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 Juliette Jarabek!
Juliette Jarabek is a creative fiction writer, a fantasy-horror fanatic, and an overall freak of life and death. Fiction is a miraculous tool to analyze and understand the questions, fears, and joys of life, and that is how she strives to use her work. Through her endless pursuits and curiosities,
Juliette aims to explore, educate, and inspire—and her aim is getting better!
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?
To be a writer, you need to be a reader, a listener, and a thinker. I’ve always been a gluttonous reader, consuming as many fantasies and horrors as I could get my greedy, sticky fingers on. As I ate up countless stories, I myself have been consumed and inspired by beautiful and revolting genres of fantasy and horror since birth. Even if I don’t recall the plots and characters of every story I’ve read, the impact they’ve left has forever influenced me and my creations—And as an author, I’ve decided to make that everyone else’s problem, too.
Adaptability, researching, creativity, revisiting and revamping old ideas—We could call it hubris, but resilience and confidence are just as integral as the ever-applauded virtues of discipline and humility. Humility and pride are both necessary to work on your projects, let alone to improve your skills. There are many strengths I have that, arguably, all writers should strive to embody. I don’t only research through others’ work, but I also reflect on my own. I learn from my best and worst works, and I understand that each has something to be proud of, if I’m willing to be conscientious. Valuing respect and communication—with others and with myself—is integral to my process when it comes to maintaining its quality and the joy I take from creating my stories.
My greatest strength in writing, ultimately, is my insatiable curiosity. I am insistent, persistent, and downright dogged, and I always keep learning—Not just about the writing process itself, but also about everything I write about. Learning is the best way, if not only way, to continuously improve, and always having an explorative spirit is the key to making discoveries and really finding creativity. I am a proud student with everything I do, no matter how seasoned I am at a practice, and that encourages me to keep experimenting, practicing, and finding the enjoyment you need to keep at it.
I am happy to be the worst of the best if it means I keep trying and working. Being around other passionate, growing creators inspires me to work even harder, and I love the energy we all exude. I’m happy to fail once, twice, a hundred times, so long as I get to try again.
What are your thoughts on the book industry today, or more importantly, about the book community?
As a budding author, I turn to those more seasoned than me for insights on the book or publishing industries. I rely on the stories of others to learn how to get my own stories out there—After all, that is why stories exist. This cycle emphasizes the necessity of using our experiences and stories, both fictional and nonfictional, as a means of communication. Authors already established in the industry are not the only voices to hear from, however. In this moment, my own circle in the book industry embraces smaller, more independent writers and publishers, all of whom embody a more engaged, intimate support network than facing a colder corporate giant of industry.
As the second part of this question implies, what authors should focus on, in my opinion, is the community rather than the industry. Not only is it less intimidating, but writers can also find helpful resources, inspiration, and encouragement through the community’s numerous corners. To me, this communal care is invaluable, especially when being able to find empathy, advice, and encouragement when during with the difficulties of writing and publication attempts. I love the interconnectedness of the book community, especially with how much more accessible feedback and discussion is regarding literature and writing.
Of course, this wide berth comes with its own concerns; we can argue over just how developmental or constructive this feedback can be when it is so abundant. Debates and disagreements are inevitable, natural as writers open themselves to a larger pool of likeminded and not-so-likeminded creatives. But even so, having such a far-reaching community encourages an almost never-ending exploration, as well as a plethora of other unique, creative voices to listen to, learn from, and discuss with.
Writers, readers, editors, reviews—We are all ultimately who make the industry and the larger community what they are. That being said, it is up to us to continue developing our relationships, community, and industry, ideally making them welcoming, worthwhile spaces that allow for growth and evolution.
Do you feel it is getting harder or easier to make it as an independent author these days?
On the surface, it has gotten easier in a handful of ways to become an author, considering that technology and human connection has made the spread of information and creative works so much more accessible. If you are willing to search and work, you can find opportunities to build up your experience and your portfolio as well as gain footholds within your publishing industry niches. Even if you insisted on staying as distantly independent from others in your pursuit of publication, writers have the ability to self-manage and self-publish as well, which has eased the arduous process in numerous ways.
That’s not what you’re asking, though. After all, “making it” as an independent author is an entirely different animal.
Independence does not come without its own difficulties. Because there is so much accessibility, the true challenge comes from gaining substantial attention and maintaining that interest.
Ultimately, the writing community as a whole, including its more specific subgenres, is undeniably competitive. Independent authors, especially those of us who are actively working toward making a name for themselves, need to develop a thick skin and listening ears if they want to succeed. You cannot be afraid of failure or criticism; if anything, you need to be expectant and receptive of them. The more you put yourself out there, the more you’re going to be turned away, and there is nothing wrong with feeling disappointed, disheartened, or any other dis-. But that is where your ambition fuels you when there is no objective motivation. Encourage yourself, stay open to inspiration, accept help and help others when you can—You need to actively pursue your own passions, and you need to be your own motivation when the objective has no objectivity.
In the end, it’s not about profit or recognition; it’s about writing what we want to see exist in the world.
So we write it.
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
This is a really fun question because I feel, as I imagine a lot of writers do, really proud of each story I write…at least for a while after they’re finished. Most of the time, in some way or another, I think that the latest I write is the best I’ve ever written. Whether it’s due to development in my use of language, character, plot, or theme, I feel like every exploration is a new personal discovery about my own interests and strengths.
At this specific moment, the finished story I am most proud of is titled “APOTHEOSIS,” which—fingers crossed—I’m hoping will find its ideal publication in the near future! As a historian, I had too much fun exploring the histories of mummification across the globe, learning about the objective procedures as well as underlying beliefs and mythologies involving humans, animals, and deities. However, what made this experience so unique to me was also using this story as an opportunity to delve into the timeless debate around relic repatriation, looting heritage and cultural artifacts from their countries of origin, and the countless amount of problems that comes with arguing “appreciation” and “education,” especially when these artifacts become parts of private collections.
“APOTHEOSIS” gave me an opportunity to discover writing and research methods that I not only felt were impactful to the story itself, but that I really enjoyed implementing. I will have fun using my loves for research and social discussion to fuel my future short stories—and novel, as it comes along with the persistence of a doggedly determined snail! Speaking of, while that novel’s story is still under development, I would also say that I am incredibly proud of how far my plot and characters have come since the story’s inception. Nnnnot to mention that some of my established characters make appearances in my short stories, which has been a handy opportunity to practice writing them! I’m really excited to see where I take it in the future!
All in all, I believe all of an artist’s creations should be points of pride. We need to have pride in what we’ve made, and to let all of our past work build upon each other as stepping stones toward future accomplishments.
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
Hoo boy, upcoming works…At this moment, I am honored to have two short stories—“It Pains Me” and “Wallflower”—in the process of publication with Dark Holme Publishing and Storyletter XPress Publishing respectively. So, if you have any interest in tales of melancholy and claustrophobia, consider giving those a read-through!
Other than those…Who knows! All other projects are up in the air, and I still have my nose to the grindstone. Works in progress are what I am most focused on at the moment. I’m currently cooking up a batch of new short stories, exploring different prompts and themes to greaten my skill and experience. I’m also always searching for new writing communities and contests to participate in, especially in the realms of fantasy and horror. I am currently most invested in analyzing concepts of nature and death through my writing, both of which humans have always feared and tried to control, though never successfully or without consequence.
My most ambitious project is a supernatural fantasy novel that I strive to evolve into a series! Those characters have inspired me throughout every artistic endeavor I’ve pursued, from drawing to writing, and they have changed as people alongside me through it all. I can’t wait to see where we’re all heading!
More generally, I plan to keep collecting hobbies and interests endlessly and seeing where my passions lead me. I’m too excited to try new things and dive headfirst into the deep end when I find a new fixation. Here’s hoping that continuously sending effort out into the universe encourages the return of exciting opportunities!
KANDISHA PRESS 
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