IN THE LIBRARY WITH L.M. LABAT

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 L.M. Labat!

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L. M. Labat stems from New Orleans, Louisiana. From the struggles of a broken family and surviving life-threatening events, Labat found refuge within the arts while delving into the fields of medicine, psychology, and the occult. While combining illustration and literature, L. M. was able to cope with endless nightmares as well as hone in on artistic techniques. From confronting the past to facing new shadows, this author gladly invites audiences into the horror of The Sanguinarian Id.

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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?

Art and writing always remained vital components in my life. Along with reading different medical books, these remained my only outlet. I didn’t care about evolving as an author for long since I wrapped myself in a cocoon of constant illustrations, drafts, and other creative projects to distract myself from the waking nightmares of my life. I continued to draw comic panels, study medical illustrations from old anatomy textbooks, and write lines of dialogue in sporadic short stories. Storytelling and manifesting grotesque creatures in my head onto whatever paper or canvas I held proved easy. However, my late mentor, David Pierson, told me that I needed to be published. 

After years of working as an editor and instructor, David taught me everything I knew about writing cohesive sentences and essays while educating me on other forms of literature and poems. I started my first novel, The Sanguinarian Id, during high school. I skipped lunch and visited him during breaks, where he had me read passages from my manuscript every day. From an insufferable childhood with prolonged agony from domestic abuse and an autoimmune disease that covered over 75 percent of my body, I didn’t think anyone believed in me or my work. He did. No matter how dark, disgusting, or uncomfortable my artwork or writing appeared, he encouraged me to keep going. So, I did.

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’m confident in writing dialogue, creating elaborate sceneries, and including plenty of visceral details in my work, especially with olfactory or gastrointestinal matters. That’s always fun. It’s very boring, lackluster, and stunted to claim to know everything. Therefore, I’m always open to constructive feedback to refine my storytelling further.

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?

Though every community has various concerns, I haven’t encountered any personal dangers or significant red flags in the book community or industry in the present day. Every independent or traditional route contains its share of traps, snares, and hazardous interactions. However, in the past, I’ve met some who acted belittling, mean, entitled, and bigoted. Unfortunately, this occurs in every field. Some people only smile when others cry. No one stays invulnerable to rough times. Though it took me copious rejections until I found my current publisher, with the advice of Charles Gramlich during college, I communicated with Night to Dawn Books & Magazine as my first positive and enlightening contact in the industry, as they respected my work and art, while giving constructive critiques. 

Similar to my current publisher, the interactions I notice through Facebook’s windows prove insightful. I read how other authors support each other within the horror, historical, thriller, or paranormal genres, from independent to traditional publications. It’s soothing to witness genuine concern and kindness from others. Alongside this, it’s always remained interesting that the nicest, kindest, and most compassionate people write the most insidious, graphic, or violent stories.

Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?

I’m proud of The Sanguinarian Id and my series. It was my first full-length novel that included my illustrations. The book helped me speak to myself in a kinder voice, as the venture showed me how I’m worth it. Writing and illustrating The Sanguinarian Id challenges me to prove to myself that all the abuse, illness, and misery I endured does not limit me as a person. After all those horrific years, writing this book helped me mend and refuse to break. In addition to surviving four near-death experiences and more, I’m not stopping. I will continue to improve my skillsets and techniques while learning as much as possible. I will keep going.

What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?

I’m working on launching The Sanguinarian Id: Schwartzwald and the second edition of The Sanguinarian Id. I’ve already completed the manuscript and collected numerous book blurbs. As a perfectionist, I’ve been putting my all into detailing and finishing my illustrations. In addition, I plan to write more short stories. The invitation to Hot Iron and Cold Blood was a wonderful and fun experience. Though I have a lot going on with school, work, and other responsibilities, I’m more confident in saying that I’m looking forward to bettering more of my life.

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