Interview with Alexandra Sokoloff, Author of Book of Shadows

California native Alexandra Sokoloff is a professional screenwriter, director, choreographer, and author of the supernatural thrillers, The Harrowing, The Price, The Unseen, and now the latest, Book of Shadows. The first was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel and for an Anthony Award for Best First Mystery. She has adapted numerous novels for film for companies such as Sony, Fox, Disney, and Miramax. Sokoloff is a regular blogger at Murderati, a collective of dark suspense authors.

Thanks for this interview, Alexandra. All your novels are supernatural thrillers. What got you into the realm of the paranormal?

I grew up in Berkeley, California, which was a paranormal experience all on its own! I’m not really joking, either — people in that city are very dedicated to pursuing altered states of consciousness, whether that be chemical, spiritual, psychological, or occult. Very early on I developed a fascination with the question of whether a paranormal event was a psychological experience, a supernatural one, or some blend of the two. That’s what I’m always writing about. And of course, my favorite books and movies of all time are the ones that explore those psychological/supernatural mysteries and hauntings, like Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, and Stephen King’s The Shining and Carrie.

Let’s talk about your latest one, Book of Shadows. What was your inspiration for it?

I’ve always wanted to write a story with the backdrop of the modern practice of witchcraft. Being a California native, I have friends who practice the Craft, and it’s so rich in visual and archetypal imagery and power. And you may have noticed I am fairly obsessed with gender issues and differences. I wanted to write a book that would pit a very outwardly rational, logic-driven man, in a very male profession (homicide detective), from a very rational city (Boston) against a very otherworldly, psychic, subconsciously driven woman (a practicing witch), from a much more mysterious town (Salem) — and play with the contrasts and the line between what is real and what is supernatural as the two of them investigate what he thinks is a serial murder which she insists involves a real demon. I thought I could create some great chemistry and distrust between the characters there, a paranormal noir, if you will. Then I was also working with my constant theme of people, especially young people (in this case a troubled college student) opening doors that they really don't understand and having to deal with what might be supernatural consequences.

Article Author: Mayra Calvani

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children, teens and adults. She also offers online workshops on the art of reviewing and picture book writing at SavvyAuthors.com.

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