Why did you submit to Your Body is Not Your Body? 

In the onslaught of anti-trans sentiment and state violence, it was nice to see a project for which the proceeds would go to help trans people impacted by the horror coming out of Texas. The fact that it was an anthology collection calling explicitly for the bizarre & gruesome that resonates with me was what inspired me personally to submit. That I had a story that I felt would be quite thematically appropriate certainly helped seal the deal. With a title like that? How could I not.


Tell us what your story is about, and the themes you chose to focus on.

In brief, my story is about how existing in a body is intrinsically horrifying, and even worse is how that repulsive meat (which you cannot escape) will be used to control and dehumanize you.

I'll admit, this story is not the most explicitly Trans(TM) story I've written, but upon coming across the title for this anthology collection, I knew it was the one I had to submit. And in a manner, I regard it as a trans story, in that it is a story very deeply about fear of one’s body, but more so fear of what other people will do to your body and the horrors you will be forced to endure because of what they feel is morally right.

The push by the right to criminalize both abortion and transgender existence is part of a broader white supremacist project of maintaining control over reproduction both to ensure white population growth, enforce cisheteropatriarchal gender norms as a means of social control, and to further genocidal aims against non-white people. Because of this, struggles for bodily autonomy are intimately linked. In both instances, trans people and/or pregnant people are forced into a horrifying bodily existence that is framed as something natural or right, and so it is those themes with which I am grappling.

Of course, I grapple with this through the lens of a woman in love with a dead Christian mommy blogger. You know, they did specify Weird Horror.


What has your experience as a marginalized writer in the horror community been like?

I think it would be a stretch to say I am part of a broader horror community. The friendships and acquaintances I have cultivated with other horror writers have been wonderful, and it is always a delight to find people who share one’s taste. I will say that my first experience with posting my horror writing was on Wattpad, where I was assumed to be a different gender by my acquaintances and readers, making that my first real affirming experience of the “no one knows who you are on the internet” variety.


If someone wants to read more of your work, what would you recommend that they check out?
I have few publishing credits to my name, but over the years I have posted a number of horror stories to my blog, virgilsbirds.wordpress.com. Out of those, the one most similar to my piece in this collection is “A Clean Cut in the Bloated Flesh” https://virgilsbirds.wordpress.com/2016/07/12/a-clean-cut-in-the-bloated-flesh/. Otherwise, I have a much more pleasant poem featured in As It Ought to Be Magazine (https://asitoughttobemagazine.com/2020/10/12/aster-perkins-ramps/). You can also follow my twitter (@endwellian) if you so choose, and stay tuned.

​Vincent Endwell (they/them) is a third gender/androgyne writer, composer, neuroscience graduate student, and white settler located in Lenapehoking (New York City). Their work has been previously featured in As it Ought to Be Magazine and The Apothecary.

Preorder a copy of Your Body is Not Your Body: A New Weird Anthology here ​

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?


I’m a fairly quiet person who lives with their husband Bill in a flat in Southend and enjoys listening to the conversations of people in the street below. I used to do too much partying and crying but yesterday I helped repot some chilli plants. I’m also running a subtle and increasingly surreal campaign to convince Bill he wants a cat.


Which one of your characters would you least like to meet in real life?


The book I’m currently writing, which isn’t yet finished, contains a man who’s abusive to his girlfriend and I definitely don’t want to meet him, unless it’s from behind reinforced glass so I can call him a bell end.


Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing?


Definitely surrealism and weird fiction. Alice in Wonderland was the first time I realized you could basically do what you wanted and make your story as weird as you liked, and I still remember the excitement I felt. Following that I’ve gotten into Leonora Carrington, Amos Tutuola and Thomas Ligotti and really appreciate the way they told stories that they wanted to tell, the way they wanted to tell it.


The term horror, especially when applied to fiction always carries such heavy connotations.  What’s your feeling on the term “horror” and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions?


Horror is a genre I’ve loved since I can remember so I can’t imagine it being negative, but I do think a lot of people have a slim view of what it’s about. I’d suggest checking out the wide variety of authors out today who use it in a myriad of ways, from horror infused weird fiction, horrific naturalistic storytelling, violent and in-your-face to subtle and gothic. So many people from all different backgrounds are exploring their own methods with more freedom than ever before.


A lot of good horror movements have arisen as a direct result of the socio/political climate, considering the current state of the world where do you see horror going in the next few years?


My own writing has become more apocalyptic recently and I’m sure I’m not the only one. You write to purge yourself of fear so I imagine there’ll be a lot of politically charged and pandemic focused stories. But, again, people cope in different ways, and the huge variety of writers out there will mean a huge variety of responses. Some might retreat into pure fantastical fun which is good too. It may seem fractured at first, but there’s something for whatever you’re into and you’ll find it.


Given the dark, violent and at times grotesque nature of the horror genre why do you think so many people enjoy reading it?


I think we like to have our worries confirmed, for one thing, to know that someone else thinks the way we do about the world. Also, it can be a good escape. You may be behind on your rent but at least your legs aren’t being eaten by a shuddering moon beast.


What, if anything, is currently missing from the horror genre?


Probably an easy index to find all these new great authors and genres


What new and upcoming authors do you think we should take notice off?


Zin E Rocklyn, Hayley Piper and Luke Kondor


Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative that have stayed with you?


Someone pointed out a grammar mistake I was making a lot in my old stories and now I definitely avoid doing that. It was upsetting but really helpful.


What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult?


Probably the planning out. It’s great when you get going but the structure part is boring and I’m glad when it’s over


Is there one subject you would never write about as an author?


I don’t think it’s healthy to say I’d never do something, I’ll just have to see how the mood takes me


Writing, is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years?

I’ve learned to take time over stories, to let them unfold in their own time. I’m a lot less concerned with being amusing and I’m trying harder to tap into my fears


What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing?


Trust yourself more


Which of your characters is your favourite?

I have a soft spot for the girl that loses it in the short story Seed Man, from my books Fortune Box and Sharp End of the Rainbow. Although we definitely wouldn’t be friends, her prolonged meltdown was the most fun I’ve had writing in ages.


Which of your books best represents you?


The Sharp End of the Rainbow, or the one I’m currently writing. I really feel like I’m starting to get it, you know.


Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us?


“We get extra money from advertisers if one of the spirits sings their jingle for five minutes, just ignore it.” – Invite Ghosts and Earn Pounds, The Sharp End of the Rainbow


Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next?


My last book is a collection of short stories I’ve written over the years, a lot previously published and some new. It shows a progression and I’m pleased to see how I’ve improved.


My current book is the one I’m pouring my entire being into and I think it’ll represent who I am, how far I’ve come and what makes a person who’s been through a lot tick, though it’s definitely fictional and still very weird. It’s full of quite serious subject matters but I also want to fill it with joy, hope and a bit of silly.


If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice?


The idea that people are doing it wrong if they don’t follow a certain path


What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you?


I’m currently reading The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin and, believe me, my head just falls right off and melts after a few pages. I normally couldn’t cope reading something so intensely scientific but the story just keeps you sucked in.


I can’t even remember the name of the book that disappointed me, I just know it was from a major publisher. Some literary works are brilliant, of course, but some are just so flat, promising so much and delivering just blandness. It was one of those.

What's the one question you wish you would get asked but never do?  And what would be the answer?


Shall we get a cat? Yes!

Last week Ginger Nuts of Horror welcomed Matt Blairstone and Alex Woodroe from Tenebrous Press  to Ginger Nuts of Horror to discuss their new anthology Your Body is Not Your Body: A New Weird Anthology, an anthology where all proceeds from this anthology go to Equality Texas to combat the attempts of the Texas government to criminalize trans/GNC youth and their families.  This week we bring you  part two of our interview with the authors featured in this anthology ​

Dayna Ingram is a trans+queer genre fiction writer from Ohio. His book ALL GOOD CHILDREN was chosen by both Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews Indie as one of the best Science Fiction titles of 2016, and was a finalist for the 2017 Lambda Literary Awards. THE GOLDEN DAUGHTER, Book One of his bitesize epic fantasy trilogy, EMPIRE OF FLESH AND GOLD, is out now from Lethe Press. More info @ daynaingram.com. ​

Bri Crozier
​

Ginger Snaps: Mini Interviews with Bite!


Ginger Snaps is a quick-fire “bite-sized” interview, where your answers relate to what you’ve been doing in the past month (30 days or so).



Tell us:


Who are you?
Robert P. Ottone, author of the cosmic-horror YA novel The Triangle, as well as the collection Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares.


Your signature style:
I guess my signature style would be that I like to riff on urban legends, folklore and more while also adding a little humor and honesty to the work.


Toot your own horn:
My latest novel, The Triangle, is an attempt to introduce a younger audience to the basics of cosmic horror. I wanted to tell a story about a young girl facing impossible horror beyond human understanding, because I feel so often, that growing up feels exactly like that: impossible horror. Changes to one’s body. One’s mind. One’s emotions. It’s like were corrupted and forced into a new person during our formative years and it’s bonkers.


Books read:
My favorite book that I’ve read in the past year is A Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. I had a fairly strong reaction to that one, which I didn’t expect to have going into it. I knew it was going to be good, but I didn’t expect it to hit me that hard.


I’m currently reading Amor Towles’ The Lincoln Highway and loving it. It’s like salve. That’s really the only way I can describe it. It hasn’t gone crazy yet. I don’t know if it does. But it’s beautiful and sad and I love the characters.


Movies watched:
I really enjoyed Hellbender, Slapface, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched from Shudder. Fresh on Hulu was great. The Manor on Amazon Prime might be the best horror movie of the year. I rented an entire movie theatre to see The Batman and it’s easily the best movie of the year.


Games and/or music played:
My favorite album of last year was probably Chemtrails Over the Country Club by Lana Del Rey. I listened to that on repeat for a while. This year, I’m really digging hard into some older stuff that I hadn’t listened to since I was a kid, because I’m working on something set in the early nineties.


Bands like R. E. M. and The Violent Femmes and stuff. They’re all creeping into my subconscious a lot.


On the videogame front, I’ve been playing too much Best Fiends, Bloons TD 6+ and GameDev Story.


Words written:
My collection Her Infernal Name & Other Nightmares was included as an “honourable mention” by Ellen Datlow, which was great.


Future stuff:
I have the follow-up novel in my YA series coming. It’s called The Deep and my goal with that was to expand the world while also telling a more intimate story, if that makes sense. I also have a novel called Nocturnal Creatures that’s coming soon(ish). Beyond that, I have a few short stories being published, one in Even in the Grave, another in The Call of Poohthulhu, and a reprint in Horror From the High Dive Vol. 2.


I have a non-fiction piece on the Silent Hill franchise in the first issue of Weird House Magazine, coming in April/May.


I may or may not have another novel on the horizon that I can’t talk about yet. It’s exceedingly dark and might upset some people.


Brain worms:
I’ll never really understand the thought process behind the modern Halloween trilogy. The folks behind the camera talk a big game about how much they love the original movie and then go as far away from that concept as humanly possible when given the reigns. Makes no sense to me.


When will the producers of the Scream franchise realize that Stephen Graham Jones is the guy to write the next entry? How is it not obvious to them?


I’ll never stop wondering what Hideo Kojima had in store for us with Silent Hills. That lives rent-free in my brain for all eternity.

Rain Corbyn
​

Joe Koch
​

​Joe Koch (he/they) writes literary horror and surrealist trash. Joe is a Shirley Jackson Award finalist and the author of The Wingspan of Severed Hands, The Couvade, and Convulsive. They’ve had over fifty short stories published in books and journals like Year's Best Hardcore Horror, The Big Book of Blasphemy, Not All Monsters, and Liminal Spaces. Find Joe online at horrorsong.blog and on Twitter @horrorsong.

W.N. Derring-Judith
​

Cosmin Mihai Birsan
​

Further reading 
YOUR BODY IS NOT YOUR BODY: A NEW WEIRD ANTHOLOGY, AN INTERVIEW WITH TENEBROUS PRESS

Who are you?

Peter Topside (Hold the applause)


Your signature style:

Psychological horror


Toot your own horn:

I wrote the Preternatural horror trilogy. I am a self-taught baker and cook, and a Clinical Exercise Physiologist by trade.  I also have raging OCD, but no need to brag there.  Or is there?


Books read:

Recent 5/5 start books that I’ve read;

• A Fine Evening in Hell by Kristopher Triana
• Apocalypse Machine by Jeremy Robinson
• Eyes of Sleeping Children by D.A. Butcher
• The Pale White by Chad Lutzke
• A Better Life by Kyle M. Scott

Movies watched:

I’m a horror movie fanatic.  Most recently, I’ve gone through The Puppet Master Series, Werewolves Within, Antlers, Fido, Trick r’ Treat (Noticing a general trend here?!).


Games and/or music played:

Resident Evil, Tiddlywinks, and 70-80s rock.


Words written:

Preternatural Trilogy (Preternatural, Evolution, and the upcoming Reckoning (April 12th!).


Future stuff:

I’ve made it a mission of mine to help newer authors navigate the rocky road of self-publishing and getting themselves recognition.  That’s the longest term goal I have right now in the literary world, once my trilogy is published and complete.  I also hope to never put my socks on backwards ever again.


Brain worms:
​

• If chickens were the dominant species and harvested humans the same way we do to them…how would they prepare us?
• I once opened a fortune cookie that read “You will have great succsess.”  I always wondered if the typo was some kind of weird blessing or a proclamation that I’d have no ‘success.’

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

Hi, I'm a writer of weird fiction and cosmic horror originally from Macclesfield in the north-west of England. I'm now based down on the south-east coast. I've been writing properly since early 2019. I wrote a lot as a kid but I became a chef at 16 and a DJ in the little spare time I had which didn't leave a lot of time for it. I wrote the odd thing here and there but never did anything with it. I was convinced that nobody would be interested in my bizarre scribbling, it just goes to show how wrong you can be. I started writing again for the sake of my sanity. I developed a spinal condition that meant my career was over so I was going nuts. One afternoon while feeling sorry for myself, I decided to finally write that novel I'd been putting off for decades. After all, I had no excuse anymore, did I? It all came from there. Once I'd started, the floodgates opened and I haven't stopped. The novel was a complete disaster that I need to go back and rewrite at some point but it got me going.


Which one of your characters would you least like to meet in real life?

In a way, I feel like I already have met some of them. The character of Ivy Finch in “Miracle Growth” is an amalgamation of my gran and all of her Women's Institute pals. Also in that book, the character of Jerry the Janitor is an affectionate tribute to a friend of mine who passed away a few years ago. Tony Cash was Brighton's top Johnny Cash tribute act and a damn fine chap to boot. Such a character.
Aside from that, I'd like to meet Mr Eugene Angove, a character that appears in a series of short stories and novelettes. He's a drunken explorer. I reckon we would have a damn fine drinking session if we got together.


Other than the horror genre, what else has been a major influence on your writing?

I'm a huge fan of P.G. Wodehouse, Agatha Christie and Carry On movies. I guess that's where a lot of the humor and 'Britishness' of a lot of my stuff comes from. I like to use comedy as a counterpoint to all the horror. I like pulling the rug on the reader. Have them chuckling one minute then freaked out the next.


The term horror, especially when applied to fiction always carries such heavy connotations.  What’s your feeling on the term “horror” and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions?

It's not an issue to me at all. I'm very firmly of the opinion that if you enjoy what you do and are proud of what you do, who cares what anyone else thinks? The was I see it, there are people out there that like horror, I like writing horror, it's all good. It's just a label at the end of the day. A handy way to sort books out on the shelf. There are so many sub-genres that it's all got a bit muddled anyway which I think is great. Is it fantasy, is it horror, is it sci-fi? Does it matter as long as you enjoy it?
I know some people who get bothered by tags and labels, I'm just not one of them. Somebody I talked to online got upset by being labeled as a 'pulp' writer. I don't get it, I loved it when someone described my stuff as pulp. I'm pulp and proud!

The one assumption I would change, however is that us horror writers are all scary and moody, it's just not true. We are all lovely! Maybe we should start a 'hug a horror writer' campaign to change this?


A lot of good horror movements have arisen as a direct result of the socio/political climate, considering the current state of the world where do you see horror going in the next few years?


Good question. I can see a lot more eco-horror on the horizon. It's a genre that kind of peaked in the early 70s then petered out. With all the worry about climate-change, that kind of thing is in people's heads again. Also, with the state of the global political situation, I can see a rise in cyberpunk and dystopian fiction.
Before COVID there was a lot of zombie virus stuff coming out. I think that will die off for a bit. I think we are all pandemiced out!

Given the dark, violent and at times grotesque nature of the horror genre why do you think so many people enjoy reading it?

I think it's all about living vicariously. It's a way to experience the adrenaline of fear without being in any danger. Plus, who doesn't like a good monster every now and then. It's probably a primal thing. Some race memory of when we were being chased by bears and stuff like that. It gets us in touch with our savage side.


What, if anything, is currently missing from the horror genre?

More tentacles! Nah, just kidding. I don't know. I think there is something out there for every reader. There is just about every niche covered nowadays. That's the beauty about having such a healthy indie horror scene. Some publisher somewhere will have you covered.


What new and upcoming authors do you think we should take notice of?

I'm a big fan of so many of the current crop of horror writers that we'd be here all day if I was to list them all. Off the top of my head, David Green, Robert Poyton, E.L Giles, Neen Cohen, Callum Pearce, S.O Green, Holley Cornetto. The list goes on and on.


Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative that have stayed with you?

My favorite positive review is from Sci-fi legend Piers Anthony. I had the pleasure of appearing in an anthology alongside him and he reviewed it on his blog. He said my story made him wince... my work is done.

My other favorite is a negative review. Somebody clearly didn't read the cover as they complained that it turned into “some kind of horror show.” The fact that this particular work is subtitled “a cosmic horror novella” should have given the game away.

What aspects of writing to do you find the most difficult?

Writing blurbs and synopsis. I absolutely suck at blurbs. I'm terrible at bigging up my work. My blurbs usually end up something like. “This bloke goes wandering about in the woods and then some tentacles appear and some other weird shit happens.”

Oh, and keeping to word counts. I couldn't keep under a word count with a gun to my head.

Is there one subject you would never write about as an author?

I don't think anything is off-limits as long as it's handled right. There are subjects I'd never touch, child abuse, bestiality, that kind of thing, but aside from that, everything else is fair game.

Writing, is not a static process, how have you developed as a writer over the years?
Tremendously. It's like night and day. I look back on some of my early stuff and cringe. I guess that's the case with most writers. I've been fortunate enough to work with some amazing editors and I've learned a lot from that process.


What is the best piece of advice you ever received with regards to your writing?

Don't let rejections get you down. Seriously, I see so many writers get crushed by rejections. They are going to happen, it's part of the process. Most rejections are less about the quality and more about it being a good fit. There are so many publishers out there. Just keep subbing, you'll find somewhere eventually. Being a writer and not expecting rejections is like being a boxer and not expecting to be punched.


Which of your characters is your favourite?

I like a lot of my characters for different reasons but I'd have to go with my Great Old One, Ger'igguthy. I wanted to add something to the Cthulhu mythos pantheon and I'm proud of my creation.


Which of your books best represents you?

The easy answer would be my short story collection “The Pseudopod That Rocks The Cradle” as it's 18 stories so there is a bit of everything in there.

In terms of single releases, I'd definitely say “Miracle Growth.” It's got the comedy, it's got the weirdness, it's got the gore. It's pretty much me condensed into one book.

Do you have a favorite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us?

I like the silly lines. One of my favorite is from “The Creeping Void.” “A sharp thistle in the sporran region is a nightmare best avoided.” My current favorite is from “Miracle Growth.” “Something more humus than human.” I'm going to get More Humus Than Human on a t-shirt.


Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next?

Miracle Growth is about the run-up to the flower and vegetable show at a small-town fete. Without giving too much away, let's just say that there is some dodgy compost going around and that things get quickly out of hand.

I have a couple of shorts to do then I'm going to work on the final novella in my Hollowhills Cycle and a sequel to Miracle Growth. I'm also editing a Cthulhu vs Musketeers mash-up anthology.

If you could erase one horror cliché what would be your choice?

I wouldn't. I like cliches. They are just there waiting to be subverted. Again, it's all about yanking the rug out from under the reader.

What was the last great book you read, and what was the last book that disappointed you?

The last book I loved was one I beta read for a publisher but I don't think I can talk about it yet. The one before that was the Arkham Horror novel “Mask of Silver.” I'm a sucker for a King in Yellow story and it didn't disappoint.

One that disappointed me was “Kraken” by China Mieville but it was all my own fault. I went in thinking it was a cosmic horror story but it turned out to be urban fantasy. It was well done, just not my cup of tea. Proof that you can't judge a book by the tentacles on the cover.

What's the one question you wish you would get asked but never do?  And what would be the answer?


If you were a kind of squid, what squid would you be? As a self-respecting goth, I'd have to go for the vampire squid. Deep-sea Nosferatu!

Ginger Nuts of Horror welcomes Matt Blairstone and Alex Woodroe from Tenebrous Press  to Ginger Nuts of Horror to discuss their new anthology Your Body is Not Your Body: A New Weird Anthology, an anthology where all proceeds from this anthology go to Equality Texas to combat the attempts of the Texas government to criminalize trans/GNC youth and their families

Who are Matt and Alex, can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?
​
Matt: I’ve poked around the fringes of the indie comics and Horror scenes for a number of years as both a writer and artist, but I’ve mostly made a living as a cook and restaurant Swiss army knife. Grew up in central Illinois; lived and went to film school in Chicago in the 90s/early ‘00s; and have made Portland, Oregon my home for closing in on two decades.


I’ve played guitar and bass in bands for most of my life. These days I’m severely out of practice, but I still sing in a Ramones tribute band and I generally make every effort to steer any conversation—about any subject—back to rock music. Death metal or goth or funeral doom or obscure punk; today I’m rediscovering my love for Bullet LaVolta, a criminally underrated hardcore punk/alternative rock/whatever-they-were band from Boston; tomorrow it’ll be someone different but equally life-changing.


Any day I discover a new band to obsess over is a good day. 


Alex: I’m not nearly as cool! I was born in Romania and went pretty much everywhere in the EU with my former job as a project manager. I used to be an educator in prisons, and a beermaid in an Austrian-style brewery, and an English teacher, and a bunch of other things.


I always envied people who had like, a career they loved. I started writing and editing professionally when I was living in Italy because there just were no local jobs available, and it felt like the sky opened up and contentment rained all over me, and suddenly I was those people, too. Now my entire life feels like an ode to publishing, and I love it so much, frustrations and disasters and all.


Now that I live in Romania again, in the historical region of Transilvania, I intend to bring Romania onto the horror fiction map in a big way, writing our horror folklore and nurturing and publishing our authors. Hopefully there’s going to be a speculative fiction writing class in my future here, too.

Can you give us a potted history of Tenebrous Press? Why did you set it up and what are the main goals of the press?

Matt: Our first book, GREEN INFERNO, an anthology of Eco-Horror fiction and comics, was a reaction to the COVID pandemic, the climate crisis and the horrific forest fires that swept through the Pacific Northwest in September 2020. Initially I just wanted to gather folks from disparate locations and channel their rage and fear into something productive. Beyond just seeing if I could actually crowdfund the thing and pay the writers and artists for their work, it was really a first nebulous step with a big question mark at the end.


Those questions were resolved by Alex, a contributor to GREEN INFERNO who quickly became so much more; she was such a rambunctious, enthusiastic pleasure to work with, I knew I needed her to be involved with whatever came next. That ended up being IN SOMNIO, a collection of Modern Gothic Horror by women and non-binary creators, which Alex took editorial lead on. That collaboration was so seamless (or so my selective memory says) and successful that it was just a given that I would coerce her into becoming my other half in all things Tenebrous.


As to our goals? To delve into unexplored corners of the genre that we term New Weird Horror, from voices diverse and unsung all over the world. 


Alex: To be rambunctious and enthusiastic. And to publish things that make our friends wonder whether we’re okay.

Your Body is Not Your Body was born out of frustration to say the least; what was the fire that set off this fuse?  

Matt: The last two years have been fucking atrocious for everyone—for me too—but not nearly as bad for me as they have been for many others. I’m blessed to have remained at arm’s length from any major catastrophe befalling my family; my wife and I have been able to thrive creatively; our son is healthy and happy…so like, that in itself is a victory, right?

But still, we all agree: fucking hard, yeah? And on top of all that—specifically this fresh hell in Texas, first with the abortion laws and now with the attacks on trans and gender nonconforming individuals and their families—to feel like you live in a world where entire swaths of people refuse to recognize one’s sense of self, one’s sense of identity…eh, this is gonna sound corny as hell, but fuck it:

I think about the possibility that my child—who’s lived nearly half his life under COVID and nonetheless manages to be a delightful, absurd little ball of charisma and passion—could potentially grow up in a world that might treat him like less than, that might persecute him for his mere existence…and it fills me with the most bloody-eyed rage. Because the kids in Texas, and individuals everywhere: they’re somebody’s children too. This is happening to them.


Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary that humanity is even worth saving, as every tragedy upon tragedy piles up, whenever there’s a new level of depravity that huge swathes of the world’s population descend into…there’s always at least some decency and progression and defiance that arises as a counterbalance to the evil. It doesn’t often feel like it’s winning, but it’s still a loud voice. Someone protests. Someone says, “no”. Someone stands against. 


And we have to keep fucking being that. And goddamn is that exhausting! And it doesn’t even directly impact me; I’m safe! And when I think of it in that perspective…maybe it’s not so exhausting after all. Maybe I can do something. And that’s where this was born. That’s what lights our fuse.

I think that was my superhero speech, just with a whole bunch more swearing.

The call was exclusively to trans and gender nonconforming authors; for those who might not “get it,” can you explain why own voices is such an important movement?  

Alex: The “own voices” tag and movement in itself has its issues. Not everyone should be forced to represent their own marginalization just because they are marginalized, and we shouldn’t (and don’t intend to) ever force anyone into any position they’re uncomfortable with or unsafe in. But it is nice to sometimes make space for those people who do want to say something that relates to who they are, and how they’re being treated, and how they haven’t been listened to.


I can’t tell you what that means to anyone else, but I can tell you what it means to me—a woman horror editor who isn’t even a native English speaker, who comes from a dirt poor forgotten little country, who has no connections and no access. For all that the world pretends to be more open and inclusive, it’s all just a veneer of charm over the same old tricks. People like me get spoken over, forgotten in public spaces, and passed over even by those “big” horror sweethearts who claim to be advocates and supporters. People like me grow to be tougher and smarter and more resourceful than anyone else, and still have to sit on our hands and watch while others wield privilege and bias, and pretend it’s not.


So, even though our Tenebrous home will always be open to the marginalized in any regular call, for some submission calls, we specifically ask people who are marginalized AND want to talk about that particular experience. And that’s important, because the rest of the world needs to learn to sit on *their* hands and listen a little, too. It sure as shit built our character plenty.

I like the cover for the anthology, what is the significance of the image? Did you have an idea of what you wanted, or did Mx. Morgan G Robles come up with the concept on their own? 

Matt: We knew we wanted Morgan for the cover the second we discovered their immaculate art, and we put no restrictions on how they might choose to pursue their vision. They came back with a pair of concepts. We chose to go with the option that held no risk of subtlety or misunderstanding; as I said at our initial submissions call: this project is not being guided by nuance, but by a sledgehammer. A swan is graceful, beautiful, affirming; the situation in Texas is anything but.

Do you have anything planned to celebrate the launch?  


Matt: We’ve moved at such a breakneck pace—concept to submissions call took six hours; the call was one week; we read and selected everything over a long weekend, and we’re editing now. Circumstances didn’t really allow us any alternatives. I was pretty determined to act, and act now.


We’re releasing a novella on April 1st that we’ve been busting our collective asses to promote and do right by for months now, and attending Brian Keene’s Scares that Care AuthorCon charity event in Virginia at the same time. I think the celebration will involve collapsing into a gelatinous heap on the floor.


Alex: We are actively looking for anyone willing to support us with an interview, podcast moment, ad space, or anything else they can do to light a match under this project. Sending the money we’ve raised to the creators will totally feel like a little party, because that’s always a satisfying moment, and seeing those preorders roll in will be the icing.

A lot of people think editing an anthology is an easy job; what are some of the common pitfalls people fall into when creating an anthology?  


Alex: There are two kinds of people; those who think it’s an easy job, and those who have done it. Especially if you’re doing it while trying to pay everyone a fair rate which can’t come out of your own pocket.

That’s tied to the most common pitfall: forgetting that anthologies are incredibly expensive. If you don’t make sure you have a connection to readers who are willing to pay for it ahead of time, it’s going to be a hard time getting it off the ground. We’ve always funded our anthologies before we published them, and likely always will.


Second most common: expecting that if you put good quality work in it, readers will flock. You do absolutely have to put good quality work in it, but readers will never flock. We have to be the ones to lead every person by the hand and form a relationship with them, so we can give the authors we publish access to those relationships.


Third most common: underestimating the time it takes. I say this currently 900 submissions deep into a thousand submission pile, while sat right next to a war zone, with a dog with a broken leg, and the legal wibbles of setting up a new business: no matter how much time I think I will need, I will always need way more. Every anthology is hundreds of collective hours backstage, and they’re unpaid way more often than not.



And what is the one thing you think that people must do? 

Alex: This is only my view and doesn’t in any way represent an absolute objective truth. There are many ways in which many works of literature are meaningful that have nothing to do with this. But for me, as an editor, my job is making sure I actually connect these writers to someone who wants to read them. If I’ve failed to do that, I should not have bothered putting together an anthology. That means both respecting the author’s voice and vision and refraining from over-editing them, because I want readers to connect with them in as authentic a state as they can be. And it means always having one eye on the audience, making sure they’re paying attention and showing up.

What kind of stories were you specifically looking for; do these stories match your ethos of “New Weird Horror,” and what exactly is New Weird Horror?  

Matt: Alex summed up what New Weird Horror means to us pretty succinctly, but for a while now it’s just been a gut call between the two of us. At least some aspect of the writing—be that theme, content or formal structure—needs to be unexpected, outside of tradition, unsettling. Simultaneously, we’re in the business of telling stories. Plot is key; just, make it a Weird plot!


Readers will see three novellas from Tenebrous Press in the coming months that are wildly different from one another…other than that they are all story-driven and propulsive. At the end of the day, an Indie Horror publisher is the creative vision of whoever is making the calls. You can see through-lines of identity and uniqueness at any publisher, if you look closely. 


I can’t overstate how fortunate I am that Alex and I lucked into this unique hivemind; we don’t agree on a lot of things—we each have our own flavors, and Alex doesn’t like death metal or The Dark Tower, so even she has flaws—but there’s this big wide stretch of road running right down the middle of the superhighway where we get the same Weird creepy feels: our sweet spot. When we solicited novellas, we each had a short list of six or seven that mostly overlapped. We weighed them all over a matter of days, together and separately, arguing and discussing back and forth, and when we reconvened in the end it wasn’t really a surprise that our final decisions were identical. 


Story selection for Your Body is Not Your Body progressed in more or less the same way. I think we “devil’s advocate” each other a lot, and the best work always comes out in the end.


Alex: New Weird Horror is very much my lovechild, riffing off the old New Weird that I grew up with; but it is New Weird’s successor in philosophy and goals, not necessarily in theme or aesthetic.


I sort of think of it like the progressive rock scene that’s musically my jam: prog rock in the seventies intended to be groundbreaking; technically complex and weird and wild and a little show-offy. And it was, at the time! But many in the audience ended up being stuck on those specific sounds and orchestrations, rather than on this more profound ethos, and want prog rock today to still use synthesizers and lines from the seventies.


I want prog rock today to be whatever it needs to be: to blend genres and surprise me and be complex and fun and *more*. To be today’s groundbreaking, cocky mess. And that’s what I want from New Weird Horror.

I like to think that the horror genre is one of the most progressive genres, in terms of inclusivity, and acceptance; what’s your view on this?  

Matt: Honestly, I feel like the Horror scene is as catty and inclusive and gatekeeping and brilliant and excluding and tempestuous as any other scene. It’s exhausting and exhilarating. 


The wonderful thing about Horror is this: there is a niche for you. Do you want tradition? It’s there in fucking bucketloads, both in classic form and from upcoming authors. Do you want new perspectives, underrepresented voices, skewed takes on the genre? It is such a fertile time for Horror, and so easy to indulge in both comfort food and riskier fare—each of which I love—and it’s pretty goddamn easy to find both. We are rich with Indie Horror options of every stripe. It’s lovely.


Alex: Seconded. It absolutely is one of the most progressive genres, and it is also the place where you will see some of the most horrible behavior. Both those realities are true, and neither cancels the other out.


We try to keep our heads down and do our jobs well. It might sound corny, but we genuinely do try to create more of the opportunities and attitudes we want to see in the horror world. Sometimes it’s harder and more painful than we let on, but I do believe people see the hard work and want to contribute and want to help. And the end result is that they’re here, and they helped us raise money to pay the contributors of Your Body is not Your body, and they’re listening.

What can people like myself do to help?

Alex: Every time someone talks about one of our books, shares it, shares a photo of an illustration, shares a link or an interview… every single time means someone who needs us in their life might be able to find us. That is everything to us.


I think it’s the same for every small press: the one thing we need is an open door to connect with more readers and more authors. It’s not like legacy publishing; for us, it’s never too late to share an ad or review of older titles, it’s never too little to just say you loved one author’s story, it’s never pointless to try to just nominate one thing for an award or some recognition. Every little thing matters so much.


This industry revolves around connections and open doors, and things that might not feel like a big deal to an already established author make a world of difference to a tiny press championing about five dozen new voices.

What would you like the readers to take away after reading Your Body is Not Your Body?  

Matt: That there are amazing, valuable, Horrifying tales to be told by individuals whose voices are as valuable and worthy as any other. That a homogenized, purified world is fucking boring.
And if they also take away the fact that Governor Greg Abbott and all his likeminded ilk are bigoted, monstrous scum, that’s alright too.


Alex: And that Tenebrous is going to continue showing up in a big way. We’re not perfect, but we’re gonna be a home for so many amazing things.   

Preorder a copy of Your Body is Not Your Body: A New Weird Anthology here