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Meet Catholic Fantasy Writer Paul Leone

Meet Catholic Fantasy Writer Paul Leone

Last updated on: August 9, 2026 at 11:54 am by Mark Wilson

Meet Catholic Fantasy Writer Paul Leone 2026-08-09T11:54:02-05:00 Mark Wilson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Paul is most definitely one of the most nerdiest, geekiest of Catholic writers out there. His faith is real and alive and has baptized his imagination with a Catholic world view. He embraces the fantastical life having fun composing worlds and characters that correspond with Catholic thought and morality. Like some of the other fantasy writer he has his take on what it takes to take down vampires. It’s a common trait among creative Catholic writers. His answers to my questions are short but full of insight. You can learn more about him and his take on fantastical literature as you…

1 Tell something interesting about yourself.

I’m (probably) the only speculative fiction author in WNY with an Elvish burial mound on their property.

2 What makes a good Catholic writer?

Someone who lets their faith be the foundation, not the wallpaper, of their story. Overtly preachy stories usually fail on both counts. (Compare Tolkien with Left Behind, for example, or the best vs the most obnoxious Star Trek episodes on the secular side of the spectrum.)

3 What do you like about being a Catholic/Christian Writer?

Having the chance to explore fictional settings (even “our world + __” urban fantasy or horror) through the lens of truth.

4 What is the Main focus of your particular Writing or what do you like to write about?

Probably as a result of reading and watching too much Tolkien, Star Trek and Unsolved Mysteries as a child, I tend to stick to fantasy, sci-fi and horror.

5 How does your Catholic Faith influence your writing?

I generally try to abide by my answer to question #2. Just like the real world, most of my stories take place in a setting where Catholicism is the fullest expression of truth, even if it’s not very explicit in some stories. At the most basic level, God, Heaven, Satan and Hell are real.

6 What’s your favorite article/Post/book/story you have written?

“The Governess of Greenmere“, a Victorian Arthurian fantasy novella about Elise Cooper, a young English girl hired to be the governess to an earl’s grandson in late 19th century Britain.

7 What is your favorite topic/subject to write about?

Vampires and the people who send them back to the afterlife.

8 Favorite scripture verse.

I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. – Genesis 9:13-15

יר בן רש”י Pikiwiki Israel

9 What are you currently working on?

I just finished writing the first draft of a space fantasy short story (Firefly meets medieval/classical astronomy) and I’m about to start an urban fantasy story about a young woman blessed by the archangel Uriel to fight vampires.

10 Name a favorite saint or Catholic or some other figure who inspires you in your life.

J.R.R. Tolkien – I know it’s a cliche answer for speculative fiction writers, but he really is an inspirational figure both for his writing and his real-life wisdom.

11 Who is your favorite living writer?

John Whitbourne (Popes and Phantoms, The Binscombe Tales)

12 If you could have lunch with any deceased writer who would it be, what would you eat and what would you talk about?

John Steakley (Vampire$, Armor), steak (sorry), and what he would have written as his third novel.

13 Name a favorite movie/tv show or music you find worth sharing with others.

Nearly any Shaw Brothers martial arts movie set in the past,

Dark Matter (the mid 2010s sci-fi show, not the more recent one)

and the YouTube singer Karliene.

14 Can you see one of your books being made into a movie or tv series? Who would you want to star or direct?

Absolutely! Most of my protagonists are visually based on actors. Elise Cooper, the Immortal Champion of Britain, would make a great movie protagonist, and British actress Imogen Waterhouse would fit the part very well, I think.

15 Favorite historical event.

The American Civil War.

This interview was published on August 9, 2026

The day these other Historical Trivia events happened.

1173 – Construction of the campanile of the Cathedral of Pisa (now known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa) begins; it will take two centuries to complete.

Luca Aless – Own work

1862 – American Civil War: Battle of Cedar Mountain: At Cedar Mountain, Virginia, Confederate General Stonewall Jackson narrowly defeats Union forces under General John Pope.

1907 – The first Boy Scout encampment concludes at Brownsea Island in southern England.

Captioned “Boy Scouts”, caricature of Baden-Powell in Vanity Fair, April 1911

1936 – Summer Olympics: Jesse Owens wins his fourth gold medal at the games.

1974 – As a direct result of the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon becomes the first president of the United States to resign from office. Vice President Gerald Ford becomes president.

1985- Pee-wee’s Big Adventure opens in theaters.

16 What else do you want people to know about anything.

Embrace human art and reject AI. God gave us the creative power for a reason, and we shouldn’t surrender it to computer programs.

Learn More
Home – Paul Leone
Paul Leone | Substack
Paul Leone (Author of Mysterious Albion)

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