A Point of Pride: Interview with Allison Church
Allison Church (a.k.a. DONALD ALLEN KIRCH) is a Transgender Author who lives in the Midwest of the United States. She is an avid lover of horror, science fiction, and fantasy and will challenge ANYONE on her knowledge of TV “pop” culture. A die-hard fan of “Star Trek,” “Babylon 5,” and “Doctor Who,” she does not believe in the “NO Win” scenario! She LOVES everything about the Paranormal!
What inspired you to start writing?
I have always LOVED the role of a Storyteller. The power to hold a person’s attention is a rare and wonderful thing in our times. However, with that power comes great responsibility, and it’s not just a slogan used in a Marvel Comics character’s plotline. Storytellers owe their existence to the simplicity of their reader’s acceptance. But, of course, I do love the classics as far as literary influences. H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, and my all-time favorite is the great Richard Matheson. More than any other writer, Matheson has been responsible for molding me into the kind of Storyteller I wish to become someday. It saddens me that your ordinary citizen is not familiar with his name, but if you start to go down the lists of his titles, their eyes widen and react with great excitement.
What was it about the horror genre that drew you to it?
Both Science fiction and horror share one particular bond with me – they allow the writer to point out and comment on the flaws in our society. Everything, from the brutality and sadness of “The Creature” in Frankenstein, to the struggling duality of “Mister Spock” in the series Star Trek, I have always been enormously sympathetic to the outsider, or “oddball.” When it was impossible to talk about race or orientation, these skillful writers did it with bold styles and a sense of adventure. AND I love getting the Bah-Jesus scared out of me!
Do you make a conscious effort to include LGBTQ material in your writing and if so, what do you want to portray?
I play a game with everything I write. Almost to a title, I play one of the characters in my books. I can either be a man or a woman, but I leave little clues to help the reader guess who I am. It’s great fun! Recently, I have tried to place a Transgender element within the work I create. I am currently working on a piece entitled “Battle not with Monsters!” which will have a character faced with revealing that she has been hiding the fact that she is a Trans-Woman from the rest of her investigation team. It was incredibly challenging for me to come out to my co-workers, considering I work in law enforcement. I agonized over my situation for about a year, realizing that HRT Treatment would start to “show,” and they needed to know. It was a challenging and frightening time, and I try to hold onto those feelings when writing. Transgender People are just as ordinary as the rest of us, with fears and dreams, walking within a world that a more-understanding God would have made kinder.
What has writing horror taught you about the world and yourself?
That our most significant and frightening “monster” is ignorance. I have always had a great weakness and love for the proverbial “know it all” in horror novels. Dr. Van Helsing being the quintessential character, comes to mind. What would the pursuit of Count Dracula have been without that fantastic element added to the storyline? Also, sometimes, the “monster” in a story can reveal that the most incredible “fright” is the general public. Rod Serling’s TV classic “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street” is a perfect example. Horror can teach us a lot about ourselves simply by showing us what we fear. I like and cherish that within this genre.
How have you seen the horror genre change over the years? And how do you think it will continue to evolve?
Horror is bolder than it used to be. I love the history and mixing of original ideas. I see horror becoming a mirror of human evolution. I have watched with awe the feelings youngsters have for “The Creature” in Frankenstein, the fear in paranoia with the horror/sci-fi classic “Who Goes There?’ and the sins of politics within the dark realms of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” As humans, we all have the defect of fearing what we do not understand. I see horror as a way to flesh these differences out, explaining to them as we scare our readers. I consider being a horror writer a WONDERFUL adventure.
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?
OMG! Every time I learn of a new LGBTQ+ writer and marvel at the glories and awards they have won, it offers great joy and inspiration to me. Being a Transgender Woman is a fantastic adventure for me. I love who I am becoming, how I see that I am my true self, and I help ALL who come to me for advice. I help suicidal teens, who are Trans, and approach them with as much love and understanding that I can project. I wear a police uniform with the typical weapons belt where I work. It is a perfect “WFT?!” moment to start a conversation when I enter the room. Meekly, I put out my hand and say, “Hello. My name is Allison Church, and I am a Transgender Woman. If you wish to talk, I am willing to listen.”
Who are some of your favorite LGBTQ characters in horror?
The character of Dr. Robert Elliot in the 1980 thriller Dressed to Kill comes to mind. Michael Caine played that role rather creepy. That movie was quite possibly the first time I experienced a character as a Transgender. Then, of course, there’s Norman Bates and “Mother.” Finally, Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs was supremely terrifying. However, one must be cautious. Stereotypes are scary within themselves, and although fun to see where a character can go, we, as writers, must realize that some do not appreciate typecasting us in dark characters. So, although fun to frighten, we must be cautious.
Who are some LGBTQ horror authors you recommend our audience check out?
Poppy Z. Brite is the first that “pops” into mind. OMG, I am a HUGE fan. Christopher Rice, and Clive Barker, of course! I hope to be associated with these names one day, even if it is #59 out of 60. We are such a talented and diverse bunch of people. It’s an honor to read their works. And, frankly, they scare me, lol.
What is one piece of advice you would give horror authors today?
Do not be afraid to explore “The Monster” within. If you do not believe in what you are writing, it will show within the work. Everyone has a bit of “the dark” within them. It takes a true master to channel that and form it into a character. BELIEVE in yourself. Hold on to your vision. Scare! Scare! SCARE!!
And to the LGBTQ writers out there who are just getting started, what advice would you give them?
Be yourself. Enjoy the WONDERFUL person you are. Grab onto your imagination, and DO NOT let go! What beautiful adventures wait for you!
