Friday, September 26, 2014

Steampunk Granny's Interview of Bruce Capoferri

                                                             
 
                                 
As you all know, I've recently published my first book, Roof Oasis. It's the first of a series and it's a love story that takes place during the apocalypse. As one of my friends from the South Jersey Writers' Group, James Knipp explained during a book signings for our group's first anthology, "Marie's story is Romeo and Juliet meets "The Walking Dead" done by Jules Vern." 
 
                                                                             

 
But I'm not the only one with good news! Hypothetical Press which was edited my Amy Holiday and Jessica A. Walsh has published their first anthology, Reading Glasses. Hypothetical Press is the publishing arm of The South Jersey Writers' Group and I'll be interviewing all the authors featured in Reading Glasses here on my blog.
 
My first guest is Bruce Capoferri. Bruce Capoferri sells automobiles, but enjoys writing stories and songs in his spare time and is currently working on a novel. He has four autobiographical stories published in Primo Magazine and one in Buona Salute. He lives with his wife, Barbara, and cat, Krikat.

                                                             

Marie Gilbert: Thank you, Bruce, for taking the time to do this interview. I’m happy to meet you and we have a few questions for the people out there. What got you started in writing? What was your inspiration to take pen to paper? What authors inspire you?

 
Bruce Capoferri: I have always been a story teller.  But I have to thank Miss Shepherd, my eighth grade English teacher, for recognizing it and encouraging me.  I wrote a short story entitled The Paradise Lost Affair that she edited and submitted to a teacher’s magazine and got published.  I wish I had gotten a copy of it, because it was the first time I was recognized for having some talent.  I must also blame - I mean, thank - my fantastic coach and brother-in-law, Glenn Walker, for coaxing me into putting my stories down on paper and submitting them to magazines. I have to thank my wonderful wife, Barbara, for introducing me to HP Lovecraft, Phillip K Dick and a host of other fantasy and science fiction writers. Barbara is a children’s librarian and constantly supplies me with a wide variety of fodder for my imagination.

Marie Gilbert: What type of stories do you enjoy writing about?

Bruce Capoferri: The first few stories I got published were autobiographical.  I truly enjoy documenting my slightly askew memories of growing up next to my Italian grandparents in Elm, NJ.  But fantasy and science fiction is right up there as well.  I guess it’s because I can make my characters say and do whatever my devious mind dreams up.  I am in the process of finishing the last few chapters of my first novel and I’m enjoying wreaking mayhem and chaos so much I’m having difficulty reaching the conclusion.

Marie Gilbert: Where did you get the inspiration for this story?

Bruce Capoferri: The inspiration for ‘The Malocchio’ sprang from the Italian belief that someone can impart bad luck upon a rival or enemy with a malevolent glance. Over the years I have also heard this curse referred to as ‘The Maloiks’ or ‘The Maloikies’.  But, no matter how you may pronounce it, my story takes this old world superstition to a more deadly level.
Marie Gilbert: Amy mentioned that you are working on a novel. Could you tell us a little about that?

Bruce Capoferri: “The Children of God and Men” sprang from a conversation I had with my cousin, Sandy Core, at a family reunion.  She mentioned that a short story I had written and shared with her titled “Hitching a Ride on Borrowed Time” reminded her of an excerpt from the book of Genesis in the Bible. It portends that Angels (known as The Watchers) were sent to Earth by God to supervise the development of man-kind.  But finding the women of men attractive, the Angels took as many of the women as they wanted for wives resulting in the births of giants and men of renown (also known as Nephilim). In my research I discovered the banned ‘Book of Enoch’ and then really became intrigued. The book allows me the opportunity to explore comparative religions and how world-wide myths and legends have shaped multi-cultural beliefs. If you enjoy reading stories about conspiracy theories, ancient alien influences and Native American prophecy mixed with apocalyptic action, you will love my book.  By the way, did I mention it is also a dark comedy?

Marie Gilbert: Do you belong to a writers’ group? If so, why and if not, why?

Bruce Capoferri: I'd like to consider myself a member of the South Jersey Writer’s Group because it is the only one who has recognized me. It will also be the first entity to publish one of my stories in a hardback book. The difficulty I have is time to attend meetings.  This is because I am a full time automobile salesman and work most evenings.  I do my best to keep in touch with what is going on, however, and read Writer’s Digest and similar publications. 

Marie Gilbert: Was this the first kickstarter that you ever participated in? What was it about our kickstarter that made you want to help out?

Bruce Capoferri: Although I have submitted my manuscripts to various contests, this was the first one of this type.

Marie Gilbert: Thank you Bruce for doing this interview

Bruce Capoferri: I want to thank everyone at South Jersey Writer’s Group and the Hypothetical Press for making my dream a reality.
 
I hope you enjoyed learning about Bruce Capoferri and in a few days, I'll be posting another interview with J. Keller Ford, another author featured in Reading Glasses.
                                                                        

 
You can find Roof Oasis  on Amazon. com and on kindle.
You can find Reading Glasses on Smashwords, for Kindle, Nook, iBook downloads and more.
Our group will be doing many book signings over the next few months. If you're in the neighborhood, stop by and say hello. We'll have plenty of books to choose from: Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey (our group's first anthology) What to Expect When You're Dead by John Farquhar, Reading Glasses (A collection of speculative short fiction by Hypothetical Press), and Roof Oasis by Marie Gilbert.
 
                                                                          


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