THE EXCHANGE: Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason
Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason have been dubbed the Sisters of Slaughter for their horror and dark fantasy writing. They have been published by Thunderstorm Books, Sinister Grin Press, Bloodshot Books, and Eraserhead Press. Their latest works, Tapetum Lucidum, and Isolation are being released in October 2019.
#1. At what point did you start writing? Did one of you rope the other one into it?
#1. We started writing when we were around eight or nine years old after our older brother started reading to us stuff like Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. We just kinda both decided it would be fun to write our own stories and haven’t stopped.
#2. Were there any other artistic interests like music, theater, painting, etc.? If so, do you either of you still engage in them?
#2. We are both into music all of kinds. We used to frequent metal and hardcore shows in Arizona. We don’t get out much after having kids so now we just haunt record stores when we get free time.
#3. You both live in the Southwest now. Have you always lived in that part of America? How has that shaped your storytelling?
#3. We were born and raised in Arizona. The lonesome, barren landscape definitely shaped our writing. Everything out here looks like its either dead or dying and everything wants to harm you in some way but there is hidden beauty to it and we learned to search for those and that bleeds into every part of our life, it’s a dance of morbidity and beauty. Also there wasn’t much to do during the summer other than stretch the lengths of our imaginations to make staying inside exciting, haha.
#4. Besides the usual authors, teachers, and family member, or music or movies, what’s something that might have influenced you growing up to become the writers you are now today?
#4. Being twins we grew up shy, not really seeking contact with many people so writing became our way our reaching out to other human beings.
#5. Okay, let’s talk about the more traditional influences. What three authors would you say shaped your writing the most?
#5. Stephen King, Tolkien, and Clive Barker influenced our writing a great deal but also reading Anne Rice showed us girls could make it in the writing world too.
#6. And what three contemporary authors do you see putting out work right now that just blow you away?
#6. Somer Canon, Kealan Patrick Burke, and Mary Sangiovani.
#7. All this said, the question must be asked… “why horror?”
#7. We have always loved spooky things, Autumn in the desert feels like an awakening so Halloween was always our favorite holiday. Our mom would watch scary movies with us since we were little girls, so its always been special to us.
#8. Where would you like to see horror as an industry head in the next five to ten years?
#8. We want it to be more widely accepted without labeling it thrillers.
#9. What are your views on the state on the publishing industry? Self-pubbed vs traditional, Kindle prices, the rise of Fanfic, all of it.
#9. As readers we’re excited to see how many great horror books are being put out every day by both self-published writers and by traditional publishers, it provides variety that is necessary and as authors we’d recommend becoming hybrids and spreading your work out over different formats and try both traditional and indie publishing.
#10. Mayan Blue made quite a splash when it debuted. How did you two feel about that?
#10. We were over the moon about how people received it. It was our first novel so we were nervous about it but it turned out extremely well and even garnered the praise of Brian Keene.
#11. All your previous books go in different direction while retaining that “Sisters of Slaughter” vibe. How would you explain your brand of horror to someone interested in reading your work?
#11. We like to blend our horror with other genres to keep it fresh but keep our signature touch of brutality. We want dip our toes on many different styles while keeping the horror feel and our brains are packed with a variety of tales so each book will be a bit different from those before and after it.
#12. There are always rumors of sequels and series when it comes to your stuff. Care to chime in?
#12. We wrote a short sequel to Mayan Blue which was released in the Thunderstorm Books limited edition, it will see the light of day. There are also plans of sequels to Twin Lakes: Autumn Fires in the works and we would like to visit the Those Who Follow world again.
#13. Your new novella Isolation has just been published by Sinister Grin Press. What can you tell us about its origins?
#13. It was actually the first longer project we had slated for publication but the publisher fell through and it sat in a file for years before Sinister Grin swooped in to make it a reality. It’s a ghost story but with our touch, of course.
#14. You two also have a new novel called Tapetum Lucidum from Death’s Head Press. Same here, what brought it into being?
#14. We were digging Death’s Head Press and what they were doing and after working with them on an anthology, we asked if they’d like to publish Tapetum Lucidum. They agreed so we sent it on over to them. It’s a story about a small town surviving a ravenous wave of creatures. It’s our longest work so far.
#15. The two of you have penned numerous short stories over the past few years. Do you think we’ll see a collection available anytime soon?
#15. This is an idea we have been contemplating for a long time and is definitely something we are focusing on.
#16. So, I have to ask… how was it working on Silverwood: The Door with Brian Keene, Richard Chizmar, and Stephen Kozeniewski?
#16. We were so nervous we were both sick but once we got over those jitters amd got down to writing we had a great time. Richard is a very kind person, someone we have looked up to for many years, and to sit at a writing table with him meant the world to us especially after getting to joke around with him and talk shop with him. Brain Keene is a dear friend of ours and another writer we spent many hours reading before we decided to try to get published. He’s full of wisdom that many new kids should listen to, and he’s also a super hero of the genre that we should all aspire to be like, he takes no shit and fights battles for the betterment of horror. He’s also the coolest person in the world. Stephen Kozeniewski has been our friend for years on Facebook and we’ve shared table of contents with him. He’s a goofy soul just like us and his writing is almost intimidating when you read it, he has such wit and imagination that we feel lucky to have been able to work with him and we’re honored to call him a friend.
#17. Career acclaim, the respect of your peers, and more talent than should be legally allowed. What would you two offer as advice to those breaking into the field now?
#17. You have to start writing now, don’t bother worrying about whether you’re going to be the next Stephen King, just start pouring your soul and imagination onto the page. If you don’t start and you don’t finish a manuscript it will never get published. Don’t let fear talk you out of achieving your dreams.
#18. What’s something you’d love to tackle in the literary world that you haven’t yet?
#18. We would like to write more serialized fiction.
#19. What are you currently reading?
#19. Just finished Midnight in the Graveyard put out by Silver Shamrock. Some really great ghost stories in this one!
#20. What’s coming next?
#20. After the release of Tapetum Lucidum and Isolation we have a short story in a border anthology being edited by Gabino Iglesias, a short story for a King Diamond tribute anthology being put out by Death’s Head Press and we’re working on a sequel to Twin Lakes: Autumn Fires as well as a few other invites to anthologies. We’re also working on mapping out a manuscript for our Narcos meets supernatural evil story but it’s in the early stages.