Author Interview with Paul Carro

We’re thrilled to welcome horror author Paul Carro to our interview series! Known for his bold storytelling and immersive characters, Paul shares insights into his creative journey, his newest releases, and the writing life that keeps him inspired. Get to know him better through this exclusive Q&A.

1. What was the moment you knew you wanted to be a writer, and how has that journey unfolded so far?

Answer: I knew from a young age. When I was a kid, everyone was getting computers (not me though, we could not afford one). Because of that everyone was ditching typewriters so my mother bought me one at a yard sale for cheap. I first tried to copy Moby Dick but eventually started to type my own stories.

2. Tell us about your latest book—what inspired it, and what can readers expect?

Answer: My latest is coming out soon and it is called Shelter in Place. It is the second novella I have ever done, after my recent In the Shadows Where the Boys Used to Play. I tend to write huge novels so I wanted to step back and do a couple of shorter works to give readers who like shorter books something of mine to check out. It was inspired by the alerts we get on our phones during a weather event or missing child alert. It is quite a thrill ride and hopefully goes places people would not expect.

3. Do you start with the plot, the characters, or a single idea—and how does that evolve into a full story?

Answer: My brain is an idea factory. I will never be able to write them all. But because I have so many,

I write them only when I find the perfect character for each. Then it goes from a cool idea to something worth writing about.

4. What part of the writing process do you love the most, and what part do you find the hardest?

Answer: I love every second of the writing. I can go into a fugue for hours, come out, and not remember having ever written the thousands of new words in front of me. Editing is the bad part.

5. Which of your characters has surprised you the most, and why?

Answer: Probably Father Parnell from In the Shadows Where the Boys Used to Play. For the first time ever I have had people tell me they refuse to read because of the subject matter. The character is a priest, so he mentions religion early on. But the book is not a religious book. He is also a paranormal podcaster. Obviously, there is more to him than just that. The book has gotten me some of the best reviews of my career, and many of the reviews mention how much they love the character. He himself will be the first to tell you he has no idea what he is doing when the scary stuff hits. I ended up liking him more than I thought, even.

6. How do you stay creative and motivated, especially on days when writing feels tough?

Answer: I write almost exclusively at coffee shops or outdoors when weather permits (which is most days in California). I write until I can’t anymore then I move on to an editing project, or break to make some social media images for the books. Then I will write some more. If I am really burned out I will pack up and move to coffee shop number two, to refresh myself on the way there.

7. If you could give your younger writer self one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

Answer: In college I submitted one horror story to a magazine and one script to Nicholls Fellowship for screenwriting. The short story was rejected but I received a very nice handwritten letter from the editor/ (I mailed it in, because I still couldn’t afford a computer then.) I also placed top 20 in the Nicholls. At that point I had to decide whether to pursue screenwriting or prose. A bad experience (MeToo related) with a visiting professor/editor from a famous New York magazine soured me on the fiction side so I ended up pursuing screenwriting instead. While grateful for my time in screenwriting over the years, I would have urged my younger self to start writing books much younger.

8. If you could spend a day with any character (yours or from another author), who would it be and why?

Answer: This one is too hard. But perhaps, out of fun, and a crossover to something I wrote as well, Ichabod Crane would be fun to see in person. He looks like a bird and sings like one as well.

9. If your book were turned into a movie or series, who would you cast in the lead roles?

Answer: Glenn Powell would make a great Father Parnell.

10. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to new or aspiring authors?

Answer: Stop doom scrolling and start writing. No matter how upset world events might make someone, there will never be a perfect time to finish a book. Second, authors get much better book by book, so keep writing. If the outside world is crushing you, escape to another world, one where you can write a world as you wish it to be, not as it is.

Connect with Paul Carro

• Website: paulcarrohorror.com

• Facebook: facebook.com/PaulCarroHorror

• Instagram: @paulcarrohorror

• Threads: @paulcarrohorror

Final Thoughts

A big thank you to Paul Carro for sharing his creative journey, memorable characters, and passion for storytelling with us!

If you’re a fan of chilling twists, intense atmosphere, and thought-provoking horror, you’ll definitely want to check out Shelter in Place and In the Shadows Where the Boys Used to Play.

It’s always inspiring to hear from authors who bring their unique voices to the genre, and I’m thrilled to spotlight Paul’s work.

I’m always looking to feature more talented authors in this interview series, so if you’re interested in being part of it, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Check out our latest premade book covers inspired by thrilling stories like this one.

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