Mirco-Interviews for Shiver Anthology Authors Lillah Lawson, Mason McDonald, and Alex Ebenstein

Horror Author Lillah Lawson

1. What was the inspiration for your story?

Several years ago, my husband (then boyfriend) and I moved into this very old, huge farmhouse just outside of Athens, GA. The landlord told us the day we signed the lease that it was haunted, and went onto say that a previous tenant had been a practicing witch and that we mind find some interesting things on the property. Needless to say, we had some very, very strange, spooky and cool experiences in that house! Spirits were felt, ghosts were seen (and heard), and we found a huge, elaborate pagan altar out in the woods!

2 Have you ever had a chilling experience in the cold?

I'm not sure why, but most of the spooky/supernatural experiences I've had in my life all seemed to occur in the cold months. There has to be something to that...

I've had a few different ghostly experiences in various places and they were all in the winter time! I currently live in "the holler" and we're in a secluded spot up a hill, in front of a huge expanse of forest that leads to a creek. Some of the critters and otherworldly sounds we hear at night will chill your blood!

3. Would you rather spend Christmas in Antarctica with RJ MacReady (The Thing) or spend the winter with Jack Torrance at the Overlook Hotel (The Shining) and why?

Lillah Lawson

I'm sure I'm utterly predictable, but I'm going with ol' Jackie Torrance. Stephen King is my favorite "modern" author and I'd give my eyeteeth to visit the Overlook Hotel. I'd like to think I could match him drink for drink and best him at his own game. If nothing else, I'd be helping Dick Hallorran with whatever he might need. He's my favorite character! True story: I have a horror-movie themed bathroom and we have bathmats that match the carpet from the Overlook.

4. Where can people find you online?

All the usual places: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Goodreads,. You can also find me at lillahlawson.com.

Horror Author Mason McDonald

1. What was your inspiration for your story?

Honestly, and this is probably a lame answer, I don't usually start with an idea in mind for a project. Every time I try to write something with an idea in mind, a goal if you will, it stalls on me. Every finished piece of work I have ever done, this story included, was done simply by me sitting down and writing the first sentence that comes to mind, and going from there. I take pantsing to whole new level, I think. I will say that Lake Namara is named after the late Michelle McNamara. I was reading her excellent book I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK and wanted to include her name somehow.

2. Do you have any chilling winter stories of your own?

My first time driving in a winter storm was at night as a teenager in 2014 coming home from my shift at Walmart(fastest turkey slinger in any meat department this side of Montreal). Over 2 meters of snow in spots, zero visibility, and nothing but your hopes and prayers to get you home safely. At one point either myself or the driver of a snow plow had veered into the wrong lane and for three or four of the most terrifying moments of my life, I was playing chicken with a snowplow. Needless to say, I survived. But man, did I ever almost not.

3. Do you have a favorite hot drink you like on a cold nigiht?

My favourite hot beverage to drink while reading a cold themed book is an Irish coffee, heavy on the accent, hold the coffee. Twitter is the only place I'm active, @Mas0nMcD0nald.

4. Where can people find you online?

Twitter is the only place I'm active

Horror Author Alex Ebenstein

1. What was the inspiration for your story? (No spoilers!)

The Lost Lake Massacre is based on a true story! Okay…so maybe not quite. But I do have a group of friends from high school that are like brothers, and every winter we go up to my family cottage on Lost Lake with the sole purpose of catching up and finishing a keg of beer. So yeah, every character in the story is based on that group, including me…

2. Have you ever had a chilling experience in the cold?

Alex Ebenstein

I’ve never seen any monsters out in the cold, but one time in high school me and a few friends went to Lake Michigan (in the town near the cottage mentioned above) and decided to walk out onto the pier. Problem was, a Michigan winter of ice and snow had piled up several feet high, leaving a 1-2 foot wide path to walk on, with a drop-off on one side and a steep slope on the other. At one spot my friend slipped and nearly slid down into the icy waters below, with little chance of easy rescue. It was a heck of an experience, but incredibly stupid and dangerous.

 3. What is your favorite winter activity?

I’ve lived my whole life in Michigan (and there’s a good chance I’ll spend the rest of it here, too) so you’d probably think I enjoy doing something outside in the winter. Well, I don’t, and I hate winter. My idea of a fun winter activity is literally anything I can do inside my warm house knowing I don’t have anywhere to go and don’t have to risk my life driving on treacherous roads (It’s possible I live in the wrong state). 

4. Where can people find you online?

I spend a silly amount of time on Twitter – come say hi. I also have a website that could use a little more love – www.alexebenstein.com