Paula Cappa

October 22, 2026 · 1:24 pm

Bad Moon Rising Interviews Paula Cappa

October 22 at Bad Moon Rising Blog

If you’ve not discovered Teri Polen’s Halloween blog “Bad Moon Rising,” click the link below. Visit my interview for Wolf Magick.

And there are lots more authors and books to discover on this blog. Every day in October, Teri posts an interview of an established or new author who writes in the supernatural, horror, fantasy, and mystery. And many giveaways too! So browse the Recent Posts at Bad Moon Rising and explore some great reads for the season.

Teri Polen is the author of young adult horror, science fiction, and fantasy novels. Sarah, her debut novel, was a horror finalist in the 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. ReadFREE.ly named Subject A36 one of the 50 Best Indie Books of 2020.

If you are a writer, her weekly blog Books and Such is a treasure. Authors and readers connect, chat it up in the comments, discuss book reviews, and fiction. A worthy blog to follow!

#BadMoonRising Wolf Magick: Secret Mysteries of Draakensky by Paula Cappa #horror #darkfantasy

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I invite you to browse the INDEX OF AUTHORS’ TALES above for free short stories or novellas. This is a compendium of nearly 400 stories by some 170+ famous contemporary and classic storytellers of mystery, Gothic, suspense, supernatural, ghost stories, crime, sci-fi, romance, horror and quiet-horror, fantasy, and mainstream fiction.

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The Wolf Within Me. A Horror-Romance

Does wolf nature reside within all of us? Can you become wolf?

Wolves are definitely rooted in our psychological and evolutionary elements. The mystique of the howl, the predator/prey dynamic within man, and the wolf pack family bond held by fierce loyalty all drive our attraction to wolves.

Let’s not forget their feral beauty.

I bring this question to you at Halloween time because this is certainly the season to dive into werewolf and shapeshifter fiction.

For October, the film I am featuring is what I’ll term ‘Wolf Man Jack.’ Can you guess which famous movie this is? We are in New York City, set against the rigors of the publishing industry, and steaming with romantic intrigue and betrayal. The film was directed by Mike Nichols. Screen writers Jim Harrison and Wesley Strick—and Elaine May.

I think this is probably one of the most intelligent films on wolf shapeshifters or werewolves. This is not just a story about being bitten by a wolf and the usual traumas and murders. The storytelling in this film carries a poetic representation and has subtle philosophical moments, which places it above so many of the other cliche werewolf horror thrillers.

The heart of this storytelling lies with the werewolf expert Dr. Vijay Alezias, who speaks to folklore history, and elements of wolf being within us. He says, “It feels good to be a wolf, doesn’t it? Power without guilt. Love without doubt.”

Wolf is always present.

“Not all who are bitten change,” the doctor advises. “There must be something wild within. An analogue of the wolf . . . Sometimes one doesn’t even need to be bitten.”

Only the passion of the wolf is enough.

I invite you to watch “Wolf” (1994) starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Plummer, James Spader, Kate Nelligan, and Om Puri as Dr. Vijay Alezias.

You can find it on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and Tubi.

Watch the full 3.48 minute trailer to meet Dr. Alezias:

Becoming wolf is an exciting adventure whether you are reading literature or watching films. For me, as a writer, I studied wolves for my own storytelling (Sky Wolf, Draakensky, and Wolf Magick). I listened to wolf songs and howls, researched wolf families, and how they survived in the wilderness. Wolf poetry and folklore became my obsession. Most of all, I invited wolf spirit into my heart and soul, becoming wolf in my mind.

I will answer the question proposed at the opening of this post.

It feels good to be wolf!

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Wolves, Witches, and Magick: Book Recommendations for Halloween

Are you reading wolves, witches, and magick this Halloween season? This combination in a story is a thrilling mix if you are new to this genre-blend that is trending with avid readers of supernatural and fantasy genres.

Wolf fiction has been trending since 2024, and this year there are lots of great stories about wolf power and spirituality, mythic and dark fantasy, shifter stories, magick, werewolves, and paranormal romance. Add a witch into the shadows (or maybe a wizard) or a magickal wolf, with dash of romantic intrigue, and you can cozy up to an enticing tale. I like to read in a comfy chair, with a pot of cinnamon tea, and almond cookies.

Here are some recommendations as you go hunting for Halloween tales, witchy stories, wolves, and manifestations of wild magick.

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer. Caught between spells and savage beasts, Cordelia Levine must unravel the secrets of her dual heritage―half witch, half werewolf―and face her desire for the one creature who holds her future in his hands.

Review: “Archer’s world building is enchanting, mixing a historical setting with various supernatural communities. The historical setting mixed with a high-stakes family mystery makes for a twisty, compelling and impressive debut.”—Bookpage

Dime Store Magic, (Women of the Otherworld, Book 3) (An Otherworld Novel) by Kelley Armstrong. A mesmerizing tale of an exceptional young woman caught up in an otherworldly realm where some will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Review: “A convincing small-town setting, clever contemporary dialogue, compelling characterizations and a touch of cool humor …. This story’s special strength lies in its seamless incorporation of the supernatural into the real world.”—Publishers Weekly

Salem’s Get (Elm City Arcana Book 5) by K.H. Warner. The Witches Of Salem Left Something Behind. Someone Wants It Back. An urban fantasy adventure of vampires, werewolves and colonial witchcraft. Fast-paced supernatural action with found-family bonds and a heroine who doesn’t quit.

Fool Moon Series: The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. A broke Chicago wizard takes on a case for Special Investigations, finding himself caught between FBI agents, shape-shifters, mobsters, and werewolves while dealing with an ancient curse.

Review: “One of the most enjoyable marriages of the fantasy and mystery genres on the shelves,” (Cinescape) the Dresden Files have become synonymous with action-packed urban fantasy.”

The Silver Wolf by Alice Borchardt. An historical romantic fantasy. Outside the gates of Rome, baying on the moonlit expanses of the Campagna, there is a mysterious dark wolf whose scent makes the animal in Regeane tremble with desire. Now, as an infamous stranger prepares to claim his bride, deadly plots and counter plots tighten like a noose around her neck, Regeane must fight to live with dignity as the proud creature she is: civilized and savage, woman and wolf, partaking of both yet infinitely more than either.

Review: “Borchardt is Anne Rice’s sister, but she writes a very different sort of tale. Ghosts, the dead, and supernatural forces are here, but so is laugh-out-loud humor and a happy ending. “—Nona Vero

“Lyrical, fast-paced, sensual, and rich with historical detail and deep insights into the heart.”

And . . . in case you are a fan of my fiction, I offer you Wolf Magick, Secret Mysteries of Draakensky. A stand-alone Gothic, contemporary dark fantasy thriller. Wolf magick and witchcraft besiege two lovers on Draakensky Windmill Estate in this haunted romantic thriller. Together, Charlotte and Marc battle ancient magick, soul-hungry shadow wolves, and impossible choices, or surrender to the dark legacy of Black Wolf Realm. Crystal Lake Publishing.

Review: “This is wolf magick in its purest form, brutal, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable. The shapeshifting scenes are worth the price of admission alone. A book that wants to be felt, not just followed.”—The Don of Horror, Jim Mcleod, Ginger Nuts of Horror Reviews

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A Gothic Nightmare: Presence of Mind

Ready for a classic Gothic nightmare? Try this.

With the Halloween season nearly upon us, let’s start this final week of September with a film. This autumn, I will be posting Gothic, ghostly, and supernatural mystery films as well as novels. Lots of quiet horror!

Here is my film recommendation for Friday, September 25.

Presence of Mind

(1 hour, 40 minutes)

This is an adaptation of Henry James’s Turn of the Screw. Staring Lauren Bacall, Harvey Keitel, Sadie Frost, Ella Jones.

If you love ‘quiet horror,’ this story is the best. A tale of dark history and ghosts. Expect to be more than a little haunted. Expect to be mesmerized.

A Columbia TriStar Film, directed by Antoni Aloy, screenplay by Aloy, Barbara Gogny, and Mitch Brian.

The 1999 film Presence of Mind is available on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Read the novella Turn of the Screw at ilbiblio.org:

Click to access Turn_Screw.pdf

If you prefer, here is an audio of Turn of the Screw.

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International Gothic Reading Month, January 2027. Early Reminder!

January 2027 is International Gothic Reading Month (IGRM).

As the leaves fall and autumn rises, we are making plans to celebrate and encourage reading Gothic literature in January.

Many of us celebrate Gothic all year long, but January is a time when we can gather in communion for the Gothic.

Calling all Gothic readers, authors, writers, bloggers, booksellers, publishers, editors, podcasters, librarians, teachers, students, and literature fans.

What are you planning for January to enrich the Gothic experience? A podcast about newly released Gothic titles? Panel discussion featuring Gothic authors? Blogs about Gothic tropes or the history of Gothic protagonists—or villains? Maybe you are a bookshop owner or librarian and will feature a display of classic Gothic novels for January. Get ordering now.

I am the director for the International Gothic Reading Month and welcome all to comment. I am happy to help or answer any questions. IGRM is sponsored by the Society for the Study of the American Gothic. You can view our mission statement on our IGRM page on their website:

International Gothic Reading Month

September Bonus! Here is a trailer for the film based on the Gothic novel, The Alienist by Caleb Carr:

The Gothic spirit lives on! Please participate in our effort to stay haunted in Gothic January 2027. Feel free to share this post to spread the word about IGRM in January.

Watch this space or follow me for more Gothic recommendations in these coming months.

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How Oracle Cards Stimulate My Creative Writing—Insights for the Journey Within

Monday, September 7, 2026

Turn inward and draw yourself forward.

Oracle cards can be a thrilling way to stimulate your creative writing. Because you are tapping into “yourself” about the story or characters, the symbols, myths, and imagery of the cards you choose are prompts from your inner knowing.

Consider oracle cards a writer’s tool, but one that resides deep within your thoughts, secrets, hidden fears, and curiosities. John Steinbeck used tarot cards for inspiration. Italo Calvino called the tarot “a machine for writing stories.” I have a hard time accepting that, but I know from personal experience that oracle cards can open new thoughts and pathways to finding the story that is in the writer’s heart and soul.

When I researched William Butler Yeats while writing Wolf Magick, I learned that he not only used magick for his writing, but also used the tarot images for writing his poems.

Yeats is known to have said, “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” He believed that intuition can unlock the deepest insights for writers.

The experience I am sharing today in my video is with my character Charlotte Knight. She is a sketch artist on the Draakensky Windmill Estate in Bedford, New York. In my novel “Draakensky, A Supernatural Tale of Magick and Romance,” she discovers her magical talents not only through her romance with Marc Sexton, but also through her drawings that have supernatural powers.

I use oracle cards to explore my fictional characters, their adventures, and the power of the Otherworld. Intuition meets the mysterious energy within!

Please comment if you use oracle cards in your writing or in your life. Follow me for more about magick, mystery, and the metaphysical.

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Blog Recommendation: Mind on Fire, Willy Martinez

Blog Recommendation: Mind on Fire, Willy Martinez

September 3, 2026

Every once in a while I come across a fascinating blog site that is intelligent, informative, and entertaing that I would like to share and recommend to my readers. At Mind on Fire by Willy Martinez, Publisher, Editor, and Merchant of the Strange, he invites his followers and readers to explore the imagination into horror, science fiction, and fantasy.

Here is a link to one of his blog posts that I found illuminating, especially if you are a Lovecraft fan.

The Most Fascinating Lovecraft Connection To Ancient Mummies?

Please stop by and browse his blog posts, books, authors, and reviews of books and films at Mind on Fire Books: https://mindonfirebooks.com/

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Writing Tip: Creative Burnout. What to do?

WRITING TIP FOR SEPTEMBER

Creative burnout is fairly common, and all writers struggle through or fall into a dead zone in a chapter or scene. If you have five minutes, listen to Joe Mynhardt’s analysis. He identifies the core issues and resolutions. Great suggestions here!

“Creative Burnout:

How to Know When to Write Through It and When to Rest.”

Joe Mynhardt is a four-time Bram Stoker Award-nominated South African publisher, non-fiction and short story editor, and mentor. He is founder and CEO of Crystal Lake Publishing. His YouTube channel is House of Shadows and Ink.

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Book Review by Tyler Tichelaar: Wolf Magick

I’m pleased to announce the latest 5-star review by Tyler R. Tichelaar of The Gothic Wanderer for Wolf Magick!

The Gothic Wanderer is a blog about all things Gothic—classic novels, movies, and how the Gothic continues to permeate our lives. One of my favorite blogs to explore Gothic literature. I encourage you to follow his blog if you are a Gothic fan and want a deep dive into the mysteries of Gothic intrigue.

Tichelaar holds a Ph.D. in Literature from Western Michigan University. He is the author of “The Gothic Wanderer: From Transgression to Redemption, Gothic Literature from 1794—present,” published by Modern History Press.

Here’s more from Tichelaar’s review of Wolf Magick, Secret Mysteries of Draaensky:

“Cappa’s style reminds me of Elizabeth Goudge (1900-1984) in her whimsical storytelling as well as how she gets to the heart of deeper truths about the human condition. Cappa’s stories are more fantastical than Goudge’s, but since Goudge is one of my favorite authors, I think the comparison apt. Anyone who loves Celtic mythology, the Arthurian legend, Gothic literature, or magic will love Wolf Magick.”

You can read the full review on his blog site: ‘Paula Cappa’s New Novel Wolf Magick Even More Magical and Gothic Than Draakensky.’

https://thegothicwanderer.wordpress.com/2026/08/04/paula-cappas-new-novel-wolf-magick-even-more-magical-and-gothic-than-draakensky/

Thank you for stopping by!

Click the Wolf Magick book cover at top of the right sidebar to access Amazon. Also available at Bookshop.org.

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Stone Ghosts, The Secret Spirits of the Supernatural

August 25, 2026

Join me in my investigations about stone ghosts, the secret spirits within. These stone spirits take on a variety of haunting manifestations.

Watch this video at a local cemetery that I visit regularly.

If we open our minds to the supernatural beauty and power in our world, we can discover the liminal and spiritual world of stone ghosts.

Take another look at this image.

Note the eyes, the rocky nose, and open mouth. When I first saw it, I thought it was speaking to me. Not in words or thoughts directly—more like an abstraction. A presence. A mysterious awareness that I could not identify drew me to it. And it continues to draw me to this quiet part of the cemetery. It seems to watch me as I stroll the headstones and trees.

In occult history, spirits are thought to attach to or hide within cemetery headstones, statuary, and inhabit enchanted rock formations. Stone ghosts might live among and beneath rocks as nature spirits. Of course, much of this is legend and folklore and has a philosophical basis as well.

Along with our instincts and imagination, stone ghosts are a captivating subject. In my research, I see references to psychic imprints of memories or events that are said to exist within a gathering of stones. Quartz crystals are well known scientifically for having verifiable piezoelectric energies.

Stone ghosts are known to speak, bleed, guard, steal, or threaten. Some stone ghosts join forces to mark a liminal boundary between otherworlds.

In Wirt Sike’s British Goblins, which is devoted to the supernatural properties of Welsh stones, there are talking and magickal stones, stones of invisibility, a walking stone—even dancing stones. Legend, folklore, and mythology have these stone ghosts as supernatural powers that serve humans, communicate knowledge, or sometimes reveal their intentions. ‘The Stone of the Wolf Bitch’ definitely caught my attention.

Yet, here’s the most astonishing theory of all: a stone ghost who is neither a dead human nor a spirit. This stone ghost is a consciousness of the elemental stone itself with its own intelligent awareness. How curious!

[Natural rock formation in the UK]

As a last thought, Paracelsus (1493–1541), scientist, philosopher and occult thinker, recognized elemental beings. He saw that matter can have intelligence or a spiritual agency. He believed in the interconnectedness of the natural world with the spiritual realm. Paracelsus is known for this quotation:

“Spirits live among stones and rocks.“

Of course, this topic is far more expansive than I’ve mentioned here. My curiosity continues to motivate me to investigate further. And to return to my stone ghost at the cemetery to discover what communication or story I might find there.

More to come on my investigation into Stone Ghosts, the hidden secrets and spirituality. And more visits with my cemetery stone ghost. She has a message, I think.

Please stop by again!