MASTERS OF HORROR: KRISTAL SHANAHAN
Today’s guest on MASTERS OF HORROR is a writer I first met when she submitted to the first ever HORROR FLASH FICTION CONTEST. I had the pleasure of meeting her in person at a recent Author Convention and she is absolutely amazing. So put your hands together, grab your favourite drink and let’s get to know the incredibly talented horror writer Kristal Shanahan!
1. What first drew you to horror—and was it something you experienced, feared, or imagined?
My nightmares as a teen were often scary. I started reading Stephen King shortly after several nightmares and while the nightmares are less frequent, I still love reading horror.
2. How do you tap into real fear when writing—do you draw from your own nightmares, or do you create new ones?
I tap into both. I write what I find utterly horrifying personally and imagine what I think would be if certain creatures or events were to exist like skin rippers in my short story, Ocean Dwellers.
3. Have you ever written something that disturbed even you—a moment where the story took a darker turn than expected?
Yes! My current novella that I’m writing is pretty dark. It took a turn I didn’t expect. As I wrote it, it made me sad for that character that just didn’t get a fair shake in life.
4. If your stories had the power to summon something into the real world... what do you think you've already unleashed?
So many terrible things. Giant skin rippers which are creatures that live in the ocean, haunted dolls, a vampire Santa, demons, and of course evil spirits.
5. How do you keep horror feeling fresh and terrifying when so many tropes are well-trodden?
I think horror stories are around us everyday. Take something that’s a bit mundane like a nursing home. We’re all familiar with them to some degree. Add horrific events like nurses harvesting organs from the forgotten patients and you have a new horror story that started with normal life experiences.
BONUS: Tell me about your latest project and where we can find it.
My latest project is my collection that was released end of March titled, Four Seasons of Horror. It’s on the Zon and my store, www.ladyinhorror.com. My debut novella titled, A Mortician’s Shadow will be released late July.
As always, a big thank you to Kristal for agreeing to take some time out of her busy writing schedule and do this interview with me. I truly appreciate it!
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