Interview with Internationally Known Author Janelle Schiecke

1. What got you interested in horror?

I have a vivid memory of when I was eight years old, and my oldest brother was watching A Nightmare on Elm Street in our living room with his friends. I was terrified (hiding behind the recliner for most of the movie), but still enjoying the rush of adrenaline from the screams and the eerie score.

At one point, he told me it was okay to look at the screen. When I did, I saw Glen being sucked into Nancy’s bed and that horrific fountain of blood gushing to the ceiling. I high-tailed it out of there, but in the days that followed remembered the excitement of that fear and the sheer creativity of that scene as well.

This stayed with me, and I began to watch more horror movies and read horror books to experience that adrenaline rush again and palpable dread. I’ve always appreciated the depth of emotions that can be explored within this genre and the range of creativity as well.

2. Who is your favorite author?

I have to say my favorite author is Stephen King. Though I love reading other authors as well, I find many of King’s stories so compelling and genuinely scary. I do gravitate more toward his older works, such as Pet Sematary, Misery, and IT.

3. Do you write in genres other than horror?

At the moment, I write solely in the horror genre. In the future, however, I may be drawn to write in other genres as well. I’ve always thought it might be fun to write a thriller.

4. What's your favorite genre to write?

Horror is my favorite genre to write, because it’s what I know and grew up on. I love writing unsettling scenes and playing up that fear factor. It’s also enjoyable to add humor as a buffer to ease tension.

There are so many interesting subgenres in horror to explore as well, which offers a wealth of creative possibilities.

5. How long did it take you to "make it" as an Author?

This is such a great question, and I am flattered to be asked how long it took me to “make it” because I have made an impact as an indie author that I am very proud of. And though I still feel I have a ways to go (and am very excited for what’s to come), it took me about two years to really break through and get noticed. There are so very many talented indie authors, and it can be hard to attract attention in a sea of shining stars. It’s so important to stay genuine and lean into your niche.

6. Do you ever base part of a character on a real person?

Oh absolutely! Many of my characters are based on real people. For instance, the two male characters in Death Cult, Jason and Eddie, are both loosely based on my two older brothers. For this reason, I really enjoyed writing their banter throughout the story.

The characters of Amy and Max in Ghost Room are based on two of my best friends growing up, who I am still blessed to be friends with today. In turn, the main character, Jess, is largely based on myself.

The Clatter Man is fun, because the mix of characters are based on different groups I remember from high school. You had the jocks (Ben and Jamie), the stoners (Dustin), the cool girls (Val), and then you had the more pensive and cautious individuals (Abby).

7. Do you have a process you follow for creating your books?

Great question! I’m sure this answer varies so much depending on the author, but personally I find if there is an idea that simply will not let go, I’ll begin to jot down notes. If these notes are forming a compelling enough story, I’ll elaborate more on possible scenarios and plant more characters in.

Once I’m confident this is something I want to pursue, I’ll begin writing a first draft. This is the tricky part, however, because sometimes that spark fizzles out and I’m left with a few chapters just sitting there. In this case, I’ll just keep them on the backburner. Oftentimes, I’m able to integrate some of those ideas into a new story.

When that spark doesn’t fizzle out with a first draft though, and only burns brighter the more I write, that’s my next book.

8. Has there ever been a character you regretted killing off?

This gets me thinking about Eddie from Death Cult. I love his character, and the brutal circumstances of his death have stayed with me. He sure did go down fighting, though—I wanted his demise to be a memorable one.

10. Did you always like to read horror?

I did! When I was a kid, I read the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series by Alvin Schwartz quite often and began to read Edgar Allan Poe’s works early on as well. There were also other books I enjoyed, such as The Call of the Wild by Jack London and the Choose Your Own Adventure books. For the most part, however, I’ve always enjoyed reading horror.

11. Do you have an author you would class as an inspiration?

I feel Stephen King is definitely an author who inspired me at a young age. Though I watched movies and shows based on his books before I began to read them, I enjoy his writing style and diverse range of stories.

At the current moment, Nick Cutter and Adam Cesare are both authors I’m taking inspiration from.

12. What's your writing process like? Do you outline your books or are you more of a "fly by the seat of your pants" type writer?

I’m a big panster, meaning my ideas mostly come to me as I write. Though I do create very basic outlines for my stories, I find that my best ideas come to me spontaneously. Many times, I’ll be in the process of writing a scene I have included in my outline and it will veer off in a completely different direction. If I enjoy where it’s going and feel it adds value to the story, I’ll follow my muse and continue on that side road to see where it ends up.

13. Do you have a limit as to what you would put in a book and why?

Unless I were writing a wilderness survival story, I don’t think I could ever have a character kill an animal. I’m such an animal lover, and it would break my heart to write this into a story as a callous act.

14. What was your favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject in school was art class. I found it so freeing to express my creativity in such different mediums, and my favorite mediums were painting and sculpture. I enjoyed using tempera paint the most (watercolors were hard for me to work with) and loved painting landscapes. Sculpturing was so fun because, instead of a brush, your fingers were the instruments and I found this to be much more intimate.

15. What advice would you give to others who want to become authors?

The first piece of advice I have is that the road to becoming an author is a long one and takes much patience and willpower. Whether you choose to self-publish or traditionally publish, it’s a ton of work and you really have to want it and have a love for the craft.

Also, being an author requires a lot of marketing. This may seem daunting, but it’s largely about being yourself and building your “brand,” so to speak. I’m a horror fan who loves talking about horror books and movies, and feel so blessed to have made so many wonderful connections on my author journey. Since the horror genre is what I love, it all just fits together.

Love it or hate it, social media is a very helpful tool for getting your name out there and growing an audience. There are so many platforms to choose from, so people can discover which platform (or mix of platforms) works best for them and go from there.

Supporting other authors is crucial as well, and it helps to build your village. My fellow authors are such sources of inspiration and support, and I love celebrating their wins.

16. What's your favorite scary movie?

A Nightmare on Elm Street, and it’s my favorite scary movie for so many reasons.

It’s the first really scary movie I remember watching, so this is significant in and of itself. This movie is also so very creative and the practical effects are still impressive to this day. Plus, there are so many infamous scenes—Glen being pulled into Nancy’s bed followed by that geyser of blood, the bathtub scene with Nancy, the melting stairs, and so much more.

I feel Freddy Krueger is one of the most terrifying monsters ever created. The fact that he can kill you in your dreams? This absolutely terrified me as a kid, and the concept is so effective.

A Nightmare on Elm Street is such a horror classic, and I even took inspiration from this movie when writing The Clatter Man.

17. Do you think more people realize now that women can be good kickass horror writers and directors too? Why or why not?

I do, and with regard to directors the first example I can think of is the success of The Substance by Coralie Fargeat. What an incredible movie that shows such a powerful portrayal of the struggles women face amidst societal pressures. The cinematography and color tones are also beautiful.

So many other talented female directors come to mind such as Kathryn Bigelo, Greta Gerwig, and Sofia Coppola.

What I enjoy about being a female horror author myself is that some of the stories I write are quite violent and gory, whereas I’m naturally a very positive person who enjoys navigating the range of emotions and context horror provides.

There’s such a dichotomy between who I am as an author and who I am as a person.

18. Who did you look up to for inspiration as a younger person?

My mother was my inspiration. She had such strength and resilience, and taught me to work hard and keep my head up through rough times. She also taught me how important empathy is, the art of really listening to others, and the value of being present.

She had such a lovely smile and a warm presence, and was my soft place to fall. I was very close to my father as well, and he had such a great sense of humor and a positive outlook on life. I honor both of my parents in how I raise my son.

My mother instilled in me the love of reading at an early age, and would often buy me Stephen King books as birthday gifts beginning in my teenage years. I treasure these today.

19. Who's your favorite person?

I have two favorite people for different reasons.

My husband has always been so incredibly supportive and loving. He’s also very creative himself and a fan of horror as well, so enjoys giving me feedback on my stories. In addition, he has a great sense of humor and knows how much I love to laugh!

My son inspires me in so many ways. He’s so insightful, creative, and loves to make me laugh too! We enjoy taking walks together and talking about anything at all, though our conversations usually revolve around the stories and creativity of video games and movies. We love to analyze and speculate which elements could have been done differently and which were really effective.

20. What do you think of the recent gains in visibility and diversity we're seeing in horror recently?

I’m really enjoying it, and appreciate the wide range of narratives being told. This shift has provided a deeper understanding of different backgrounds, and it’s helped to bridge a gap and allow everyone to tell their stories and feel seen.

21. When I was younger, I said that women couldn't write horror (I was ignorant). What female authors did you look up to?

Women can write such deliciously dark horror, and growing up I looked up to Anne Rice. I absolutely love her Mayfair Witches series and the eloquence and terror of her prose. She was able to immerse you into a story so deeply you felt as if you were there.

Of course, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is quintessential horror and such a beloved classic.

Though Agatha Christie is not technically a horror author, I’ve always loved the dread and suspense in her writing. My favorite novel of hers is And Then There Were None. What a fantastic story, and she keeps you guessing while also including lighthearted humor throughout as well.

22. Who's your favorite music artist?

I have many favorite musical artists (from Guns n’ Roses to Foxy Shazam and Amos Lee), but if I’m going by which artists I listen to the most it’s Bleachers and Post Malone.

Post Malone is a phenomenal artist, and what range he has! I love how he blends genres, and can’t even count how many times I’ve listened to his album Hollywood’s Bleeding. He also has a great sense of humor, an eclectic style, and a down-to-earth personality.

Bleachers has quite a different style, but I love how nostalgic and atmospheric their music is. Some of their songs are also so upbeat and invigorating, and if I’m in a slump I’ll listen to one and almost immediately feel more energized. One such song is “Modern Girl,” I absolutely love it!

23. What song would you want played at your funeral?

I’d say The Rose by Bette Midler.

I played The Rose at a piano recital as a kid, my friends and I listened to it often growing up, and my mother loved it as well. To me, this beautiful song speaks of the trials and tribulations of life and to also have hope for the future.

I strive to be a source of comfort and support for my family and friends, and believe very much that through the storms of our lives we can move on to calmer waters and discover strength we never knew we had.