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 Sally Darling!
Sally Darling—pen name of Sally Bartolotta—is a writer and aspiring author within the horror and weird fiction genres. She currently resides in North Port, Florida and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association – Southwest Florida Chapter. Sally is a vocalist and bassist best known for her work with Team Cybergeist, PsyKill and most recently Crossbreed. A certified yoga teacher, she enjoys teasing the boundaries of her duality, combining chaos and calm. A lover of animals, and an eater of plants, Sally is also VP of a non-profit Foundation, and co-owner of The Rock Box Music School & Stage. She is currently working on a collection of short stories she hopes will shock and offend the masses.
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?
As far back as I can remember, I’ve held a deep love for books. Whether stroking the pages of a beloved childhood story or delving into the secret world of a great novel, there is just something incredibly special about reading. It’s pure magic! I started writing song lyrics as a young teen. I created both a mixture of silly, parody type lyrics—which I was always proud to share—and deep, serious works which I often held a bit closer to the chest due to fear of criticism. That love affair with arranging words in specific ways to convey my thoughts and ideas continued to evolve at unexpected times throughout my life, allowing my “voice” and my confidence to grow stronger. When I studied to become a yoga teacher—a humbling experience in and of itself—I really had to dig deep and bare the most vulnerable pieces of my soul in order to invoke specific feelings or intentions I wished to share with my students. While teaching is very much an organic experience, there is a certain level of art involved with piecing together verbal cues and descriptions. Witnessing students experiencing their own ‘aha’ moments—in part because of the words I was using to assist them on their journey—is what really gave me my first ‘aha’ moment as it pertains to writing. There are so many unexpected opportunities in life that involve writing. And while I’ve always had a ton of ideas for stories, I felt like the key to book writing was some top-secret formula and thus, would be way out of my league. Then a few years ago, I decided to sit down and write something—anything—to see what would happen. I planned out a short story, had no real idea what I was doing, but I just went with it. It went in a totally different direction than I planned, and I learned quickly that I’m a “pantser.” I find that adds another layer of mystery and fun to the experience of writing.
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 approach writing from a deep seeded love and appreciation for words and the power they possess. This respect and conscious regard for the beauty of writing is—in my opinion—one of my greatest strengths. I’m also quite meticulous and I suppose that’s both a blessing and a curse. With that said, I’m constantly striving to improve my writing skills and am thankful to be surrounded by amazing and supportive peers, specifically within the Horror Writers Association – Southwest Florida Chapter. These talented authors and writers are some of the coolest and most helpful people I’ve met. They have been crucial in helping me work through the many challenges of writing. If there’s something I’m struggling with—no matter how trivial it may seem—I ask for advice or input.
What are your top five books, movies, and horror-related albums?
These are great questions! It’s tough to narrow it down, but here are my top 5 most influential horror-related books, movies, and albums, in no particular order –
Books:
- Geek Love by Katherine Dunn
- It by Stephen King
- Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
- You by Caroline Kepnes
- The Witching Hour by Anne Rice
Movies:
- Sleepaway Camp, 1983
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, 1974
- The Cabin in the Woods, 2011
- The Silence of the Lambs, 1991
- Trick ‘R Treat, 2007
Albums:
- Ice Nine Kills – The Silver Scream
- Ice Nine Kills – The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood
- Misfits – American Psycho
- Wednesday 13 – Transylvania 90210: Songs of Death, Dying, and the Dead
- White Zombie – Astro Creep 2000: Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head
I see that you’re also a musician and a music instructor? Tell us more!
I started playing guitar at 13, bass guitar at 17—which is my preferred instrument out of the two—and I’ve also been a vocalist since 2014. I’ve been immersed in the music scene for most of my life and it is such a huge part of who I am. I’ve played in some amazing bands over the years including PsyKill, Team Cybergeist (a collaborative music project featuring members of Dope, Stone Sour, Morbid Angel, KMFDM and more), Cherry Debauchery, and most recently Crossbreed. I’ve also contributed lyrics and vocals to horror soundtrack work. My husband and I opened The Rock Box Music School & Stage in North Port, Florida in 2016. We provide music lessons for just about any instrument, including guitar, bass, drums, voice, piano, violin and more. Our vision is to not only teach students everything they need to know about their instrument, but also to help them bridge the gap between learning to play and applying it to the next step in their musical journeys. We offer opportunities to perform on stage, play with a band, and record in a music studio, as examples. I’m more involved with the business side of things, as ironically, I never learned to read music, and therefore I’m not qualified to teach music at our school. The humor is not lost on me!
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
I’m currently working on my first collection of short stories within the horror and weird fiction genres. I hope to have this collection completed and published by next year. I also just recently wrote a short story that will be featured in an upcoming anthology series. It hasn’t been announced yet, so I don’t want to spoil anything, but it’s going to be awesome!
KANDISHA PRESS 