An Interview with Actor Paul Cross Author of the New Vatican Novel A COUNTERFEIT PRIEST

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - Dec. 10, 2013 - PRLog -- PART 1

Why did you write the book?

I think the main reason is that I thought it was a story that needed to be told for several reasons. I thought that reiterating that we all need to have hope to get us through our most difficult times in life was important . Also, it's a good story that takes you places you haven't been before as a reader.

How did you get the idea?

I read an article a long time ago that there was talk that Pope John Paul I was murdered in his sleep and it was an intriguing notion for me. I kept thinking that this would make a good plot for a screenplay so several years ago I began to write it. But as I was progressing with the writing the plot kept changing. Then one day while I was working out at the gym I thought what would the current pope at that time, John Paul II, say if I met  him and how would I respond if he asked me why I wrote this exposé about the Vatican. That's when then idea of a heated confrontation with the Vatican, the pope and a filmmaker struck me. That was the departure point and over a period of time the story evolved to what it is today with a few plot and title changes along the way.

How do you think the Vatican will respond to your book?

That's a good question because I think it all depends on who in the Vatican reads it. They may say privately that they agree with the book but publicly they might not be so candid because the book and screenplay addresses issues that they may not want to be public. So it comes down to the individual in the Vatican who's reading it and how open-minded they are.

How do you think Catholic priests will respond to your book?

I personally think that they will be able to relate to it on a number of levels emotionally. I think that many situations in the book will hit home with them and that may give them some comfort, or perhaps discomfort. I suppose it all depends on the individual priest and their experiences.

Is the story based any personal experiences of yours?

Only in the sense that I posed as a priest to get into the Vatican just like the main character in the book does, but he's a lot more successful at it than I was.

Do you think that anyone regardless if they are a Catholic or not, will enjoy reading A Counterfeit Priest?

The story has an international theme that everyone will be able to relate to rather you're a Catholic or a member of any other religious denomination. Ultimately it's a story of hope and faith and I can't imagine anyone in any part of the world not being able to relate to that.

How did you do research on the story?

Well, for one thing I was living in Rome when the story was in it's embryonic stage in my mind and went to the Vatican almost everyday for months and by talking to priest, especially one in particular who was a friend of our neighbors who worked in the Vatican for John Paul II. We became friends and he gave me tremendous insight into the many ways that priests in the Vatican and in general struggle to keep their vows and keep their vocation to the Catholic Church. One story he told me was that where he lived in the Vatican he would pass by the room of a priest who was often on his knees in front of a crucifix on the wall swearing at the image of Jesus asking him in a rather belligerent and vulgar way why he makes him suffer so much to be a priest. This priest that I befriended was young and very good-looking and ultimately I used him as a character in the book.

Can you relate to the main character Henry Hawkins?

I think in several ways I am Henry Hawkins. I drew on many of my own characteristics in creating and developing him. Everything he does in the book and screenplay I personally would have done as well. When Henry sets out to do something he finds a way to do it. I can say the same about myself. Henry's also dedicated to his ideals and beliefs. I can particularly relate to that.

End of part 1. To be continued.

Interview by Mary Madden

To read more about A Counterfeit Priest go to http://www.acounterfeitpriest.com/

To read more on Paul Cross go to  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0189237/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1