Characterised by Rue Morgue Magazine as a “dark fiction talent who deftly wed[s] hardcore horror and true, affecting pathos,” Rebecca Rowland is both a Bram Stoker Award-nominated editor of seven anthologies (and a horror cocktail book) and a Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of three short fiction collections, one novel, and too many shorter pieces. Her novella Optic Nerve snagged a Readers’ Choice 666 Award from Godless Horror. Follow her tomfoolery on Instagram at Rebecca_Rowland_books or visit RowlandBooks.com

1) How would you describe your writing?

I heard the term “art house horror” many years back, and although it took me a bit to come to this realization, I think that’s what I write. It’s quiet, but not too quiet; it’s transgressive but still plays by the rules (mostly). I will pen a creature feature or a splatterpunk piece once in a blue moon, but mostly, my stories are akin to Twilight Zone episodes: creepy, uncomfortable, and filled with individuals who might appear scarily familiar.

2) Which genres do you write in and why do you feel drawn to it?

I am pushing myself now to write longer: to focus on novellas and novels rather than short fiction, but the truth of the matter is, they are very different beasts (and not because, as Stephen King recently noted, one is over quicker). My wheelhouse is short dark fiction: stories that unsettle the reader and pull the rug out from under them in under 10,000 words—at least, that’s what I strive for. I am drawn to writing short, literary horror because it’s what I enjoy reading the most. I’ll cycle through reading ten or so novels a year, but mostly, I’m drawn to story collections and anthologies. My favorite pieces of fiction are short stories where the horror happens in the other room but the reader can still hear the screams: “The Boogeyman” by King, “Big Momma” by Joyce Carol Oates, “Thumbprint” by Joe Hill, “Skindler’s Veil” by Kelly Link, every story by Gwendolyn Kiste.

3) Can you describe your writing process?

I have to write in silence, or relative silence. I keep a fan and a portable heater by my desk; rather than control the temperature, the devices serve as white noise machines. I keep a container of sugar-free gum next to my laptop because I find that it’s easier for me to write when I am chewing on something. If I write so long that I forget to stop and eat a real meal, I’ll sometimes grab a bag of something salty and munch on that while I type, trying my best not to get the keyboard greasy (is this one of the advantages of being an adult?). I wish I could say that I write every day, but I simply can’t with my schedule. However, I haven’t taken a vacation since before the

pandemic: nearly all of my free time that isn’t spent traveling to promote books is devoted to writing and editing.

4) Who is the biggest supporter of your writing?

Three people immediately come to mind when I read this question. One is my co-worker and friend, Ruth, who devours horror: she and I are always trading recommendations on what scary movies and shows to binge. She is the only person I know—including family members— who has read absolutely everything I’ve written. The two others are fellow dark fiction writers; one, Louis, works as an editor as well, and he has been a beta reader for many of my longer works and always gives feedback that make projects better. The other, Ron, routinely asks what I am working on, lets me bounce ideas off of him, and doesn’t let me slack off. He also gives terrific advice, especially when it comes to my short fiction. All three continue to be

cheerleaders at each and every stage of my writing; without them, I think the

imposter syndrome would have swallowed me whole by now.

5) What was your last five star read?

This year, I was fortunate to have been given a sneak peek of recently or soon-to-be-released collections by three of today’s most kick ass women of horror, and I can say, I LOVED all three. Keep an eye out for KC Grifant’s Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny, Rae Wilde’s I Do Not Apologize for My Position on Men, and Candace Nola’s Demons in My Bloodstream: you won’t be sorry. All are solid 5-star books of delicious creepiness.

6) If someone hasn’t read you before, which of your works would you point them to?

It depends on what they fancy. Optic Nerve (D&T Publishing) is a short biological horror novella; Shagging the Boss (Filthy Loot Press) is a queer weird horror novelette. My most recent book is White Trash & Recycled Nightmares (Dead Sky); it’s a collection with a little bit of everything: cosmic, creature, and quiet horror. If you’re a grindhouse film fan, however, chances are, I’m not the author for you.

7) What can we expect from you over the next year? / Any exciting projects

coming up?

Yes! Two new books are out for sub now, but in the meantime, I have eight new short stories slotted to release over the next nine months, and most of them are listed on my website. I had a lot of fun experimenting with different voices and themes, tried things I haven’t in the past, and I feel good about them. I’m also working on a new novel. It’s a slow but steady process, and I’ve had to replenish the gum container quite often.

8) What is writing ‘success’ to you?

My idea of writing success has changed dramatically over my career. In my twenties, my goal was to see my nonfiction work published in a mainstream magazine; decades later, my goal is to be able to write the kind of fiction I like to write and to have people connect with it. Awards are wonderful, and cashing the royalty checks is always lovely, but the best experience is when someone reaches out and tells me that they identified with one of my characters, or couldn’t put my book down, or even experienced a bout of paranoia because of a story they read of mine. I know people think authors write to stroke their own egos, and certainly, some do, but for introverts like me, writing is our way of sharing ourselves, and someone appreciating it means our inner voices have been heard.

Quick Fire!

1) Favourite food? Pizza: any kind, any crust, any temperature.

2) Favourite drink? Vodka. Second: gin. Third: probably vodka again.

3) Beach holiday or city break? I love hanging about New York, but the ocean, the beach, the shore is what I’m most drawn to…even though the sun is my enemy.

4) Cats or Dogs? I’ve always lived with cats. Dogs are great, but they kind

of remind me of extroverts: I may like them, but I’ll never fully understand

them. Cats are aloof, weird, and introverts at heart. I dig that.

5) Popular film you are happy to confirm you haven’t seen? Just about all of

them. It’s a thing for me, actually: I have never seen Avatar, or any of the

Minions movies, or even the original Top Gun. I’m a reluctant hipster that way: if people can’t get enough of it, chances are, I avoid it like the plague.

6) Book you wish you’d written? Choke by Chuck Palahniuk. The Safety of

Objects by A.M. Homes. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Oh, and The

Hite Report. Yes, that one.

Kev Harrison is a British writer of horror and dark fiction living in Lisbon, Portugal, with his better half Ana and three feline overlords. His debut novel, Shadow of the Hidden, was recently released through Brigids Gate Press, while his novellas, Below and The Balance, are also available. His next project, The Siren of Armorique, will be released later in 2024. You can find more of his work and other information at www.kevharrisonfiction.com

1) How would you describe your writing?

I often prefer the term dark fiction for my writing, over horror. This is nothing to do with any shame or stigma associated with horror I love horror with all my soul. It’s more a reaction to some saying my writing isn’t horror enough – by which they mean there’s not enough gore, or that I’m too sparing with the claret. I prefer atmosphere, tension and dread, over and above mass murder, though I will, of course, sharpen the literary blades when required. I also received a bit of writing analysis from writer and editor Austrian Spencer, who noted that my work often tends to involve elements of mystery, and while unconscious, it’s very much something that I like to include.

2) Can you describe your writing process?

I generally write alone. I have a Poang chair from Ikea that is literally perfect for typing with a laptop (I have appalling handwriting, so it’s all digital for me). I sometimes play mood music, but it’s optional and always without lyrics. I mostly write during the week and the majority of my writing is done from September to early June while I’m in Portugal, as my summer job in the UK is so intense, I have very little creative juice left in the tank to put onto the page. I do have a face to face writing group in Lisbon, where I find myself very productive during our one-hour Saturday lunch time sprints, too.

3) Who is the biggest supporter of your writing?

Definitely my other half, Ana. She’s very understanding of the time I need for it, and is pretty much always my first reader. She even makes (very helpful) suggestions as an alpha reader for plot changes, in particular. I believe she, naively thinks all this patience will one day be repaid in a huge Netflix deal. Bless her.

4) What was your last five star read?

I very recently wrapped up Alan Baxter’s home invasion meets The Shining novel, Blood Covenant. He’s a writer I really admire in a lot of ways and none more than the way he (seemingly) effortlessly blends crime with horror, and this one came packed with dark, cosmic themes laid on top of a brutal bank job gone wrong, story. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

5) If someone hasn’t read you before, which of your works would you point them to?

At risk of sounding terribly cliché, I’m going to say my latest, Shadow of the Hidden. I certainly feel it’s my most accomplished book yet, and I loved the way fellow writer Adam Hulse put it in his review, saying “this feels like the book Kev’s been building up to, to this point.” I’m very proud of it, and have been delighted with the reaction of my peers, reviewers, and readers more generally.

6) What can we expect from your over the next year? / Any exciting projects coming up?

My next release is The Siren Of Armorique, a fae story, set in the western French area mentioned in the title. I was lucky enough to visit the location in which the book is set about eighteen months ago and the belief in faery lore and the fae within the forests there was palpable in everything we did. It’s a book with horrific elements and scenes, but I do feel like this one fits more comfortably in the dark urban fantasy sub-genre, hence my penchant for the ‘dark fiction’ badge.

7) What is writing ‘success’ to you?

Success for me would be to be able to give more of my time over to writing, and maybe even to not need to spend the summers away from Ana and my cats, which can be very difficult at times, even though I hugely enjoy the work I do at university in England. Awards and the like are a nice to have, of course, but I don’t see my own ‘success’ as contingent upon them.

 QUICK ROUND!

1) Favourite food?

Mexican food. All of it.

2) Favourite drink?

Again with the clichés, but few things can beat a really great aged single malt whisky. I occasionally go for peaty ones, but more often enjoy a Speyside.

3) Beach holiday or city break?

As I’ve got older, I’ve come to appreciate a beach, a pool, a resort, more than I did when I was younger, but it’s a struggle for me to do such things for a longer period. Give me three or four cities with some downtime in between.

4) Cats or Dogs?

Love both, but cats are my people.

5) Popular film you are happy to confirm you haven’t seen?

Almost all musicals.

6) Book you wish you’d written?

Corpsepaint by David Peak. Nothing has resonated with me so strongly in its depiction of metal band life, travel, and then the cosmic horror elements, which truly shook me to my bones.