological horror novel.
First, let me say I love the cover. Second, thank you for joining me. I appreciate you giving me your links and I
want to share those with our readers.
Thank you for the interview Jerry, it’s greatly appreciated.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdalleva_author/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pdallevaauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PdallevaAuthor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/pdalleva
Website: www.pdalleva.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7634126.P_D_Alleva
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/p-d-alleva
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gxKH7P
Golem
Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09CV5823C/
"Yeah, that’s what I do, I write books, that’s my day job. I’m also a hypnotist and therapist with a specialty in treating trauma, addiction, and mental health. My interests include, quantum physics, ancient philosophy, science of mind, spirituality, and of course, ancient aliens. Any questions?"
That is great. Can
you tell us a little about yourself and what led you to start writing?
I’ve been writing since I can remember, it’s kind of an
itch I need to scratch on frequent occasions plus writing affords other
opportunities for all the voices in my head to be heard. I find a certain
profound peace in the creative process I’ve never been able to replicate.
Writing keeps me focused, poised, alert, and on point, it’s the balance between
the surreal and the real, kind of like teetering across the line between total
insanity and complete numbness. Plus it’s a safer and healthier practice than
acting out the insanity as if personal life was meant to be chaotic and filled
with mayhem and drama.
But to answer your question about
myself, well, I write books, that’s what I do. Good ones, crazy ones, fun
books, entertaining books, scary creepy books that are absolutely insane, books
with depth and books with excitement, and books that tear out the heart of
humanity and throws it on a slab to be feasted on. Yeah, that’s what I do, I
write books, that’s my day job. I’m also a hypnotist and therapist with a
specialty in treating trauma, addiction, and mental health. My interests
include, quantum physics, ancient philosophy, science of mind, spirituality,
and of course, ancient aliens. Any questions?
Where do you get
your inspiration, information, and ideas for books?
Inspiration can come from just about anywhere, but mostly
nostalgia, old movies, old books, certain scenes or nuances that take up space
in my brain and need to jump onto a page. But also, concepts, theories,
folklore, and myths. Sometimes I look at society and want to puke or grab an
axe and start whacking, but I can’t do that now can I, so I wrap it all up into
a story.
" My best piece of advice is to not just read, but study the craft."
What are your
hobbies and do they ever play into your writing?
Reading is my ultimate hobby, and it is through reading
that I can explore unique concepts such as science of mind, spiritualism,
quantum physics, mythology, folklore, and alien theories. I’m big into aliens
and alien concepts and theories. Ancient Aliens is one of my favorite shows,
allowing this indulgence to take on a new life. I’m also a psychotherapist and
hypnotist (practicing now for close to twenty years) and with my practice
training comes into play, mostly through concepts and practices like hypnosis,
neuro linguistic programming, and an understanding of belief systems and how
the mind functions including the subconscious mind. The human mind contains
depths far exceeding the reach of the known universe. I find it amazing how
disempowered the human race has become, with little to no understanding of how
powerful we all truly are, how eternal, with the ability to self heal.
And yes, my hobbies have an uncanny knack of finding their
way into my writing. It’s one of those things that you just can’t turn off.
What advice would
you give someone who wants to be a writer?
My best piece of advice is to not just read, but study the
craft. While you’re reading stop and look around (at the book that is). How did
the author introduce a new character? What is the flow of the book from one
chapter to the next? How did the author use dialogue to move the story? Begin
to see the craft and artistry behind the story and that will lead to better
writing on your part.
Do you
write full-time or around another job? How do you schedule your time to write?
I write full time and also have a private practice, although
the private practice is more of a part time position. A few years ago when I
decided to write full time I began to take on a smaller role in the private practice
and cut down on the amount of patients I see in any given week. Since it’s a
private practice I can schedule my days around writing.
How many hours a day do you write?
When
I’m writing it’s about four to six hours a day. But I do take breaks in between
writing and editing. I write horror novels and I write scifi novels about alien
vampires attempting to subjugate the human race after WW3 so I need to bounce
between genres and sometimes I need to disconnect from one genre to give my
full attention to the next. Kind of like having different personalities but the
best of both worlds.
What
is your favorite part about writing?
I
love it all, the craft, the fine-tuning, the relentless click of the keyboard,
the editing, cover design, all of it, but I will have to say my favorite part
is holding the finished product in my hands. There’s just something about the
finished product that carries a certain pride to it, kind of like watching your
child walk across the stage to receive their diploma. It’s a battle writing a
book just the same as raising a child (I’ve got four), you go through so many
trials and tribulations, but when you see that final product, you know it was
all worth it.
What does literary success look like
to you?
Millions of preorders.
Please
tell us about your current release.
Golem is a psychological horror novel written in the vein of
books like The Shining, Interview with the Vampire, The Silence of the Lambs, and Frankenstein. The story follows a young
and naïve detective, John Ashton, whose first case as a detective is to find
the District Attorney’s missing daughter in 1951 New York City. Problem is, his
only lead is high society sculptor and socialite Alena Francon who’s been a
resident at Bellevue’s psychiatric facility for the past six months. When John
interviews Alena, she tells him the story of Golem, a demon she incarnated into
a statue she created in 1947 whose been wreaking havoc on the New York social
elite, gaining power and control over the city as he uses orphans to serve as
bodily hosts for his demonic army. The story is profoundly psychological (I am
a therapist after all) and is told through multiple points of view, as are most
of my books. I love being in the heads of my characters, discovering their
intricacies and fears, motivations and desires.
Can you read /
provide us with a small exert?
“Sixty-two
bedrooms,” said the cabbie. He was explaining to Ashton the Francon Mansion’s
history. “Every brick was imported from all over Europe. Right down to the
marble tile.” He added, “From Italy.” Ashton surmised the cabbie was Italian by
the prideful way he expressed “Italy”.
They were driving down a barren road
lined with red cedar trees. Every so often they passed a gate and driveway
leading to a house or mansion tucked back off the main road.
“It’s the biggest house on the
block,” said the cabbie as he eyed Ashton in the rearview mirror. “We’re almost
there.”
“You seem to know a lot about the
house.”
“Lived here most of my life. One tends
to pick up history as the years go by.”
“Have you ever been inside?”
He shook his head. “Not at all. A
guy like me has trouble getting invites.” He laughed. Then a moment later,
“Here we go.”
Ashton perked up. The gate was old
steel and wide open attached to two stone pillars on either side. The cab
stopped outside the gate and Ashton looked up the long winding drive to the
house that stood in darkness. Colossal,
was Ashton’s first thought, his eyes wide taking in the sheer volume and size.
A single light flickered in the mansion as if a candle had been lit in the
foyer.
“No party tonight,” said the cabbie.
“Your luck must have run out.”
Ashton caught the cabbie’s smile.
“You’re not gonna drive up?”
He clucked his tongue and shook his
head. “No,” he said. “This is as close as I get.”
“Superstitious?”
“You might say that. I don’t invite
devils into my life, detective. That’s your job.”
“Indeed,” Ashton breathed staring at
the long walk to the house.
The cabbie added, “I feel like I’m
dropping off Rhenfield to meet his doom. Be careful in there, detective. Evil
spirits are everywhere around this place.”
“Rhenfield?”
The cabbie eyed him in the rearview.
“You don’t read, do you?”
Ashton shook his head. “No time.”
“You should. Great books are like a
blueprint…a survival manual disguised as fiction. As folklore. Because the
truth hides in plain sight and those that see have to hide and those that can’t
see…well, they’re just a part of the plan.”
What exciting story
are you working on next?
I’ve got a few in the pipeline. I just began writing Vol 3
of my scifi fantasy series about alien vampires attempting to subjugate the
human population. Series is titled, The Rose, which is based on an alchemy
practice that allows for the manipulation of chemistry in inanimate objects,
and telekinesis. I’m also editing my next horror novel, Jigglyspot and the Zero
Intellect, a novel I refer to as my covid quarantine satirical cosmic
grindhouse horror fantasy thriller novel. It’s one hell of a wild ride. Carnivals,
Cannibals, and Clowns! Oh my!
Who are your
favorite authors?
This is a very long list, but I’ll keep it short: Ray
Bradburry, Edgar Allan Poe, The Bronte Sisters, HG Wells, Jules Verne, Stephen
King, Blake Crouch, James Herbert, Ernest Hemingway, Clive Barker, Mary Shelley
(favorite book is Frankenstein), and Anne
Rice.
What’s your favorite
under-appreciated novel?
Time and Again by Jack Finney. It’s a time travel novel that uses hypnosis as a means
for time travel. Fantastically excellent book.
Anything additional
you want to share with the readers?
Yes, first thank you for the interview and supporting
indie authors. For all the readers out there thank you for stopping by and
taking some time to check out my interview. Be sure to sign up for my
newsletter. I send that puppy out once a month, and it’s the perfect way to
score an early release, take part of giveaways, and enjoy some book fairs.
One more time,
where can someone go to purchase your book?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdalleva_author/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pdallevaauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PdallevaAuthor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/pdalleva
Website: www.pdalleva.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7634126.P_D_Alleva
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/p-d-alleva
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gxKH7P
Golem
Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09CV5823C/
MY REVIEW:
For one, I love old lore and myths reinvented. I enjoy
horror and love the psychological thriller told well. If you are still tracking
with me and like the same, this one is for you. Allena is a laugh for Captain
Knowles. She claims a Golem kidnapped a horde of children in a hotel. A hotel
she apparently set on fire. She is in a sanitarium. John Ashton is a detective
tasked on a different case, another kid kidnapping. Their worlds intertwine. There
is cruelty and blood. In fact, at one point the story echoes the whole when
Allena is bleeding and the narration declares “Life is a cruel trick that God
gets off on playing. And hope is nothing more than a delusion.” Grim, right. It
is. And captivating. Page turning. Especially when we meet Golem. Alleva weaves
an engrossing tale that leaves you curious to see what is on the next page.
But, as the Golem warns, “be careful… you know what happens to curious kittens.”
Alleva certainly does well writing compelling narrative. I was given a free
copy for review. I usually read a little here, a little there. I found myself
staying up past my bedtime on this one.
