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.
Interview: Horror Author Briana Morgan
Briana Morgan Interview
1. Congratulations on the upcoming release of your latest book The Reyes Incident! Without giving away any spoilers, could you tell us a bit about the premise?
Thank you! Here’s the back-cover summary:
A local legend gone haywire.
A small-town cop.
An impossible eyewitness testimony.
Which is easier to believe—that killer mermaids exist, or that one person is worth risking everything for?
For fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Into the Drowning Deep comes a chilling horror story steeped in urban rumor.
2. What was the inspiration behind this book?
It’s always hard for me to pin down a single source of inspiration, but this article about an abandoned nuclear aircraft lab in Dawsonville, GA, was major. Also, this video, which I think everyone who loves spooky places should check out.
I’ve also wanted to write a killer mermaid book for a while. Those resources just provided the perfect setting for it.
3. As someone with experience in the self-publishing world, what is one tip about self-publishing you wish someone had passed on to you before you embark on that journey?
Don’t pay too much attention to what everyone else is doing. Focus on making your writing better and improving your craft with each release. The rest is just noise.
4. Do you have any marketing tips you can pass on to readers?
Make sure your profile pictures and names are the same across all your social media platforms! It makes it so much easier for readers and fans to find you.
5. In addition to writing books, you’re a part of the gaming community. What’s your favorite video game?
I want to say the entire BioShock trilogy, but if we’re going with one, the first BioShock game. I even have a tattoo inspired by it.
6. If you could turn one of your characters/stories into a video game, which would you pick and why?
Horror Author Briana Morgan
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of this! Unboxed would make a great first-person horror game. Since it’s a script, it would be fairly easy to convert, and I think there would be some solid jumpscares in the gameplay.
7. What’s the scariest horror book you’ve ever read?
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. It’s also the most extreme. I don’t recommend it for the faint of heart or squeamish.
8. If you could collaborate with any author, living or dead, who would you pick?
This is so tough! Probably one of my horror friends, like Todd Keisling, Cat Scully, or Gemma Amor. I’m biased, but they’re awesome.
9. Thank you so much for chatting! Where can readers find more information about you and your work?
I am all over the Internet. For almost everything, including information about my books, check out my author website. I also have a Patreon if you’d like to support me and my writing. Otherwise, you can find me on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Thank you so, so much.
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 and Poet Sara Tantlinger #AuthorInterview
Sara Tantlinger Interview
Sara Tantlinger is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Devil’s Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes. She is a poetry editor for the Oddville Press, a graduate of Seton Hill’s MFA program, a member of the SFPA, and an active member of the HWA. Along with being a mentor for the HWA Mentorship Program, she is also a co-organizer for the HWA Pittsburgh Chapter. Her other books include Love for Slaughter, The Devil’s City, and To Be Devoured (nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in Long Fiction), and she edited the anthology Not All Monsters, out with Strangehouse Books. She embraces all things macabre and can be found lurking in graveyards or on Twitter @SaraTantlinger and at saratantlinger.com
1. Congratulations on your poetry collection Cradleland of Parasites! Can you please tell us a little about it?
Thank you so much! The collection draws most of its inspiration from the Black Death and other ancient plagues, and also from the rumors that have surrounded Plum Island (a federal research facility that has sparked controversy and conspiracy over the years). I started the collection last year before the current pandemic, so while the timing feels weird and spooky, I hope people will give the collection a chance. I love historical horror and meshing fact with speculation, so the poems play a lot with those blurred lines and with storytelling.
2. Without giving away spoilers, do you have a favorite poem from the collection?
One that I’m pretty fond of is titled “Princess Joan”. It’s based off the real story of Joan of England, a daughter of Edward III, who was betrothed to Peter of Castile. The Black Death hadn’t really made its mark in England when Joan travelled to Castile to be married, so she embarked on the journey with such a grand entourage and such a gorgeous wedding gown that I knew I needed to use those details to write a poem for her. She died so young, so unaware of the plague and how it would destroy her. I really wanted to write a poem for Princess Joan -- I had hoped to celebrate the details of her royalty, but the poem turned into a warning song, a plea for her to stay at home and not take the voyage that would end her young life. The plague spared no one, youth and royalty were no exception.
3. Congratulations on your Bram Stoker Award for The Devil’s Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes! Can you tell us a little about this book as well as how you celebrated your win?
Thank you so much! The Devil’s Dreamland really paved the way to show me how much I love historical horror. Researching Holmes is something I’ve talked about a lot, so in an effort not to repeat myself too much here, I will say that the book challenged me to do something entirely different than my first poetry collection, Love For Slaughter, and I am really humbled and grateful for the excellent responses The Devil’s Dreamland has received! I celebrated my Stoker win at StokerCon in Grand Rapids with some excellent friends and my publisher (and a few vodka cranberries). It was the absolute best night, and the whole experience was truly unforgettable.
4. When did your love of poetry develop?
It’s a bit of cliché answer, but reading Edgar Allan Poe in middle school was honestly my gateway into poetry, particularly dark poetry. Reading so much of his work inspired me to write, but my love for writing poetry developed the most while studying creative writing in college.
5. You were nominated for a Bram Stoker award for your novella To Be Devoured. Do you have a different research/writing process for developing poetry versus a novel?
I love research, so I am always utilizing it no matter what I write. When I studied literature in college, my favorite part of the process was always gathering my sources, engaging with critics, and using the research to make my essays stronger, so I’ve found that love carries over well into my fiction writing. With The Devil’s Dreamland and Cradleland of Parasites (both poetry collections), historical horror really captured my soul and dominated the process. With a current project I’m working on (prose), I’ve been doing more scientific research and doing my best to study entomology, so I think research is bound to follow me wherever I go.
For poetry, to borrow a phrase from the great Linda Addison, it comes more “organically.” It never feels forced, and I don’t have to create as strong of a plan or outline when I dive into poems as I do for prose -- but I am learning to enjoy outlining for novels/novellas more and more these days!
6. What are you currently reading?
I just finished Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, which was an excellent work of literary horror. I think it would be such a strong book to teach in the classroom. I’m always reading way too many books at once, so right now I’m reading poetry (Cries to Kill the Corpse Flower by Ronald J. Murray) and Worst Laid Plans, an anthology of vacation horror edited by Samantha Kolesnik!
7. Let’s have a little fun. Would you rather watch the tape from The Ring or have to say ‘Candyman’ in front of a dark mirror?
Oh definitely Candyman. Children terrify me in general, especially vengeful ghost children, so living in The Ring is something I would not handle well.
8. What’s next for you? Any projects you can discuss?
I am currently working on some short stories and a very vague outline for my next novella! There’s always a lot going on behind the scenes, so I am hopeful I will have some new projects out before the year is over.
9. Where can people find you online?
My website and Twitter -- you can also find me on Instagram . My Amazon author profile has all my books listed here: https://www.amazon.com/Sara-Tantlinger/e/B06X6GBXZB
10. Last chance! Anything else you’d like to say?
To my fellow writers, embrace the writing community and support each other! Remember to celebrate the success of others and that anyone else’s success does not negate your own hard work.
Horror Author Nicole Henneman #Interview
Nicole Henneman Interview
1. Congratulations on you forthcoming Witch of Whidbey series! Can you tell us a little about these books?
Whidbey Island has always been a special place for me. My step-father was in the military and I grew up there. The concept for the books came to me while I was sitting in a 9th grade history class learning about one of the island’s first white settlers, Isaac Ebey. He was decapitated by a group of Native Americans as retaliation for a military attack, but I always wondered how the narrative would change if it had been someone else who killed him. While Ebey’s Landing is a fictionalized account of those events, it is rooted in island history. The first book follows Ebey’s life up to his eventual death, while the second book is set in modern day.
2. If Witch of Whidbey were made into a movie, who would you want to play the heroine, Andrea?
The Witch of Whidbey series has two quietly determined female protagonists facing very different circumstances. In Ebey’s Landing, Olivia practices folk magic and is wronged in the process. I could see her being played by Morfydd Clark or Maggie Rhee. Andrea is newly single, lives in San Francisco and knows nothing about magic. Andrea not only struggles with catastrophic events but also the aftermath of her own naiveté. Her character would be a good vehicle for Florence Pugh or maybe Laia Costa.
3. On your website, you mention you write paranormal fiction among other genres (mysteries, children’s imaginative fantasy, YA adventure). Have you ever experienced anything paranormal?
When I was younger, I encountered lots of shadow people but never the infamous Hat Man. As I got older, the experiences became less frequent but one time I was home alone and heard a man call my name from another room. My most recent experience was in 2013 when we videotaped an orb floating through our living room. Generally, they have been fairly benign experiences. Strangely, later I did have a dream of the Hat Man. In my dream I was screaming and I woke up standing straight up on the floor-still screaming.
4. Do you ever research real events, legends, or myths to get ideas?
The Witch of Whidbey was borne out of my love of lore. In elementary school I read Greek mythology books and the Legends of King Arthur repeatedly. I still spend time researching myths of various countries and people. While those stories have not inspired any books yet, I am definitely influenced by their tone and structure.
5. When did you first realize you wanted to be an author?
I have always loved stories but did not realize I could create my own until I won a writing award in second grade. However, I was not one of those writers blessed with the perseverance to write a novel early on or forge my way into the industry. I am an introvert who experiences anxiety and intense writer’s block. The Witch of Whidbey series has been a decades long project in the making, so the fact that I am still working on manuscripts stands as an inner testament to the craft.
6. In your opinion, what one stereotype about horror writers is absolutely wrong?
That we base characters on people in real life just so we can kill them off. Wait, no, we do that. Okay, maybe that we only wear black. I definitely own a few grey shirts. So that stereotype is completely wrong.
7. Let’s have a little fun. Would you rather spend a weekend in the house from The House on Haunted Hill or The Overlook Hotel with Jack?
That is a hard one. While each location has its merits and challenges lurking amongst the walls, I think ending Jack would ultimately prove easier.
8. What’s next for you? Any projects you can discuss?
I will be publishing a YA book (The Mack Morgan Mysteries) and working on a new paranormal story (Catfish).
9. Where can people find you online?
My website
10. Last chance! Anything else you’d like to say?
Thank you for this great opportunity! Please check out my books and continue supporting the work of horror writers.
Nicole Henneman
Interview with Sonora Taylor
Horror Author Sonora Taylor #Interview
Congratulations on your new book Seeing Things! Please tell us a little about it.
Thank you! Seeing Things is my third novel and follows a teenager named Abby who discovers she can see the dead. Unfortunately, none of them want to talk to her. She leaves for an annual summer visit to her uncle’s house with tons of questions, and it’s during that visit she gets answers -- but she may not like what she finds out. It’s a contemporary Gothic story and definitely turns some dark corners as Abby figures out just what the hell is going on.
What was the inspiration behind Seeing Things?
I used to see this elderly man walking through my old neighborhood every so often. He never had anyone with him, and no one else ever acknowledged his presence. I used to pretend that only I could see him. From there, I thought, wouldn’t it be funny if someone could see the dead, but none of them wanted to talk to her?
The idea started as a short story prompt, and was originally more about grief and letting go. I wrote some notes and several passages, but felt stuck; so I set it aside. I revisited it in summer 2019, when Little Paranoias: Stories was out for edits, because I was struck with an idea: what if instead about grief, it was about dark secrets? I also thought up Abby’s family, and from there, it expanded into a novel.
Have you ever seen a ghost?
Never seen one, but I’ve heard them. Usually it’s something rustling or a bit of static. I’ve also seen ghost lights and flickers of paranormal activity.
This is your sixth novel. What is one tip you learned along your writing and publication journey that you wish you knew ahead of time?
First, to clarify, it’s my third novel -- my other three books are short story collections. It’s definitely been quite the journey writing and releasing all of them. It’s a journey that was very nerve-wracking, and as such, I was afraid to promote myself in the beginning. I didn’t want to seem like a show-off, like someone needing attention, etc. But other writers I met online made it a point to say that marketing is part of the job. You wrote this thing -- you should be proud, and you should tell people about it! So, I’ve tried to promote myself more, even if it means saying some version of “Hey folks, me here, I hope you’ll buy the book I wrote. Link is below.” I wish I’d known that earlier, because now, I need to do retrograde marketing for the earlier books! But that’s the beauty of books: they’re out there as long as they’re being published, so they always have a chance to be found and read.
You are the co-founder of www.frightgirlsummer.com, which is an inclusive platform to boost the signal for women in publishing. Please share a little about this. How did this idea come about? What do you hope Fright Girl Summer accomplishes?
The idea originated with V. Castro, author of Maria the Wanted and the Legacy of the Keepers and, most recently, Hairspray and Switchblades. She wanted to create a festival to celebrate authors on the margins and have it be for the summer. I believe she said “Something like Hot Girl Summer but for books,” so I suggested, “How about Fright Girl Summer?” So she chose that name, and then I contacted her and volunteered to help with the website as well as curating reading lists and putting out calls for fiction, nonfiction, art, etc.
I hope it encourages people to read beyond what they’re used to, and to keep doing it throughout the year. As our list shows, there are TONS of books to choose from that aren’t written by cis white authors. Expand your TBR. Add more Black voices. Add more queer voices. Add more.
How can individuals participate in Fright Girl Summer?
If you’re an author, essayist, blogger, or artist, you can submit to us! We want to read your work. Check out our guidelines on the front page: frightgirlsummer.com
For readers and authors alike, you can participate by writing reviews, filming yourself doing readings, and most of all, reading books! We’re challenging participants to choose three books from our list to read this summer. Check out our page for more: https://www.frightgirlsummer.com/reading-list
How can people find you online?
My website is the most efficient way to learn more about me and my books: sonorawrites.com
I’m also active on Twitter. In addition to tweets about my books, I talk a lot about hockey (when it’s on), movies, and beer.
I’m also on Instagram and post a lot of the food I cook. I aspire to be like Ina Garten.
I’m also on Facebook and Goodreads.
Finally, you can find my books for sale at the links below:
Is there anything else you wish to add? Closing thoughts?
Nope! Thanks so much for interviewing me.
Horror Author Loren Rhoads #Interview
Loren Rhoads Interview
1. Congratulations on your upcoming novel Angelus Rose! This is a sequel to Lost Angels, a book you co-wrote with Brian Thomas. Can you please tell us a little about the series and what we can expect with this much anticipated new book?
The As Above, So Below series explores the story of the succubus Lorelei who saw Azaziel in her master's nightclub and thought it might be fun to bring an angel down. She never expected him to possess her with a mortal girl's ghost -- and he never expected to fall in love with her.
Angelus Rose is your basic Romeo + Juliet story, if Romeo had wings and Juliet had a barbed tail -- and all the angels and demons of Los Angeles were trying to keep them apart. The angels were inspired by Chrisopher Walken in The Prophecy. They think they are the good guys.
2. What inspired this series?
My co-writer Brian Thomas found a burned-out church in LA and wondered who might have lived there and how he might have provoked Hell to set fire to his home. One weekend when I was down in LA visiting Brian, I noticed that one of the apartment buildings near his house was called The Lorelei. Pieces started falling together, almost like fate.
3. If this series was made into movies, who would play Lorelei and Azaziel?
Wow, casting Lorelei is hard. When we first started writing the book, we were inspired by Angelina Jolie, especially as she played Kate Libby in Hackers. These days, Elodie Yung (she played Hathor in Gods of Egypt -- definitely the best part of a bad movie) or Rosa Salazar, who has been in the Maze Runner movies and Alita: Battle Angel. Azaziel is easier. I envision him as Matt Ryan, who has played John Constantine on a couple of different TV shows.
4. How autobiographical is your work? Do you draw off real events?
There are scenes in Angelus Rose that are very autobiographical. Lorelei and Aza have a date in Westwood Memorial Park, the cemetery where Marilyn Monroe and several of the cast of the Poltergeist movies are buried. Brian took me there one evening. He meant to get us there about sunset, but we couldn't find the cemetery. It's really tucked in amongst the skyscrapers. By the time we found the graveyard, it had gotten really dark. Red vigil candles burned on some of the graves, but other than that, we couldn't see much. It was surprisingly quiet in the heart of the city. I was glad to be able to work that memory into the novel.
5. When did your love of the horror genre develop?
I grew up watching the black & white Universal horror movies on TV on Saturday afternoons. My mom pointed out that many of the monsters were inspired by books, so I read The Invisible Man and Frankenstein and Phantom of the Opera and Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. I really fell in love with horror novels when I read Mina's baptism of blood in Dracula. After that, I was well and truly hooked.
6. What tips would you give newbie writers looking to break into the industry?
Join the Horror Writers Association and work with a mentor. It's wonderful to be able to have a professional who can answer your questions and help make connections. Mentorship is free, beyond the price of a membership.
7. What book(s) are you reading right now?
I'm reading E. M. Markoff's The Deadbringer. It's a Latinx-inspired dark fantasy about colonization, indigenous gods, and necromancy. It's completely unlike anything I've read before.
8. What is next for you? Anything in the works?
I drift back and forth between writing fiction and nonfiction. I think my next project will be to finish a guide to the pioneer cemeteries in the San Francisco Bay Area. The area's Western population began with the Spanish missions in 1776, then exploded with the Gold Rush. All kinds of people are buried here from Levi Strauss to survivors of the Donner Party to Wyatt Earp, Mary Ellen Pleasant, and Robert Ripley. The cemeteries are threatened by earthquakes and erosion, of course, but also by California's wildfires. I want to record them before they vanish.
9. Where can people find you online?
10. Thank you so much! This is you chance to say anything that wasn’t asked. Closing thoughts?
I've read some really great horror recently. Leigh Bardugo's The Ninth House was amazing. I just finished L.S. Johnson's story collection Rare Birds got better and better each story I read. I'm looking forward to Dana Fredsti's third Lilith book. This is such a great time to be a horror reader.
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!
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