Eden Royce

1. Who has been the biggest influence on you as a female horror writer?
My grandmother. She loved horror movies and I believe that’s where my love of the genre came from. When I watched those movies, I noticed there were few people of color as main characters and I wanted to change that.

2. Do you think the style of horror differs between women and men authors? E.g. psychological vs gore?
I’ve read psychological horror from men and I’ve read gore from women, so I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. I do think that women tend to focus more on atmosphere and creating a sense of foreboding in their horror, while men tend to get right into action. But again, there are examples of writing to refute that generalization as well. Bottom line, if the tale stays with you long after you’ve finished reading, it’s achieved it’s goal.

3. Do you have a main subject that your write about? I.e. certain bad guys or themes?
I write mostly Southern Gothic horror, so my themes revolve around magic use and rituals, grotesque characters, and insanity. Essentially, my upbringing in the South made into fiction.

4. If you could have dinner with a famous horror writer, living or dead, who would it be and why?

Toni Morrison. I’ve read and watched interviews with her about staying true to your distinct voice and I’d love to talk with her about how she’s able to keep her stories true to her vision for them.

5. Favorite female horror writer? Why?

That’s difficult because I love so many. If pressed, I’d say Joyce Carol Oates. She wrote one of my all-time favorite stories “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and it still creeps me out to this day.