A Point of Pride 2024: An Interview with Eric Raglin
What inspired you to start writing?
When I was a kid, I loved episodic fantasy adventures like Dungeons and Dragons (which I still play to this day) and the Deltora Quest book series. These experiences inspired me to write my own fantasy novel—something I never finished but had a great time working on. Nowadays, I’m not as interested in fantasy, but my love of writing carries into the present.
What was it about the horror genre that drew you to it?
Reality is often dark, horrifying, and beyond comprehension. Out of all genres, horror is the most adept at reflecting those aspects of lived experience. When I read horror, I feel seen and understood.
Do you make a conscious effort to include LGBTQ material in your writing and if so, what do you want to portray?
Sometimes I consciously work queerness into my writing if I’m exploring an issue affecting queer people—Christofascist violence, for instance—but for the most part, queerness naturally comes out (no pun intended) in my characters. Most of my friends in real life are queer, so my stories reflect this sense that queerness is ubiquitous and part of everyday life.
What has writing horror taught you about the world and yourself?
Writing horror has taught me that intentionally seeking out the darkness is healthier than avoiding it at all costs. After writing fictional stories about the horrors of capitalism, fascism, and queerphobia, I feel better equipped to face the real-world terror of those forces. I’ve also learned that there’s a joy to be found in the darkness, and it’s good to have a little fun while preparing for the worst.
How have you seen the horror genre change over the years? And how do you think it will continue to evolve?
I probably need another decade or two to answer this question well, but I will talk about queerness in horror. Horror has always been queer, but I’ve been happy to see that queerness become much more explicit and open. I’d love to see that trend continue, with writers and publishers not bending to the whims of fascists who’d love to see queer books burn.
How do you feel the LGBTQ community has been represented thus far in the genre and what hopes do you have for representation in the genre going forward?
Many times, the horror genre has represented queer people as perverse, monstrous threats to society. While these stereotypes can be harmful, what I don’t want to see is an overcorrection in which queer characters become harmless model citizens. Assimilation should not be our goal. A wider variety of representations that stray from stereotypes is great, but…being perverse monsters can also be sexy. Let us be villainous if we want to! Let us weaponize our monstrosity against the people who deserve it most!
Who are some of your favorite LGBTQ characters in horror?
I have lots of favorites, but I’ll name just a couple of recent ones. I loved Louis and Lestat in the ongoing TV adaptation of Ann Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. I also loved Beth and Fran in Gretchen Felker-Martin’s novel Manhunt. Messy, chaotic queer characters will always have my heart.
Who are some LGBTQ horror authors you recommend our audience check out?
Alison Rumfitt writes some of the most weird, wild, stomach-churning, anti-fascist queer horror out there. Highly recommend both Brainwyrms and Tell Me I’m Worthless. Mae Murray should also absolutely be on your radar. Her novel I’m Sorry If I Scared You is going to rock your world when it comes out. New Weird, Southern queer horror that blends brutal truth and WTF strangeness beautifully.
What is one piece of advice you would give horror authors today?
Explain less. Overexplained horror is powerless horror.
And to the LGBTQ writers out there who are just getting started, what advice would you give them?
Write something that Ron DeSantis would want to ban. Don’t be afraid to go there.
Eric Raglin (he/him) is a queer Nebraskan horror/Weird fiction writer. His short story collections include Nightmare Yearnings, Extinction Hymns (published by Brigids Gate Press), and Lonesome Pyres (forthcoming in 2024 through Off Limits Pulp). He owns Cursed Morsels Press and has edited No Trouble at All (with Alexis DuBon), Bitter Apples, Shredded: A Sports and Fitness Body Horror Anthology, and Antifa Splatterpunk. Find him on Twitter, Bluesky, or Instagram @ericraglin1992.
