1. To start off... tell us something about yourself, something you would like our readers to know before they discover the book you wrote.
What can I say about myself? I was born and live in that splendid city (at least it is to me) called, along with Taormina, the Pearl of the Ionian Sea: Catania. After hilarious and in some ways indescribable high school years, I enrolled in college, graduated with a degree in Medicine and Surgery, specialized in urology, and, after working my way up through the ranks for a few years, joined the national healthcare system as a staff urologist at a provincial hospital.
I have always harbored a passion for art, especially drawing (in high school I was the official illustrator for an eccentric group of friends, created several comic book characters, and participated in and won several school competitions with my paintings), music, especially hard rock and heavy metal, cinema with a profound love for everything involving James Bond, Clint Eastwood, and the old Hammer Productions films, reading comic books and, above all, novels: among the latter, I cannot fail to mention the Urania science fiction series, and then horror and mysteries in particular. I have been deeply loyal to the books of Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie (Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot were and still are my favorites), and then the detective fiction of S.S. Van Dine (whose twenty golden rules I strive to apply in my stories), Dashiell Hammett, and Raymond Chandler with their characters, Sam Spade and the irreverent Marlowe, through to modern times with Dean Koontz and Stephen King.
The medical profession takes up a large part of my days, but despite this, I manage to carve out time to pursue my favorite pastime: writing. Writing is life, a dynamic way of expressing myself and communicating with the world, a powerful weapon with which to translate into words that entire universe of images and emotions born of my fertile mind and heart (for better or worse). I have written many poems, some of which were published on http://www.poesieracconti.it, and several novels, two of which are published: Esalfa with Gruppo Albatros, and Il canto dell’aquila (The Eagle’s Song) with Sacco Editore Roma. I also entered the online literary contest Io Scrittore, reaching the semifinals in its first edition.
2. If you had to summarize the essence of your book "Lo strano caso di Kirby Logan (The Strange Case of Kirby Logan)" in just a few lines, what would you say?
A classic mystery: one murder, numerous characters, all somehow involved with the murdered man, and therefore many potential suspects. No "pulp" shock value, plenty of dialogue, a good deal of irony, a touch of philosophy, and plenty of entertainment.
3. Your novel centers on a case waiting to be solved, but in the story you place great emphasis on the main character's development, revealing his human side. What led to this choice?
Stories cannot exist without characters, and characters are living people who speak, feel emotions, have sentiments, and live everyday lives, just like the rest of us. It was essential to outline their respective human qualities.
4. What would you like the reader to understand when reading your mystery novel? What subtle meaning would you hope they might grasp?
That truth always hides behind appearances. The protagonist quotes Pascal: "There are saints who believe they are sinners, and sinners who believe they are saints." Where does sanctity end and sin begin?
5. In the book "Lo strano caso di Kirby Logan (The Strange Case of Kirby Logan)" there is a striking theme: truth and lies blur together, constantly shuffling the deck. Is life like that as well?
It is indeed. Truth and lies are two sides of our humanity. Our lives are steeped in both on a daily basis.
6. What plans do you have for the future? Is there a sequel planned for Detective Lester Richards?
Yes, I already have the second installment ready. Other well-defined projects are also in the pipeline.
7. Which novel "revolutionized" your life and led you toward writing?
The classic mysteries I mentioned earlier. A fundamental source of inspiration.
8. Which book would you never recommend to anyone?
There is no book I wouldn't recommend, because behind every literary project lie sacrifice, study, dedication, preparation, and an immense amount of goodwill.
9. Now it's time to ask yourself a question that no one has ever asked you, but one you have always wanted to answer...
Why did you write a novel? Because my inner self teems with ideas, emotions, and sentiments that, if I don't share them with others, might just burst inside me... Haha.
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