WOMEN IN HORROR INTERVIEW
AUTHOR: NACHING KASSA
Housewife and mother by day, author of horrific and terrifying tales by night. Naching Kassa has written two novels and had her short stories featured in several horror anthologies.
Q: Tell us a little about the projects you have going right now.
A: Right now, I have a novel in the works featuring my characters Tex and Talya Houseman. They are joined by their psychic nephew as they investigate the evil perpetrated by a mysterious creature called, “Wendigo”. I hope to have the book published next year.
I just had a short story accepted by Harren Press for their In Shambles anthology. The anthology features an original Dan Shambles: P.I. story penned by New York Times Best Selling author Kevin J. Anderson. My story is called “The Strength in Tears” and concerns a rather unusual and evil high school principal. The anthology is tentatively set for an October release.
Q: Is your writing based on people you know, or events in your own life?
Yes, I draw from reality when I create characters. Many of my male characters are based on my husband, Dan. Some of the events are based on situations I found myself in during my career at a local casino. In one of my books, a man’s throat is cut in front of the main character and her friend. That never happened to me or anyone I know, but it did happen to someone in a movie I saw.
What inspired you to get into the horror genre?
The horror of sparkling vampires. Plus, I enjoy being scared and scaring other people. I used to jump out of doorways and scare people in my family, so it was only natural that I would choose this career.
Q: Have you always been interested in horror?
A: Yes, ever since I was 5 and was menaced by a flying sandwich with wings. It swooped around my nightlight and reduced me to a quivering mass of jelly. I knew it was just the corner of my sister’s blanket, but it was very scary. Actually, my father introduced me to the original King Kong (RKO) and the Universal monster movies. When I grew older, I cowered in the corner while watching such greats as, A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Exorcist III. Horror was something my Dad and I did together. He passed away in January and it is still our connection and how I remember him.
Q: What do you love most about writing horror?
A: I love the part when the story starts coming together in the first draft. I also enjoy being surprised by my characters.
Q: Is there anything you find particularly challenging when writing for horror fans?
A: The thing I find challenging about writing for horror fans, is that no one seems to be afraid of flying sandwiches. So, I have to find something else to scare them with.
Q: Where do you stand on the gore factor?
A: I like Al Gore and his stand on preserving our planet. Oh, you mean the bloody kind! When it comes to gore, I think less is more. I believe that building suspense up to the moment of violence is more important than the act itself. My audience needs to contribute their 50% of imagination to my story in order for it to be believable, and a story should inspire fear, not non-stop vomiting.
Q: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
A: Dean Koontz is my favorite author and I love the message of hope in the horror. I have never enjoyed the horror stories where everyone dies at the end or your favorite character dies for no good reason. (Probably why I don’t read George R.R. Martin.)
Q: What books and movies have influenced your life most?
I love the “Complete Sherlock Holmes” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the books, “Watchers” and “Cold Fire” by Dean Koontz. These books inspire and inform my writing. I watch horror movies, of course, but the two movies which have influenced my life most are Groundhog Day and The Family Man. Can’t go through life without hope and a laugh.
Q: What book are you reading now?
A: “Strangers” by: Dean Koontz.
Q: What movie do you most want to watch in your Netflix queue?
A: I don’t have Netflix because I am too cheap to pay $8 a month. I am a starving artist and so I watch old VHS movies. My next movie in the VHS queue is Silver Bullet.
Can you share your experience as a female writer in a male dominated genre?
So far, it has been a very enjoyable experience. With a name like, Naching Kassa, no one really knows which gender I am. Many people think I am an elderly, white male from Bohemia, when I am actually a female shrubbery from Oxnard, CA.
Q: Can you share a little of your current work with us, give the readers a taste for blood?
A: The following is an excerpt from my short story “The Ditch”, now available in the anthology “Demonic Visions Book 4”
Rustle! Rustle!
“Who’s there!”
To Lily’s horror, she received an answer to her question. A raspy whisper filled the stifling interior of the car.
“Help me!”
“W-what?”
“Help me! I can’t move!”
“Why can’t you move?”
No answer.
Lily reached out into the gloom. “Are you tied up? What’s-”
Her fingers came into contact with something soft, something like hair. When she reached out to touch the rest of the body, she found nothing.
Lily snatched her hand away a moment too late. Jaws clamped onto it just below the thumb. Sharp teeth drew hot blood. Lily screeched.
(If you would like to know what happened to Lily, please check out the “Demonic Visions” book with the scantily clad succubus on the cover.)
Q: Do you have any advice for other horror writers?
A: Read! Read everything you can. Stephen King’s “On Writing” and Strunk and White’s “Elements of Style” are books I can highly recommend when it comes to craft. And no matter what, NEVER GIVE UP! Don’t be discouraged by anything or anyone. (I mean, if someone can actually get a book published about sparkly vampires, you can probably do better.)
Q: Where can fans reach you and buy your books?
A: Fans can purchase my books at Amazon and reach me at nachingkassa@hotmail.com. They can also reach me at the corner of Third and Main in Valley, WA. I’ll be the shrubbery wearing sunglasses.
Also Reach Naching in these places:
http://www.amazon.com/Naching-T-Kassa/e/B005ZGHTI0