Interview with Horror Author Madeleine Swann

Madeleine Swann Interview

1.     Thank you so much for joining me! For those who don’t know you, could you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your writing?

I’m Madeleine Swann and I write weird and strange things. Sometimes they’re funny and sometimes they’re a bit nauseating. Nicholas Day described my stuff as malicious whimsy and I think that’s the best description I’ve ever heard.

2.     How would you define bizzarro horror?

It’s almost impossible to define, in my opinion, so I prefer to say I write weird. It’s not exactly “weird fiction,” it’s just weird. I’m reclaiming weird.

3.     Let’s talk a bit about your short story collection The Sharp End of the Rainbow. What inspired this work?

It’s a collection of short stories, some previously published and some new. All of my fears, worries and things I find funny are in here, and I like how it shows a progression in my writing. I feel like I’m starting to get the hang of letting a story unfold in its own time, particularly the nightmarish Victorian stories.

4.     Do you have a favorite story from the collection?

That’s a really hard question, because some are on the creepy side and some are just daft, but I’ll always have a soft spot for How to make a Live Kitten Necklace

5.     I had a blast playing your Choose Your Own Adventure game “Return of the Egg.” I’m guessing you were a fan of the book series when you were younger. Am I right? Where you a book lover as a child or did your passion for reading and writing come later in life?

Reading was one of my main pleasures as a child. I used to hide in the attic for hours reading and my family just left me to it ha! I’m sure it was nice for them to be able to get on with their day and know that I was quite safe.

Author Madeleine Swann

I did go through a big Choose Your Own Adventure phase but I used to cheat and wouldn’t let go of the old page before checking out the new. We made sure that was impossible with this one, which might have turned people off! I’m really glad you enjoyed it, it really fried my brain. It’s a lot of work and planning, much more than I expected.

6.     Who are some of your favorite authors?

I’ve been inspired a lot by Thomas Ligotti. Although he’s not someone I read for the joy of it often, his stuff always has a way of creeping in when I think of things. I also love Leonora Carrington and Dorothy Parker. I sometimes joke to my husband Bill that I’m a cross between the two although, to be honest, I’m not much like either.

7.     What’s next for you? Any projects coming up that you’re able to talk about?

I’m putting everything into the book I’m currently working on. I don’t know if it’ll get anywhere, or if people will like it, but I feel like I’ll have told the story deep within me and be happy with it.

8.     Where can readers find you?

I hang out a lot on twitter https://twitter.com/MadeleineSwann

And also there’s my YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6wDXC7R4gDR9ZGDX5De3Ew

And website http://madeleineswann.com

HellCat Press Co-Founder Lindsay Moore Interview

Lindsay Moore Interview

1.     Thank you so much for joining me! For those who don’t know you, could you please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work?

Dark Lady Returns cover art by Jen Tracy (Cover art for HellCat Press Anthology)

LM: I love horror comics, so I co-founded Hellcat Press in 2014. I really wanted to put together an anthology of horror comics written and illustrated by women. I initially pitched this idea to the Boston Comics Roundtable; I had been a member for about seven years at that point, and they had put out anthologies before. I figured that they would be interested and that they’d help me out. They were not interested in the project at all. They didn’t want to be part of a female-led project or an all-female project. It was really disheartening, and when I complained about it, I was told that I could just leave. So I did. It was sort of a “fine, I’ll take my ball and go home” moment for me. I decided that I would just put out the anthology myself. I kind of figured, “people self-publish all the time, how hard can it be?” Well, putting together the first anthology was hard…but not impossible, and I had a lot of fun and met some really cool people. So I decided to do it again. It’s one of those things that gets easier each time you do it. We’ve got five anthologies out so far, and I’m hoping to do more at some point.

2.     If you had to describe Hellcat Press with only three adjectives, what would those words be?

LM: Creative, fun, and spiteful (but only a little bit).

3.     Do you have a favorite horror comic?

I am really into The Nice House on the Lake by James Tynion IV, Álvaro Martínez Bueno, and Jordie Bellaire at the moment. I also love Locke and Key by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. Emily Carroll has some really great stuff out there too. I still hold out a little hope that Afterlife With Archie will come back from its hiatus.

4.     What sparked your love of the horror genre?

LM: I’ve always been into weird stuff. Even as a little kid, I was drawn to the things that scared my peers. I think what really turned it into a passion for me was reading R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books. I loved those. I especially loved his Night of the Living Dummy trilogy. I was obsessed with those. Slappy is such a little bastard. He’s a lot of fun to hate. My dad’s always been into older horror films, the stuff from Universal mostly. He’s the kind of guy who will go out of his way to find something that you like so that he can talk about it with you. Like, when my cousin was obsessed with Twilight, he read the first book so they could talk about it. So my dad saw how obsessed I was with Slappy and probably thought, “she’s obsessed with an evil ventriloquist dummy, I’m pretty sure I saw a movie about one of those.” So, long story short, he showed me Magic, which is a horror/thriller about a schizophrenic ventriloquist. I was eleven. Probably not the most appropriate film to show an eleven-year-old, but it’s what got the ball rolling.

5.     Running a small publishing press must come with challenges. What is something you wish you had known before opening Hellcat Press?

LM: To paraphrase Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park, “Life, uh, finds a way of interfering with everything you have planned.” I worked in textbook publishing before starting Hellcat Press, so I had a little bit of experience. When it comes to publishing, your schedule is everything. The best advice I can give to anyone who wants to self-publish or put together a multi-contributor anthology: add in a two-week space cushion when you set your deadline. Set a “soft” deadline, then set your “hard” deadline for two weeks later. This prevents last-minute scrambling. The other piece of advice I’ll give – and I wish someone had told me this one – if you’re self-publishing, you don’t have a PR team. You are the PR team. That means reaching out and telling everyone who’ll listen about your book. You have to be proactive about it. You’re your own biggest cheerleader.

6.     What do you love the most about working with authors?

LM: I love seeing how creative other people are. When you’re working alone, you’re in your own head. That’s not so bad, but it doesn’t expose you to new ideas. Working with others does. I had an especially great time working on Tales From the Public Domain and Screams Heard ’Round the World. Those were two anthologies that Hellcat put out. For Tales From the Public Domain, we asked creators to take a horror story from the public domain and adapt it. We got some really wonderful twists on old classics. I especially loved the queer retelling of Ligeia, the sci-fi spin on The Beast With Five Fingers, and the modern take of Viy. Those are concepts I never would’ve thought of, but I’m so glad that someone else did – and I’m so glad they shared it with me. For Screams Heard ’Round the World, we asked creators to take a myth, legend, or monster from another country and tell a story about it. It was a fantastic way to learn about other cultures and mythologies. It’s also fascinating to see how much overlap there is in mythology.

7.     What is coming up next with Hellcat Press?

LM: Hellcat Press is on a bit of a hiatus right now. I had a baby in 2019, right after our fifth anthology came out. And then the pandemic happened. I’m currently juggling work with grad school and caring for a rambunctious toddler, but I would really love to put out more anthologies. I’d very much like to make an announcement this coming winter and put a book out in autumn of 2023. I can’t make any promises, though. I have to see how it all goes.

8.     Where can people find you online?

LM: The best place to find me is probably on Twitter . I’m also on Instagram, if you want to see my knitting and cross stitch. And there’s my website, www.hellcatpress.com.

Micro-Interviews for Shiver Horror Authors Stephanie Rabig

Interview with Stephanie Rabig

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

A nightmare. Yaaaaay, 2020 dreams!

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

Honestly, a monster could've snuck up on me at any point and when it's cold out, I wouldn't know. As soon as the temperature dips below forty I turn into a pillbug whenever I have to be outside.

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 Shinning) and why?

MacReady, no question. I would die horribly either way, but at least in The Thing I'd have a chance to steal MacReady's glorious hat, and wouldn't that make it worth it?

4. Where can people find you online?

I'm on Twitter and my website is stephanierabig.weebly.com. ((I'm also on Pinterest, Instagram, and Tiktok, but those two are the constant))

Interview with Red Lagoe

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

Sometimes I know exactly where I get my ideas from, and sometimes, when I’m writing for a submission call like this, I just let my brain wander through different scenarios until I find a problem and the right character to face it. So there was no specific inspiration for this particular story, other than a trek through my own head.

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

I grew up in upstate NY, where lake-effect snow and bone-chilling winters are the norm. While I don’t have any spooky, cold weather occurrences that I can recall, I have about a dozen scary winter-driving stories. One time, I had to sleep in my car, overnight during a blizzard. Honestly, we could have died if we didn’t have blankets and provisions, but my boyfriend (now-husband) and I bundled up, turned on the engine from time to time, and kept warm until morning when we could shovel the car out.

3. The Abominable Snowman is hunting you. How do you defeat it?

 I almost went into the deepest depths of internet research on Yeti folklore to find weaknesses, but instead, I’ll just wing it... I think fire would likely play a role for a quick blazing end. But if I need to get craftier, I’d figure out what it eats, and start feeding him that (hopefully not people. Look out, trekking team). Over time, I’d tame the beast and we would hunt the snowy wilderness together, chasing down violators of the earth and devouring their remains. If the beast is far too abominable to tame, and it continues its attempt to hunt me, then I shall put it down while it sleeps. I’m not a monster, after all. Then, I’d live off its carcass, wear its hide, thus becoming the new Abominable Snowman.

 4.    Where can people find you online?

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, and Insta. I also dabble a little with Goodreads and have a website. www.redlagoe.com

Horror Author Jan Stinchcomb #Interview

Jan Stinchcomb Interview

1. Congratulations on the release of your book The Kelping! I absolutely loved it! Could you please tell readers a little about the story?

The Kelping is a part of the Rewind or Die novella series. It is a story of transformation and body horror, centering on a beautiful and wealthy family in Southern California. You can read the whole thing in one good bathtub soak.

2.If The Kelping were made into a movie, who would play the leads?

Jon Hamm would be perfect for Craig but I don’t think he would agree to the project. I’d like to use Samantha Robinson in the role of Penelope, but she’ll have to wear blue contact lenses. Keanu Reeves is my Dude Pelikan. And Patricia Clarkson would be Mrs. Delmar, of course.

3. Do you consider yourself a feminist writer? If so, what does that phrase mean to you?

First of all, I have been a feminist my entire life, which means I am accustomed to being unpopular. I don’t see how my writing could be anything but feminist. The simplest definition of feminism is something like “working for the social, economic and political equality  of women,” and we can expand “women” to mean people living in a female body or identifying as such. In my lifetime this modest goal of equality has been ridiculed and reviled, often by women themselves, as recently as the day of a certain election. In my writing I often describe the experience of living in a female body in an unfriendly world. I tend to have more than my fair share of monster women and troubled mother/child relationships. A feminist writer is someone who challenges gender assumptions and imagines justice.

4. How much of your work is autobiographical?

All of the monster stuff is true! But seriously: when I was younger I thought there was a strict line between fiction and autobiography, but now I see it’s beginning to blur in my own work. Most writers tend to draw from all their life experiences. That said, it’s vexing when readers/critics assume a woman writing in first-person is unable to fictionalize.

5. How would you like to see the horror writing industry evolve in the next ten years?

I want more genre blurring and more underrepresented voices. I want to hear more women talking about their work. I love the way short form is valued in horror writing and hope that will continue. The number of good novellas in horror is a delight.

6. When did your love of writing begin?

I made the fatal choice in seventh grade. My teacher predicted I would become a writer, and I believe she laid a curse on me.

7. Let’s have a little fun. Would you rather spend a summer at Camp Crystal Lake from Friday the 13th, or the cabin from Cabin in the Woods?

I’m a true Gen-X alumna of Camp Crystal Lake.

8. What’s next for you? Any projects you can discuss?

I have three more stories coming out this year, and one of them is in The Horror is Us (Mason Jar Press). I’m finishing  a short novel and shopping around a story collection.

9. Where can people find you online?

My website or on Twitter & I’m on GoodReads where I mostly share what I’m reading and try to support indies.

10. Last chance! Anything else you’d like to say?

Trust your instincts always, always

Horror Author E.V. Knight #Interview

E.V. Knight Interview

1.      Congratulations on your 2020 debut novel The Forth Whore! Could you please tell us a little behind the inspiration for this book?

Horror Author E.V. Knight

When I began writing this novel in the summer of 2016, Lilith (the villainess) was not a part of the book. In fact, it was a different story entirely. But then, after the November 2016 Presidential election, I attended the Women’s March in January 2017 and met so many amazing people who’ve lived through so much. It was then that I heard Lilith’s name brought up time and again. When I studied her history, I realized that she’d been vilified and degraded all for simply asking to be equal. That’s when I knew I wanted to say something about the horrors that come with being a woman (or identifying as one). I also lived through some of my own personal traumas while writing the novel. It became experimental therapy for me. I wanted to see what would happen if I let the women in this novel act on their anger and frustration. I wanted a horror novel with well-rounded women characters who were just as bad ass, just as crazy, just as blood thirsty as their more mainstream male counterparts.

2.      If The Forth Whore was made into a movie, who would play the lead?

I am so glad you asked this question! There has never been a doubt in my mind that Kenzi Brooks would be played by Natasha Lyonne. I love the characters she plays—so strong willed and sassy but with the weak, fragile core. She’s perfect for Kenzi. Plus, I modeled Kenzi’s look after Natasha’s.

3.      Are you a plotter or a pansters?

I want to be a pantser so bad, but I plot. I plot an overview outline and character studies. Then as I go, I plot the next scene. I do this over and over as my characters sometimes revolt and do their own thing. But I am always planning ahead.

4.      I love your creative and unique podcast Brain Squalls! Can you please tell readers a little about it?

Brain Squalls is a podcast where we (my husband and cohost) challenge each other with a writing prompt and then work together to tell a story in real time over an hour. Basically, exposing the creative story telling process and hoping our audience would play along and maybe make up their own story too. I found my writing voice and style by using prompts to write little short stories once a day for a year. So, we hope it will help spark creativity in our listeners. We changed Brain Storm to Brain Squall because it’s just a short little burst of creativity once a week.

5.      If you could co-author a book with any writer, living or dead, who would it be and why?

This is the toughest question because I know so many amazing writers that I would be thrilled to co-author with. So, I’ll go with my celebrity fantasy co-author and say Neil Gaiman. First of all, I love his voice and versatility. I am enamored with the worlds and characters he creates and the way he paints a scene. But also, he seems like a genuinely nice person. A good human being. If I am co-writing with someone, I need to like and respect them too.

6.      If you weren’t a writer, what job would you have?

In my other life right now, I work in medicine but in a fantasy world where I could rewind and do anything else, I think an historian specializing in either colonial American history or English Tudor history, I’m fascinated by both. Plus, I’m a nerd and I love research.

7.      What book(s) are you reading right now?

I just finished Ania Ahlborn’s Brother which I enjoyed very much and am turning my attention to those on the preliminary list for the Stoker Award. I try to read as much from the list as I can before the awards. Luckily, this year, I’ve already read many of those on the list so I should be able to get through them all. It’s going to be a tough competition this year, especially in the First Novel category. A lot of great work there.

8.      What is next for you? Anything in the works?

I’ve just completed the draft of my next novel which will be the first in a trilogy. This book series is about a disregarded deity, a vanished hippie commune and an ambiguously haunted house. It’s a little softer than The Fourth Whore with much less gore and more creep-factor. I’m really excited about the project and am working hard with the hopes of release sometime next year.

9.      Where can people find you online?

 I am on Twitter and Facebook and my website and you can hear my real voice once a week on the Brain Squalls podcast which you can find on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castbox, Stitcher, Google, and anywhere you find podcasts. You can also find us on youtube where we sometimes share a video as well as the audio.

10.   Thank you so much! This is your chance to say anything that wasn’t asked. Closing thoughts? Thank you so much for inviting me on your blog and asking fun and insightful questions. I really hope lovers of horror will give The Fourth Whore a read. I’m quite proud of it.

A little about The Fourth Whore:

 Kenzi Brooks watched The Scribble Man collect her brother’s soul after a hit and run when she was seven. He gave her a present that day—a lucky rabbit’s foot. Sixteen years later, she no longer believes in The Scribble Man, she believes in survival and does what she has to in the slums of Detroit. When thugs kill her mother and beat Kenzi to near death, she accidentally releases Lilith from her prison within the time-worn keychain.

 And Hell hath no fury…

 Lilith is out for revenge. Revenge against God, Sariel (Angel of Death and Kenzi’s Scribble Man), and all of mankind for relegating her to nothing more than a demoness for refusing to submit to her husband. She’s put together an apocalyptic plan to destroy everyone who has forsaken her. Forget the Four Horsemen, Lilith is assembling the Four Whores.

 BUY IT HERE

Speculative Fiction, Cosmic Horror, and Weird Western Author KC Grifant #Interview

KC Grifant Interview

1.     You’re the first author I’ve interviewed who, in addition to science and speculative fiction / cosmic horror, is a self-proclaimed “weird western” writer. What is the definition of a weird western and what inspired your interest in this particular genre?

Weird West is one of my favorite subgenres, niche as it is. Typically, a Wild West setting and aesthetics mash with fantastical elements from other genres, like horror, scifi and fantasy. Think Jonah Hex, Cowboys & Aliens, Deadlands and even Stephen King’s Dark Tower series.

I like this subgenre because it offers room for fresh takes on the often overused imagery and caricatures of the Wild West—like the stoic cowboy, or the saloon prostitute—and offers a chance to tell stories from perspectives not well represented during that time period. The Wild West is romanticized for adventure and exploration, but it was also a time of horrific violence and upheaval, all of which can be thoughtfully and respectfully explored in Weird West tales. Plus, something about the Wild West invites more speculative wanderings; tales of werewolves, demons, ghosts, aliens, magic and otherworldly elements seem right at home with the Rocky Mountains, Southwestern deserts and other beautiful but unforgiving settings.  

 2.     You’ve been published in anthologies and magazines, but your website mentions that your stories have also been featured in collectable card games. Can you tell us a little about how this came about?

This ties back to your first question, funny enough! I used to regularly play regional tournaments in a Weird West-themed LLC game (short for “living card game,” which is essentially a hybrid board game and collectible card game). Doomtown: Reloaded involves a one-on-one battle for Wild West town dominance through card abilities, board maneuvers and “shootouts” via poker hands. I loved how this game had Weird West elements—even an evil circus!—and lots of interesting female characters ranging from outlaws to businesswomen. This game prompted my interest in writing more Weird West stories, and, through the gaming group, I ended up writing several official stories tied to the release of new cards. It was my first time working in a shared universe with a defined story arch and established characters. It was fun to write professional “fan fic” so to speak, and put my own mark on the game. I hope to get a chance to write for more games in the future.

 3.     Okay, this is going to be tough since your body of work is extensive. If you could only pick one short story that you’ve written to be made into a movie, who would play the lead and why?

What a fun question! I’d have to go with my Weird West horror story, A DUSTY ARRIVAL, featured on the cover of Andromeda Magazine’s March 2018 issue. This tale centers around two of my reoccurring characters, Melinda and Lance, gunslingers for hire who deal with unusual infestations in towns. In this story, they must battle cannibalistic gremlins that spread a psychic infection to anyone who nears them. Given that, both need to be actors that look like they can handle themselves in a brawl. I’d select the former mixed martial artist and actress Gina Carano (who played a freedom fighter in The Mandalorian) for the serious, gunslinging, butt-kicking Melinda and Chris Pine or Keanu Reeves for the charming, rugged Lance. Those are two characters I’d love to see onscreen!

 4.     We all know writer’s have extensive google search histories that would make the FBI a little, um, nervous. If the Feds were to examine your browser right now, what strange things would pop us that you’ve looked up for “research”?

Ha, too true! My latest google searches for a new Weird West horror story include gems like “conjure Italian demons,” “how to set off dynamite from a distance,” “build a flamethrower,” and “size of derringer bullets” which might raise an eyebrow or two from Big Brother.

5.     What book(s) are you reading right now?

I’ve just picked up Wanderers by Chuck Wendig and have not been able to put it down! It threads mystery, science and weirdness into a page-turning plot, yet is still thoughtful and intriguing. I’m also reading Carmen Maria Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties which is excellent, and have Sarah Read’s The Bone Weaver’s Orchard next on my list.

 6.      What is next for you? Anything in the works?

Yes! Right on topic, I’m wrapping up a Weird West novel featuring the aforementioned gunslinging team in their most intense adventure yet. Melinda and Lance dispose of supernatural critters in the Wild West, but their adventures come at a price. After unwittingly unleashing an ancient demon who steals their friend’s soul, they must battle new types of deadly creatures and track a famed outlaw to stop the demon before it completes its spell and reigns hell on Earth. DARK TRAILS (working title) is a kind of mashup of Ghostbusters and Wild West elements and features soul-sucking insects, an epic train battle and a visit to another world, with a few twists and turns along the way. It’s been a lot of fun to write.

I’ve also recently completed THE FINAL HOUR, a fantasy novella inspired by The Labyrinth, about a queen desperate to escape a goblin realm she is forced to rule for eternity. In order to escape back to Earth, she must master the realm’s magic and defend the kingdom from other worlds while not losing her own humanity.

Finally, I’m in the midst of revising two weird science novels: in one, a woman with a prototype of a prosthetic arm finds herself at the center of a rising social movement and scientific coverup. In the second, dream chasers who map nightmares for a new type of psychotherapy uncover a social contagion threatening to destroy society.

7.     Where can people find you online?

My website, Amazon, Instagram, FB and Twitter.

8.     Thank you so much! This is your chance to say anything that wasn’t asked. Closing thoughts?

Thank you for the fun questions and the opportunity to share more about genre fiction and my work!

BUY HER STORIES HERE

Horror Author Azzurra Nox #Interview

Azzurra Nox Interview

1.      Congratulations on your success as a multi-published author! Let’s talk a little about your books. Cut Here is about a sixteen-year old named Lena Martin whose mom dies in a hit and run. What inspired this book? 

Horror Author Azzurra Nox

The concept of  CUT HERE, all began with a dream I had in the summer of 2008. It wasn’t really a dream, but more of a nightmare. It was Christmas time in Catania, Sicily and a girl sees a book on display at a bookstore kiosk entitled CUT HERE. The book’s cover had a bloody line across a faceless person’s neck, bleeding the title. Shortly after, sounds of sirens invade the dream, and as the girl rushes to the sounds, she sees a trail of blood on the asphalt and a mink coat on the ground. Everything is red. Flash forward to me seeing the same girl again, but this time she’s in a bookstore, holding a copy of the book, CUT HERE, waiting for it to be autographed by a Japanese author. But the girl is in danger, and so she runs away. I soon wake up with a sense of dread. I usually don’t often write down my dreams, but that time I did cause it left me with a haunting feeling. At the time I didn’t know if I’d ever use that dream for a short story, poem, or novel. It sat there gathering virtual dust on my computer for three years before I decided to re-read that dream, one night in January of 2011. Soon, that dream would become Lena Martin’s tortured past.

2.      Your book Doll Parts is a collection of three short stories. Which is your favorite and why?

My favourite short story from that collection is, “Scared of Girls,” it's one I wrote while I was in college. It explores homophobia and gender identity and poses the question, Do we fall in love with a person or a gender and what happens when your soulmate doesn't conform to a specific gender identity? Even after all these years, the social topics that the short story explores are very timely. Plus, that short story is set in Catania, Sicily where I was born so that's another reason why that story in particular has a special place in my heart. Plus the two protagonists, Marzio and Viola are just characters that I really cared about a lot. They ultimately were very passionate and kind.

 3.      Bleed Like Me is a book of poetry “for the broken”. How autobiographical is this piece?

They say that there's a piece of the author in every book they write, and to some extent it's true. However, Bleed Like Me is the most autobiographical one of the bunch. 96% of the poems in the collection were written between the ages of 13-20. That age bracket is when you react most emotionally to life. A broken heart as a teen is the end of the world. As you grow older, one begins to see things with more hindsight and realize that many of the people you put up on pedestals and adored at that age, were only bringing out toxic elements in yourself.

4.      I consider myself a feminist horror author, but that term has different meanings to various people. Do you consider yourself a feminist horror author, and if so why?

I do consider myself a feminist horror author, even if I have dabbled in other genres throughout the years. But if I am writing horror, I rather have the female be strong than simply be the victim. And sometimes, women are also the villains in my stories, cause to make women appear as only the hapless victim or final girl is kind of saying women can only fit in those two spots. That's why I really love books like Audition, where in the novel it's the woman who is far more twisted than the men who peg her as sweet and docile, could ever imagine her to be.

5.      Where did your love of horror come from?

It started at a very young age. Probably around two years old. I think my dad noticed that I had a flair for watching horror movies and so would always have me watch them (he always told me I shouldn't be afraid as it was all “Hollywood” so I never had nightmares over the movies I viewed). So horror has pretty much been a part of my life since I can remember. Which the earliest memory I have of watching horror is seeing Elvira presenting the horror movie of the week.

6.      When you’re not writing horror, what are you up to?

Writing DOES take up a lot of my time, because when I'm not writing fiction, I'm writing blog posts for my lifestyle blog that I update twice a week. But, when I'm not doing that, I pretty much live at the theatre where I'll check out any new horror, thriller, or drama films, plus I love to dance, read, and I'll admit that I have a skincare and cosmetic obsession so I'm always looking for new products to try out.

7.      What is one tip you wish you knew about writing and the publishing world before you got started?

The biggest tip I can give aspiring writers is to read, read, read, and read some more, especially read the genre that you're planning to write about! My reading background is very classical, meaning I grew up reading a lot of Shakespeare and Dickens, which is awesome, but as a teen when I was writing short stories rereading them now, I know they have more of a Victorian feeling to them, which wouldn't have been terrible if the stories were taking place in Victorian England and NOT in contemporary time! As far as the publishing world goes, I think it would've been helpful to have known how important marketing yourself was going to be. Many novice writers have this idea that writing the book and having it appear in bookstores or online stores is enough. That it's going to sell itself or that your publisher will roll out tons of money to promote you and send you off on a book tour around the nation. And all of those things are wrong, cause sure, authors like Stephen King will get that sort of support because he's popular, but for a newbie you have to do a lot of the legwork to get noticed.

8.      What is next for you? Anything in the works?

My newest anthology that I edited, Strange Girls: Women in Horror Anthology will be out on February 18 during Women in Horror Month. It's a collection of short stories featuring many talented women authors that explore the meaning of what it means to be a strange girl. So the collection features stories about vampires, selkies, succubus, mermaids, and creepy dolls just to get an idea of what you may find.

9.      Where can people find you online?

Twitter, Instagram, Website, Blog, Goodreads

CHECK OUT STRANGE GIRLS: WOMEN IN HORROR ANTHOLOGY HERE

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