For this month's interview on Women in Horror, I bring you the mysterious, full time writer gal by the name of Angeline Hawkes. Some may know her from her active roles on many horror forums, as well as her many publications. Angeline's first taste of Horror came from classic avenues such as Ray Bradbury, Poe and the Bible. You don't get much more classic then the Bible. Her curiosity with the world around her comes out a lot in her fiction work. Since she works for us at Fearzone now, it was easy to twist her rubber arm for an interview.

Angeline, if you could describe yourself in one sentence, what would you say?


I'm an enigma that even, I, myself, fail to understand.

What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of writing?

I collect Bleuette dolls and sew and quilt. Most of the sewing is for the dolls. I'm also a history buff and am intrigued by archeology. My main interests are, of course, my husband and children.

What is some of your favorite material to write about? Do you like to write gory scenes, psychological horror, monsters, etc? What kind of subject matter do you find fascinating?

I'll write whatever needs to be written to develop and advance the plot of the story. I don't mind gore, psychological horror, etc. I don't like writing about children in horrific context, but I will if it's necessary to the story. I prefer historical elements/details and incorporate history and various mythos systems into most of my writing. I prefer to write dark fantasy over straight horror as well.

Do you do any writing outside of Fearzone and your books?

I write fiction: short stories, novels. The column for Fearzone. I, occasionally, write nonfiction, paranormal articles [ie. Fate Magazine], and blab on my Livejournal. I'm also the editor of the Horror Writers Association's Internet Mailer, but that's mostly just compiling information rather than writing it. Oh, and occasionally, something for REHupa, the Robert E. Howard United Press Association.

What are some of your most recent publications? Give us a brief description of them, so we get a taste of what your work is about.

I have a historical Cthulhu mythos story, "In Waters Black the Lost Ones Sleep", in Chaosium's Frontier Cthulhu. A pirate fantasy story, "Balaam's Bones: A Tale of the Barbarian Kabar of El Hazzar" in Sails & Sorcery: Tales of Nautical Fantasy . Christopher Fulbright [writer and husband] and I have our novella, Blood Coven, out from Dead Letter Press that has been receiving positive reviews. I have seven stories appearing in seven anthologies in 2008 and many other short publications scheduled. My historical/fantasy novel, The Swan Road, will be reprinted, sometime near the end of February. I think I'm forgetting something...lots of anthologies.

Any new projects you are venturing into in the next while?

Whew, 2008 is The Year of the Novel. I try to trade out years: short fiction, novels, and so on. This year is novels. Currently, I'm working on a fantasy novel by myself and Christopher. I'm also working on a zombie novel by the both of us. I have a fantasy novel set in the world of my barbarian character, Kabar of El Hazzar, that will be the first novel-length work in his world, that I'm working on. I also have a novel that I'm collaborating with a well-known author on that I'm not at liberty to discuss right now. If there is any of the year left after these novels, I am going to finish the sequel to The Swan Road nd Christopher and I have another novel, sci fi/adventure, outlined that I'd like to begin.

I also have 2 novellas alone, that are being shopped around, and one with Christopher. I have 3 novels that are also being shopped around.

Writers tend to read a lot of interesting things, even while they work. Are you reading anything interesting right now?

I'm reading 2 books on the history of Bleuette [antique French doll]. Nonfiction.

Horror is a hard genre to work in for anyone, including women. What sort of advice would you give to young writers trying to break into the genre?

Read. Not just popular fiction. Read the classics, the Bible, mythology, these are the core of our society. If you have a firm grasp on these, branch out into the mythologies of lesser known origins. Find out what makes people tick. What are the great motivators in the human race? Gods, possessions and sex. Understand how these things play a role in whatever society you're examining or creating. Do these things apply to other races and other worlds? You decide. Keep writing. Always. There's no time to rest on your laurels. Persistence is the key. Keep writing, keep submitting, keep publishing; you can rest when you're dead. Those are my perspectives anyway.

11: Any links you want to share with the readers?

Angeline's Site

Angeline and Christopher's Site

Angeline's Live Journal

Angeline's Space