Q: How long have you been writing?
A: Since the early ’80s.
Q: What’s your favorite genre to write in?
A: Teen horror and light romance. FALLEN ANGELS is my only sci-fi.
Q; What’s your favorite genre to read?
A: Mysteries and creepy stories.
Q: Of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favorite, and if so, which one, and why?
A: WHEN THE CIRCUS CAME TO TOWN. I say it’s my favorite as I like the main characters and Waldo’s bizarre evolution. I do have a fear of clowns.
Q: Do you base your characters on people you know or have met, or are they all totally out of your imagination?
A: I want to say imagination–although I admit to a few male characters whom I’ve plucked from my past.
Q: You’ve written some horror and other scary books. Myself, I have never understood why people like to be scared. Scary books and movies and amusement park fright houses hold no attraction for me. Quite the opposite—I avoid them at all cost. Can you explain the reason some people like to be scared?
A: I’m sure normal people would NOT want to be in a situation that would result in their death, or even being badly hurt, for that matter. However, being scared, as in a horror movie, which can make you jump or even let out a short scream of fright, is a normal release of tension. It’s “terrifying”—but you’re SAFE! The mesmerizing music in a horror film makes it even more compelling. Without the building crescendos, the movie would be flat. We know it’s not real, and luckily the bad guy gets it in the end…sometimes.
Q: Is there something in particular that inspires you to write?
A: From time to time, I think back on something that happened in my life and how I coped or took care of the situation. I often put my characters in those situations.
Q: Do you write every day?
A: No, only when the mood strikes.
Q: What do you do for relaxation?
A: I take long walks almost daily, tend to my two young tortoises, but that’s only a portion of my day. Tai Chi is a wonderful stress reliever. My Fitbit rules my life so I can’t relax too often during the day.
Q: What do you want your readers to know about you?
A: I consider myself a positive person and like being involved in my community. Family means a lot to me. I’m a grandmother of three little ones who live 3,000 miles away. It’s hard at times to be so far away. But we do Skype.
Thank you, Deborah McClatchey, and continued good luck with your writing career.