Home » Posts tagged "Women in Horror Month" (Page 17)

Women in Horror Fiction: Hannah Kate

 

Hannah Kate  Hannah Kate is a multi-talented woman.  Based in the UK, she is a poet, writer, and editor, and also runs a small press, Hic Dragones, which publishes “intelligent but weird” dark fiction, holds conferences and events related to dark and horror fiction, and markets a series of murder mystery games. She has authored the poetry collection Variant Spelling (Hic Dragones 2012) and a number of short stories and edited the anthologies Impossible Spaces (Hic Dragones 2013) and Wolf-Girls: Dark Tales of Teeth, Claws, and Lycogeny (Hic Dragones 2012). As Dr. Hannah Priest, she is also a researcher at the University of Manchester, where she writes academic works and lectures on medieval romance, contemporary fiction, and monsters (especially werewolves).  Luckily for us, in addition to all this, Hannah also makes time to review books for Monster Librarian.

 

1. Can you give our readers a brief introduction?

I’m a short story writer (and poet) from Manchester, UK. I’ve been published in several anthologies and have a collection of poetry out. I’m also currently seeking representation for two novels (an adult apocalyptic horror and a YA urban fantasy, inspired by a medieval poem). In my other life, I am an academic researcher specializing in medieval and contemporary popular culture (with monsters being a particular interest). Under the name Hannah Priest, I’ve published a number of articles on fairies, werewolves, vampires and other horrible things.

2. Why do you write horror? What draws you to the genre?

I guess I’ve always liked my fiction dark. Even when I was a kid, I tended to prefer the darker, twisted worlds of fantasy and horror. Perhaps that says something about my imagination, I don’t know… I know a lot of people look down on horror – dismissing it as ‘formulaic’ or ‘low culture’ – but I think there’s something very intelligent about horror fiction, about the way in which it plays with your mind. For me, when you read a good horror novel, you experience it on a number of levels. You can appreciate it for the writer’s craft, sure, but it’s also a more unsettling, psychological experience. Plus, with the really good books, you have a physical reaction (the shiver down the spine, the sudden chill). It’s a bit like a rollercoaster ride (which I also love, by the way), and I really admire writers who can create such a complex experience for their readers. If I can achieve that with my own writing, I’ll be happy.

3. Can you describe your writing style or the tone you prefer to set for your stories?

I don’t know if my style is always conventionally ‘horror’, though I’m sure the content is. Recently, I’ve been playing around with contrasting a light-hearted tone with horrible scenarios. I often set stories in the most innocuous settings (for instance, my short story ‘Great Rates, Central Location’ is set in a bland budget hotel), and I like to include misleadingly safe and ‘nice’ scenarios (my story ‘Platform 14’ is about a day trip to the seaside). I think I’m inspired by Tales of the Unexpected and The Twilight Zone in this. Saying that, I don’t always shy away from gore… I have a story coming out soon called ‘Home’ (my take on a vampire vs. werewolf showdown) that’s fairly gruesome.

4. Who are some of your influences? Are there any women authors who have particularly inspired you to write?

My influences are fairly broad. As I say, I think Roald Dahl’s short stories (for adults) have been a big influence, as have the novels of Ramsey Campbell and Stephen King. However, my first introduction to the ‘creepy tale’ (which I guess is the genre I like to write in) was via women writers. I was around thirteen when I read Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, followed quickly by Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black. These books have a very special place in my heart, and pretty much determined that I would never write ‘sweet’ fiction. When I was a little older, I started reading Barbara Vine (aka Ruth Rendell)’s novels, and I fell in love with the stifling, slow-burning sense of dread that Vine consistently creates. As far as contemporary authors go, I feel like I’m a bit spoiled for choice! I really admire Lisa Tuttle and Sarah Pinborough’s work, to give two examples. I’m also pleased to have known Rosie Garland (whose novel The Palace of Curiosities was published by HarperCollins last year) for a number of years, and she has ALWAYS inspires me to write.

5. What authors do you like to read? Any recommendations?

How long is a piece of string? I know everyone always says this… but my tastes are really eclectic. I’m quite into weird fiction at the moment, particularly China Mieville. Anyone who can do a good turn in werewolf tales will also find a place on my reading list (current favourites are Catherine Lundoff, Naomi Clark and, of course, Carrie Vaughn). But I also read a lot of detective fiction – I adore Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, but also Peter May’s Hebrides novels. (And if you like your crime fiction darker and grittier, I would definitely recommend Adam Creed’s Staffe novels.)

 

But as well as novels, I read a lot of medieval poetry and prose. So, given that this post is for Women in Horror Month, I think I’ll give the biggest recommendation to my favourite medieval writer – Marie de France. A twelfth-century Anglo-Norman poet, Marie wrote a series of lais (short narrative poems) full of otherworldly encounters, overbearing husbands and violent retributions. My favourites are ‘Bisclavret’ (a werewolf tale) and ‘Yonec’ (a fairy story) – and I encourage everyone to give them a try.

6. Where can readers find your work?

At the moment, my work is mostly found in anthologies. You can find a list of my publications on my website: http://hannahkate.net or catch me on Twitter (@_Hannah_Kate_). I have several new stories coming out this year, so I’ll be updating my site as these come out.

7. Is there anything else you’d like to share with librarians and readers?

As well as working on my own writing, I also run a small press (Hic Dragones), specializing in dark and weird fiction. There is a long tradition of women working with small and independent presses – both running them and being published by them. And I’m pleased to be part of that tradition. I know the history of women and independent publishing – which goes back to the early modern period – and there’s a persistent idea that small presses are ‘better’ for women. I’m not sure about that; I think small presses can be ‘better’ for writers of all genders, and I’m pleased to have been able to publish novels and short stories by writers of different genders, nationalities and backgrounds. Ultimately, I’d like to see us get to the point where the advice for women writers is the same as for men: choose the press that’s right for you! Obviously, there will always be challenges in getting your work noticed when you choose a small press with a tiny marketing budget, but social media and other online platforms have levelled the playing field (a little). I’ve been lucky enough to work with a number of wonderfully proactive women writers, and their confidence in their work (and our press) is really inspiring.

 

Interested in learning more? Visit Hannah Kate’s Amazon page, check out her website and blog, catch her on Twittervisit the website for Hic Dragones, or academic alter ego Hannah Priest’s blog, She-Wolf.

Women in Horror Fiction: Lori R. Lopez

 

Image of Lori R. LopezLori R. Lopez is the author of many books, including An Ill Wind Blows (2013 CreateSpace), The Macabre Mind of Lori R. Lopez: Thirteen Tormentous Tales (2012 CreateSpace), and Poetic Reflections: Keep the Heart of a Child (2010 CreateSpace).  Her short stories have also appeared in such anthologies as Darlings of Decay (2013 Dark Shadows Publishing), Masters of Horror: Damned if You Don’t (2011 Triskaideka Books), and I Believe in Werewolves (2011 NetBound Publishing).

 

1. Can you give our readers a brief introduction?

Thank you for the invitation!  I’m an indie author, poet, artist, and more.  I have a number of print books as well as E-books out, and I’ve started a creative company with my two talented sons for literature, music, and film.  I’m a vegetarian and an activist for the rights of animals, children, and women.  I care about conservation.  I write dark and speculative fiction with elements of fantasy and humor.

 

2. Why do you write horror?  What draws you to the genre?

I didn’t have a happy childhood, so there are personal demons involved.  But I had a fascination for monsters and things macabre since I can remember.  I am a horror fan.  Conversely, in real life I don’t eat meat and can be squeamish.  I do not enjoy especially gory fiction or films that sensationalize violence.  Like my writing, I prefer that there is meaning behind the madness.  I love Horror’s creepiness, the weird and wonderfully gruesome aspects of it all.  Thrills and chills.  That is what I portray in my stories, novels, verse and art.

 

3. Can you describe your writing style or the tone you prefer to set for your stories?

I love words.  My tales are more suspenseful and thought-inducing than gory.  They can be quirky.  I like to try different things.  Some of it is edgier, intense, but the majority is suitable for ages twelve through adult.  My writing is intelligent and contains depth, both in the characters and the plot.  There is also a poetic grace to it.  I care very much about the flow of sentences.  The voice can vary from story to story.  The tone can be dead serious or quite humorous; it might shift from one to the other.  I love atmosphere and vivid detail, yet I do not go into a great deal of description.  Instead, I leave a lot of that to the imagination.  Some people do not care for the way I write, because it isn’t simple enough or isn’t what they’re used to reading.  I believe creative writing should be creative.  Mine certainly is.

 

4. Who are some of your influences?  Are there any women authors who have particularly inspired you to write?

Mary Shelley was a huge inspiration.  I read Frankenstein in fifth grade.  I had seen the movies prior to that, along with Hitchcock and  The Blob and many classics.  When I read the book, it was so poignant.  I cried for the monster.  It really affected me, transcending the films.  Not that movies cannot achieve that depth of emotion, but the book was more.  And it was beautifully written.  I like writing that makes you stop and savor the words.  A lot of books just tell a story.  You’re not supposed to pay attention to the words.  I figure, writing can be a lot of ways.  There are many opinions out there on writing.  I like Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Peter Straub.  But I like classics, too:  Victor Hugo, Edgar Allan Poe, Ray Bradbury, Mark Twain, Washington Irving, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Franz Kafka, James Fenimore Cooper, Jack London, Andre Norton . . .  That’s writing.  And Mary is right up there with them.  I also treasure the words of Lewis Carroll and Kenneth Grahame.  Grimm’s Fairy Tales.  Mother Goose.  And William Shakespeare.  Some discovered more recently are Neil Gaiman and Roald Dahl.

 

5. What authors do you like to read?  Any recommendations?

I have stacks of books I want to read, and many I would like to read again!  I haven’t even read all of Poe’s works yet.  There are authors I’ve met who write well, such as Billie Sue Mosiman, Leigh M. Lane, Carole Gill, Lynn C. Tolson, Angela Shelton.  Others I know and have read samples or stories by (and plan to read more as time allows) include Jaime Johnesee, Malina Roos, Uvi Poznansky, Mary Ann Peden-Coviello, Linda Lovecraft, E.A. Irwin, Chantal Noordeloos, Julianne Snow, Anna Taborska, author Suzi M, Kat Yares, Suzanne Robb, Christine Verstraete, Cindy Hernandez . . .  I know there are more.  Guys:  Blaze McRob, Jerry W. McKinney, Trent Zelazny, Vincenzo Bilof, Anthony Servantes, William Cook, Patrick Greene, Paul D. Marks, Bernard Lee DeLeo, Jeffrey Kosh, Mark Parker, Terry M. West.  Most recently, Kealan Patrick Burke.  I enjoy the poetry of Jaye Tomas and Phibby Venable, Aline S. Iniestra, E.A. Irwin, Will Cook, Vincenzo Bilof among others.  Of course, Poe and Carroll and many of the classic poets; Shakespeare.  I have little time to read these days, and my memory has a mind of its own, an absent mind.  I will doubtless think of some I didn’t mention, and it will haunt me to the grave.

 

6. Where can readers find your work?

I’m on Amazon, B.N., and Smashwords.  You can learn about my books on GoodReads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, Pinterest, and my website Fairy Fly Entertainment.  Some of my titles are free:  3-Z and The Fruit Of Thy Womb on Amazon; also, Unleashed, Next Door, and Horrendus, on Smashwords.  My work has been published in anthologies with other authors, including:  Mirages: Tales from Authors of the Macabre; Masters of Horror: Damned If You Don’t; Bones II; Splatterpunk Saints; Darlings of Decay; I Believe in Werewolves; The Epocalypse: Emails at the End; Soup of Souls; Thirsty Are The Damned; Scare Package: 14 Tales of Terror; and In Darkness We Play.

I also write a column called “Poetic Reflections” at my website containing dark verse and humorous prose.

 

Want to find out more about her and her books? Visit  Lori Lopez’s Amazon author page, or her Facebook author page,  You may also want to check out her column, “Poetic Reflections”, at her website, Fairy Fly Entertainment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women in Horror Fiction: Suzanne Robb

Image of Suzanne Robb Suzanne Robb is an editor and the author of the zombie novels Z-Boat (being re-released 2014 Permuted Press) and Contaminated: A Zombie Novel (2012 Severed Press), as well as the e-book short story collection Werewolves, Apocalypses, and Genetic Mutations, Oh My! (2014 Dark Continents). Her short stories have appeared in anthologies including Tales of Terror and Mayhem (2012 Evil Jester Press), Canopic Jars: Tales of Mummies and Mummification (2014 Great Old Ones Publishing), Bigfoot Terror Tales Volume 1: Scary Stories of Sasquatch Horror (2012 Coscom Entertainment), Read the End First (2012 Wicked East Press) and Women of the Living Dead: A Zombie Anthology (2012 Open Casket Press).

 

1. Can you give our readers a brief introduction?

I am horrible at talking about myself. I just want to make that clear in case I start to write about my dog or LEGO’s for no apparent reason. On that note, I have been writing for several years. I started out doing fiction articles on anxiety. A friend mentioned an anthology to me and the premise sounded interesting and that was how it all started. I enjoyed writing short stories, but after a year or so, my stories were getting too long. I moved on to write a novel titled Z-BOAT, and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

2. Why do you write horror?  What draws you to the genre?

I write in multiple genres. The horror stories I do usually have an element of something else in them. Paranormal, humor, science-fiction, and fantasy. When I have written a story with horror in it, it is usually because I felt it was the best way to get across what is in my head (Not a pretty place in there sometimes).

 

3. Can you describe your writing style or the tone you prefer to set for your stories?

I have no style, and that totally came out wrong. I write whatever comes to mind. If I had to pinpoint some particular tone, I would say it is dark humor. I like to write a funny line, or have a character come up with a funny comeback at a serious moment. I think there is also a very strong message about how we are screwing up the world, and possible results. At least I like to think that is what I am doing.

 

4. Who are some of your influences?  Are there any women authors who have particularly inspired you to write?

Christopher Moore. I love that man. I hope one day to be 1/10 as funny as him. I also like early Dean Koontz (Lightning, Watchers) Jasper Fforde, and Gregory Maguire. There were some very influential female writers when I was younger, Madeleine L’Engle and Enid Blyton being the two at the top. Because of them I became a voracious reader and as an only child would scribble little stories down to keep myself occupied.

 

5. What authors do you like to read?  Any recommendations?

I like to read a variety of authors. I like Suzanne Collins of The Hunger Games fame. As for horror writers, I have read fantastic stuff from are Emma Ennis, Hollie Snider, Rebecca Snow, Tonia Brown, and Jessica Meigs, to name a few.
6. Where can readers find your work?

I have a collection of short stories on eBook on Amazon called Were-wolves, Apocalypses, and Genetic Mutation, Oh My.

In March, Permuted Press will be re-releasing my novel Z-Boat, and later in the year Z-TOPIA and Z-END will be released.

———-

Thanks, Suzanne, for participating!

Interested in learning more? Visit Suzanne Robb’s Amazon page, her Facebook page, or her blog.