 1. Why horror? What fascinates you about horror and enticed you to write in the genre? I have been a fan of horror for years. After my first book (a historical fiction) published, I began writing short stories through my preferred stylistic devices: regionalism and magical realism. I had no idea what I was writing was actually categorized as horror. After a few of those stories published, I tried my hand at a ghost story mystery for my second book, again not knowing what I was really writing was horror. To my surprise, I self-published that book, and my readers enjoyed it as much as the first (though many were surprised at my shift in genres). My greatest compliment about that book is that it gave a few readers nightmares; some couldn’t finish. That makes me smile. 2. What is your favorite era of horror and why? As a former English teacher for decades, I taught a variety of genres, among them horror, of course. Edgar Allen Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and several others stayed with me long after I finished reading them. The fact that such powerful “spooky” stories were written centuries ago is probably why they’re my favorites, especially Frankenstein. Imagining the horror of the readers back then gives me goosebumps. To be an author like that is inspiration to keep writing horror. 3. What are some of your favorite horror films? When I was young, the Dracula films starring Christopher Lee scared me so much I became afraid of the dark. Dark Shadows (the movie more than the series) made that fear worse. There were years I couldn’t walk anywhere at night because of those movies. I still shiver with the memories of those vampires! 4. What do you think the genre of horror brings to the world in terms of values, beliefs, impact? Horror attracts us the way a haunted house challenges us to enter or a rollercoaster ride dares us to ride—the adrenaline rush caused by the intensity of whatever emotion the reader feels, whether fear, anxiety, or excitement is something we seem to crave. Otherwise we wouldn’t turn the page or go through that door or get on that ride. The impact of the words which make us imagine what the characters endure, which allow us to visualize the act vividly, and which sometimes cause us to feel the panic of the event satisfies some need we have inside us. We want to encounter those monsters and either survive the meeting or succumb to horrible fates with the protagonists. Perhaps our values are challenged by our own imaginings of possibilities that can happen to us—there are monsters in real life we can meet with, after all. Murderers are real; to some of us, so are ghosts, or maybe aliens and monsters. Reading horror can make us more aware of our own ends, especially death, which makes many protagonists repent for their sins when they realize their demise is imminent. Hopefully, it affects readers in the same way. In my case, because of my Hispanic culture, we grew up believing our parents’ and grandparents’ superstitions; the legends and folktales I grew up with through oral story telling affected me greatly. When your own parents tell you they’ve seen ghosts or unexplained phenomenon, and you know your parents aren’t liars, you tend to believe. 5. How do you think your writing of horror reflects you as a person or your life overall? I mentioned that I use regionalism to tell my stories. This includes my incorporation of my culture’s folktale characters and creatures into my works. I retell my versions of the stories so many from my region grew up with, and I also create my own stories of those monsters our parents used to threaten us with to behave. They were real to me when I was small, but they’re disappearing with each new generation. I write about them to keep them alive through literature. 6. What do you think lies ahead for the genre? I like to think women will be the trailblazers of the genre and that we’ll make a name for ourselves in horror as much as men or maybe more so. And I hope a resurgence of the “scary” stories like Poe’s or Shelley’s will arise. Less blood, guts, and gore; more psychological and traditional horror. 7. Like many things, women are underrepresented in the horror genre. Why do think this is and why is it critical to have women more represented in horror? I’m not sure what the answer to this question is. The women horror authors I’ve become associated with are masters of the genre. Why they have yet to be discovered I don’t know. Like any other genre, it’s critical that women are represented for their unique execution of horror in writing; they bring a different voice, perspective, and creativity to the genre. 8. Any tips for new women writers in the horror genre? As I said, I fell into the horror genre because my stories always seem to have a dark side to them. Women have a deep well of horror stories inside them if they use their imaginations to imagine the worst of life. A mother’s worst fear is losing a child, but the human fear of losing one’s mind or having a loved one transform into a monster or any situation where we are powerless—any of those dark thoughts we’re all capable of, those are prime pickings for horror. But we must remember that with the dark comes light, and we can use writing to dispel those depressing thoughts and not let them be overwhelming. Writing something lighthearted or including comedic scenes while writing horror can keep us grounded. 9. Who are some of your favorite women horror authors to read? The authors I’ve published with in anthologies are among the best horror writers I’ve read. R.A. Goli writes erotic horror (which I’d never heard of before I started reading her short story collection, Unfettered). Her stories blow me away—she rewrites tales we’re all familiar with. One which stands out is her rendition of Poe’s “The Raven” from the bird’s POV. I’ve published in two horror anthologies with outstanding women horror writers: R.A. Busby’s psychological horror “Holes” is the stuff of nightmares. Jill Girardi, publisher of the Women in Horror anthologies, is also a truly terrifying horror writer in her own right. Her story “Firstborn” is haunting. 10. For readers who have never read your work, what should they start with and where can they find more information about you? Several of my short horror stories are available for free from the pinned post on my FB page. Some are my retellings of folk tales, like “Baile de Diablo” (The Devil’s Dance), “La Muerte,” (a tale of Santa Muerte), “Encounters with Death,” among several others. The pinned post links all my publications, a mix of historical fiction, horror, speculative fiction, non-fiction, among several other genres.
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 Below is an excerpt from my second book in the Sophia Rey series: The Coven of Retribution. Book 2 is not out yet but will be in 2020. This is just a sneak peek. I hope you enjoy.
-------------- In 1692, Lenore, Odette, and Rose witnessed the hangings of their mothers at Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts. In carriages with their heads down, tied up at their waists, their ruffled mob caps with blue ribbon covered their silent cries that yearned for help. But they knew; everyone knew their fate. It was the Amur Cork Tree that took their mothers’ last breaths. The rope that constrained them at the waist on one end was tied into a noose at the other and thrown over the thick tendril branches of the Amur Cork. They didn’t have a chance. Lenore was thirteen years old. A wicker basket full of bread hung on her arm in the crevice of her elbow as she watched and tried to see her mother’s face hiding under that white mob cap. “Mama, mama. Let her go,” Lenore said. No one acknowledged her adolescent pleas. The only acknowledgment was that of the arms of men holding her back. The bread spilled out of the basket and onto the ground and Lenore fell with it. Gripping it in her fists, the bread broke into crumbs and mixed into the dirt. Sprawled on the ground, Lenore tucked her head down into her arm, hoping this madness of terror could be blindfolded. If she couldn’t see it maybe it wouldn’t happen but as she lay on the ground, the sounds of her mother fighting for her life pierced her ears. The wooden carriage wheels creaked as they slipped away and the heavy weight of her mother’s body dropped down; a small thud and the rope twisting from her jerking body. Lenore heard the gasps from all directions. Next was Odette’s mother then Rose’s. Odette was ten years old and Rose was seven. Standing side by side, all three girls stared at the Amur Cork at the tangled branches that were weighed down by the women who brought them into the world. A world that separated them within seconds. Rose clenched a brown, ragged teddy bear and brought it to her face. Looking at her mother hanging from the Amur Cork, Lenore said, “They can’t get away with this.” “But they did, they did get away with it. They’re gone and we’re never getting them back,” said Odette. Odette ran to her mother, now just a limp body and shoulders hanging like a weeping willow. Wrapping her arms around her mother’s legs, Odette’s tears soaked her mother’s long cotton skirt and lifeless fingers brushed against her shoulders. Death tickling and mocking her. “I want my mama, I want my mama,” Rose said. Odette hugged her mother’s hanging legs, turning them left and right, left and right. “I want mama, I want mama,” Rose said. Watching the rhythm of Odette’s movement and listening to Rose’s repeating plea against the breeze of the wind, Lenore stood with her hands at her side as everything around her spun into a dance of death. “I want mama.” The hanging bodies turned left and right. “I want mama.” Limp heads pulled tight by the ropes watched over the young girls with shocked, lifeless eyes. Lenore looked at her mother’s bloated face and bruised neck. Her almond eyes bulged with broken, popped blood vessels. Then, for a quick moment, everything around her fell silent like an empty house without a living soul. Odette was still there, rocking her mother’s legs. Rose was still saying she wanted mama but there was no sound. Hanging from the rope, Lenore’s mother lifted her head and with a red stained sorrowful stare, she said, “Lenore, you must get retribution.” “But how?” Lenore said. “You know how Lenore. You’ve always known how.” Thanks for reading, Sterp Check out the first book in the Sophia Rey series The Cult Called Freedom House here.  This poem is dedicated to the people in the world who thought it was their time to go. This poem is dedicated to my brothers and sisters who think the world is better off without them because the world is not. I suffer from depression and I am here. You are not alone. If you need to talk, please reach out at writersterp@gmail.com. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is here to help also at 1-800-273-8255.
This poem is called Whispers in the River. Written by Stephanie Evelyn I always wondered how. I always wondered why. Buried by mystery, With souls lost to cries. Mystery knocks at your door, Until it finds a way. It whispers to your thoughts, Asking if it can stay. Close your eyes, Because more sleep might be what you need. Close your eyes, Because when you sleep the whispers seem to cease. But who can visit you when you’re asleep? Born alone to be alone, Lonely rivers that run past, Love alone and see alone, It’s loneliness that is our last. The whispers remind us, That they are the only ones there. With the world moving around us, And no one seems to care. It feeds off dark corners, The ones that reside in the mind. But, we forget the wind is there, When the lonely river rushes by. We forget the same sky, We all see when we look up. Or how sorrow wraps around our necks, When our hearts feel stuck. We forget how loneliness is not alone, The whispers talk to me too. So, before you go to sleep, Tell me, what do the whispers say to you?  Graveyard Dance
Written by Stephanie Evelyn When the day started out It was claimed by the sun. Reflected light rolled across ocean waves, And the wind made it all dance. I danced with it, since it took my hand. Spinning like a hurricane, Laughing until going mad. Nestled in its eyes, eyes only for me. The sky could have been blue, black yellow, or not. There was no way to tell, wrapped in its arms too tight. Dancing under the sun and the moon. Spinning into nothingness, I rest my head but need to dance again soon. No one told me that it could kidnap me. Disguised as pride. Creating what seems a bigger life. A farewell party but the farewell is to me. Years ago that day started out, It was claimed by the sun. I locked myself away with it Then said farewell to everyone.  I am thrilled to introduce my next Woman Thought Leader in Horror: V. Castro. This series is meant for one thing and one thing only; to amplify the voices of women in horror.
As V. Castro puts it, "Men don’t get to set the standard for women anymore. I’m fucking sick of it." Buckle up horror family. 1. Why horror? What fascinates you about horror and enticed you to write in the genre? I have always loved horror. I grew up with dark folklore and urban legends. As a Mexican American we have a lot of superstitions and the supernatural is never far away. 2. What is your favorite era of horror and why? Film wise I have to say the 80s and 90s because so many iconic characters and films were released then. Otherwise I would say now because horror is slowly becoming more inclusive. Horror has the opportunity to take on so many different dimensions right now. 3. What are some of your favorite horror films? How much time do we have?! I love The Lost Boys, Event Horizon, Nightmare on Elm Street Halloween, Here Comes the Devil, Hereditary. So many! 4. What do you think the genre of horror brings to the world in terms of values, beliefs, impact? I think horror lets us explore ideas we can't always explore in the open. I write creatures because they are looked as “Others”. I am an “Other”. This theme is recurring for me and I use it to show people my humanity. We can use horror to show the world there are a hell of a lot of gray areas in life. These areas should be looked at. The shadows should be looked at just as the status quo should be challenged. We can do that in horror because many times there are huge challenges, even fights to the death. 5. How do you think your writing of horror reflects you as a person or your life overall? Horror has helped me tease apart many difficult aspects of my life experiences and how I view the world. I try to better understand myself and others through horror. There are so many questions I have, and it seems like most of the answers dwell in the dark. 6. What do you think lies ahead for the genre? I think we will see a lot more diversity. Times are changing and the world has to change with it, including publishing. 7. Like many things, women are underrepresented in the horror genre. Why do think this is and why is it critical to have women more represented in horror? Women are underrepresented because men have had a strangle hold over it and don’t want to let go. We also hail these men as heroes instead of branching out and celebrating lesser known horror writers, ESPECIALLY women of color. These guys set the standard and you always have all else compared to their standard. It’s vital women are included because we are often used in the male driven standard as objects. There is way too much rape, assault and humiliation going on and this has to stop. Let women write about their body, their sexuality, their dreams and nightmares. Men don’t get to set the standard for women anymore. I’m fucking sick of it. 8. Any tips for new women writers in the horror genre? Persevere. Get back up if you fall even if that means taking a break or reaching out to writer friends. Don’t compare yourself to other writers and their journeys especially if you are a woman from a marginalized community. It’s more difficult for us. Don’t be afraid to write what you want and what your truth is. Don’t write to the male standard. 9. Who are some of your favorite women horror authors to read? There are so many out now! I would recommend Tananarive Due and Linda Addison. Both fantastic Black women in horror. 10. For readers who have never read your work, what should they start with and where can they find more information about you? Depends on what they like! Sed de Sangre – very short 3 erotic horror stories Switchblades and Hairspray - Chicana Jaguar shifters Maria The Wanted - book 1 of an epic vampire saga www.vvcastro.com has all my books listed including the anthologies. Twitter an IG @vlatinalondon All women that need a boost can go to www.frightgirlsummer and get involved. Until next Time, This is Sterp  I want to thank Yawatta Hosby for participating in this interview and offering both her intellect and sentiment on racism in the United States and the impact it's having on our communities, our nation, and on humanity.
Author of over four horror/suspense novellas and novels, Yawatta Hosby focuses on the psychological turmoil of her characters. Three of her short stories have been featured in anthologies. You can find her work here. It's become quiet again. This is to keeping it alive. 1. Black Lives Matter. What is your response to communities that rebuttal this movement with All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter? Why are they not comparable? Everyone knows that all lives matter. No one’s refuting that. However, at this time, black people need help. We’re constantly being killed by the police and by racists. People are filming these tragic events with law enforcement and lawmakers doing nothing. It gets pushed under the rug until they’re exposed on social media, then the cops get fired or the racists get arrested. Justice should be an automatic thing, not something done after there’s a backlash. And, for the people saying “don’t do anything wrong, then cops won’t bother you,” what about Breonna Taylor? She was sleeping in her home and got gunned down by the police. I’ve noticed All Lives Matter people are the same ones who will refuse to wear a mask during COVID-19 because “it’s hard to breathe;” they think it’s okay for immigrants to be locked up in filthy detention conditions because “they deserve it;” they will refuse to vote against guns to save children’s lives in school because “we have a right to carry firearms;” they hated J Lo and Shakira’s halftime performance show because “they sang in Spanish and had the audacity to wave a Puerto Rican flag.” I’m not saying ALL All Lives Matter people are like that, but it’s the majority I’ve come across in real life. And with Blue Lives Matter people, I’ve noticed they won’t even acknowledge that anything is wrong with the system. It’s extremely flawed, but all I see is no one is allowed to say anything negative about any cop, no matter what. Where’s the growth in that? If there’s ten bad cops and no coworker or boss will step up to stop them, then the whole department is bad. I’ve also noticed Blue Lives Matter people will call all protestors violent and rioters without acknowledging they’re separate. If you got offended by my dismissive attitude, then you’ll know how I feel whenever I hear: “What are black people complaining about now? They arrested the cops involved with George Floyd’s murder. Why are they still not satisfied? They get handed everything and they still aren’t happy.” Or whenever I read a negative conspiracy theory surrounding Black Lives Matter. People would rather believe the dumbest stuff instead of acknowledge BLM wants injustice and inequality to stop. It’s a sad world we live in. 2. There are some people, some communities, that do not and will not stop to think about what it would be like if their race were dealt a history of violence, marginalization, and discrimination. What would you say to these people? Those type of people would get my silence. It wouldn’t be worth my time to say anything to them because I would just hear “But, but, but...” as a response. 3. How does the media do harm and good for the Black Lives Matter movement? The media usually does more harm than good. On the news, most footage showed the peaceful protestors as rioters when that wasn’t the case. They showed the cops beating protestors up like they deserved it. They definitely did not deserve that mistreatment. It seems like the media is more keen on trying to cause a racial division than actually stating facts. I hardly saw or read anything about the peaceful protests. Only the rowdy ones got coverage. I had to go on social media to watch the real footage of some of the protests. The ones where everyone was coming together; the ones where protestors diffused situations, like troublemakers trying to start violence; the ones where some cops became bullies; the ones were some cops talked to the protestors and actually listened to what they had to say. Peaceful protests are still going on. In some places, they never stopped. Notice the news doesn’t cover them anymore. Ask yourself why... 4. Although the media does help to amplify the voices of the black community, it also amplifies the “trend” of these movements. How can people continue to support marginalized communities and specifically Black Lives Matter rather than just stepping up when another black brother or sister is murdered? People can help by educating themselves on US History. Real facts. Not just the water down version they show in history books. Also people can show empathy. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes, not just ignore things because it doesn’t affect you. I love the support that the Black Lives Matter movement has been getting from all over the world. It really means a lot. To keep supporting throughout the years and not just when it’s trendy to do so, people can continue to support black businesses. If someone encounters a racist, then speak up. Keep filming them and exposing them on social media. Call them out publicly so they see it’s not okay to be a crappy human being. If you have a platform, consider promoting minorities. Word of mouth helps businesses succeed. 5. What are your thoughts on the burning down of buildings during protests? It breaks my heart to hear more sympathy for buildings and statutes than for a human being’s life. Real talk—I overheard a man say, “I saw footage on the news of nasty rioters destroying a cafe. They broke everything and that woman had worked so hard. It broke my heart to see her cupcakes splattered all over the floor. That’s more sad than what that cop did to that man.” He had been referring to George Floyd. Sickening. 6. Do you think we are getting better? Do you have hope for our future as a human race in the face of racist agendas? How do you think these detrimental ideologies can be changed? To be honest, I’ve lost hope a while ago. I’ve been broken since Trump got into office. I’ve seen America turn into something so hateful, and it’s disgusting, but hopefully things will get better. They may get worse before they get better, but maybe one day things will get better. I can say I’m proud of the people who showed support for Black Lives Matter, even with the possible consequence of losing customers and/or friends. It takes courage to stand up for what’s right, especially if you’re not a minority and could have just looked the other way. This isn’t the first time the Black Lives Matter movement happened. Remember Colin Kapernick and other football players who tried to bring awareness in a peaceful manner...they got so much hate and the public dismissed their message because they were offended for being reminded of inequality during football. Now, I’ve noticed during this BLM movement, black people are getting support from everyone. More support than hate. We’re all banding together to fight racism and inequality. I can smile at that. If things change for the better in the future, I think it’ll be the younger generation who will be strong and persistent enough to make that change. Thank you Yawatta Hosby for taking time to answer these questions and for your courage and your voice. -Stephanie Evelyn  It was a red, white, and blue day and the leaves waved in the wind, mimicking those stripes and stars, mimicking anything and everything that would set it free. Blasts of light and sounds that boomed, it was all for red, white, and blue.
I looked to the sky and the stars were no longer there. They left without a word, without a single goodbye but that was okay because it wasn’t the first time I was abandoned by stardust. Dust that settles, builds up, hits your nose and makes you sneeze, then spreads away to never return. It was once love until it was lost. Lost to the wind and blown away into a red, white, and blue day. But it never mattered. Because when that day came, the air knew. It breathed it in and exhaled without forgiveness. It only brought celebration, it only brought pride. If it one day died, it would return from the dead to shoot off red, white, and blue stars of zombie pat, trying, on, this, mess. Or it could be patriotic, ness with a mess of brain and blood. Red blood, white eyes, blue dreams that are so close you can touch them, live in them, but so false that real dreams cannot break through the surface. An atmosphere of fabrication so strong, so long followed, so long nurtured. Are there thanks to be given? Always. Are there tragedies to be forgotten? To be buried? Never. If we always give thanks and always remember the tragedies, then we always revisit our blessings with grace and our shortcomings with the pretense to shine brighter the next time. If we do not do this, then we fail. Extinction will come. It always does. And when it does, what will you be remembered for? What will I be remembered for? And what will humanity be remembered for? There are far more important things than just the things we claim as our own. There are far away places that stretch off this planet with red, yellow, white, blue, and other spectrums that we cannot calculate upon simple vision. Simple. Vision. Yet, we make things complex, we complicate matters until nothing matters and we celebrate. Red,dy. Why,te. Blew, away all that we fight for or win for or die for or pray for or stay for or leave for or wish for or cry for or love for. It was that kind of day. And, I was happy and sad and hopeful and mad and at bliss and at war. This was the day of our Independence. Written by Sterp  Welcome back to the Women Thought Leaders in Horror Series. This series focuses on women who use their talents, creativity, and intelligence to contribute to the horror community and are crafting the narrative of the horror movement right now.
I am grateful to introduce Cynthia Pelayo. Now buckle up. 1. Why horror? What fascinates you about horror and enticed you to write in the genre? I’ve been watching horror movies since I was about 6-years-old. The first horror movie I saw was A Nightmare on Elm Street while my big brother was babysitting me. From there, I was hooked. Tales From the Dark Side, The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone, Friday the 13th the Series, and so much more. I grew up in a pretty strict household. I didn’t have many friends. I was bullied relentlessly. I was odd, am odd. I never quite fit in anywhere. I was never allowed to go to birthday parties or leave our house without my parents. I spent my childhood in my bedroom for the most part with books and horror movies. In my loneliness the only friends I had were those monsters; Freddy and the Wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstein and more. I grew to become fascinated with good versus evil, especially when there’s that really fine line that separates the two. There are many good people who do very bad things every day, and sometimes I want to understand that, and often I realize there is no understanding real evil. I also grew up in a very strict Catholic household and I was very involved in the church for a longtime. I was a reader. I passed out the Eucharist and served the wine at mass. Before I left the church I was going to become qualified to give the Eucharist to the sick and dying. So much of that has remained in me, that love of ritual, meditative prayer, and the power of things and imagery. All of that influences my writing, humans as evil, the possibility of something beyond us and the power of faith. I gravitate towards these subtle elements more so than the explicit or gore. I want my reader to come away from my writing feeling something. Sometimes that’s loneliness, loss or hope. 2. What is your favorite era of horror and why? I’m going to keep my favorite secret because I have a project around it right now. So, I will just say that right now I’ve been really into Giallo horror movies. I go through Giallo phases, I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the color, or just the atmosphere. Or, maybe it’s just this puzzle we are trying to solve since they are murder mysteries in a way. 3. What are some of your guilty horror films? I have probably watched The Exorcist more times than the average horror fan. Am I proud of it? Maybe. I just love that whole ‘the devil is everywhere’ era of horror movies – The Exorcist, The Omen, and Rosemary’s Baby. Some people really believed the devil could possess them if they watched these movies. That’s just wild to believe. I honestly believe that the devil is us…we are that evil thing that we are so scared of. Anyways, those are all really fun, but then there’s the core of my childhood – A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Halloween, or Child’s Play. I can have any of these on as just background noise because they were so influential and they’re just part of my horror atmosphere. 4. What do you think the genre of horror brings to the world in terms of values, beliefs, impact? There’s always this constant struggle to tackle this idea that horror is cheap. It’s not. Fear is one of our core emotions. So many things are characterized as anything but horror – when they are indeed horror – in an effort to somehow elevate its artistic status. That’s just arrogance. I think horror writers are brilliant writers and should be praised accordingly because not only do you have to have solid character development, atmosphere, plot, and dialogue, but you also must have the skill to create a physiological and/or emotional effect in your reader – heart racing, heavy breathing, you set the book down because your anxiety level is increasing. That’s incredible that writing horror can do that to someone. In terms of beliefs, horror also occupies this space that can create a very powerful social commentary. Now, I’m not saying that’s what horror should exclusively be doing. If a writer just wants to write a werewolf story then write the werewolf story. But, a horror writer can write a horror story about the destruction of the human race because of an unknown virus, and within that we can present questions of environmental impact, economic impact, societal impact. I think that’s pretty profound that horror can do that, that we can show these horrible things happened because x, y, and z. Then, we can sit back and wonder, are any of these horrible things possible? Are they happening now? Even going way back to Mary Shelley, she presented the ghoulish practice of graverobbing, and then she essentially presented arguments of morality within science – is there scientific value in experimentation on the dead? What is the morality behind reanimation? We see today we are able to transplant organs from the dead into the living. How far was Mary Shelley really? Horror brings our fears front and center and forces us to not only ask questions but give answers. 5. How do you think your writing of horror reflects you as a person or your life overall? My horror writing is pretty reflective of the person I am. In real life, I’m pretty serious and reserved, so my writing rarely if ever contains a curse word. I never include sex scenes in my books or short stories because I started out writing as a very strict practicing Catholic, and those elements have stayed with me even though I am no longer practicing. It’s important to me that my writing can be read by a 12-year-old to an adult, because I think back to when I was a kid. I was reading and watching horror and if a kid picks up one of my books I want to be comfortable with that. I’m Puerto Rican, but I’m also as Chicago as they come. I grew up and still live in inner-city Chicago and I am this city. Chicago is a character in every single thing I write. I don’t talk about my upbringing much, but girls were pregnant in 7th grade, I have a friend serving life in prison for murder after he shot and killed a rival gang member because that rival gang member simply called his mother a bad name. A kid in my high school graduating class was shot and paralyzed weeks before graduation, and we all saw the results when he showed up to graduation in a wheelchair. Another friend went off to college to play football, and when he came back home one weekend was shot and killed. I worked as a journalist for a long time and quit after I showed up to a suspicious scene where the neighborhood people told me the police had shot and killed a kid. I saw multiple bullet holes in his back. So, I’ve seen some things. I’ve internalized all of this. I can’t move on from it. Maybe that’s why I’m still here living in this same neighborhood. I can’t exorcise these memories and so I will stay here and continue to live in this city and with these ghosts and maybe I can hopefully write something one day that can help me move on from all of that pain. So, while not everything I write will include Latin American folklore, everything I write will certainly include Chicago and be based and set in Chicago. This city has me in its hold and I can’t get out. 6. What do you think lies ahead for the genre? I’m very interested to see what type of works we are going to see in the next two to three years. Horror especially is very influenced by what we are experiencing in society. I think we are going to see a lot of plot lines dealing with tribal disagreements, us versus them is going to probably be a big recurrent. I think we are going to see a lot of destruction and dismantling of societal structures and systems in writing. We may see another quick rise in the zombie or vampire seeing as how when we are in such polarizing times we do see increases in these monsters as they are there simply to consume people. We are probably going to see a lot of Lovecraftian influences, monsters and such. 7. Like many things, women are underrepresented in the horror genre. Why do think this is and why is it critical to have women more represented in horror? Historically because of the idolization of the nuclear Norman Rockwell family, and the belief that the woman belongs in the house raising children. Women have been controlled from what they are allowed to do with their own bodies to what they are allowed to think, feel or say. Women are underrepresented in horror for the same reason women are underrepresented in the boardroom in major corporations – because we, society, have not supported women to grow in their careers. If women are not represented in horror then you just don’t have a full picture of the human experience, because you are limiting which humans are allowed to create and share art. It just becomes a wheel of the same people creating the same art, congratulating one another. It’s very strange. It’s a very rigged system, and we need to break it. There’s more than enough opportunity to go around. A handful of people should not be the exclusive creators of any art form. 8. Any tips for new women writers in the horror genre? The arts are just a hard industry, period. Don’t take rejections personal. Don’t take it to heart if one person is advancing while you are still trying to figure things out. This industry, like so many, is really dictated by luck – being at the right place at the right time. So, in saying that, don’t stop. Keep writing. Keep creating. Write the stories that you want to read. Don’t follow trends. Write the story that you need to tell. Also, the horror community is much more accommodating than it was say 10 plus years ago. So, please make friends. Please reach out to people, but don’t take it personally if someone doesn’t want to be your friend, or if you are getting a lot of rejections for one particular story. Remember, in life no one owes you anything. It sucks to hear that, and I’m not sorry for saying it, because if you know that now you will save yourself a lot of hurt later. You still have to be bold and be confident. Know that if one door closes then there’s a whole lot of other doors to keep knocking on. You will find your people and your outlet. Don’t stop. Don’t give up. Keep practicing your craft. Take writing classes. Read widely. 9. Who are some of your favorite women horror authors to read? I hate this question because I don’t want to exclude anyone. So, I’m just going to say read all women horror writers. Read all women horror poets. Read widely. Read works by young women horror writers and those who have been writing for decades. Read BIPOC women horror writers. 10. For readers who have never read your work, what should they start with and where can they find more information about you? Start with my recent short stories. I think those are more reflective of the writer I’ve become over time. “Come Away, Come Away” in LOCKDOWN “The Lament of the Vejigante” In BOTH SIDES “Boricua Obituary” in PA’QUE TU LO SEPAS “The Red Dress” in InkHeist You can also follow me on: Cinapelayo.com Until next time horror community, I am Sterp  1. Why horror? What fascinates you about horror and enticed you to write in the genre?
ST: I was obsessed with R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike books in middle school. I read every Goosebumps, Fear Street, and Pike book our little school library had available. The librarian was such a wonderful lady, and always seemed happy to help me find those books, so I really thank her for never discouraging my interest in the macabre. My sister, who is eight years older than me, was reading Stephen King while I was being absorbed into the Goosebumps world, so it was only natural that my interest grew over time and I would pick up her King books. Then of course later in school came Poe. Otherwise, I love how emotive the genre is. Horror pushes boundaries unlike any other genre, and I’ve always been drawn to that challenge. There is such a vast expanse of ideas to explore within horror, from the psychological to the supernatural, you can constantly keep challenging yourself to try new ideas, techniques, tropes, settings, and so on. I love writing in general because I don’t believe one every truly masters it; we’re always strengthening our ideas and skillset. 2. What is your favorite era of horror and why? ST: Oh that’s tough! I love being a part of the here and now, especially with so many talented writers creating truly memorable work. Setting-wise, I’ll read anything, but I have a soft spot for the Victorian Gothic. Last month, I read an early copy of Claire L. Smith’s upcoming novella Helena, and it was everything I could have wanted from a Gothic book. Someday I’d love to write a book inspired by Wuthering Heights, one of my all-time favorites, but maybe with vampires and a whole lot of horror. Historical horror is one of my favorite subgenres, too; getting lost in all that research can truly create some magic. 3. What are some of your guilty horror films? ST: I’ll have to echo what Laurel and Mercedes said, no guilt -- just enjoy what you enjoy! Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow was one of the first darker films I’d ever seen, I think when I was about eight, so it has a place in my heart. I also really like going back to Secret Window, Fright Night with Colin Farrell, The Cabin in the Woods, Sweeney Todd, and The Neon Demon. C.H.U.D. is always good for a few laughs in the darkness, too. 4. What do you think the genre of horror brings to the world in terms of values, beliefs, impact? ST: Horror is unafraid to hold up a mirror to society and reflect our darkest, worst selves back at us. Other genres may delve into this, too, particularly science fiction, but I really think horror is the one that does this in the most raw, visceral, unapologetic way. As someone who appreciates depth over small talk, this is a big lure of the genre for me. As times constantly change, socially, politically, culturally, and so on, horror is always there. It is a universal emotion -- we all feel fear or dread toward something. There may be issues in the world we want to address, or times when we feel so helpless and aren’t sure what actions to take. Writing a horror story is a way to convey those frustrations. Literature itself has always been a lens to view the world from, and horror is there to direct that lens at things we want to look away from but can’t. Horror is how important conversations are started. 5. How do you think your writing of horror reflects you as a person or your life overall? ST: When writing fiction, it’s impossible to escape yourself entirely. You’ll always find some element of your life, even if it’s only a tiny detail, in your writing. Right now, I’m writing a novel that combines darkness in nature, body horror, and the devastation of grief all into one character’s daunting arc. These are three elements that have stemmed from my own fears and experiences -- and it’s cathartic to embellish some of those experiences into the fiction, but it sure is challenging. Then again, that’s what I love the most about writing horror, pushing myself to grow. So, at the end of the day, I really hope it’s my willingness to tackle different themes and ideas in each of my works that reflects back at the audience. Being a one trick pony or boring the reader is definitely my greatest writing-related fear. 6. What do you think lies ahead for the genre? ST: I am so excited to see where the future of horror leads. I do think our current circumstances in the world will be reflected in new works, not necessarily a hundred books about a pandemic or virus, but I think themes of isolation, panic, and the unknown will greatly come into play. While for a lot of us, it seems, the pandemic has perhaps hindered creativity, I really hope writers find a way to keep creating during all of this. I am hungry for new works, especially by women and minorities in horror, and I want to read their stories and hear their voices more, and I want the industry itself to do better in making sure this happens. 7. Like many things, women are underrepresented in the horror genre. Why do think this is and why is it critical to have women more represented in horror? ST: This is such a difficult question to pinpoint an answer, but I think just having a conversation about it and raising awareness is a great place to start. Women in Horror Month and other events have certainly helped in giving women a stronger platform in the genre. Throughout history, women’s experiences have been buried, demonized, or simply regarded as not important enough to take up room, to hold space. We’re changing that -- all of us -- women and allies alike are here to say women’s experiences are important, valid, and deserve equal space at the table. One of the reasons Nicholas Day and I came up with the idea for the Not All Monsters anthology was because we were, to be honest, utterly exhausted by social media conversations where anyone bemoaned things like diversity and inclusivity. You’ll hear people say, “I just read the work and don’t look at gender, race, etc…” and sure, that’s great in theory if the playing fields were ever equal in the first place and it didn’t contribute to erasure, but it’s delusional to think women and minorities consistently have the same opportunities as that group who horror has long since favored (you know what group I mean). Thus, Not All Monsters was a proactive way for us to do something small, but hopefully beautiful and meaningful, in showing why these conversations need to keep happening with those who are willing to listen. 8. Any tips for new women writers in the horror genre? ST: Tell the story you want to tell. Don’t be afraid to write for yourself, changing something up or learning to market toward an audience can always come later. I really think the best horror, the stories that feel the most real, occur when we dig deep within ourselves and tell the story that scares us, but at the same time is the story we need to tell. Also, read what others are doing in the genre. Reach out to each other, celebrate successes, and remember we should be motivating each other -- not competing. 9. Who are some of your favorite women horror authors to read? ST: Oh goodness, SO many. If I listed them all, we’d have a huge tome. Some contemporary ladies who constantly inspire me are Caroline Kepnes, Gillian Flynn, Catherynne Valente, Gwendolyn Kiste, S.P. Miskowski, Christina Sng, Erin Al-Mehairi, V. Castro, Laurel Hightower, and Linda Addison. I’m also going to take this question and plug the incredible stories in Not All Monsters, an anthology by women in horror. All of the authors within are killing it in the genre right now, too: Hailey Piper, E.E. Florence, Christa Carmen, Sam Fleming, Stacey Bell, Briana McGuckin, Joanna Roye, Juliana Spink Mills, Annie Neugebauer, Leslie Wibberley, S.M. Ketcham, G.G. Silverman, J.H. Moncrieff, Amy Easton, Joanna Koch, K.P. Kulski, Jessica McHugh, Angela Sylvaine, Kayleigh Barber, J.C. Raye, and Jennifer Loring! 10. For readers who have never read your work, what should they start with and where can they find more information about you? ST: For poetry, I’d recommend my H.H. Holmes inspired collection, The Devil’s Dreamland, which took home the 2018 Stoker Award for a poetry collection. For prose, I’d recommend my debut novella, which was nominated for a Stoker this year, To Be Devoured. I have a website over at saratantlinger.com, where you can sign up for my newsletter. I send it every couple of months and include things like open calls that I think subscribers might be interested in. I also stay pretty active on Twitter (@sarajane524) and Instagram! (@inkychaotics) Links: https://saratantlinger.com https://twitter.com/SaraJane524 Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Sara-Tantlinger/e/B06X6GBXZB  To all my readers, I hope you are staying safe and fierce during these saddening times. It's extremely necessary for artists, writers, and creators to produce because creating is a critical component in transforming the world. We must tell our stories and what's happening now is what becomes our history so let's be sure our creating never stops.
In a continued effort to lift each other up, in a world where voices of marginalized communities are ignored, silenced, and buried, let's stick together, create together. Today's woman thought leader in horror is Hailey Piper. Thank you Hailey for your constant bravery, strength, talent, and collaboration. Buckle up and hold hands. 1. Why horror? What fascinates you about horror and enticed you to write in the genre? HP: No genre is so true as horror. Characters show you who they really are when they’re afraid. You learn a lot about yourself when you’re afraid, too. Fear makes us and them real. I’ve had to dig into unpleasant memories and attachments in writing. But on more surface level, I love monsters, Halloween, Gothic elements, witchcraft, and so on. For all the fear and dug-up trauma, there’s a lot of fun to be had. 2. What is your favorite era of horror and why? HP: For film, the ‘80s. I’m in love with the aesthetic, creativity, special effects. I love many of today’s movies, too, but it feels like the past decade was colored largely by ghost stories. I want to see more branching out into stranger subjects. Like maybe adapting some of today’s written fiction, because when it comes to books, my favorite era of horror is right now. Ideas explode in every imaginable direction, and there are mountains of excellent books at our fingertips. Many of today’s voices suck me into deep water and I’m grateful to drown. 3. What are some of your guilty horror films? HP: If we’re talking movies I wouldn’t want my friends to watch with me, then we still travel back to the ‘80s. I’d be nervous showing friends The Blob or Killer Klowns from Outer Space because there’s a good chance those kinds of movies will repel them. But overall I love my horror and wear it on my sleeve, without shame. 4. What do you think the genre of horror brings to the world in terms of values, beliefs, impact? HP: We have trouble looking in on ourselves presently, but if we peruse horror in the past, we see it reflecting societal or personal concerns. Generally, horror can be an outlet. Horror as its best is empathetic, and for marginalized groups, that outlet might be the ringing of ominous bells. We’re only touching the iceberg’s tip there right now, but in time, those bells might be deafening. 5. How do you think your writing of horror reflects you as a person or your life overall? HP: People in my life do pause and then go “Oh” whenever my wife brings it up (I rarely bring it up myself). I’ve had people wonder why I don’t write queer romance. Women live a horror story, and being a queer woman doesn’t exactly make that any more lighthearted. I write queer fiction, certainly, but it’s horror. The writing and the life reflect each other. Much of existing horror for better or worse grows off fear of the Other because the Other is fearsome. But travel back to that empathy, and we are the Other. Be afraid. 6. What do you think lies ahead for the genre? HP: The future is uncertain, never more so than right now. Someday we may collectively realize we live inside the inter-tangled stomachs of several giant monsters and then our fiction might reflect this. Or maybe society will get better, and we’ll have to find new things to be afraid of. 7. Like many things, women are underrepresented in the horror genre. Why do think this is and why is it critical to have women more represented in horror? HP: Sexism. I won’t sweeten that bitter pill. Even unintentionally, there’s a “men have written horror therefore horror should be written by men” logic wheel turning and turning, ignoring that women live horror, that there’s room at the table for everyone. There are so many perspectives that bleed new kinds of stories. What horror fan doesn’t want new kinds of horror stories? 8. Any tips for new women writers in the horror genre? HP: Read someone recent, please. I see too often that writers’ only experience with women in horror is Shirley Jackson or Daphne du Maurier. The classics are excellent, but they have limits, like distance in time or how there aren’t going to be any more of them. It’s important to keep a finger to the pulse of now because we’re not writing decades ago, even if sometimes our fiction takes place then—we’re writing now. Mix it up. Ask for recommendations and read your contemporaries. 9. Who are some of your favorite women horror authors to read? HP: I guess this is where I put my money where my mouth is on the last question! There’s a flood of women I would suggest, so I’m going to cut myself off at five: Gwendolyn Kiste, Eden Royce, Caitlin R. Kiernan, L’Erin Ogle, Sara Tantlinger (and look at the TOC for her anthology Not All Monsters for a longer list). 10. For readers who have never read your work, what should they start with and where can they find more information about you? HP: For books, The Possession of Natalie Glasgow has been looked on fondly, though I’d prefer to recommend Benny Rose, the Cannibal King as it’s my favorite horror sub-genre, coming of age horror. My website, www.haileypiper.com, has links to free flash fiction on places like The Arcanist and Flash Fiction Online, plus info aplenty, and I’m mostly pretty good at keeping it updated. #TogetherWeRise -Stephanie Evelyn |
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I am Sterp. I write dark fiction and have a very unhealthy obsession with disturbing narratives. I am the author of The Cult Called Freedom House: Sophia Rey Book One. My short story The Lost Tea Cup is in Issue 26 of The Literary Hatchet. I am also a painter. HORROR PODCASTS I LOVE
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