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 Lauren Talveryn!
Lauren Talveryn is an author rediscovering her love of writing. When she was young, she filled countless notebooks with tales of animal friendship, superhuman abilities, and Fall Out Boy fan fiction. As an adult, she loves to craft fantasy and horror stories. She relishes in world building and creating a space for readers fragmented from reality. Her work has been featured in multiple anthologies, including Aphrodite from Flame Tree Publishing’s Myths, Gods & Immortals series and Children of the Dead: Lost Lullabies from Wicked Shadow Press.
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 have always been ceaselessly curious. Some new topic catches my interest almost every day, and I dive in with both feet. I usually find the inspiration for stories within the depths of those rabbit holes. I especially love history, biology, and the supernatural. I find that my favorite pieces are some combination of the three.
I approach friendships and relationships with the same mindset, and I always want to know more about people. My mom and I both joke that we have “Tell me your life story” tattooed across our foreheads. I was first introduced to the term “eavesdropping” by a group of mean girls in third grade. I should thank them because they unlocked a hidden talent. I love listening to people talk. There’s nothing more frustrating than reading a story with a plot point or dialogue that snaps you out of the illusion because it goes against human nature. Why would the final girl who just escaped masked killer in the woods and made it to her car leave the door unlocked? Why would a ruling order of witches holding sway over every element of nature get bogged down in bureaucracy? Even with fantastical and horror elements, you must create characters and plots that people will buy into.
When I combine what I’m most curious about with what I’ve learned about human nature, I create stories that I truly love.
One writing skill I am striving to improve is editing. It takes a lot of time and effort for me to transform a first draft into a complete work. It used to not be a lot of fun, but I’ve kept working at it until I found a process that works for me. I proofread until I can read through without stopping. Then, I read through each sentence until I don’t get tripped up on or disagree with a word choice. Then, I go through each paragraph. When I can read through without stopping, I’ve crafted something I’m ready to share.
I tried reading some articles and tips on editing when I felt stuck. But truthfully, I just started throwing metaphorical spaghetti at the wall until something stuck. When you feel stuck, don’t get frustrated and stop. Keep trying, and eventually you’ll find the path of least resistance.
What are your thoughts on the book industry today, or more importantly, about the book community?
Admittedly, I only started submitting my writing about eight months ago. I certainly don’t feel like an expert in the book industry just yet. As a newcomer, I’ve been surprised by how vast and accessible open calls are. I simply joined a few Facebook pages posting genre-specific open calls. I genuinely thought I’d have to pare down and cater what I write to have a shot at publishing, but instead I’ve found the opposite. There are so many fantastic press companies producing myriad content.
I’m newer to submitting my work for publication, but I’ve been part of the reading community since I was young. I have always been a voracious reader. My book count subsidized many Pizza Hut personal pans and Family Video rentals when I was young. I loved going to book fairs and library class. I’ve seen that same culture recreated as an adult in book clubs, “bookstagram. and “BookTok”. Everyone wants to talk about what they’re currently reading and what’s in their to be read pile. People love swapping book suggestions. With all of the amazing content authors create that I described above, everyone can find the genre and books they truly love. There’s a beautiful symbiosis to it.
Do you feel it is getting harder or easier to make it as an independent author these days?
I’m not currently trying to support myself financially with my writing, so I can’t speak to that aspect. I’ve found it much easier than I expected to find open calls and submission opportunities. However, easier access means opportunities are open to a wider audience of authors. That means more submissions which generally means more rejections. I’m writing this particular sentence after receiving three short story rejections over the course of 72 hours, so I am not currently at my most optimistic.
I wrote a piece for a cryptid themed submission a few months ago which was ultimately rejected. The publisher shared that they were looking for four stories for an anthology through this open call. They received 300 stories for consideration. That’s barely over a one percent acceptance rate, and I keep this rate in mind when I’m feeling that discouraged. Ivy leagues aren’t that selective.
It’s all a numbers game. Every story I create feels like a sweet, precious angel baby to me. I love it, or I wouldn’t submit it. But there are so many variables outside of your control once you hit send. Maybe you named your main character after their middle school bully. Maybe they’re vehemently Team Edward, and you wrote a werewolf love story with Team Jacob flare. Maybe they read and really fell in love with another Mothman tale first. You can’t have a cryptid anthology filled with only tales about the man himself, even if he is indisputably the best cryptid.
I use it as fuel to keep writing and creating stories that will resonate. Keep writing and submitting, and you’ll eventually strike gold.
Tell us about your work. What story are you most proud of?
I write horror and dark fantasy tales with a dash of comedy sprinkled in. I love crafting stories that are deeply rooted in the human experience so they’ll stay locked in when I start sending things off the rails. I’ll tell a story about a college freshman on her own for the first time, feeling with alone and homesick, and struggling to get along with her eccentric roommate. But as it would turn out, her roommate is a werewolf going through her first full moon on campus. A woman is fed up with her useless husband putting off house repairs and gets a splinter in the process. But the splinter takes root and slowly transforms her into a tree.
It’s a little corny, but I’m incredibly proud of the first story I placed in an anthology. In the summer of 2024, I resolved to start writing regularly again. I primarily needed a creative outlet to express myself, but I decided to challenge myself even further and start submitting my work. One of the first themed submissions I came across asked for horror stories where children are the main characters. Like most little girls, I was prone to witchcraft and made pretend potions from grass, acorns, and anything else I could find. This inspired a story about a Puritan girl in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who unwittingly allows a witch to transform her fake potion into a lethal elixir she shares with her friends. I’m thrilled that something I wrote so early in my writing journey was selected. You can read Witchling in “Children of the Dead: Lost Lullabies” from Wicked Shadow Press. It’s also a period piece interpretation of our modern advice to not accept drinks from strangers.
What are your upcoming works and plans for the future?
I have a story featured in Flame Tree Publishing’s Aphroditewhich will be released on June 10th. It is called Froth and warns of he perils of reclaiming a sacrifice that has been promised to a goddess. I’ve always loved folklore and mythology and am so excited to be included in this piece.
For some reason, I keep writing stories set in college. It’s such a transition period in life and is rife with opportunities for things to go awry. Besides the freshman with a werewolf roommate I mentioned earlier, I’ve written two I really love. Myodesopsias is a cautionary tale of a sophomore with a new fake ID whose vision changes after not removing her makeup on a night out. Cyanosis follows a freshman who finds a classmate frozen to the sidewalk after a night of partying off campus. I told myself if I write a few more, I’ll release my own anthology called Horror University.
I’ve just started my writing journey and can’t wait to see how things transpire. I’ll continue to post my latest work on Instagram at @LaurenTalveryn and will hopefully have a website of my own one day. Stay tuned!
KANDISHA PRESS 
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