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 Matilda Davies!
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 strengths tend to vary from project to project, particularly if I am working on a new genre or age category, but overall I would say getting in the heads of my characters is something I am strong at. I can spend months rewriting the early stages of projects just to get the character’s motivation and voice right.
When I need to improve on a particular writing skill, I’ll read my favourite book again, studying how that particular author has accomplished that aspect, and work with my own writing until I am happy enough with the result. I have recently started looking at craft books as well (most recently ‘Story Genius’ by Lisa Cron) that are specifically linked to the writing skill I want to improve.
What are your thoughts on the book industry today, or more importantly, about the book community?
I used to be a huge fantasy fan (reading and writing), but over the course of recent years, I’ve simply become bored. The industry has grown saturated by plots and tropes that are just too similar across books, and I found that I was leaning towards doing the same with my own writing. Then, about a year ago, I read a Substack post by De Elizabeth that talked about Horror being hopeful. I was completely obsessed with the genre from there on out, the more research I did on it, the more I realised it was the perfect way to be more original in my writing and actually use it as a tool to say something about the world. What’s better yet, it’s becoming a much more popular genre, especially to explore themes of mental health, grief, and sexuality.
Do you feel it is getting harder or easier to make it as an independent author these days?
With the rise in book communities on social media platforms, I would argue it is certainly easier to market your own work; but I think a lot of people judge a book by who has published it, which is a shame because so many amazing writers are independent authors.
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
As I said before, I used to write mostly fantasy, but recently I am exploring horror and more speculative work. Most recently, I worked on the short story I submitted to Kandisha Press’ Women of Horror anthology. It followed a selkie tattooist in search for a replacement seal skin for the one stolen from her. Only it isn’t a seal skin she takes. I really enjoyed exploring themes of obsession, and the desire and longing for home. I’m most proud of my choice of point of view, having the selkie address the woman whose skin she later takes as ‘you’ to enhance the feeling of obsession and build tension as her focus shifts to the woman’s skin.
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
At the moment, I am working on a young adult horror novel about a grieving girl sent to wilderness therapy only to become the perfect scapegoat for a serial killer that I plan to query agents with by the end of the year. I also plan to submit to more anthologies as I really love writing short fiction.
KANDISHA PRESS 
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