Women in Horror: Interview with Monique Snyman
Monique Snyman’s mind is a confusing bedlam of glitter and death, where candy-coated gore is found in abundance and homicidal unicorns thrive. Sorting out the mess in her head is particularly irksome before she’s ingested a specific amount of coffee, which is equal to half the recommended intake of water for humans per day. When she’s not playing referee to her imaginary friends or trying to overdose on caffeine, she’s doing something with words—be it writing, reading, or editing.
Monique Snyman lives in Pretoria, South Africa, with her husband, daughter, and an adorable Chihuahua. She’s the author of the Bram Stoker Award® nominated novels, THE NIGHT WEAVER and THE BONE CARVER, and the upcoming South African horror series, DARK COUNTRY.
What inspired you to start writing?
My love of writing stems from my love of books. I taught myself to read when I was 3 years old and never stopped devouring books since then. Telling stories is simply part of who I am.
What was it about the horror genre that drew you to it?
The adrenaline rush I get from being afraid … That flight, fight, or freeze response is kind of addictive, and I like making other people feel that way.
Do you make a conscious effort to include female characters and themes in your writing and if so, what do you want to portray?
I can’t imagine writing a book without a female character in it, to be honest. I tend to write strong, albeit flawed female characters, women who aren’t afraid of their sexuality, and certainly don’t let their gender hold them back. In my earlier work, I leaned into empowerment as a theme a lot, but I’ve been exploring other themes as of late.
What has writing horror taught you about the world and yourself?
Ha! Apparently, I have a teensy-tiny megalomania problem when I write… I enjoy it way too much having the power to destroy my characters’ lives. As for what horror taught me about the world, well, people are truly monsters. Whatever my brain conjures up for a story is nothing compared to what people can and will do in real life to one another.
How have you seen the horror genre change over the years? And how do you think it will continue to evolve?
There’s a lot more inclusivity these days. Is it enough? I think there’s still room for improvement, but we’re on the right track. Also, I love how there’s a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment and bullying now. Women finally have a safe(r) place to be themselves in the horror community.
I think women will, hopefully, be paid the same as men when it comes to advances by publishers. That’s what I truly hope happens in the future.
How do you feel women have been represented thus far in the genre and what hopes do you have for representation in the genre going forward?
As of late, I’ve almost only read books with female protagonists, whether the author is male or female. It’s both a good thing and a bad thing, in my opinion … Good, because finally there are stories women can imagine themselves into (even if they’re horror stories). Bad, because sometimes those female protagonists are 2D characters that are just used to fulfill a male torture-porn fantasy. Hopefully, that trend will fall away soon.
Who are some of your favorite female characters in horror?
I always come back to Anna from Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake. She’s one of the most memorable characters (and one of my favorites) ever.
Who are some women who write horror you recommend our audience check out?
I think, technically, C.J. Tudor is considered a thriller writer, but her work is currently some of my favorite. I also highly recommend Alexandrea Weis’ work to young adult readers. Lindy Ryan, of course, is also a woman in horror folks should check out (such a versatile author), and then Linda D. Addison for those poetry lovers. 😊
What is one piece of advice you would give horror authors today?
You do you. As long as you’re not hurting anyone else by being you, then screw whatever other advice you get about how you should be in the writing industry. You don’t need to change to be a horror writer and you don’t need to jump on any bandwagon to be popular. You’re enough just as you are.
And to the women who write horror out there who are just getting started, what advice would you give them?
Work hard on your craft, hone it, and no matter what, don’t settle for less than what you’re worth.
