My first Women in Horror is a lady I have admired for a very long time. She has written well over 60 books and tons of more short stories. She is clear, precise, controlled, creepy and downright entertaining. Even Stephen King reads her work. She is a tough women, a brilliant writer and a great friend, BILLIE SUE MOSIMAN.
Blog Questions - Women Writers in Horror Month
1. When did you start writing horror?
Between 1980-83. My first fiction sale was a short story to “The Horror Show,” to editor Dave Silva. Same month, same year I sold my first suspense novel to a New York publisher.
2.Have you written in any other genre?
I write suspense novels.
3.What makes you uncomfortable?
Medical procedures and thinking about the vastness of universe.
4.Does your family read your work?
My daughters and grandchildren do.
5. Does your writing make you uneasy?
Now and then when I’m delving into ideas that disturb or make me wonder.
Between 1980-83. My first fiction sale was a short story to “The Horror Show,” to editor Dave Silva. Same month, same year I sold my first suspense novel to a New York publisher.
2.Have you written in any other genre?
I write suspense novels.
3.What makes you uncomfortable?
Medical procedures and thinking about the vastness of universe.
4.Does your family read your work?
My daughters and grandchildren do.
5. Does your writing make you uneasy?
Now and then when I’m delving into ideas that disturb or make me wonder.
6.Who would you say you write like?
I don’t know for sure. Probably closest to King.
7.Who are your favourite authors?
Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, Mary Shelley, Dennis Lehane, Paul Theroux, Stephen King, Jim Thompson, and a ton of others.
I don’t know for sure. Probably closest to King.
7.Who are your favourite authors?
Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, Mary Shelley, Dennis Lehane, Paul Theroux, Stephen King, Jim Thompson, and a ton of others.
8. Who influences you as a writer?
I don’t know the answer to that either. I’ve read so widely for so many years I just can’t say.
9. Do you remember what your first horror book was that you read?
As a kid I read The Tell-Tale Heart by Poe and it scared the hell out of me
10. How old were you?
Around thirteen.
11. Is there any subject you will not touch as an author?
I guess not, though if I do write about
subjects that bother me, I do it with the lens at a distance. I don’t like to either read, watch, or write close-up, in-your-face horror. I despise gore for gore’s sake. I particularly don’t like to write about rape, though I have because it’s part of the dark subjects I write about.
12. What was the best advice you were given as a writer?
Keep trying, you’ll make it. And it was true.
13. If you had to start all over again, what would you do different?
I’d try to learn to smooze. I have no skills at it and kissing ass makes me want to vomit. I might have done better had I the ability to run off to a lot of cons and book signings and smooze like a mofo. I couldn’t do it and keep my dignity. Being friendly is one thing. Deliberately sucking-up is something I’ll never be accused of doing. It’s not in my worldview as an acceptable behavior. I’d learn to lie. Those who lie seem to go along swimmingly. Lying, also, is not part of my make-up and I can’t do it.
14. How many books do you read a year?
It fluctuates. Due to health concerns my reading has been slim for a year or so.
15. Do you write every day?
No, I write when I feel like it. I don’t go by rules and regulations. If I wanted to do that, I’d have been an accountant. I live my life freely, creatively, and that’s made all the difference. I read all the best books on writing, then discarded them. I think we make our
I don’t know the answer to that either. I’ve read so widely for so many years I just can’t say.
9. Do you remember what your first horror book was that you read?
As a kid I read The Tell-Tale Heart by Poe and it scared the hell out of me
10. How old were you?
Around thirteen.
11. Is there any subject you will not touch as an author?
I guess not, though if I do write about
subjects that bother me, I do it with the lens at a distance. I don’t like to either read, watch, or write close-up, in-your-face horror. I despise gore for gore’s sake. I particularly don’t like to write about rape, though I have because it’s part of the dark subjects I write about.
12. What was the best advice you were given as a writer?
Keep trying, you’ll make it. And it was true.
13. If you had to start all over again, what would you do different?
I’d try to learn to smooze. I have no skills at it and kissing ass makes me want to vomit. I might have done better had I the ability to run off to a lot of cons and book signings and smooze like a mofo. I couldn’t do it and keep my dignity. Being friendly is one thing. Deliberately sucking-up is something I’ll never be accused of doing. It’s not in my worldview as an acceptable behavior. I’d learn to lie. Those who lie seem to go along swimmingly. Lying, also, is not part of my make-up and I can’t do it.
14. How many books do you read a year?
It fluctuates. Due to health concerns my reading has been slim for a year or so.
15. Do you write every day?
No, I write when I feel like it. I don’t go by rules and regulations. If I wanted to do that, I’d have been an accountant. I live my life freely, creatively, and that’s made all the difference. I read all the best books on writing, then discarded them. I think we make our
own paths and trying to follow someone else’s path can destroy the only good and original spirit
we have in us.
Please provide Amazon, Twitter, Linked In, Facebook, Blog Links
http://www.amazon.com/Billie-Sue-Mosiman/e/B000AQ0Z5E/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1422805020&sr=1-2-ent
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/billie.s.mosiman
Twitter: @billiemosiman
Blog link: http://www.peculiarwriter.blogspot.com
Please provide Amazon, Twitter, Linked In, Facebook, Blog Links
http://www.amazon.com/Billie-Sue-Mosiman/e/B000AQ0Z5E/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1422805020&sr=1-2-ent
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/billie.s.mosiman
Twitter: @billiemosiman
Blog link: http://www.peculiarwriter.blogspot.com
Great interview! Billie Sue inspires us all.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori! And I want to thank Malina for the interview.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, Billie Sue (and Malina). Always enjoy poking through the brain of a successful writer. Thank you for sharing this--looking forward to the interviews to come!
ReplyDeleteThank you, mott342!
DeleteLove all you guys!
ReplyDelete