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Transgender Awareness Week: Catching up with Britney Everlong

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Copyright 2022 The House of Everlong

Britney Everlong began writing at an early age, her first book being “The Whatchamacallit”, written at the age of nine. It would be some time before her first published work, “Pegasus Bay”, would come to pass, at the age of eighteen. Now, Britney is a writer, mother, free thinker, occasional actress, lover of music, and all-around weird lady who enjoys writing horror and sci-fi stories in her spare time.

What is the latest in your world as a writer? Do you have any new writing news, upcoming projects, or other exciting professional news you’d like to share with our audiences at the HWA?

I’m excited to announce that the “Countdown to Wormwood” series is under way, and what began with “The Priestess and the Whore” will continue with “Blood and Battery Acid”, which I expect to be released around the first of the year. “Blood and Battery Acid” will actually be a Claire Ashton story, so those who enjoy her will be able to get their first taste since “Make America Dead Again!” I also plan to write a follow-up story to “Res Obscura” at some point in 2023, so watch out for that as well.

Are there any other transgender horror/speculative fiction authors, or transgender authors in general for that matter, that you’d like to recommend to our readers?

I’ve really started to enjoy the works of Larissa Glasser as of late, especially “F4”, which is a wonderfully weird story.

Transgender Awareness Week is an opportunity for the transgender community and its allies to share our stories and let the world know who we are. In that spirit, is there anything you’d like to share with our readers?

My life has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. A lot of my family has turned their back on me because I am transgender, but recently I have managed to mend fences with my mother and my brother. If there was one thing I could say it is this; be strong for yourself and don’t give up. In time, those who are capable of understanding will do so. The trans person is not in the wrong; they are simply being who they are. It is incumbent upon those around them to ask themselves if they truly love that person, for if they do, then they cannot allow cultural or religious bias to stand in the way. Love is, and ever shall be, the most important thing.

Check Out Britney’s answers to the 2022 Pride Series questions:

What inspired you to start writing? 

Honestly, it was an escape from a very nasty childhood. It allowed me to escape into a world that was, at least for me, safe and stable when the real world wasn’t. It was later that I discovered how fulfilling and enjoyable it was, and I just kept at it.

What was it about the horror genre that drew you to it? 

I love to shock people. It’s also what draws me to erotica, and why I love to combine the two.

Do you make a conscious effort to include LGBTQ material in your writing and if so, what do you want to portray?

I do! I have queer characters in almost all of my works, simply because humanity is just that diverse and I find that there’s a shortage of strong queer characters, leading queer characters in all genres, so I try to fill that void.

What has writing horror taught you about the world and yourself?

The world is every bit as terrifying as you think it is, but then again, so are all of us. It comes down to a choice we all make a thousand times a day. Do we give in to the insane things that go through our minds that we all think, or do we stay in the lines like we know we’re supposed to? We’ve all killed our bosses a hundred times over in our heads, but very few actually act on those impulses. It’s the actualization that decides whether you’re normal or a monster.

How have you seen the horror genre change over the years? And how do you think it will continue to evolve?

We’ve all seen the scary clown stories from “The Old Masters”, but I’m seeing a new resurgence of younger writers whose work has a twisted sense of humor to it. A book I really love from a few years back that is a good example of this is Amelia Beamer’s “The Loving Dead”. I think this is the direction horror is going; wicked humor, psychology, nothing is sacred, and I love it.

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?

I think as more queer voices start getting heard representation will get better. For a long time it was just “the gay friend of the hero” who usually died fairly quickly but as more of us start getting noticed things will change.

Who are some of your favorite LGBTQ characters in horror?

I have to admit I’m a fan of the “True Blood” rework of Lafayette, though I can’t recommend the actual Sookie Stackhouse books. Nelsan Ellis just brought a certain something to the role that I loved.

Who are some LGBTQ horror authors you recommend our audience check out? 

Well, if I may be so bold, myself. I’m becoming a fan of the work of Sumiko Saulson as well.

What is one piece of advice you would give horror authors today?

Do NOT stop writing, no matter how the rejections pile up.

And to the LGBTQ writers out there who are just getting started, what advice would you give them?

Be you and be proud of you. Be proud of your work. Stay true to your vision and don’t compromise it.

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