Villainous Author Interview - Essel Pratt

1) Tell us about your story

My story, Stepsisters: Evils of the Flesh, centers on the evil stepsisters and their jealously toward Cinderella. In most versions of the story, the stepsisters are portrayed as self-centered, dumb, and mostly harmless.  It was my thought that I could change the harmless into a psychotic element and really use their jealousy to change the story up.

2) What inspired you to write it?​

I’ve always had an interest into alternative versions of well-known stories and the what if elements. I’ve also felt that the stepsisters should have been eviller than they were portrayed, so I used those elements to create a story that does not have a happy ending, or maybe it does. I guess it all depends on how you look at it.

3) Do you prefer Villains to Heroes?​

This is a tough question. I don’t always see the bad guys as the villains, I guess it depends on the story. For example, in the Hellraiser series, Pinhead is not necessarily a villain. Instead, he is performing acts he is meant to do.  The villain may actually be the ones who open the box. I find that often I may overanalyze the characters, delving into their details, to see the intricacies of their characters. So, for me, like the villains and heroes alike.

4) Is your story a standalone?​

I wouldn’t say my story is a standalone, but rather an alternate telling of the story.

5) What's next for you, writing wise?​

I have a huge backlog to write.  I plan on a few short stories this year, but am placing most of my focus on novels/novellas.  I have three books currently in progress that I hope to finish soon. I’d say my biggest focus will be finishing the book Humantula, the third in a series that follows Sharkantula and Slothantula. I’ve been on a B-Movie type kick lately.  They are fun to write and I enjoy the ridiculous aspect of them​

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