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 Maryanne Chappell!
Maryanne Chappell dwells on the outskirts of the Jersey Pine Barrens, a space between reality and formidable horror. Her husband and four cats keep her from straying too far into the pines. She writes Magical Realism, Speculative Fiction, and Satirical Horror and occasionally wanders the path of dark horror when the spirit arises.
She has been published in Freedom Fiction Journal, Mobius Blvd, Haunted Words Press, and will soon be published in The Horror Zine.
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?
Like most writers, I had an affinity toward writing since childhood. I dabbled in it much more after college, but it was fleeting. And then, working in a highly technical field, stole my joy of reading fiction for nearly twenty years.
Then, one day, a few years ago, I stopped in at a book fair showcasing only horror authors and bought nearly everything they had. I read them all and decided it might be time to try my hand at it again. I retired last year, and I’ve been working nonstop on writing since then.
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 stories are highly character-driven; I want the reader to fully engage with the characters immediately and care about their journey and what they endure, as well as their joys and disappointments. I’m a bit of a pantser in that the plot many times presents itself through the situational awareness of the characters. I let the story wrap itself around and through their existence.
My goal is to engage or hook the reader in quickly. I aim to capture a moment, scene, or event as descriptively as possible. Longer stories allow me to fine-tune details, making the story as fulsome as possible without rambling through the weeds to reach the climax.
To improve my craft, I read a lot, including books on writing techniques. But I also consume a lot of fiction and pay close attention to the techniques used by other writers to see what works for them or what doesn’t. I find ways to enhance my own work through the work of others and never turn down feedback, even if it’s negative. I feel something can be learned in every review, good or bad.
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 see a common theme of struggle among independent authors and try not to let it become daunting. However, there is a large horror community, and I’ve found it very inclusive, even in my short experience with it. Everyone feels the same challenges, and that builds a stronger sense of camaraderie. I’ve seen firsthand how it creates an alliance that promotes and shares in the success of its members.
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
I’m glad you asked! I have four short stories that are published or will be published within the next month. The first story I had published was The Cure, which appeared recently in Freedom Fiction Journal. I wrote that story in under an hour using three prompts and was delighted with the finished product, and apparently, the editor did too, as it quickly got picked up. My second story, Afterimage, was another flash fiction I wrote for a specific submission call in a YA publication, Haunted Press Words. Both short stories were fun to write, and I will return to writing flash in the near future.
I’ve just completed a novella, Window of Opportunity, which I am very proud of and submitted for a writing challenge. I built a sci-fantasy story around characters that spoke to me with voices I couldn’t quiet. I believe in this story and will get it published, one way or another.
My short story, Madam Delphine’s Apprentice, was recently published in Mobius Blvd. This is the longest story I have published and the one I am most proud of. As a lover of psychological horror, I hope this establishes the core of my work in that genre to readers.
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
The book I am working on, Madam Delphine’s Apprentice, contains the short story that is excerpted from it of the same name. I hope to finish it by the end of the year. I wanted to combine genres in this book, work in a dual timeline, and finish with a blend of both. This book has been an absolute thrill to write. I’m highly invested in the characters, and I believe readers will be also.
Song of Sadie is a short story due to be published in June in the Horror Zine. This story was a joy to write and one I think will hit the sweet spot with readers who like cozy horror. It has all the elements that make it an enjoyable read from start to finish, and I’m pretty damn proud of this one too.
Another story, Banjo, and the Guitar, is still in the editing phase, and I’m reworking it to get it published. It combines YA and Magical Realism with a wonderful set of characters I had so much fun writing. Because this story isn’t mainstream horror, I wanted to experiment with other genres to understand what I was good at and where my talents lay. But I lean heavily toward psychological horror and expect to write much more in that genre in the future.
KANDISHA PRESS 