Women In Horror Month 2024 : An Interview with J.L. Delozier
What inspired you to start writing?
Burnout and boredom. Seriously, though, I always loved to write – submitted my first sci-fi short story to Asimov’s Magazine when I was in elementary school! (It was kindly rejected.) Then I got busy with my medical training and career, and only after I was nearing middle age and retirement did I decide I’d damn well get that book written – I wasn’t getting any younger!
What was it about the horror genre that drew you to it?
I cut my teeth on sci-fi and Stephen King, so I naturally gravitate to horror. However, I consider myself one of those hard-to-characterize writers (the ones the booksellers hate!) who mash genres at will. None of my first five books are pure horror, but they sure do have horror elements, particularly Blood Type X. I plan to write a true horror novel someday, and I can’t wait. Already have the concept…
Do you make a conscious effort to include female characters and themes in your writing
and if so, what do you want to portray?
Absolutely. My Persephone Smith trilogy features a heroine who is as disturbed and capable as the villain – a true cat-and-mouse tale. I don’t consciously try to plant themes. I think that comes across as too heavy-handed/preachy. I let the themes present themselves, and they always do.
What has writing horror taught you about the world and yourself?
Sadly, nothing I didn’t already know: the monsters are among us. They are us.
How have you seen the horror genre change over the years? And how do you think it will
continue to evolve?
There are trends as with any genre, but I think we’re seeing more body and
environmental/post-apocalyptic horror which taps into our concerns about Mother Earth. I also
love the cultural elements we’re seeing today with writers like Gabino Iglesias and Alma Katsu.
It makes the genre feel fresh again.
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?
Women have always been well-represented in horror – I mean, think Mary Shelley, Daphne du Maurier, and my personal favorite, Shirley Jackson – but their contributions have been underappreciated. The future looks bright ahead, though. There are so many great names out there right now – Alma Katsu and Cynthia Pelayo, to name just two – that I can’t help but feel optimistic.
Who are some of your favorite female characters in horror?
Going with a classic here – Carrie. For me, she’s the character that started it all. And who could forget Annie Wilkes?
Who are some women who write horror you recommend our audience check out?
Oldies but goodies – Shirley Jackson, Daphne du Maurier, Anne Rice, Joyce Carol Oates. More recent: Alma Katsu, Laura Purcell, and Cynthia Pelayo.
What is one piece of advice you would give horror authors today?
Write what terrifies you. Chances are, it will terrify us, too. And it’s a good catharsis.
And to the women who write horror out there who are just getting started, what advice
would you give them?
Join an organization that will amplify your voice and support you – like the HWA!
Bio:
As a physician, J.L. Delozier draws inspiration from science that exists on the edge of reality—bizarre medical anomalies, new genetic discoveries, and anything that seems too weird to be true. Her debut was nominated for a “Best First Novel” award by the International Thriller Writers organization; her fourth novel, Con Me Once, won a Silver Falchion Award. Her latest murder mystery, The Photo Thief, won an Ippy Award for Best Mystery and was nominated for Thriller and Silver Falchion awards. Her equally award-winning short fiction has appeared in Artemis Journal, The Pittsburgher, Thriller Magazine, Retreats from Oblivion, and various anthologies. A retired Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at Penn State, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and feline twins. See more at www.jldelozier.com
