Today’s special guest is dark fiction author KC Grifant and we’re chatting about her new horror novel, Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny.
Bio:
KC Grifant is an award-winning writer based in Southern California who creates internationally published horror, fantasy, science fiction, and weird west stories. Many of her short stories have appeared in podcasts, magazines, games, and Stoker-nominated anthologies.
Her weird western novel, Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger (Brigids Gate Press, 2023), described as a blend of Bonnie & Clyde meet The Witcher and Supernatural, is the first in a series. It ranked #1 in Amazon New Releases for Western Horrors and has received positive reviews internationally. The second novel, Melinda West and the Gremlin Queen, will release in 2025. She is also author of the short story collection Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny (Dragon’s Roost Press, 2024) and co-creator of the Monster Gunslingers card game.
In addition to writing, she is the co-chair and founder of the Horror Writers Association San Diego chapter, a short story instructor, and member of numerous writing organizations, including the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. Learn more at www.KCGrifant.com or connect on the social networks at @KCGrifant.
Welcome, KC. Please tell us about your current release.
Shrouded Horror contains a mix of my new and previously published horror short stories. These cosmic and weird stories are about horrors that lie below the surface, ready to bubble up and disturb the veil of our everyday lives. From the bowels of NYC to the mind-warping outer reaches of space, the collection features what happens when ordinary people bump against the hidden terrors that sit at the boundaries of reality. It has vibes of Tales From the Crypt, The Twilight Zone and Goosebumps (adult version).
What inspired you to write this book?
I’ve written many short stories over the years but wanted to pull together a collection showcasing the strongest tales that share similar themes. While they are written very differently and feature a wide range of scenarios, many of the stories have similarities in themes of community and isolation, claustrophobia, and subverted expectations with unexpected consequences.
What exciting project are you working on next?
I am refining the next book in my weird west series that features monster exterminators in an alternative version of the Old West, titled Melinda West and the Goblin Queen (Brigids Gate Press, 2025). I also have a weird west card game coming out, called Monster Gunslingers The Game. Readers can stay updated at www.KCGrifant.com or by connecting with me on the major social media platforms @kcgrifant.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I first considered myself a writer almost as soon as I learned to put pen to paper. One of my earliest stories was about a girl who shrinks to ride on a paper plane, which began a series of tales I created in third or fourth grade. In middle school and high school, I wrote fantasy stories about other worlds, sci-fi tales, and lots of fan fiction (before it was called that) centered around X-Men, Frankenstein, X-Files, and other obsessions I had at the time. However, it wasn’t until I settled down later in life that I began to write regularly and got serious about publishing.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
With a full-time job and two small kids, it’s definitely a challenge to write consistently. I can’t write every day, but I make sure to get some writing done by the end of the week. I try to visit my fictional worlds in the evenings or on the weekends to keep the stories moving.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I usually have to listen to music to focus and write. I can write anywhere, as long as I have some lyrical background noise. And oddly enough, music without words is distracting; I need vocals in the music. I have many multi-genre playlists for writing, which include pop, techno, hip hop, new age, rock and other genres.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
While I always wrote stories as a kid, I thought being an author would not be that exciting. I had my sights set on being an astronaut for a long time, serious enough that I studied astronomy and wanted to go to space camp.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Readers can a few of my free short stories to read and listen to on my website to get a taste of what’s in Shrouded Horror: https://scifiwri.com/stories/.
Thank you for the interview!
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