"The Blair Witch Project of books...a superb novel." -David Royce, horrorcabin.com
The Girls of October tells the story of a young woman who develops a strange fascination with John Carpenter’s Halloween, believing that somewhere within the 1978 horror classic lays the truth behind an arcane force that has terrorized her since her childhood.
As an escape from a world that has not always been kind, film student Beverly Dreger takes comfort in spooky urban legends, horror movies, and monster magazines. But when a string of bizarre murders draws her closer to the folkloric entity known as “the bogeyman,” Beverly must unravel the mystery of her past and confront an ancient evil.
An epistolary novel, The Girls of October collects fictional primary sources—newspaper articles, film criticism, screenplays, short stories, interviews, police reports, and more—to tell a chilling story of psychosis, family secrets, and murder.
What
inspired you to start writing, and when?
I don’t know—I just know that I was always writing
fiction, probably as early as the third or fourth grade! I used to cut out
pictures from monster magazines and comics, tape them inside a notebook, and
then create fictional stories around the pictures. My parents, though mildly
concerned about my interest in darker material, always encouraged my writing,
and their bookshelves were filled with works like The Exorcist, Pet Sematary, and countless mystery and thriller
novels. Throughout high school and college, I continued to write and began to
develop an interest in combining different aspects of the arts (poetry,
fiction, film, photography) into a single work that tells a cohesive story. My
interest in multimedia led to the writing of my novel.
What is
your preferred genre?
My
preferred genre is literary horror, especially anything that unites different
types of media to tell a story.
How many
books have you written? If more than one, are any a series…or trilogy?
The Girls of October is my first novel, but my
previous book, Cabin 28: The Keddie
Murders, told the true story of an unsolved quadruple homicide that took
place in Northern California in 1981.
Tell us
a little about your book.
The book is called The Girls of October, released by Burning Bulb Publishing this past
April. The novel was born from my love of the horror films I grew up with, including
Halloween, Friday the 13th, and The
Texas Chain Saw Massacre. But I didn’t want to write a slasher, “blood and
guts” book. Though there are many gruesome scenes and plenty of chills, The Girls of October is an academic work
masquerading as a horror novel. It features essays, research papers, short
stories, news articles, letters, 911 calls, police reports, psychiatric
interviews, and an entire dissertation on John Carpenter’s Halloween—all to tell the fictional story of a film student who
believes a supernatural entity has been stalking her since she was a child. It
combines my love of academia with my love of horror to tell a story that
hopefully readers will enjoy!
Do you
have plans for a new book?
My next novel is called The Devil and My Daughter, and it’s a collection of essays,
articles, interviews, press kits, scripts, and oral histories that work
collectively to tell the story of a group of young filmmakers trying to make a
demonic possession movie.
Do you plot or write by the seat of your pants?
I always
plot, but I allow myself the freedom to deviate from that outline when
necessary.
Did you have an editor edit your books?
Did you have an editor edit your books?
As an
English teacher for over 18 years, I feel comfortable with my own editing
skills, but it’s always important to have fresh eyes tackle your work. For The Girls of October, I worked
exhaustively on editing and proofreading the book before finding a publisher
for it. Then the publisher and I worked together to perfect any remaining
issues.
Are you
a self- published (Indie) Author?
No,
though I am drawn to the small presses. Cabin
28: The Keddie Murders was published by Adelmore Books, and I believe it
was their first non-fiction, “true crime” publication. The Girls of October found a supportive home with Burning Bulb
Press, who has an impressive roster of authors, including Gary Vincent, John
Russo, and David Fairhead.
What
book are you currently reading and in what format (ebook/paperback/hardcover)?
Lately
I’ve discovered an interest in cryptozoology, so I’m currently reading
paperback versions of Lyle Blackburn’s The
Beast of Boggy Creek and Linda Godfrey’s American Monsters.
Who
designed the cover of your book?
The
cover was designed by my publisher, Burning Bulb Press.
Do you
find yourself intrigued by the cover of a book enough to buy it?
Absolutely.
When I discovered Mar Danielewski’s House
of Leaves, it was purely by accident. I happened to be wandering through
the bookstore and the colorful spine caught my eye. When browsing books online,
I think the cover is even more important and should really grab the reader’s
attention in some way.
Your
thoughts on receiving book reviews - the good and the bad -
Reviews
are always a good thing, whether they are positive or negative. I think all a
writer can ask for is an honest review. So if you love the book, tell the
audience why you loved it; and if you didn’t like it, be clear as to what put
you off.
List 3
of your favorite movies?
Well, The Girls of October makes it pretty
clear that John Carpenter’s Halloween is
in my top three. I also adore William Friedkin’s The Exorcist and David Fincher’s Zodiac.
What is
a movie or TV show that you watched just recently and really enjoyed?
As a
horror writer, I’m delighted by the recent uprising of horror/thriller
television, including The Walking Dead,
Hannibal, True Detective, and The Bates
Motel.
Where
can your readers stalk you?
My books
can be found on Amazon and Goodreads, and readers can explore the world of The Girls of October at
thegirlsofoctober.tumblr.com.
Is your
book in Print, ebook or both?
The Girls of October is in print softcover, at
around 290 pages or so. There is also an e-book version available, but because
of the epistolary nature of the novel, I think the print version is much more
user-friendly.
Book
links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MnOS9L
Book website:
thegirlsofoctober.tumblr.com
Goodreads:
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