Author: Selene MacLeod

Articles / Interviews

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An Interview With Steve Capone Jr on Costs of Living

Horror isn’t always about haunted houses or ancient curses. Sometimes, it’s the creeping dread of daily life—the suffocating rules of a suburban HOA, the slow unraveling of a workplace routine, or the existential weight of what it costs to simply exist. That’s exactly the kind of horror Steve Capone Jr. explores in Cost of Living, the debut anthology from Whisper House Press.

We recently sat down with Steve to discuss the making of this collection and the philosophy behind his press. A seasoned teacher, award-winning writer, and former philosophy grad student, Steve brings an analytical yet deeply empathetic eye to editing. His approach blends his love of narrative with his belief in fiction as a means of connecting across perspectives. And in horror, he’s found a genre where strange situations and unthinkable choices can become powerful thought experiments, what he calls “intuition pumps” borrowed from the language of ethics.

In this interview, Steve opens up about the press’s beginnings, the kinds of stories that made it into Cost of Living, and why he believes horror is uniquely suited for amplifying marginalized voices. We also touch on his second anthology, Dread Mondays, and get insight into how working with students and running Whisper House Press have sharpened his instincts as both an editor and a writer.

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Articles / Interviews

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An Interview With Paula D. Ashe

Paula D. Ashe is a writer of dark fiction. Her preferred genres are: horror, dark fantasy, science-fiction, suspense/police procedural, crime fiction, erotica, and whatever abominations result by blending them all together.

Selene – Welcome to the Horror Tree, and thank you for agreeing to an interview. First, tell us a bit about yourself.

 

Paula – Thanks so much for having me! I’m Paula D. Ashe, I’m a writer of dark fiction, a mom, a wife, a Hellraiser obsessive, and I work in higher ed in diversity, equity, and inclusion and I’m also an educator. 

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Anthology / Contributor's Copy / Events / Flat Amount

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Taking Submissions: Dismember the Coop (Early Listing)

Submission Window: July 1st through August 31, 2022
Payment: $25 and a contributor’s copy
Theme: A charity horror anthology of stories inspired by the music of Alice Cooper, both the group and solo.

“Dismember the Coop” is a charity horror anthology of stories inspired by the music of Alice Cooper, both the group and solo. The proceeds from sales go to support the Solid Rock Foundation, an organization setup by Alice and Sheryl Cooper that benefits the disadvantaged youth in the Phoenix area. To learn more about it, go here:

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Articles / Interviews

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The Horror Tree Presents… An Interview With Richard Thomas

Selene – Welcome to the Horror Tree, and thank you for agreeing to an interview. Tell us a bit about yourself.

 

Richard – Thanks for having me. I’ve been writing for 14 years now, mostly speculative fiction—fantasy, science fiction, and horror—but I came up writing neo-noir and thrillers. I’ve published three novels, four collections, over 170 stories, and am currently working as a writer, editor, teacher, and past publisher. I ran Gamut magazine for a few years, as well as Dark House Press. I’ve been nominated for the Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Thriller awards. I tend to write dark fiction, leaning into maximalism, and lately into the new-weird, as well as hopepunk. 

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Articles

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“Writing for Themed Anthologies,” with Keith DeCandido, Randee Daw, and Michael A. Ventrella

REVIEW: “Writing for Themed Anthologies,” with Keith DeCandido, Randee Dawn, and Michael A. Ventrella 

A long time ago, an editor (who has since passed away), gave me a compliment–I wasn’t as much of a noob as a lot of writers who had only published a few things. That is, I tended to make less of an ass of myself than other writers who were relatively new at the game… Okay, that sounds rude, and I don’t mean it to be, but before I started trying to send out stories for rejection, I mean consideration, I did a lot of reading and searching Internet groups and articles aimed at writers. I made mistakes of course, as most writers do, but I never had to ask the question “Where do I start?” 

If you’re asking that question, “Writing for Themed Anthologies” might hold a few answers for you. The video first aired as a live stream on September 2, 2020. There’s little information in the video description, which would have been helpful. I’m not sure if the video is part of a larger panel, or just some sci-fi writers talking about their stuff. Channel and chat host Michael A. Ventrella (michaelaventrella.com)is an attorney and writer and in his bio he’s described as a “fixture at science fiction conventions.” His guests for the stream are Randee Dawn and Keith DeCandido. Mr. DeCandido (decandido.net) is a writer and editor with a large body of work including media tie-ins to a number of popular franchises, and seems partial to the Star Trek universe. Ms. Dawn (randeedawn.com ) is a journalist who has published short fiction and has a novel coming out in 2022. All three speakers have an extensive background in writing and publishing, although their main experience seems to be mostly science fiction or speculative work, especially media tie-ins, rather than horror. 
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Articles / Interviews

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The Horror Tree Presents: An Interview With Zin E. Rocklyn

Selene – Welcome to the Horror Tree, and thanks for agreeing to an interview. First, tell us a bit about yourself, as there doesn’t seem to be much out there on social media. How did you start writing? 

 

Zin – Hi, Horror Tree World! I’m Zin and I write pretty much everything within the Speculative Fiction realm with a dash of horror. I’m of Trinidadian descent which also influences my work. I began writing when I was a child, maybe six or seven, when all the books I loved didn’t feature a child like me.

 

Selene – What about horror draws you, as an author? Your work seems to include elements of fantasy and magic realism, as well. 

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Anthology / Events / Flat Amount

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Taking Submissions: Pixie Forest Publishing Untitled Horror Anthology

Deadline: May 15th, 2021
Payment: $10.00
Theme: Horror stories with depth

Pixie Forest Publishing is seeking horror stories for our upcoming anthology.

Give us twists, terror, and excitement. Chill us to the bone. Give us nightmares. Don’t just scare us, create a plot and let us see your characters.

We are not looking for stories with graphic rape or paedophilia scenes. Violence and gore just for the sake of being violent and gory is not what we are wanting. If it is essential to the plot, include it. If not, leave it for a longer story.

Submissions are open until 11:59 EST on May 15th, 2021.

Stories should be between 1500 and 3000 words.

All submissions must be written in Shunn Format. Please remember to include the title, author’s name, word count, and contact information at the top of the first page. This is so the publisher can easily find you to contact you. Not including your email will guarantee no response.

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Articles / Interviews

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WiHM 12: Quick Six Questions With Erin Shaw

Welcome to The Horror Tree, and thank you for participating in Women In Horror Month. First, tell us a bit about yourself and your interest in horror.

I came to horror early and late lol – I was 18 before my interest really cemented. I was into the romantic Anne Rice type vampire when I was a child but that was to escape from bullying into a place where I couldn’t be hurt. Though Rice is a type of horror, the first book to make me want to explore the genre was Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite. I followed up with their Exquisite Corpse and there was no going back. I felt alone in the world- I was female, bisexual, and very mentally ill. The world felt not built for me. Lost Souls gave me the character of Ghost – someone who is different in every tiny way possible but who has a special way about him that made him completely at ease with himself but also deeply compassionate and loving. I could work with that.

Why is Women In Horror Month important, and what do you say to someone who says ‘Oh, I don’t care if it’s by a man, a woman, etc., as long as it’s a good story’?”

I’d say that if their first priority is to read good stories then they will only achieve that goal by ensuring diversity in their reading habits. Every good writer has good stories but the richness of any particular author’s life experiences can never be replicated. If you don’t read books by women, POC, or LGBTQIA+ folks you will only hear the language of the straight white male. No matter how wonderful their stories are – and they are – you will never know the good stories that come out of women and minorities. So if you care about a good story, care about the stories of all people. And the fact that people make statements such as those are exactly why women in horror month is important.
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