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Anthony Paolucci

Goodreads Author

Born

Milford, The United States

Website

https://anthonypaolucci.wixsite.com/brokenmoonpub

Genre

Fiction, Young Adult, Children's

Influences

Neil Gaiman, Edgar Allan Poe, Poppy Z. Brite, Nancy A. Collins ...more

Member Since

December 2011

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Since 2009, Anthony Paolucci has self-published over 40 books spanning multiple genres and age groups—from whimsical picture books for preschoolers to thought-provoking fiction for teens and adults. His work reflects a deep commitment to creative independence, allowing him to explore a wide range of themes, including identity, morality, love, and the complexities of the human experience.

Anthony works as a proofreader and writer at Park Group Solutions, an advertising agency based in Connecticut, and he is the drummer for indie piano-rock band Passing Strange (NeuroTronix Records).

In addition to his self-published portfolio, Anthony’s short fiction has been traditionally published in literary magazines such as Literary Yard and Children, Chu ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Anthony Paolucci Being able to put all your deepest fears and joys into words and stories, and then unleash them upon the universe. It's like releasing a profound and …moreBeing able to put all your deepest fears and joys into words and stories, and then unleash them upon the universe. It's like releasing a profound and subliminal scream into the world, one that declares your very existence and let's every human being on the planet know that you're here, you're alive, and that you matter. It's also a way for introverts like me to communicate with the rest of the world, say the things I can't say out loud. Being a father, it's also a legacy, something my daughter will always have to remind her of me, and what kind of person I was.(less)

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Gabriel Thorne reminds me more of a classic, Brother's Grimm-style fairy tale (which I love). Why did you decide to end the book in such a dark way? Did you debate using an alternative ending?

Anthony Paolucci When I first started writing stories, I lived by the motto "the extreme always makes an impression." It's corny, and it's something I came up with ove…moreWhen I first started writing stories, I lived by the motto "the extreme always makes an impression." It's corny, and it's something I came up with over 20 years ago, but it was my one true writing rule at the time. Stories that end tragically or not how you would like - those are the ones that you remember. The emotional impact can be very real, even with a fictional character. Would anyone remember Titanic the same way if Jack didn't die, and him and Rose lived happily ever after? That's not how real life works. Real life is the little boy who dies of cancer. The house that burns down and displaces an entire family, destroying everything they own. Yes, happy endings are wonderful, but they simply don't have the same impact as darker ones. That being said, I can't just torture and kill characters for the sake of angering readers - a character's pain and/or death needs to have significance, and therein lies the challenge. Can you imagine how boring and predictable Shakespeare's plays would be if everyone got what they wanted in the end? But because the plot went in the direction it did, you felt something more, and that emotional reaction made the characters real, tangible - you felt genuine loss. It humanized the story, and gave the reader something to relate to - resulting in a profound and intimate connection between the author and the reader. I just don't think anyone could say the same if Romeo and Juliet got married, had kids, and died old and peacefully. There is beauty in tragedy, a sad beauty in loss, because it reminds of how precious life really is - in both the real world and the fictional ones. It forces you to reflect on past choices, and consider the direction in which your life is headed. Grief can inspire as well as destroy. But again, it has to be written skillfully, crafted into something substantial, or else you're just a shock-writer. This is my goal in most cases. Not to take away from the happy ending, either. They have their place. But in Gabriel's case, it needed to end the way it did. That was always my intention from the very beginning. (less)

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Combine Editions
Anthony Paolucci’s books

Average rating: 4.41 · 81 ratings · 11 reviews · 39 distinct works

	Gabriel Thorn: A Faerie Tale 4.17 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2001 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Creatureton Elementary (Creatureton Trilogy Book 1) 4.38 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Rose in the Devil's Garden 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2011 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Deathly Pale by Anthony Paolucci (Goodreads Author), Kaylee Rose Velez (Illustrator), Eden Rain Paolucci 4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Creatureton High (Creatureton Trilogy Book 2) 3.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Creatureton University (Creatureton Trilogy Book 3) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Where Hails The Savage Rhythm it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2010 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Soul to Keep liked it 3.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Shy Boy by Anthony Paolucci (Goodreads Author), Robert J. Beam (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2010 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Box in the Woods by Anthony Paolucci (Goodreads Author), Mohamed Qovaizi (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Anthony Paolucci's Blog

“Less of a Man” By Anthony Paolucci

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My old man, Bobby Travello, was the meanest mother fucker you ever met – if you got on his bad side. Don’t get me wrong, he never beat me or my brother. Nothing like that. He was just the type of guy who didn’t let anyone get away with anything that either disrespected him or anyone he gave a shit about. The kind of person we all wish we could be, but we’re too big of pussies. None of this mea

Anthony is Currently Reading

Anthony Paolucci is currently reading

Batman: Nightwalker

by Marie Lu (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Dec 09, 2025 07:11AM

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Anthony Paolucci finished reading The Sandman, Vol. 10: The Wake by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 10, 2025 07:29AM · like
Anthony Paolucci finished reading The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 10, 2025 07:29AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Sandman, Vol. 9 by Neil Gaiman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Sandman, Vol. 9 by Neil Gaiman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Anthony Paolucci finished reading The Sandman, Vol. 8: Worlds' End by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Anthony Paolucci finished reading The Sandman, Vol. 7: Brief Lives by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 10, 2025 07:28AM · like
Anthony Paolucci finished reading The Sandman, Vol. 6: Fables & Reflections by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Anthony Paolucci finished reading The Sandman, Vol. 5: A Game of You by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Anthony Paolucci finished reading The Sandman, Vol. 3: Dream Country by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Anthony Paolucci finished reading The Sandman, Vol. 2: The Doll's House by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Quotes by Anthony Paolucci (?)

“One moment in the sun is worth a lifetime in the rain.”
― Anthony Paolucci

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“Art is the one thing man creates not out of need or luxury; therefore, it is the purest essence of his individuality.”
― Anthony Paolucci

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“Nothing is ever more appreciated than when it is remembered.”
― Anthony Paolucci

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Anthony’s Quotes

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

tags: animals, ethics, gandhi, morals

2566 likes

“Art is the one thing man creates not out of need or luxury; therefore, it is the purest essence of his individuality.”
― Anthony Paolucci

2 likes

“Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition, but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.”
― Joseph Addison

tags: daughter, father

77 likes

“Life's only obligation, afterall, was to be interesting.”
― Jeff Lindsay, Darkly Dreaming Dexter

126 likes

“Nothing is ever more appreciated than when it is remembered.”
― Anthony Paolucci

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