GREETINGS, BOOKWORMS! I’m Aisha Kandisha, Head Librarian at Kandisha Press. Join me in the dusty stacks of the library I will never leave again as I chat with some of my favorite Women in Horror. Today we feature author Lydia Prime!
LYDIA PRIME is a New Jersey born creature of the night. Her short story, Sadie, (published in Kandisha Press’, Under Her Black Wings: 2020 Women in Horror Anthology) won the 23rd Critters Annual Readers Poll for Best Horror Short Story (2020). When Lydia isn’t unleashing her nightmares on readers, she happily helps others polish their brain children with her editing services. As co-editor at Kandisha Press, current editor for Silent House Press, and a former co-owner of Sirens Call Publications, she’s ready for anything. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Lydiaprime
What made you want to become an author? Did you have an “Aha!” moment when you knew you were born to write? Or perhaps a beloved book inspired you?
What genuinely made me want to become an author was the, I want to say “need,” but it’s almost more than a need. The burning desire to explain the world the way I see it.
The “aha!” moment doesn’t exist for me in the sense of a specific singular instance, but more several small affirmations. I’ve always had difficulty speaking and opening up to people, despite my current open book nature. Finding out that I had not only an easier time getting things out of this vault of a noggin when a pen and paper came into the mix, but that I could help other people see things through my eyes – my perspective – gave me a new power. But as I said, nothing specific, just instances over the years that pointed me towards the universe’s ultimate goal for me: cult leader author.
What do you believe are your strengths in writing? And when you feel you need to improve on a particular writing skill, how do you go about it?
My main strength in writing has to be my ability to paint pictures in people’s minds. Time and time again, I hear from others that my descriptions (albeit sometimes stomach churning) are, “the bees knees.*” which is fabulous for me because I want the person reading to feel like they’re in the story. I don’t want them to just read it but feel the adrenaline with the characters, and bear witness to some creeptastic scenes.
To improve on any writing skills, it takes repetition (for me). Repeated mistakes, repeated corrections, repeated chances to improve. I know that’s not all too specific, but I’m not a technical person when it comes to this stuff, and it’s true. Haha!
What are your thoughts on the book industry today, or more importantly, about the book community? Do you feel it is getting harder or easier to make it as an independent author these days?
My thoughts on the book industry aren’t informed enough to actually say one way or another — BUT it does seem like a lot more authors are taking matters into their own hands and getting their stories out whether the big wigs notice or not. As for the book community, I don’t hang around on social media too much to know what that particular “community” is like… but everyone I’ve ever encountered has been incredibly welcoming and supportive.
As for whether it’s harder or easier to “make it” as an indie author — I don’t think much has changed. Everyone’s still trying to get to the same place. Still have to be a promotion machine, we just have more apps to post on!
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
I write a lot about razor sharp teeth having creatures and I like to keep the reader guessing. I also use a lot of dark humor and lean into addiction issues/psych issues with my pieces.
I think the story I’m most proud of is Hazel Hill. Oonas discomfort and struggle to know what’s real and what’s not mirrors my own on a daily basis. Haha!
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
The co-collection We’re Not Ourselves Today by myself and Jill Girardi is coming out in (well a matter of hours by the time this posts!) it’s 13 Pulp horror tales to sink your teeth into. Hosted by the one and only Librarian, Aisha Kandisha.
KANDISHA PRESS 