Lydian Faust is a writer of horror and dark fiction. Ms. Faust lives in one of the murder capitals of the United States of America. Her hobbies include nachos and alien conspiracy theories.
KR: Coffee?
KR: Could you tell me a little about yourself please?
I’m a robot-vampire from the midwestern region of the United States of America. I acquired this skinbag in 1981. Seriously, I’m just a huge dork with a few literature degrees who geeks out over horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. My first novella, FOREST UNDERGROUND, was published last summer by The Sinister Horror Company. I’ve had more jobs than I am years old and am currently the owner/operator of a historical costuming business.
KR: What do you like to do when not writing?
When I’m not writing, crafting, or sewing, I’m cooking (one of my passions), singing, listening to music, hiking, reading, painting, watching movies or alien conspiracy theory shows with my cats, or just doing typical robot-vampire type stuff.
KR: What is your favourite childhood book?
THE NEVERENDING STORY by Michael Ende.
KR: What is your favourite album, and does music play any role in your writing?
It’s a tie between FAITH by The Cure and OCTOBER RUST by Type O Negative. I often write to music and it certainly inspires my work. The Cure’s “A Forest” was an inspiration for my novella FOREST UNDERGROUND and TOOL’s “Third Eye” inspired my story of the same name. Music is in my blood. Rockin’ the mic is a Friday night ritual at my house.
KR: Do you have a favourite horror movie/director?
Scandinavian filmmaker Jan Svankmajer is my fave, hands down. His stop-motion/animated/live-action mash-up ALICE is a demented re-imagining of Alice in Wonderland (as if the original weren’t demented enough). The White Rabbit’s teeth will mess you up big time.
KR: What are you reading now?
I was trudging through James Herbert’s MOON, along with a few collections, but I’ve put those aside for a bit, as I don’t actively read while I’m in the middle of a writing project (it muddies my creative waters, and I’m easily distracted).
KR: Who were the authors that inspired you to write?
Clive Barker, Poppy Z. Brite, Richard Matheson, Flannery O’Connor, Ray Bradbury, Tanith Lee, John Ajvide Lindqvist, Joan D. Vinge, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Margaret Atwood, Ira Levin, Anne Rice, George Orwell, Shirley Jackson, Yevgeny Zamyatin, Aldous Huxley– this list really could go on forever.
KR: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to just see where an idea takes you?
I’m a “pantser” sort of writer. I let the story go where it wants to go.
KR: What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I don’t do much research.
KR: Describe your usual writing day?
I sometimes go for weeks or months without writing anything. When the inspiration hits me, I scribble it down longhand, in a notebook, until it’s finished pouring out of me. I’m usually writing outside, listening to my boombox. I edit when I type it up. I despise typing, so it’s a slow process.
KR: Do you have a favourite story/short that you’ve written (published or not)?
“Doody Head” published in The Sinister Horror Company’s anthology THE BLACK ROOM MANUSCRIPTS, VOL. III. It’s a ridiculously goofy title for a story that has quite a somber undercurrent. I love a bit of humor in my horror.
KR: Do you read your book reviews?
Yes. I’m grateful for every one of them.
KR: Any advice for a fledgling author?
I’m still a fledgling author myself, but I’d advise them to avoid industry drama on social media. Just block ’em and get back to work. Horror is supposed to be fun, damn it. For the most part, the online horror community has been extremely supportive of me and my writing, especially the guys at Shadow Work Publishing and The Sinister Horror Company. Learn what you can from people who are willing to help you and spread the love by supporting fellow writers. Write whatever the hell you want. However much or often as you want. Write something you’d wanna read. There are no rules.
KR: What scares you?
Just spiders.
KR: E-Book, Paperback or Hardback?
All three!
KR: Can you tell me about your latest release please?
My latest release is a bizarre sci-fi horror story called “Third Eye” included in Jonathan Butcher’s anthology VISIONS FROM THE VOID, published by Burdizzo Books. My micro-fiction story, “Wishbone,” in the A POCKET GUIDE TO THE SINISTER HORROR COMPANY was also recently published.
KR: What are you working on now?
Currently working on two stories for upcoming anthologies and my debut novel, horror inspired by my recent road trip through the southern states.
KR: You find yourself on a desert island, which three people would you wish to be deserted with you and why?
You can choose…
a) One fictional character from your writing.
The Wolfencorn, so I could ride him around, and he’d probably fight sharks or giant spiders.
b) One fictional character from any other book.
Gmork. I’ll need a snuggle buddy.
c) One real life person that is not a family member or friend.
Dax Riggs of Acid Bath, so he could sing to me.
KR: Thank you very much Lydian.
You can find her at www.lydianfaust.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lydianfaust, and follow her Instagram, lydianfaust, on Twitter @LydianFaust, on Amazon US or on Amazon UK
Luna was lost.
Hospitalized following an incident in a local grocery store, she finds herself volunteered for treatment by the brilliant psychiatrist, Dr Sizemore.
As the doctor’s interest in her new patient grows, Luna reveals shocking details of her past. Ailing grandmothers, seductive strangers and a blood-soaked childhood are only the tip of the iceberg as her revelations paint a picture more akin to a twisted and nightmare-fuelled fairy-tale.
Detailing this case for the publication of a book, Dr Sizemore’s fascination reveals a dark history of her own. One that continues to haunt her to the present day.
The pair take a journey, twisting and turning through the labyrinths of their psyches. Through lands, fertile with anguish and dread.
Join them if you dare, to a place where glowing eyes are forever watching, lurking in the shadows of this internal woodland; of this forest underground.
You can buy Forest Underground from Amazon UK & Amazon US
ThIs Is NoT a NoRmAl AnThOlOgY…
If you are expecting a neat, predictable set of stories TURN BACK NOW
If you want horror but hate bizarro or getting “the feels” THEN STEP AWAY
This collection of tales is what happens when one man’s art meets 12 authors fiction, and when writers are free to ignore their genre of choice and typical story conventions.
12 eye-challenging op-art designs were used to inspire these 12 mind-bending stories, which contain everything from futuristic sci-fi to fantastical comedy, and heartfelt life musings to near-cosmic nihilism.
This is VISIONS FROM THE VOID
You can buy Visions From The Void from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Welcome to the Sinister Horror Company, a publisher with one goal: to release quality and original horror fiction.
Since its inception in 2015, they have steadily built a brand of good looking products and great writing.
This pocket sized guide collects all the authors in one volume, each one offering a piece of micro-fiction.
Featuring Danny King, Adam Millard, Matt Shaw, Tracy Fahey, Kit Power, J. R. Park, Daniel Marc Chant, Kayleigh Marie Edwards, Lydian Faust, Jonathan Butcher, Rich Hawkins, Paul Kane, Stuart Park, Vincent Hunt, Benedict J. Jones and Andrew Freudenberg.
You can buy A Pocket Guide To The Sinister Horror Company from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Some words are born in shadows.
Some tales told only in whispers.
Under the paper thin veneer of our sanity is a world that exists. Hidden just beyond, in plain sight, waiting to consume you should you dare stray from the street-lit paths that sedate our fears.
For centuries the Black Room has stored stories of these encounters, suppressing the knowledge of the rarely seen. Protecting the civilised world from its own dark realities.
The door to the Black Room has once again swung open to unleash twenty five masterful tales of the macabre from the twisted minds of a new breed of horror author.
The Black Room holds many secrets.
Dare you enter… for a third time?
You can buy The Black Room Manuscripts (Volume 3) from Amazon UK & Amazon US
What a fun interview! We worship some of the same authors and I’m a fan of stop motion films too.