Horror Writer Interview: Cozy chat with author Briana Morgan

QUESTION

After reading the first line of a review* for Mouth Full of Ashes on your website, I grabbed a kindle copy from Amazon.  Between the aesthetics of your website and that one sentence, fond memories were instantly sparked of all the time I spent on the front porch of my century-old home (I have since moved), devouring one vampire tale after another. I’m excited to escape into Mouth Full of Ashes and conjure up all that creepy, cozy nostalgia!

But my question is, where have you done a sustainable amount of reading (ahem, escapism, ahem)? Do you have a fav reading nook? Do you have a memory you feel comfortable sharing?

(* for readers of this blog, the review starts with “Briana Morgan gives all of us vampire lovers something simultaneously fresh and nostalgic with Mouth Full of Ashes”).

ANSWER

I read all over the place! Between my phone and my Kindle, reading has become more seamless and convenient for me than ever. If I had to pick my favorite place to read at home, it’s in my egg chair in the living room. The chair has cozy string lights woven through it, a pillow, and a blanket. There is also an ottoman so I can put my feet up. It’s a lovely place.

One of my favorite reading memories comes from studying abroad in London in summer 2013. Every night before dozing off, I’d turn off all the lights in my dorm room, open the window for some air and nightlife ambiance, and dive into my Kindle. Those were good times.

QUESTION

Selfishly, I’m wondering if you spent as much time at your local library as a kid as I did, and if so, what were the specific books you checked out repeatedly? For me, it was Ed’ Emberley’s Halloween drawing Book and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark for every sleepover. Is that something we have in common? 🙂

ANSWER

My poor mother. I was in the library every couple of days as a kid. It felt like I was always maxing out my holds. I was big on the Choose Your Own Adventure books back then, and I remember checking out the whole series and reading it multiple times. I think that series shaped my love of interactive media, especially video games.

QUESTION

Speaking of childhood, what did autumn and the lead-up to Halloween look like for you as a kid? 

ANSWER

We always attended our church’s fall festival the night before Halloween. On Halloween itself, my mom would help my brother and me dress up and then she’d take us trick-or-treating through the neighborhood. Once we got home, Mom and Dad checked our candy. We only got to eat a little before bedtime.
I also remember watching a lot of Halloween-themed family movies, including Casper, Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

QUESTION

Was there a local legend in your hometown or surrounding area that captivated you as a kid? If so, can you share it with us?

ANSWER

I wish! The only thing I can remember is going on a school field trip to DeBary Manor in Florida, which is supposedly haunted, although I never saw evidence of ghosts. I think the tour guide was just trying to scare all the children.

QUESTION

If you were to timeline out where your spooky journey started and where you are now, using book titles, what would be the highlights?

ANSWER

Ooh, this is a good one. My first spooky book was Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Shortly after that came Goosebumps and Fear Street. At thirteen, I discovered Cujo by Stephen King. Since then, I’ve read much of King’s work, but I’ve expanded to more diverse creators. Now, I read a lot of indie horror such as The Worm and His Kings, We Need to Do Something, and To Be Devoured. I also enjoy modern traditionally published titles, such as Black Sheep, Horror Movie, Whalefall, etc.

QUESTION

Can you pinpoint what it is about the horror genre that keeps you coming back for more? 

ANSWER

Put simply, I like being scared. I like testing my limits in a safe environment where I have total control. With reading, if you get too scared, you can put the book down.

QUESTION

The subculture conjured out of our love for the delightfully dark side of life has me constantly inspired and meeting the most interesting people! Who gives you life these days with their contributions to our creepy community?

ANSWER

I could list all the phenomenal authors who inspire me, but I’ll go with visual artists here. Trevor Henderson is a massive inspiration. Not only do I adore his work, but I got to blurb a book he wrote. I also follow a lot of tattoo artists, such as Lawrence Edwards (@feraleyes on Instagram), who gave me a wicked Death’s Head Moth tattoo last weekend. Whenever I need to refill my creative well, I look at visual artists.

QUESTION

Lastly, for those being introduced to you for the first time, what would you like them to know, and what route should they take to start diving deeper into your world?

ANSWER

Hello! My name is Briana Morgan, I use she/her pronouns, and I’m a queer, disabled horror writer living in Atlanta, GA. My books focus on the darker side of humanity as well as unidentified things that go bump in the night. I love twisty plots and complicated characters. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, playing video games, and spending time with my husband and our cat.

For more information about me and my work, check out my website or follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. I also have a Patreon. Thanks for your support!

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