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 Charlotte Platt!
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?
I was writing from very early on and I kept coming back to writing over and over again. I took breaks around exam periods and training, or around upheavals, but the words always come back and I keep coming back to my weird little stories so it was natural to keep going. Books that inspired me were always going to lean weird and queer so I would say Clive Barker in general but also Ramsay Campbell and other weird Brits. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier was my teenage English class obsession as well, but who wasn’t obsessed with Rebecca growing up?
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?
I think my main strength is that my characters, while relatable, are entirely themselves and quite odd! They’re not all massive weirdos, but most of them are, and I like diving into what made them as strange or unusual as they end up being in my stories. In terms of improving, I am a big fan of reading a lot of what you want to get better at and seeing what about it you like – or don’t – and what you feel is missing in your craft. Also, workshopping and beta reading with other writers. There’s so much good to be got out of a good workshopping session, but equally don’t be afraid to bounce if the one you find doesn’t match your needs. There will be others, writers are big on giving and sharing time, and you will find where you do fit.
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?
I think it can be very hard for new writers, and the horror community can feel like quite a closed group. It isn’t, there are so many good and supportive writers out there, but in online communities there can be a lot of flare ups and dramas (or really stupid “PR” decisions that stray into creepy internet behaviour as we recently saw). I think finding your people is really important, and we as a community can do so much, but don’t be afraid to keep your peace and establish your boundaries if you need to.
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
This one is so hard! I think I’m probably most proud of a short called Lifeboat, which was in ‘What Monsters Do For Love’ because it’s a nightmare blend of all the things I like. I have a new story called Waiting for Agot that I think is one of my strongest stories, though I am still looking for a home for her as she’s a funny fish of a tale. I’m also very proud of my novel coming out this year for the same reason, it’s unapologetically itself and doesn’t shy away from showing representation that I want to be on page.
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
I have a book coming out with Grendel Press this year, called One Smile More, which I am very excited about! That’s my most recent novel – a dark historical fantasy – and I am hoping that the full trilogy will come out with them as well because there is such an interesting large story. I also have a few true crime essays coming out in 2024!
KANDISHA PRESS 