The experience of being an American abroad before and after 9/11. The ordeal of grief and connecting with the dead, while trying to investigate UFOs.

These are the two topics of Newtonian Richard Pagano’s debut books. The first, which is a poetry collection entitled “Burnt Fields Under Snow,” is now available at Newtonville Books and at the library of the Cooper Center.

The second, a novella entitled “Like Magic,” will be out in spring 2027. “Burnt Fields Under Snow” has a three-part structure, which starts in the summer of 2001 as Pagano enjoyed reconnecting with his family’s homeland, progresses into reflection in the immediate wake of 9/11, and then ends with poems he wrote more recently.

“It’s a before, a reflection of the after, and then further removed at the end,” he said, calling it an “arc of observation.”

Pagano’s professional career has been more focused on technical writing and other business-related endeavors, but he has always set time aside to write poetry and other literary genres. When he and his wife Nancy moved to Italy in June 2001 for her sabbatical, he took this as a time to write and enjoy a simple life in the Italian countryside, in a house with no TV. Then, that September, his cousin called. America had been attacked; and there they were, Americans who would be overseas until the following summer. His poetry took a new tack as he tried to process what had occurred.

Richard Pagano of Newton has published two debut books drawing from experiences in his life. Courtesy photos

“Like Magic” was written in the wake of his brother’s death. It follows a man who loses his brother and moves to Italy to reunite with a childhood friend—who had investigated UFOs with his brother. While the plot isn’t based on his own life, Pagano wrote it as an homage to his brother, who always loved Star Trek and other works of science fiction. It is a novella, but it does have poetry and other non-traditional elements throughout.

“The structure of the story is experimental,” he said. It also explores the possibilities of connections between the living and the dead.

“Burnt Fields Under Snow” was mostly written in Italy, but “Like Magic” was written in Auburndale, where Pagano and his wife have lived for five years. “We love it,” he said. They previously rented in Needham for 25 years. When they decided it was time to buy, they were drawn to Auburndale both for its beautiful, leafy environment and for its closeness to public transit.

Becoming a published author wasn’t an easy process. Pagano has had work published in literary journals before, but getting a book deal is far more challenging.

“There were many ‘no’s before there was a ‘yes,’” he said. “Patience and persistence were the two things I had to keep in mind,” he added. He had three pieces of advice for any Newtonian aspiring to become a writer. One is to keep a schedule and try to write something at least a couple of days a week, regardless of what one’s day job is. Another is to read widely. Lastly, learn as much about the publishing industry as possible.

While it took a long time to get a ‘yes,’ he did get one, and he has been pleased by the positive feedback he has received from readers so far.