NAME: Samantha Bryant
CREATIVE FIELD: Author
WEBSITE: DangerousWhenBored.com
AUTHOR LINKS:
Links: wheretofind.me/@SamanthaBryant
Books: Links to Horror Stories
AUTHOR BIO:
If you’re looking for Samantha Bryant, check the woods first. She likes to get lost there and she’s probably near the water. Samantha writes about what scares her, and the result is multigenre. Learn more about her work at http://dangerouswhenbored.com.
INTERVIEW
What got you into horror to begin with – what’s your core Horror memory?
I always was a creepy little thing, drawn to monster and ghost stories. My mom is into Universal Monsters, Dark Shadows, and anything with Vincent Price, so we’d watch a lot of those on TV together when I was still a tater tot.
Do you have a favourite horror subgenre (or more than one) and if so, what is it? What/Who are your favourite books/films/podcasts/artists/creatives working in that subgenre?
I love domestic horror, Gothic ghost stories, and horror-comedy, but I’ll give almost anything horror-adjacent a try.
Current favorite authors: Tananarive Due, Gabino Iglesias, Grady Hendrix, and Victor Lavalle.
What is the horror project of your heart – perhaps something you’ve already got out there, something you’re working on now, or something you’d like to do?
I’m working on that heart’s project right now: a Gothic romance.
The Architect and the Heir is big on atmosphere, spooky setting, and hidden family secrets. I’m hoping to bring it out into the world this October.
Which 5 horror books can you not stop thinking about, or have influenced you most in some way? (If not books, you can pick 5 films, 5 pieces of art, 5 songs… or mix & match!)
Shirley Jackson’s We Have Always Lived in the Castle is my favorite book. I read at least part of it again every year.
I feel similarly about Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca and both film adaptations.
In film, I was also wowed by Jordan Peele’s Get Out and the Swedish version of Let the Right One In.
In music, I enjoy Valentine Wolfe, a band that has played at a lot of the conventions I frequent.
If you had to describe the tones and themes of your own work in terms of movies, books, songs, or art, what would you choose and why?
I like to set my horror stories in mundane, domestic places like parks, suburban neighborhoods, and different sorts of homes. To me, it’s scarier when the horror sneaks up on you because you’re some place you feel safe. There’s what you think you know, and what’s really underneath.
Introduce us to something you’ve created, and pitch it to the audience!
Stories from Shadow Hill is a collection of 13 weird surburban horror stories set in a neighborhood suspiciously like the one I live in. Perfect for fans of Twilight Zone and Tales from the Darkside who enjoy twists and surprises in their stories.