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 J.S. Douglas!
J.S. Douglas is a horror author living in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, daughter, dog, and a growing collection of fish. Her works most often address the topics she knows best: monsters, existential dread, ghosts, and the everyday horrors of existence. Her debut novel, The Cult of Elle, is currently available as an e-book and in print. She also has had short stories of various genres published or mentioned in online publications, including Allegory, Kandisha Press,and the Thorns anthology.
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 greatest strength lies in writing an interesting story. My favorite element in writing fiction coincides with my favorite part of reading – plot and action. I grew up reading pulp fiction, sci fi, and any kind of weird horror story I could get my hands on. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I began parsing stories based on character, and seeing how a story could fall flat when it completely depended on plot or an interesting setting, and failed to develop the character. Character development has always been difficult for me, because I usually start with an end in mind and my drive is to get to that end point. But, when you develop a character, they can get in the way or throw wrenches in the works, making getting to that end point more difficult. But, the characters also make the journey more interesting, so I put up with them and make sure to consciously focus on development.
When I need to improve a particular skill, I listen to other writers. I read books that feature the element I’m struggling with, and I read books on writing. At this point, I have an overstuffed bookshelf filled with books on writing that sits right next to my desk. Once I’ve studied an aspect of writing, I try to write short stories that focus on that element. I also have a list of elements that I feel I need to focus on, and I do rounds of edits, each focusing on a different element or skill, once the first draft is completed.
What are your thoughts on the book industry today, or more importantly, about the book community?
The book industry is an interesting beast. It’s very difficult to make a living as an author these days, because of the prevalence of Amazon in the book market. It can feel like catering to Amazon is a must and that tends to narrow one’s focus as an artist. It can inspire innovation, but it also means that we have to consider what is popular on Amazon and try to pump out works that fit in that narrow margin – something, I confess, I am not good at.
When it comes to the book community, though, I have to say that every experience I’ve had has been positive. Every author and publisher I’ve encountered has been incredibly helpful, often going out of their way to give me advice and encouragement. It’s humbling and delightful to be part of such a vibrant community. Also, I love that books are being talked about more and more online. Reading and writing can feel very solitary, but it feels much less so when you can make author and reader friends so easily.
Do you feel it is getting harder or easier to make it as an independent author these days?
I am not sure that it has ever been easy to make it as an independent author. However, I think there’s a lot of great advice out there right now, which is helpful. There are also great people who want to support independent authorship, and I, for one, really appreciate them. On the other side of the coin, there are lots of ways to spend money as an independent author, and that makes it feel like there’s a massive barrier to entry. At the end of the day, producing a book or any piece of writing is a group effort, and independent authors have to build a community from scratch or with cash. That’s always been the case, but it’s still very daunting.
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
I am proud of all of my work! However, my novel “The Cult of Elle” is a work I am particularly proud of as it’s my first novel. This story is a Lovecraftian twist on a Cinderella story. I truly enjoyed writing it, and publishing a novel was a major milestone for me as an author.
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
Right now, I am writing a piece of workplace horror. I have decided to write my stories for the foreseeable future from a female perspective, which hasn’t always been my focus. This perspective is something that appeals to me as a reader and writer, I loved Maeve Fly by CJ Leede and The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim. But, when I think back on books that I’ve loved, it’s hard to find horror stories that are told from a woman’s point of view, and I’m excited to tell my stories from that perspective. Also, as a woman, I am very familiar with that perspective and the risks, rages, and fear that comes with being a woman moving through the modern world. So, it’s been an interesting shift for me.
KANDISHA PRESS 
Leave a comment