What inspired you to start writing?
What actually inspired me to start writing was my sister. She has two children’s books out. One is called, I’m Hungry but No Bugs, Please, and Hello, Pretty Cloud, both available on Amazon. She was trying to write her first horror book and asked for my help. I gave her advice and helped with the editing. She asked me why I had never tried to write a book myself. She knows how much I love to read. I couldn’t believe I’d never thought of trying this before. I was also about to undergo major surgery and would have weeks of recovery time. I used that time to start brainstorming plot ideas. I instantly fell in love with writing and have been making time for it ever since.
Tell us about your work in 25 words or less.
My two books involve demons, hauntings, curses, and creepy sounds in the night to frighten you to your very core.
What was it about the horror genre that drew you to it?
The horror genre has always been a fascination of mine. I grew up watching scary movies and shows like Tales from the Crypt, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Jaws. My favorite series growing up was the Goosebumps series. I think it’s hard to write something that will give people chills and scare them. It’s fun and exciting to find new and creative ways to accomplish this.
Do you make a conscious effort to include LatinX characters and/or themes in your writing and if so, what do you want to portray?
In my first book, The Warrior Angel, I did make the main character Gracie and her family Latin. It was an unconscious decision. It being my first book, I made the characters what I knew. I made them a lot like me and my family.
What has writing horror taught you about the world and yourself?
Before writing my own horror stories, I found myself coming up with alternate endings/situations in movies and books for fun. When I began actually writing them out and coming up with new plots, my love for the genre grew. Writing out my own stories has taught me that it is a whole lot harder than I imagined it would be. Coming up with ideas is fun, but organizing them in a way that makes sense to people and has surprise moments and jaw-dropping scenes takes planning.
How have you seen the horror genre change over the years? And how do you think it will continue to evolve?
I think horror itself hasn’t changed much over the years. When it comes to movies, of course, there is the fact that more graphics and technology have made them even better throughout the years. Scenes look so much more real. In books, it has evolved so much. I’m reading books that have taken horror to the next level. The plot ideas and description of scenes have taken my personal reading experiences to new heights and I’m sure they will continue to improve.
Time to daydream: what are some aspects of LatinX history or culture – stories from your childhood, historical events, etc — that you really want our genre to tackle? (Whether or not you’re the one to tackle them!)
Growing up in the Catholic church, I’ve been religious since I can remember. On a side note, my family has also been a little superstitious as well. My mother has often times reminded me and my siblings that karma is real and if you cannot say something nice then you shouldn’t say anything at all. I was taught to pray whenever I am afraid or in trouble. I would love to see more paranormal books tackled by horror writers. Demons and upside-down crosses and things like that seriously scared me. I plan on writing more books with this theme.
Who are some of your favorite LatinX characters in horror?
Some of my favorite LatinX characters just to name a few are Melissa Barrera in Scream, Michael Garza in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and of course Jenna Ortega. She has tackled many horror roles and even some not-so-horror, such as Scream, Wednesday, and Beetlejuice.
Who are some LatinX horror authors you recommend our audience check out?
Some LatinX authors that I’m personally a fan of are Silva Moreno-Garcia, Julia Alvarez, Marcos Antonio Hernendez, and Richard Santos. There’s a book called Night of the Living by Morgan Talty that’s worth checking out as well.
What is one piece of advice you would give horror authors today?
One piece of advice I would give to horror authors is to remember that not everyone is going to like your book. Horror has things, scenes, and topics that can be horrible, scary, and just plain terrible to read. That is what makes this a horror book. It’s meant to horrify and torment the reader. Some things about it may offend people. Keep in mind that this is your story. This is your creepy imagination and just have fun with it.
What is one piece of craft advice you’ve gotten that has really worked for you? Alternatively, what’s one that you’ve happily rejected?
One piece of advice that I’ve received is to focus on finishing my story and not to worry about the next steps until afterward. Focusing on who’s going to edit it, how am I going to publish this, and how am I going to want the cover to look are things to cover afterward. Things like that can stress you out and take away from what could be an even better story. I have yet to receive advice that I consider bad. I keep everything in mind when it comes to advice so far.
And to the LatinX writers out there who are just getting started, what advice would you give them?
The advice I would give to writers just starting out is not only to remember what I said above but also to stay organized with your ideas. I only have two books out but I have learned a little about my writing process and what works better for me. When I get an idea for a new book, I start making notes. I come up with character names and traits, a location, period, and possible twists. I’ll write an outline first. Things can always change as you dive into it, but it’s a good start.
Monique Beasley is a 41-year-old married woman with two grown kids. She has always had a great passion for books and carried one with her everywhere she went, even as a young girl. She is a Navy Veteran, a current dental assistant for over 16 years, and a published horror author. Her love for reading has expanded to a passion for making up her own horror stories. The two books she has out are called, The Warrior Angel and This Little Piggy. It’s a dream of hers to develop more stories and fill up her personal bookshelf with her books.