Stephanie Anne - dReadCon Author Spotlight

Thank you so much for being one of our amazing authors attending our second annual dReadCon. We are thrilled to have you there!

Tell us a little bit about yourself, what books we can expect to see at dReadCon, and where we can find you on social media.

Hi, my name is Stephanie Anne! I’m an oddball extraordinaire, and I love all things strange and monstrous. Specializing in disturbing and domestic horror, I enjoy making people uncomfortable. My stories may not be scary in the “jumpscare” sense, but after reading one of my books you’ll never look at certain every-day things the same way again.

My writing assistants are Minerva, Finn, Bubs, and Janey. Unfortunately, these free-spirited felines like to sleep on the job. That is, when they aren’t stepping on my keyboard and adding extra words to my books. They won’t be attending dReadCon with me, but you can see pictures of them – and all manner of spooky and bookish things – on my social media @stephanie.anne.author.

Do you have a favourite character you have written? If so, what book are they in and will it be at dReadCon?

Skull Daddy is hands-down my most iconic character, and he’s become a major fixture in my day-to-day life. I have him to thank for a lot of my success. Thanks to some crafty friends, I have a small Skull Daddy sculpture that I use for table décor, and larger one that I keep on display in my home office. He doesn’t show up a whole lot in his own book (despite being prominently displayed on the front cover), but he is one character that makes his presence known. He’s become so popular that he'll even be showing up in some future books. For now, he’s only in one novella titled – you guessed it – Skull Daddy. And yes, I will have plenty of copies (and matching bookmarks) at dReadCon.

How does engaging with fans shape the way you write horror?

It actually pushed me further into the horror genre! When I first started writing, I thought I was going to publish a mix of sci-fi and horror. But then I was told multiple times by different people that my writing is stronger when I focus on the dark stuff. They asked for more, they wanted me to lean further into the darkness, and… Well, I couldn’t deny the people what they wanted. I’ve also been getting A LOT of requests for sequels, so that’s what a lot of my WIPs are right now. I never expected to write sequels, but I’m having a lot of fun with it so far.

If readers take away one thing from your books, what do you hope it is?

I love those moments when readers say things to me like “I haven’t been able to look at my light fixtures the same way since reading your book,” or “Thanks, now you’ve ruined walking for me.” Obviously, I hope readers enjoy my books, but the best feeling is knowing that I’ve made them uncomfortable.

What's the strangest thing you've ever Googled while writing a novel?

This might not be the strangest, but it’s certainly the most memorable. For a story that may or may not ever see the light of day, I researched a people meat chart. Like how would you cut up the human body to make certain cuts of meat. That’s the exact moment when my partner happened to glance at my screen. When people ask him if he’s afraid to live under the same roof as a horror author, he mentions the meat chart. Luckily for him, I’m a vegetarian.

What role does fear play in storytelling, and how do you harness it effectively?

I think fear is perfect for “show, don’t tell”. Fear can be such a sensory experience – racing heart, jumping at every sound, the musk of the monster lurking around the corner – that it really lends itself well to painting a picture for the reader.

Has writing ever made you confront personal fears or experiences?

Absolutely! As someone with lots of traumas, fears, and anxieties, I put A LOT of my personal experiences into my work. Some of the stories I’ve written are even inspired by real events. I’ve got a short story about a bug infestation that is just a more intense version of what I lived through, and the stress surrounding my uncle’s funeral inspired me to write a zombie story. I’m currently working on a project that was inspired by a very traumatic event for me, and I struggled to write the first draft. I’ve even cried a bit while editing. Although it’s an exhausting project to work on, it has been a very therapeutic experience.

What advice would you give to new writers trying to break into the genre?

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Test your limits, try new things, be weird. It either works and you’ve got a story you can share, or it doesn’t and no one ever has to know. Just get words on the page and have fun – you can’t edit what’s not there.

What type of music if any do you listen to while writing?

Techno and synthwave. I like all intensity levels of synth, but if it’s loud, aggressive, and gets my heart-rate up, then that’s what I’ll typically go for. I struggle with chronic fatigue, so I like to listen to music that keeps me awake and alert. My current favourite is White Bat Audio on YouTube.