By Diana Bennett
Welcome once again. This issue we turn our inquisitive eye toward Stephanie Simpson-Woods: author of IM-Internet Messaging, a grab you by the throat horror novel, and many short stories appearing in various anthologies. She is on her way to becoming a major voice in the field of horror writing, and I think this insight to who she is and why she writes will show you why her works need to be on your bookshelf. Now on with the interview…
DB: When did you begin your relationship with horror? How did that flip from merely watching or reading, to writing as well?
SS-W: I was raised by my Dad and had a lot of time to myself, due to his work schedule. I always found myself manually switching channels on the T.V. (God, I feel old now) and stopping on something scary. I guess it started when I was four and hooked on Scooby Doo. I loved ghosts and monsters, etc. As I got older, I spent a lot of time watching horror. I remember when I was about 13, I came home from school everyday and popped in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4. I watched it twice a day, for a month. When I wasn't messing with the VCR, I was constantly probing channels looking for horror, always stuck with some crazy, low budget 70's horror film, that was on TBS, or something and was cut to hell, but being so young, it still scared the bejezzus out of me. I always wondered, "what if?" when a movie ended, or a book I was reading (mostly John Saul) came to a close. I developed my own ideas and started writing them down.
DB: Who are your favorite authors to read? Do you think they have added any influence to the unique voice you bring to your work?
SS-W: I adore John Saul and Stephen King. As most people know, I really enjoy new authors, because they are original and have so many new stories to tell. As for my own influences, I've never pictured myself as John Saul or Stephen King and although I dig their writing lifestyle, I don't think my writing is anything like theirs. I've always wanted to write for a living, I've always wanted to see my words between the cover of a book, but I can't say anyone's particular writing influenced me. I think it was just my love for the genre.
DB: Has being a published author lived up to your expectations? If not what was different?
SS-W: Yes and no. Yes, I have a book out, a small group of fans, all of that jazz, but with so many people trying to make it in the horror genre, it's tough. That whole fantasy I had as a child, of writing a book and seeing 50+ copies lined up in bookstores was shot to hell, when I first started writing "I.M.". It's a long process and you have to be patient or extremely talented, to be a New York Time's bestseller with your first book. It takes a lot of work and horror is such a hard genre to conquer. I plan to continue climbing the hurdles, to be where I want to be: everywhere.
DB: What gave you the idea to have the Internet so involved in the meeting of your characters?
SS-W: The Internet is comfortable. People meet via the Internet more now than they do on the street. It's the "now". I wanted to write something more up to date, especially since most vampire books take place when a woman had to remove 4 layers of clothing, just to piss in a bucket. I wanted to write something people could really relate too. I wanted people to read it and think "Hey! I chatted with someone almost like him last night". The thought of people logging on and thinking about my book thrills me, plus it's a good warning. Be weary of who you meet on the Internet. There are a lot of freaks out there.
DB: Was there any reason you chose an old theme, Vampires? Do you think you brought something new to the Mythos?
SS-W: Vampires are sexy, mysterious and dangerous. Men and women enjoy reading about them or watching them in movies because they have what a woman wants: charm, the ability to seduce, and are extremely violent, and I don't know a single man who isn't into some type of violence. I'm sure every mortal has wondered one time or another what it would be like to be a vampire- to be irresistible- all-powerful. Yes. I definitely brought something new to the mythos. I doubt anyone has ever imagined Count Dracula chilling in his Castle with a cigarette and a laptop. And the book isn't just about a malicious vamp seeking out someone on the Internet; there is much more to it. Picture your Mom, standing in front of you smiling, telling you they have just fixed you up with Mr. Right. That in itself is pretty scary.
DB: In Internet Message, I noticed the bad guy, Tristan, was the most intriguing character. Was he based on your husband? Or someone else you know?
SS-W: Grayson? No way. My husband wouldn't harm a fly. In fact, he won't even read my stories. He say's I'm ****ed in the head. I guess Tristan is a mix of old boyfriends who at the time seemed like perfect gentlemen, but turned out to be jerks. Tristan is based on that excitement you feel during the beginning of a relationship: the mystery of it all, the great sex, the right words at the right time, but we have all found out at some point that everything isn't between the sheets.
DB: What are your thoughts on happy endings and the way modern culture has turned horror into fluff?
SS-W: Horror is such a frowned upon genre at this day and age. Due to all of the violence this world has experienced, people are trying to block out the violence, which is fiction, because of reality. The writing world has been dominated with love stories, diet and self help books, literary fiction, etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm not slamming this stuff; The Wizard of Oz is my favorite book of all time, but it pisses me off that people blame horror for violence and turn their noses up to it because they can't deal with reality. Horror has been around since the beginning of time. You can find it in Shakespeare, which they make you read in high school, but it's okay because back in William's day, horror hadn't been labeled. It was either drama or satire.
People fear horror, and not in the way we'd like them to. In order to keep the genre thriving it's been pressed, molded and glazed to appeal to EVERYONE, not just the true horror fans. I mean come on, do you think that sixteen-year-old girl making out with her boyfriend in the back of the theatre with Brittany Spears lyrics coasting through her mind really LOVES horror? Hell no! But in order to sell tickets they have to at least try to interest her. Yes, I dig a happy ending- of course a happy ending for me would to see people screaming when they left a theatre because someone with real horror talent and appreciation didn't hold back.
DB: Are you planning a sequel? If not what is next for you as a writer?
SS-W: I've got a lot going on. I just finished "Gloomy", my second novel, which for the record has nothing to do with "I.M." and I've started my third novel. I do plan on writing 2 more installments of "I.M.", but that will be later. I want to give the first one some time to stew and I want people to view me as something more than a author who writes about vampires.
DB: Tell me about you, what are your hobbies, favorite foods, etcetera?
SS-W: Hmmm, I'm dull. I'm married and have a son so I do the family thing- you know, sing along with the Wiggles, load my dishwasher every night, make sure a hefty amount of fruit snacks are accessible- etc. I read a lot, do book reviews, and watch occasional prime time T.V., most of it on HBO. I love music, mostly older stuff like the Dead Kennedys and the Beastie Boys, I can't stomach this pop crap and "new" rock that's such the rage today. It all sounds the same to me. I can't tell Puddle of Mud from Disturbed.
Foods? I love seafood, Mexican and chocolate. I love the holidays because I can chug hot chocolate by the gallons.
DB: Final thoughts, on the state of horror, your career and anything else you want to share with your readers?
SS_W: I will have you know that while I was replying to this interview a woman knocked on my door wanting to tell me about Jesus. Ha ha ha. I said no thanks and closed the door. I am a Christian, but I have no denomination and I don't beat the Bible. I don't beat any of the books on my shelf.
Okay, for the people: Keep an eye out for January's Chtulhu Sex Magazine.
I will be loosing my virginity to them with my story "The Bedroom Window".
Also I have a short in the upcoming anthology "Raging Horrormones",
which is due out sometime next year and hopefully "Gloomy" will be
available next year as well. To get down with all of the mild hoop-la you can
visit my recently re-vamped website at www.stephanisimpsonwoods.com.