THE HORROR OF MY LIFE BY KELLY EVANS

Born in Canada of Scottish extraction, Kelly Evans graduated in History and English from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. After graduation she moved to the UK where she worked in the financial sector. While in London Kelly continued her studies in history, focusing on Medieval History.
 
Kelly now lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband Max and two rescue cats. Her books include The Confessor’s Wife, The Northern Queen, The Mortecarni, and Revelation, all set in Medieval Europe, and her recent children’s ghost novel The Drums of Dundurn. When not writing Kelly enjoys reading, playing medieval recorder, and watching really bad old horror and sci-fi movies, preferably with popcorn. A lot of popcorn.

WEBSITE LINKS

Website: https://kellyaevans.com
 
Facebook: @kellyevansauthor
 
Amazon: amazon.com/author/kellyevans

THE FIRST HORROR BOOK I REMEMBER READING

Steven King’s Skeleton Crew. I was around 8 and at summer camp. That was it, I was hooked. After that I pretty much ONLY read horror. My mum caught me reading her copy of The Exorcist when I was 10, she took it off me and put it on a higher shelf. I dragged a chair over when she wasn’t around and snuck it out. Horror will not be denied!  

THE FIRST HORROR FILM I REMEMBER WATCHING

I don’t know if it’s considered ‘horror’, but I had to be taken out of the cinema during The Towering Inferno. That movie terrified me. Other than that, a local tv station had a Sunday afternoon show called ‘Sci-Fi Theatre’, which showed all the classic old horror, as well as all the Godzillas etc. I used to watch it every week, often with my father.

THE GREATEST HORROR BOOK OF ALL TIME

Oh wow, the greatest? That’s so hard!! I’d have to say The Exorcist. It brings to life a very creepy incident and throws the idea that ‘this might happen to YOUR family’ at the reader.

THE GREATEST HORROR FILM OF ALL TIME

There are just too many to choose one. Like Pringles. I’d have to say, once again, The Exorcist makes the top 10. Also Jaws. SO many people were terrified of getting in the ocean after that film was released! There are too many different sub-genres, it’s impossible to pick a greatest.

THE GREATEST WRITER OF ALL TIME

I’m a huge fan of Chaucer but I’m guessing that’s not what you’re asking! Steven King really IS the king of horror. I also love Shirley Jackson and Mary Shelley.

THE BEST BOOK COVER OF ALL TIME

Oh wow, these are hard! The original cover for Salem’s Lot was amazing and there are so many stunning children’s horror novel covers that are stunning.


THE BEST FILM POSTER OFF ALL TIME

Star Wars Episode 3. Just SO iconic.

THE BEST BOOK / FILM I HAVE WRITTEN

I think my latest, The Strange Tale of Miss Victoria Frank. The idea and the words just came together so well on that one.

THE WORST BOOK / FILM I HAVE WRITTEN

My very first novel, How the Great Fire of London was REALLY Started, about a guy who goes to heaven, takes one of their ‘tours’ of times past (dressed as a penguin – long story) and ends up accidentally starting the Great Fire. It was an entire novel based on a single joke, not good!

THE MOST UNDERRATED FILM OF ALL TIME

Eraserhead

THE MOST UNDERRATED BOOK OF ALL TIME

The Monk by Matthew Lewis, written in 1796. It’s a feast for the senses, an incredible example of the gothic genre, complete with phantoms and creepy old castles. And, allegedly, it only took Lewis 10 weeks to write.

THE MOST UNDERRATED AUTHOR OF ALL TIME

I don’t think Shirley Jackson gets as much attention as she deserves. The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favourite stories. The Lottery and Other Stories is an excellent place to start if you haven’t read any of her work.

THE BOOK / FILM THAT SACRED ME THE MOST

Despite the fact that I’m known to my friends as an undead aficionado, Return of the Living Dead (1985) scared the hell out of me. I left the cinema so fast I left my handbag behind. I have no idea why, I love zombies, I’ve even written two medieval zombie novels. Just weird.

THE BOOK / FILM I AM WORKING ON NEXT

Two projects: the third in a new middle grade ghost/mystery series I’ll be launching next month, and the next in my gothic novella series, all of which pay homage to well-known gothic novels (ie Shelley, Verne, etc).

Nikola Tesla, the visionary genius, is lecturing in New York City when he falls for Victoria, the mysterious young woman he sees night after night in the front row. The woman intrigues him; her curiosity is as great as his own, and her interest is wide-ranging.

But there’s something she’s hiding, a family secret so horrendous no one speaks of it. When Tesla finds out, he has a decision to make: listen to the inner voice warning him to stay away, or abandon his morality and help her with her own terrible science.

---

the heart and soul of horror review websites