Cyrilmagazine: What is it about curses that created enough interest for you to want to write a book on the topic?

JC: Well, as a writer I am always interested in the power of words. When I was researching my various collections of New England lore I kept coming across curse stories and they were always interesting. I think they appeal to my sense of justice. At some point it occurred to me that no one had ever pulled a bunch of New England curse stories together into a book. I liked the idea but frankly, I didn't think anyone would publish it. I sent three book proposals at the same time to Globe Pequot. I was surprised when they wanted to do the curse book first.

Cyrilmagazine: Has doing the research for this book convinced you that curses actually exist? That there is more than just coincidence involved in some of these cases?

J C: They exist all right. The question is, do they work? I think there is more than simple coincidence involved. In fact, doing the research brought me a little closer to believing in their validity. But I am a pretty suggestible guy. And I think suggestibility is an essential ingredient in a curse.

Cyrilmagazine: Does New England hold more curses than other regions of the country?

JC: I suspect not, but I have no way of know because I focused on just New England in my research. I know curses are essentially universal, so I suspect similar collections could be assembled anywhere.