Ask the Author: Gerard Cappa
Answered Questions (4)
Gerard Cappa
Linda, I hope it becomes clear. It is based on an actual case a few years ago where a Vatican cleric was caught smuggling a few million into Rome from Switzerland. In my story, the cleric has himself been duped, and someone else has made off with most of the money, leaving the cleric to take the fall. The 'someone else' holds the encryption key which gives him access to other monies in the dark bank.
In the real case, the cleric was accused of smuggling cash into Rome to be laundered through the Vatican bank but he was eventually acquitted on the most serious charges but found guilty of a less serious misdemeanour.
In the real case, the cleric was accused of smuggling cash into Rome to be laundered through the Vatican bank but he was eventually acquitted on the most serious charges but found guilty of a less serious misdemeanour.
Gerard Cappa
Luis a chara,
I tend to start with a fairly loose plot structure and then populate it with the various characters. Without being too dogmatically political, I write with a general sense that the dominant narratives of the western world need to be challenged, and I invest most empathy with my characters drawn from the disenfranchised, disadvantaged and exploited.
I don't think any character is consciously based on a real acquaintance. As well as serving a plot purpose, I like my characters to display those small behavioural mannerisms that real people have.. I'm sure I do copy those mannerisms, either from real people or from other fictional characters, but I don't really know where they come from.
I think these small details help to give the character a better shape in my own mind and, depending on how the character then develops, I will bend my original plot to accommodate the character.
Having established how I expect the character to behave, I will then seek to have the character act dramatically 'out of character'. I am probably on about 50k words before I settle on the fate of each character, and that often requires my original plot to be re-jigged.
So, although my books are around the 110k word mark, I think I approach each character as if I was writing a short story, with an emphasis on their emotions, and how their circumstances in life determine their fate.
I tend to start with a fairly loose plot structure and then populate it with the various characters. Without being too dogmatically political, I write with a general sense that the dominant narratives of the western world need to be challenged, and I invest most empathy with my characters drawn from the disenfranchised, disadvantaged and exploited.
I don't think any character is consciously based on a real acquaintance. As well as serving a plot purpose, I like my characters to display those small behavioural mannerisms that real people have.. I'm sure I do copy those mannerisms, either from real people or from other fictional characters, but I don't really know where they come from.
I think these small details help to give the character a better shape in my own mind and, depending on how the character then develops, I will bend my original plot to accommodate the character.
Having established how I expect the character to behave, I will then seek to have the character act dramatically 'out of character'. I am probably on about 50k words before I settle on the fate of each character, and that often requires my original plot to be re-jigged.
So, although my books are around the 110k word mark, I think I approach each character as if I was writing a short story, with an emphasis on their emotions, and how their circumstances in life determine their fate.
Gerard Cappa
Somewhere in the works, Linda, but I'm having a little difficulty encouraging it along. I'll keep you posted. Thanks.
Gerard Cappa
Which book is that, Jay? Do you mean my Black Boat Dancing? If so, you can get it on Amazon, as a paperback in the United States and Europe, at least. I'm afraid I have been unable to attract many readers at all, except when one or other book is listed for 'free' on Amazon!
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