AUTHOR INTERVIEW: E. SENECA

We wanted to know more about our ant

hology authors so we asked if we could pick their brains and scoop out the delicious brilliance.

Next up is E. Seneca who brought us the remarkably brilliant tale, "Regarding The Coffin From The River"

IP: Would you survive one of your stories in real life? Which one and how would you last? 

E: Unfortunately, I don’t think so! Even my non-horror stories tend to have some death involved somewhere!

IP: What is the most unconventional piece of inspiration you’ve had?

E: I think it was observing the composite face of a sunflower that gave me part of the inspiration for my short story “Cecilia.”

IP: How do you write? What does your ‘routine’/‘set up’ look like? Do you have a playlist?

E: While I don’t have a set playlist for a particular project or genre, I find that listening to music helps me focus immensely. I favor music that is rhythmic or repetitive, something that isn’t too distracting. I don’t have any specific routine, I just put on my headphones and put my hands on

the keyboard.

IP: What are you currently working on? If you're not working on anything at the moment, what work are you most proud of? (Big yourself up!)

E: I recently started a new novel that I’m hoping will be able to hit a folk horror vibe, though it’s in the early stages yet. If I had to choose, I’m probably proudest of either “The Case of the Arkham Doctor,” a Sherlock Holmes and H.P. Lovecraft crossover, or “Blood of the Sea,” a cosmic horror story. I had a great time working on both and I think they both turned out very nicely.

IP: What are your favourite things about the horror/writing community at the moment? 

E: I think one of the best things about horror is that anything can be horror if you approach it from the right angle, and I find that endless creative potential to be something wonderful! There are

so many unique and unusual ideas that flourish in the horror community.

IP: Who would you say is the biggest supporter of your writing? 

E: I have a good friend who’s been my cheerleader from the start.

IP: Why do you write?

E: If I had to sum it up simply, I just really enjoy telling stories, with everything that entails: coming up with characters and conflicts, capturing certain emotions, and striking a chord somewhere in the reader.

IP: Name a writer that inspires you and why?

E: I don’t think I have anyone in particular—I find inspiration in almost everything I read. But I’m quite fond of some of the classical gothic horror writers of the 1800s and 1900s. I admire writers who can create a gripping atmosphere or tone.

IP: What would be the worst superpower to have? 

E: I think any kind of super sense like hearing, smell, or touch would be terrible to have; sensing something with extreme detail and acuity all the time always seemed to me like something which would drive a person very crazy very quickly. We probably take our relatively limited senses a bit for granted!

IP: And because we have to ask - favourite horror movie?

E: I’m afraid my answer will disappoint: I don’t actually have one. Despite being a horror writer, I haven’t watched many horror movies. With Halloween approaching soon, it seems like the perfect time to remedy that.

IP: Where can we find you, and your work?

E: My full bibliography is available at my blog esenecaauthor.wordpress.com/works), along with links to each work. Some have been published in online magazines and are freely available. I’m always working on new short stories in between my longer works, and I hope to have some new ones out soon!