HORROR AUTHOR INTERVIEWS : GLENN ROLFE

GLENN ROLFE

Glenn Rolfe is an author, singer, songwriter and all around fun loving guy from the haunted woods of New England. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University, and continues his education in the world of horror by devouring the novels of Stephen King and Richard Laymon. He and his wife, Meghan, have three children, Ruby, Ramona, and Axl. He is grateful to be loved despite his weirdness.

His short stories "Skull of Snakes", "Jackie Boy", and "In the Basement of the Amazing Alex Cucumber", were published in 2013. Also, his essay, "The Rooster", appeared in BLEED, an anthology to fight children's cancer from Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing.

His novellas, Abram's Bridge, and Boom Town, will be published by Samhain Publishing in 2015.

Pick up a copy of his debut novel, The Haunted Halls, available now from James Ward Kirk Publishing.

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THE HAUNTED HALLS BY GLENN ROLFE

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

I’m a dad (3 kids), husband, student (pat-time), writer, hotel employee, and I moonlight in a punk rock band.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Try to keep my sanity!  I’m usually running with my rugrats or listening to tunes.

What’s your favourite food?

Spaghetti!

Who would be on the soundtrack to your life story?

Bruce Springsteen, Green Day, The Rolling Stones, Oasis, Bon Jovi, Rancid, Kelly Clarkson, and Taylor Swift.

Do you prefer the term Horror, Weird Fiction or Dark Fiction?

Horror. I like it classic.

Who are some of your favourite authors?

King, Richard Laymon, Bentley Little, Ronald Malfi, Jack Ketchum, Hunter Shea, Brian Moreland, Mercedes M. Yardley

What is your all-time favourite horror novel, and film?

Novel: ‘Salem’s Lot (I read it for the 4th time this past October). Film: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original). Still feels so real. I don’t think anyone will come close to recreating the unsettling vibe of this movie.

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

None. Just because I get tired of something doesn’t mean it’s time to do away with it.

Which fictional character would be you perfect neighbour, and who would be your nightmare neighbour?

I’d  like to have Scout Finch next door to play with my girl’s.

I would not want Dale from Wrath James White’s “The Resurrectionist” If you read the book you’ll understand.

What do you think of the current state of the genre? 

I love it. There’s a lot of good young talent out there right now. I always gravitate toward Samhain Publishing (or whatever Don D”Auria is pushing). Hunter Shea, Brian Moreland, Jonathan Janz (among many others) are really crafting some nice work.

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

Great book: Red by Jack Ketchum and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I was disappointed in Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason. It had a great blurb from Peter Straub. I thought the first half was really good....and then it fell apart completely.

How would you describe your writing style?

Stephen King gave the advice to “write real” and “not to write scared”. I think those are two hugely important things to remember. Just let the story run free. I think style-wise, I’m a concoction of Laymon’s surprise heart, Ketchum’s teeth, and I strive (but fall well short) for Ronald Malfi’s descriptive abilities.

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

One of my first reviews mentioned Ketchum, Malfi, and Laymon as obvious influences. I didn’t realize I was so transparent! But I loved it and still use it here and there.

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

Time!  There’s never enough time. I love the rest.

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

Not sure. Probably. I haven’t run into it yet.

If you could kill off any character from any other book who would you chose and how would they die?

Dale from Wrath’s “The Resurrectionist”. I’m not sure it can be done!

What do you think makes a good story?

For me, I like the story to push as many of my buttons as possible. I strive to do the same with my own writing. I want terror, i want suspense, I want action....but there’s gotta be some heart in there somewhere, too.

 How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning?

Nah. I try to avoid really generic names like John Smith, but that’s about it.

How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

I’m looking at bigger picture. What ties this piece together, what about this piece will resonate with readers. I didn’t do that a few years ago when I started. I just got an idea and ran straight ahead. I still struggle with that in my short stories.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?        

The ability to write real dialogue- don’t make your characters sound like they’re from a bad b-movie.   I ‘m also very envious of people with great editing skills.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?

Rena Mason told me I had a good writing voice. I told her I was taking writing classes at school and she warned me not to let them change my voice. That gave me confidence and made me more aware of what I was being taught and how I could apply it to what I already do.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Facebook and  Blogs. But I’m always looking for something else!


Fame, fortune, or respect?

Respect, I guess. I’d like to earn a reputation for producing quality work.

What piece of your own work are you most proud of?

Abram’s Bridge. It’s a novella that will be out on Samhain in early 2015. I knew it was special when I started writing it. The story demanded me to sit down and write it. It felt like there was some real magic at work. I was just the lucky one who received it.

And are there any that you would like to forget about?

A TON. Mostly short stories that don’t mean a damn thing. Every so often I try to revisit them to see if there’s something to salvage. Usually there isn’t

For those who haven’t read any of your books, what book of yours do you think best represents your work and why?

The Haunted Halls is my first official book. It’s got more teeth then some of the other stuff I’ve written. I think somewhere between this novel and the Samhain novella...you now, that’s hard one. They’re all us pieces of me. J

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

The Haunted Halls:

The Bruton Inn, located outside of the small Maine city of Hollis Oaks, is home to something special. An icy presence has made its way from a dark past to the present day. Cold spots, shadows, and whispers permeate the halls, and guests are beginning to change. 

For two front desk employees, Rhiannon and Jeff, the dark rumors are about to come to light. They call upon the urban shaman, Lee Buhl, and his connection with the spirit world to dig up the truth. 

Will they be able to stand against this malevolent force? Or will they come face to face with something beyond even your most frightful dreams. Welcome to the Bruton Inn. The Ice Queen has arrived. 

I’m currently working on my next novel. It’s called Window. I don’t really like to talk about my works-in-progress. I play it close to the chest until it’s time to call.

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

What’s your favourite Taylor Swift song? “All Too Well”

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THE HAUNTED HALLS

The Bruton Inn, located outside of the small Maine city of Hollis Oaks, is home to something special. An icy presence has made its way from a dark past to the present day. Cold spots, shadows, and whispers permeate the halls, and guests are beginning to change. For two front desk employees, Rhiannon and Jeff, the dark rumors are about to come to light. They call upon the urban shaman, Lee Buhl, and his connection with the spirit world to dig up the truth. Will they be able to stand against this malevolent force? Or will they come face to face with something beyond even your most frightful dreams. Welcome to the Bruton Inn. The Ice Queen has arrived.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GLENN FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW 

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