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 Jamie Zaccaria!
Jamie Zaccaria is a wildlife biologist by trade and writer by pleasure. She currently works for an ocean exploration organization and writes fiction in her spare time. She has been published in over a dozen anthologies, online magazines, and her debut short story collection Lavender Speculation was on released October 17, 2023 by Wildling Press. She lives in NJ with her furbabies and wife. Learn more at jamiezaccaria.com.
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 strengths include visual storytelling and combining genres like fantasy and horror. I definitely am a stronger micro and short fiction writer and would love to improve on my ability to write longer pieces, maybe even a novel! I think in order to improve on the skills I need for longer fiction, I’ll need to practice things like pacing and dialogue that have not been as structured in the type of prose short fiction I’ve mostly written to date.
What are your thoughts on the book industry today, or more importantly, about the book community?
I’m glad social media is helping the book community thrive. I think it’s more important than ever today (in light of ongoing book bans and censorship) that we continue to provide for and protect each other. We also need to as a community start actively supporting our libraries!
Do you feel it is getting harder or easier to make it as an independent author these days?
I’ve only published one book so I don’t know if I can say if it’s harder or easier. There’s probably more competition but also more opportunities for self publishing.
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
I’ve been writing short stories for many years now but being able to have a whole collection of just my work is my biggest accomplishment. I’m eternally grateful to Wildling Press for publishing my collection Lavender Speculation. I’m also proud that I continue to defy genres by mixing and matching.
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
I’m working on a lot of different things at the moment including a queer graphic novel with a wonderful artist, a children’s book, and of course, more short stories! I’d also love to do a non-fiction collection about queer horror.
KANDISHA PRESS 
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