Happy Goat Horror

Dark bleatings everyong! We’re back with another author spotlight, promoting the contributors of The Perfectly Fine Neighborhood. Today, we’re focusing on J.C. Smith, a relatively new author (but don’t let that fool you into thinking she didn’t absolutely BEAST her submission!).

Kayleigh: Hi Jess… welcome to the tribe! Can you start by telling us what inspired your story in the anthology?

Jess: The BLUE MAUSOLEUM is a short story that flips the script on the idea that everyone can see ghosts. Our protagonist, Dallan, can’t see spirits—but when his buddy, Arnie, vanishes and a mysterious, alluring blue mausoleum appears, Dallan firmly believes the two mysteries are entwined. It’s loosely based off a horror short story (the name of which I forgot) about a tower in the countryside of France. The mystical pull the tower had on the protagonist fascinated me, and I wanted to convey that same sense of mystery/desire with gut-wrenching horror. I also found inspiration in listening to some Indie music. Specifically, “Spite” by Vandaveer.

Kayleigh: Music is a great place to find the elusive muse. I just wrote an entire collection based on songs by Periphery. How long have you been writing?

Jess: I’ve been seriously writing for about three years now? I got back into it after someone in my D&D campaign messaged me a scene they’d written involving our characters, and invited me to contribute. We went back and forth for the whole campaign, and once it ended decided to team up and write a book! We jokingly refer to it as our COVID baby.

Kayleigh: Funny you should say that…. I once helped my brother with a D&D campaign. And by “helped”, I mean he asked me to print off a bunch of stuff, and for some reason I decided to troll him by adding pictures of Trump (as a new villain I’d made up) everywhere. But I’m getting off the point…. anyway, what was your gateway into the horror genre?

Jess: Oh, this is a tough one. I never used to watch horror, but recently my friend (the same one I’m currently writing with) introduced me to The Descent, and I Fell. In. Love. Since then, I’ve been trying to expand my horizons.

Kayleigh: GREAT film, that! Do you have a favourite author or book?

Jess: Since I’m still so new, not yet…unless you count Lord of the Flies. I’m a sucker for heavy-hitting stories about survival and human nature.

Kayleigh: Speaking of survival, I need to ask you something extremely important. What’s your zombie apocalypse plan?

Jess: Well, I live in the south, so there’s no shortage of weaponry. Probably grab my husband and our four animals, pick up the family members we like, and find an isolated place in the mountains and turn into Ellie from the Last of Us.

Kayleigh: Excellent plan! I’m adding you to the Apocalypse Team. Back to writing… do you have a favourite piece of your own work?

Jess: Probably the fantasy novel (series) I’m working on with my friend. It’s my first real project and I’ve been living with the characters so long I can’t imagine my life without them. Plus, it’s been such a huge learning experience. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Kayleigh: Can you name a book for us that you wish more people knew about?

Jess: I am (admittedly) very behind on reading. But if we’re talking video games, I get Very Animated when talking about Mass Effect (specifically Fem!shep), Dragon Age (I’d die for Zevran), and the GameCube Spiderman 2 game.

Kayleigh: Damn it… I should have sectioned off a part of this conversation for videogames! Ah well, you live and learn. Finally, can you tell us something interesting about yourself that people might not know?

Jess: I’m obsessed with sharks. I work security for my church. I have a compulsive need to make playlists (like…it’s a problem). And I’m a little feral for Cate Blanchett.

Kayleigh: My brain is trying to force a way for all of those things to somehow be connected, hahahahaha. Thanks for being here Jess!

If you’d like to get your own copy of The Perfectly Fine Neighborhood and check out Jess’s tale of spooky weirdness, you can find the link below: