Ghost Hunting in Malta

Fiona Galea Debono interviews American author John Kachuba, who intends to include a section on Malta in a book he is writing on international ghosts. Kachuba, who has Sicilian grandparents, is also writing his travel memoirs on Malta in a "more personalised alternative to a guidebook":

Mr Kachuba has always been intrigued by "what comes after, be it ghosts, or whether we go on - the philosophical and metaphysical questions". But his interest deepened as he got into his books on ghosts and ghost hunting of which he has already written three. "I am getting more interested in the idea of afterlife and spirituality, asking what happens to us when we die to people of different cultures and religious beliefs to find out what their ideas are. "Almost every culture in the world believes in spirits, or ghosts..." And Malta too has its fair share of ancient history, ghost stories and legends, he has found during his stay.

There is supposed to be a ghost in St James Cavalier and Mr Kachuba plans to sniff him out, while even the Manoel Theatre should be haunted - by the mistress of Grand Master de Vilhena, who built it. A survey in the US found that about 54 per cent of Americans believe in ghosts - a figure Mr Kachuba considers to be "pretty high" and that is probably the case worldwide, if not higher. Each chapter of his book, which is still in an embryonic stage, is dealing with a different country - Malta being one of them. And to make it more profound, Mr Kachuba also intends to talk about Maltese cultural beliefs.

His verbal narration of the Maltese stories he has heard already manages to capture one's attention; let alone his writings - in keeping with the theory he is imparting to the students of his creative writing class that, "although it may seem obvious, you have to write something the reader is going to read; something he is going to start and not put it down". Although he has only been in Malta for a few weeks, the island has hit him. "I am fascinated by its culture - from the history to the architecture, the arts, its cathedrals and beautiful beaches. "Americans do not visit Malta; it is not a holiday destination for us. When I was leaving the country, the first question everyone asked me was: Where is Malta? I think it is embarrassing! That is how ignorant Americans are, and I think the island would be a great destination for them..

"This is a beautiful country, with beautiful weather, and I think it would appeal to a wide variety of Americans. "I intend to write and publish travel articles on Malta when I get back, but I would also like to write a book. I do not write your standard guidebooks, however, so it would be more of a memoir, with my personal observations - Malta as seen through my eyes." Being in Malta for six weeks, and given the way the couple travels - they are not tourists, they meet the locals and experience their way of life - are additional bonuses for Mr Kachuba to achieve his aim. "I can tell you about the beautiful churches and the forts, but I can also tell the Americans about the people and what it is like to be here... Instead of being a disconnected reader, I am a character in my book..."

John Kachuba on the Jerry Pippin Show