Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Ashon Ruffins

Ashon Ruffins is a native New Orleanian and a military Veteran. He earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, while also holding certifications for several other pro-fessions. He loves the art of storytelling in all genres and believes the best lessons in life can be told through fiction. Descent of a Broken Man is his debut novel. Ashon is also a huge mental health advocate. Ashon is married and the father of two beautiful children. He also has a passion for the culinary arts. He has to go now—his kids are waiting for him to cook. Social Media: Twitter: @lifethrufiction…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with KC Loesener

I’m KC Loesener, author of The Eve of Darkness and several horror short stories. Proud introvert, bird lover, and a huge horror fan. On Youtube and Instagram, I am @kcfinalgirl, a horror content creator and writing coach, teaching new writers to focus and write their manuscripts in four months via kcloesener.com Besides writing horror, I love a good ghost story. The paranormal, vampires, and werewolves exhilarate me. I love punk and grunge, and I desperately miss the 90s. Superhero movies and comics are a necessity. I enjoy creating complex characters that rise to discover themselves.   What inspired you to start…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Tonia Ransom

Tonia Ransom is the creator and executive producer of NIGHTLIGHT, an award-winning horror podcast featuring creepy tales written by Black writers, and Afflicted, a horror thriller best described as Lovecraft Country meets True Blood. Tonia has been scaring people since the second grade, when she wrote her first story based on Michael Myers. She’s a World Fantasy Award Winner, and This is Horror Award runner-up. She lives in Austin, Texas. You can follow Tonia @missdefying on all the socials. Risen is her debut book. What inspired you to start writing? I honestly can’t remember exactly. At night, I used to…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Nuzo Onoh

Nuzo Onoh is a Nigerian-British writer of Igbo descent. She is a pioneer of the African horror literary subgenre. Hailed as “the Queen of African Horror”, Nuzo’s writing showcases both the beautiful and horrific in the African culture within fictitious narratives. Nuzo’s works have featured in numerous magazines, podcasts, and anthologies, and she is listed in the reference book, “80 Black Women in Horror”. She has given talks and lectures about African Horror, including at the prestigious Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, London. Her works have also appeared in academic and feminist studies such as “Routledge Handbook of African Literature”, “Horror…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with John Edward Lawson

While John Edward Lawson has been called “The forgotten black man of horror” he also regularly publishes science fiction, nonfiction, and literary fiction. His work has been nominated for the Dwarf Stars, Rhysling, Stoker, and Wonderland Awards in addition to the Pushcart Prize. For his work as an editor John received the 2018 HWA Specialty Press Award. He currently serves as President of the Horror Writers Association. What inspired you to start writing? Growing up in the 1970s with parents who had severe mental and physical illness I sort of had to raise myself while being their caretaker. We were…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Micah Yongo

Micah is the author of two ancient Africa-inspired epic fantasy novels. His debut, Lost Gods, was shortlisted for a British Fantasy award, as well as Starburst Magazine’s inaugural Brave New Words award. Shaped by the West African folklore of his childhood, Yongo introduces readers to fresh mythic worlds on the way to examining ideas on religion, culture, and belonging. Manchester-born aside from a year living in the US Yongo has remained domiciled in the city of his birth, having worked as a journalist and content designer alongside his novel writing. His latest book, Pale Kings, is a continuation of the…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Kirk A. Johnson

Born in Trinidad in 1971, he credits his love for Sword & Sorcery and Heroic Fantasy from watching old movies with his dad. The very first novel he read was The Hobbit at age 8, and is an avid fan of Conan the Barbarian Marvel comic series. In 2005, he began writing his own fantasy adventure short stories, and in 2014, he sold his first short story to MVmedia LLC for its first anthology Griots: A Sword and Soul Anthology. In 2022 he released The Obanaax and Other Tales of Heroes and Horrors. His very first collection of short stories…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Lori Titus

Lori Titus is a USA Today Bestselling author and Bram Stoker Award finalist. She writes stories that center on the monster in humans and the humanity of beasts.  When she's not plotting out new adventures for her characters she lurks on social media. You can catch up with her on Facebook or on her website, The Darkest of Lore  https://loribeth215.wordpress.com/ . What inspired you to start writing? I had nightmares as a kid, and my mom suggested that I write them down to exorcise them. It worked like a charm. It got rid of the dreams, but it started a new lifelong…

2023 Summer Scares Reading List

In celebration of National Library Lover’s Day, the Horror Writers Association (HWA), in partnership with United for Libraries, Book Riot, and Booklist, is delighted to announce the fifth annual Summer Scares reading list, which includes titles selected by a panel of authors and librarians and is designed to promote Horror as a great reading option for all ages and during any time of the year. This year Summer Scares welcomes New York Times Bestselling author, Daniel Kraus as their 2023 spokesperson. "My love of reading began at a public library -- but I had to hunt for the horror,” said…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Vaughn A. Jackson

Vaughn A. Jackson began writing somewhere around the time he could grasp a writing utensil, and has since authored two novels: Up from the Deep and Touched by Shadows. His writing falls under the speculative fiction umbrella, often blending elements of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association, and lives somewhere outside of Baltimore. When he isn't writing, Vaughn is probably playing video games, watching bad (read: great) science fiction movies, or trying frantically to keep up the guise of being an adult. You can find Vaughn screaming into the void @Blaximillion on…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with P.M. Raymond

P.M. Raymond hails from New Orleans but currently lives on the East Coast with 27 cookbooks and an imaginary dog named Walter. You can find her enjoying a café au lait and indulging in the storytelling mastery of Shirley Jackson, M.R. James, Joe Hill, Tananarive Due, and manga maestro, Junji Ito. Her work has appeared in Flash Fiction Magazine, Kings River Life Magazine, Dark Fire Fiction, Pyre Magazine, The Furious Gazelle, Dark Yonder, and Rock, Roll, and Ruin anthology from Down & Out Books. Find her at www.pmraymond.com or follow her on Twitter. What inspired you to start writing? As…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Tara Campbell

Tara Campbell is a writer, teacher, Kimbilio Fellow, fiction co-editor at Barrelhouse, and graduate of American University's MFA. Her horror has been published in Strange Horizons ("Sasabonsam," Tangent Online Recommended Reading List 2017), Nightlight (horror by Black writers), and Speculative City (“Spencer,” Tor's "Must-Read Speculative Fiction" March 2020). She's the author of a novel and four multi-genre collections, including Midnight at the Organporium which earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly. She teaches fiction at venues such as American University, Johns Hopkins University, Clarion West, Catapult, The Writer's Center, and Hugo House. Read more and connect at her website: www.taracampbell.com What inspired…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Kevin Williams

Kevin L. Williams is a husband, father of five, and Gothic Horror author from San Antonio, Texas. A former independent filmmaker, he has written, directed, and edited four indie feature films, numerous screenplays that will never see the light of day, and several Horror novels. This year he is set to publish a Gothic Romance series of novels, another Gothic Horror series, and the first part of his long-gestating YA/Speculative Fiction series. Kevin also hosts a podcast called Speaking of Gothic, where he discusses Gothic Horror movies. Kevin’s links: https://linktr.ee/klwilliamsauthor What inspired you to start writing? As a kid, I…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Maurice Broaddus

The resident Afrofuturist at the Kheprw Institute and an editor at Apex Magazine, his work has appeared in places like Cemetery Dance, Weird Tales, Magazine of F&SF, Uncanny Magazine, & Classic Monsters Unleashed. His books include Sweep of Stars, Unfadeable, Pimp My Airship, Buffalo Soldier, and The Usual Suspects. He was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for editing Dark Faith.  You can learn more about him at MauriceBroaddus.com or follow on his socials @MauriceBroaddus. What inspired you to start writing? I write because I have to. There is something in me that compels me to write, to release my ideas…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with C.C. Adams

London native C.C. Adams is the horror/dark fiction author behind books such as But Worse Will Come, Forfeit Tissue and Downwind, Alice. A member of the Horror Writers Association, he still lives in the capital. This is where he lifts weights, cooks - and looks for the perfect quote to set off the next dark delicacy. What inspired you to start writing? Firstly, as a member of (Canadian author) Kelley Armstrong’s previous online discussion forum. I’d dabbled in some fanfic based on her work, which was well received. And it was on the same forum that I heard about National…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Wrath James White

WRATH JAMES WHITE is the author of such extreme horror classics as THE RESURRECTIONIST, SUCCULENT PREY, and it's sequel PREY DRIVE, YACCUB'S CURSE, 400 DAYS OF OPPRESSION, THE BOOK OF A THOUSAND SINS, HIS PAIN, POPULATION ZERO, IF YOU DIED TOMORROW I WOULD EAT YOUR CORPSE, HARDCORE KELLI, and many many others. He has co-wriiten books with Edward Lee, J.F. Gonzalez, Maurice Broaddus, Matt Shaw, and Kristopher Rufty. Wrath lives and works in Austin, TX. What inspired you to start writing? This is a hard one to answer. Do I tell you about when I was in 4th grade and…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki is an African speculative fiction writer, editor & publisher from Nigeria. He won the Nebula, Otherwise, Nommo, British & World Fantasy awards and been a finalist in the Hugo, Locus, Sturgeon and British Science Fiction award. His works have appeared in Asimov's, Uncanny Magazine, Tordotcom, Apex, Galaxy's Edge, Strange Horizons and others. He edited the Bridging Worlds, Year's Best African Speculative Fiction anthology and co-edited the Dominion and Africa Risen anthology. He was a CanCon goh and will be the ICFA 44 guest of honour. You can see his latest works here: https://odekpeki.com/2022/09/11/destiny-delayed/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/penprince_ Website: https://odekpeki.com/2022/09/11/2022-awards-eligibility-post-list/…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Wi-Moto Nyoka

WI-MOTO NYOKA is a horror and sci-fi writer. She is the founder of Dusky Projects, creating and producing horror & sci-fi projects for young adult and adult audiences. Awards and honors include: Stowe Story Labs selected project, Puffin Foundation grant recipient,  Awesome Foundation grant recipient, Velocity Fund grant recipient, Scribe Video Finishing Grant recipient, Nightmares Film Festival Best Short Screenplay Award Winner, 13 Horror Screenplay Award Winner, Oregon Short Film Festival Best Horror Teleplay Award Winner and more. Published works can be found in Midnight & Indigo’s Speculative Fiction collection, Terror Unleashed: Volume 2, The Seelie Crow and The Last…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Jewelle Gomez

Jewelle Gomez, (Cabo Verdean/Wampanoag/Ioway; she/her). Her eight books include the first Black Lesbian vampire novel, THE GILDA STORIES, in print for 30 years, and recently optioned by Cheryl Dunye (“Lovecraft Country”) for a mini-series. Her work appears in numerous anthologies including Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African American Diaspora, and Luminescent Threads: Connections to Octavia Butler. Her plays have been produced in San Francisco and in New York City. Her new collection of poetry is Still Water. TWITTER & Instagram: @VampyreVamp What inspired you to start writing? I think listening to the great storytelling of my…

Black Heritage in Horror: Interview with Eugen Bacon

Eugen Bacon MA, MSc, PhD is an African Australian author of several novels and fiction collections. She’s a 2022 World Fantasy Award finalist, and was announced in the honor list of the 2022 Otherwise Fellowships for ‘doing exciting work in gender and speculative fiction’. Recent books: Mage of Fools (novel), Chasing Whispers (collection), and An Earnest Blackness (essays). Eugen has two novels, a novella, and two anthologies (ed) out in 2023, and the US release of Danged Black Thing. Visit her website at eugenbacon.com and Twitter feed at @EugenBacon What inspired you to start writing? I have always been enthralled with stories—my imagination is hyper. My father was…