christopher paniccia | No Wasted Ink

I met Author Christopher Paniccia at WorldCon and found him to be an interesting author. Please welcome him here to No Wasted Ink.

When and Why did you start writing?

As a young man, I brought a journal with me wherever I went. Having an outlet for this type of creativity allowed me to stay balanced and focus. I grew up with severe ADHD. Artwork and Writing were my saving grace.

As to why I started writing I have always been an avid reader and storyteller. Stories come to me naturally as I visualize them in my head before writing them down.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I believe I was six or seven and my teacher gave me a blank hardcover book and asked me to write her a story! Having that book in my hand showing others what I wrote gave me goosebumps! That excitement continues to this day when the proof for each new novel arrives.

Can you share a little about your current book with us?

My latest series is a Fantasy Series based on Ancient Aliens. My grandfather was in the Navy during WWII and left me a footlocker full of WWII articles. One day searching through the footlocker I stumbled across an old leather-bound journal. Inside the journal were handwritten pages. I could not read the writing as it was in German. I brought the journal to a friend of mine for translation. The journal chronicles the Nazi expedition to Antarctica in 1938 in search of the ancient alien civilization of Rainbow City. This became the premise for this ten book series. Book one, Heaven’s Gate introduces the magical journal to a boy whose destiny is shrouded in mystery. Book two, Rise about to be released shows the rise of the reptilian people hoping to crush the humans on earth and the rise of two unknowing people with the power to combat the evil that arises on earth.

What inspired you to write this book?

This book/series is extremely personal for me. I grew up with my grandfather sharing stories of the Depression and WWII. Finding the journal created a great jumping off point for the whole series. The more I researched the journal and Antarctica, the more I found I could put into multiple books. Ancient Aliens is a hot topic and adding a realistic component to a fantasy book only makes it more believable.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I would say not so much a style as rather I focus on writing the story the way I want to tell the story. Some critics view this as I am not worried about grammar and the like. To those I say read the story. Enjoy the story. Editing is very much a fluid thing and even the best editors miss things.

How did you come up with the title of this book?

The title should shadow the book. Rise gives much insight into the book in just one word. As a fantasy/sci-fi author I am constantly world building. In Rise, the reader is able to read about the rise of two civilizations at once.

Is there a message in the book you want readers to grasp?

Not so much a lesson as wanting folks to open their minds to what is happening in the world around them. Many people just go about their lives and never question anything.

Are the experiences in this book based on someone you know or events in your own life?

This book is very much a personal journey. As a military member and having a proud military tradition in my family these experiences only add to a very exciting topic. The journal being real adds so much to the story that many read it and question if the story is fantasy at all.

What authors most influenced your life? What about them do you find inspiring?

Tolkien is the father of world building and gave me the parameters. George R. R. Martin is the Master World Builder I look to most as a contemporary. What is most inspiring for me is the lengths these authors go to bring a real world to the page.

If you had to choose, is there a writer you would consider a mentor? Why?

I do not have one writer as a mentor but rather a group of writers. The Association of Rhode Island Authors has taken me under their wing and helped me to fly. Having the support of many professional authors has allowed me to flourish.

Who designed the cover of your book? Why did you select this illustrator?

I am the designer for all my covers with the help of my nephew Andrew Paniccia. He does all the photoshop work and I design the covers. We chose to do this so we could work together.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write, write, and more writing!! Seems simple but it is so true! Also, I have found the best writers are the best readers. Practice your craft.

Do you have anything specific you want to share with your readers?

As a writer and illustrator I see the story visually in my head before I put it to paper. This allows for each reader to create the images of the story in their heads while reading.

rise book cover Christopher Paniccia
North Providence, RI