JOSEPH C. GIOCONDA AND THE POPE'S BUTCHER (AUTHOR INTERVIEW)Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself? When I was younger, I studied to become a Catholic priest. I attended a prep Seminary, but decided that I wanted a secular life, so I became a lawyer. I got married and have two kids. I spent the last 25 years of my career writing legal briefs and contracts. Very boring reading, mostly. However, it instilled in me in the importance of doing accurate research and the power of written persuasion. Which one of your characters would you least like to meet in real life? The antagonist of my first book The Pope’s Butcher – Father Heinrich Institoris. Until now, he escaped notice as perhaps the most prolific serial killer in human history. Most recent estimates put the death toll of his Inquisition at 60,000 to 100,000, although some authors prefer much higher numbers, perhaps reaching into the millions. We can only prove that Institoris himself took two lives directly: Anna of Mindelheim and Agnes the Bathkeeper. However, he proudly proclaimed that he had personally slaughtered over 200 more. We may never know the exact number, but Institoris’ personal torture manual became a handbook influencing official judges after his death. It even contributed to judges in Massachusetts hanging a dozen more innocent women, centuries after his death. The term “serial killer” is a modern invention. According to the standard definition, a serial killer murders three or more people, usually in service of some abnormal psychological gratification, with the murders taking place over more than a month and often including a significant period between them. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines serial killing as a series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but not always, by one offender acting alone. Over the last century and a half, those who have studied serial killers observe that they are typically Caucasian with an average age of 30 and 97% of the time, they are male. Like most serial killers, the German-born priest began to manifest proclivities toward sexual violence and religious fanaticism by his early 30s. By that age, he was well on his way toward collecting dozens of the perfect targets for his rage: young and middle-aged women. This group would remain the focus of his obsession for the rest of his life. As his political power grew, he began seeking his ultimate trophies: Women of status like Helena Scheuberin, who he viewed as a witch and the enemy. We have his own written words to give insight into why he chose these targets as the most suitable Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing? Writing legal analyses, as a lawyer. The other type of book that I find fascinating are medieval occult grimoires. The term horror, especially when applied to fiction always carries such heavy connotations. What’s your feeling on the term “horror” and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions? I think “horror” means anything that conjures deep emotions of fear in our subconscious. While some fears are universal, others are cultural. For example, as Americans’ religiosity waned, our fears became more focused on serial killers rather than demons. A lot of good horror movements have arisen as a direct result of the socio/political climate, considering the current state of the world where do you see horror going in the next few years? I think people will grow increasingly fearful of disease. If the COVID-19 experience taught the world anything, it is just how vulnerable we are to it. Given the dark, violent and at times grotesque nature of the horror genre why do you think so many people enjoy reading it? Horror has always captured our imagination, as it probes deep into our subconscious and brings feelings to the surface that aren’t that easy to tap into consciously. It forces us to safely contend with the outer darkness of our minds and experiences. What, if anything, is currently missing from the horror genre? Diverse voices and perspectives. What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult? I find that it is easy to get into teaching too much about history. I find true history very interesting, but readers prefer dialogue and drama to lectures. Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? No. Writing, is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years? I was a terrible writer in high school and college. Law school and law practice developed my skills at writing legal documents, but it didn’t help with fiction writing. In fact, it may have hurt. However, I have tried to use the legal writing skills and research to help my fitcion writing. What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing? Don’t stop. Keep writing. Which of your characters is your favourite? The beautiful pagan witch Brigantia in The Pope’s Butcher. As I explored her character, I found myself writing about a young beautiful woman who was strong and individualistic yet feminine in the Middle Ages. Which of your books best represents you? The Pope’s Butcher definitely does represent some of my experiences as a Catholic seminarian, but the book I am working on now titled Salem’s Ropes is set in the modern era, so it connects more to my current lifestyle. Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us? “She followed closely behind him and laughed to herself under her breath, “’I love Christians. More superstitious than pagans!’” Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next? My next book is called Salem’s Ropes. It is a novel based on the true stories of the cursed Ropes Mansion in Salem Massachusetts. If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice? Probably vampires. They have been written about to death (pardon the pun). What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you? The last great book I read was probably 1984 by Orwell, which I recently re-read. It is so relevant today, it is scary. What's the one question you wish you would get asked but never do? And what would be the answer? “Do you really believe that Satan and his demonic hierarchy is at work influencing humans in the modern world?” My answer: “I know it is.”  Joseph C. Gioconda studied to be a Catholic priest before choosing to leave the seminary. He later studied to become an attorney and graduated from Yale Law School. WEBSITE www.ThePopesButcher.com THE POPE'S BUTCHER: BASED ON THE TRUE STORY OF A SERIAL KILLER IN THE MEDIEVAL VATICAN |
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