WiHM 9 Presents - Susan Schwartz

1. As a female horror writer, what do you bring to the table in terms of what you write?

I bring many things to the table for horror writing. I love blood and guts as my alter ego is an Operating Room Nurse. I love leading people down a path and then, I leave them standing there by themselves wondering what happened. I love to twist ordinary things around so people see them in a different light. Sometime the most mundane things can take on another personality if you let them.

2. Do you think female authors are underrepresented in the horror genre?

I used to think this, but I don’t any longer. There are so many females getting into the genre that I think it has become almost equal in footing between the sexes. I do have favorite female and male authors. However, it is wonderful to have another female author as a mentor and guide you through the many streets you need to cross as an author. (Shout out to Pamela K. Kinney)

3. Tell us about your books.

I have one short story in Nightmares & Echoes I, II, & III. I also have a non-fiction piece in the Virginia Writers Club Centennial Anthology. I am looking forward to seeing my non-fiction book come out in the fall of 2018 titled Haunted Charlottesville and Surrounding Counties here in Virginia.
I am currently working on another haunted book toward Western Virginia, and I have several short stories and two novels that are in production.
Please visit my website, www.susanschwartzauthor.com, or my Facebook author page for more details and happenings.

4. Why is horror writing important to you?

As I answered before, it is taking mundane things and making them come to life in a way that is not expected. It is holding the reader’s attention and getting them to follow you down that dark and creepy hallway. I think use of fine details also help to draw a picture of many different colors. All of this leads to a great story and most importantly, a shocked reader.
I fell in love with Stephen King at an early age. My first story was Pet Sematary. It pulled me in and gave me a sense of what I wanted to write. Since then, I have read most of King’s books as well as some from Bentley Little. Both are masters at their craft. I think it is important to keep carrying the tradition forward and create more fans of the genre.

5. Is the future of horror female?

I think there will certainly be more and more female authors stepping into the genre. When I go to conventions, I see a lot more female authors than males. I was surprised to see some guys in the romance realm. However, I think that is where we are headed now. We have crossovers of different sexes in different genres. What was once an all male genre is now opening up to female authors. It paves the way for those of us who want to share our own scary stories with the unsuspecting public.

Author Website