Our second Spotlight Interview for Women in Horror month is the remarkable delight known as Vivian Kasley!
Read more about this lovely lady below!
Enjoy!
What defines “horror” for you?
Dread. Cozy creeping dread. Terror with the skittering feels. I wanna be grossed out. I wanna look away but keep looking. I wanna be disgusted and scared. But most of all, I wanna be entertained. And horror in my opinion, is the most entertaining of all. A lot of my best childhood memories are of my brother and our friends renting horror movies and watching them together with big bowls of popcorn and candy under a blanket fort. There is something so cozy about horror even when it frightens us, because it also brings us together. And that’s the beauty of it.
What is your personal favorite horror movie or story and why?
Film wise, it’s Poltergeist, because it was one of the first horror films I got to see. I was about 5 or so, and it chilled me all the way to my tiny little bones. Especially since at the time I slept next to a window with a giant gnarled tree right outside of it! The film hits every single note as far as I’m concerned—cozy, gross, dread, scary, disgust. It is one of my comfort watches. And I will always adore it. Story wise, I think I’ll say William Peter Blatty’s, The Exorcist. The movie is also in my top three, but the book is one of the only books that had me sleeping with the lights on. Shit was scary as hell!
What is your favorite thing about being a female author in the horror industry?
Probably the comradery among other horror loving females. It has always been a struggle for me to find other ladies that enjoy horror the way I do. I treasure the friendships with other women I have been lucky enough to meet and chat to about books and everyday life. I finally feel like I ‘belong’ when growing up. I was always told I didn’t.
What differences do you believe women bring to the table within the horror industry, and why are those differences impactful and important, in your opinion?
A true perspective on the evils of men? I don’t know. I think women have endured so much horror through-out time that we know it. Like really know it. Thinking about some of the horrible things that have happened to me growing up, as well as so many others…how can we NOT know it? Horror allows us to write about terrible things in a safe space. It allows us to see one another and, without saying a word, understand one another. We are the womb of horror. We give birth to the most fucked up shit imaginable because we have endured—and still endure—some of the most fucked shit imaginable.
Have you faced any challenges as a woman in the mostly male-dominated world of horror? If so, what were they and how did you overcome them?
Honestly? Yes. Without getting into too many specifics, I can say that at times, I have been told by some men in the industry that some of my writing is too harsh for a woman, that it’s too unlady-like, and that women shouldn’t write some of the things I do. I didn’t have to overcome it, because I told them I didn’t give a fuck and kept writing how I wanted to write. And that is what I plan to continue to do.
What advice do you have for the next generation of female horror authors?
Be Bold. Be brave. Don’t give a fuck. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t or that you shouldn’t. Write fearlessly. Never assume you don’t have more to learn when it comes to writing, because trust me, you do, you always do. Use your hurts to your advantage. No matter what walk of life you’re from, we really are in this together. Remember, most women are not your enemies. And be there for others. When it comes to the writing industry, there will be times you might feel envy. You may even feel jealousy, too. It’s normal. But do not let it consume you or make you bitter. At the end of the day, we are stronger together than we are divided. I know it might not seem like it, but there really is room for everyone. And one last thing, be patient, be patient, be patient.
Vivian's Bio:
Vivian Kasley hails from the land of the strange and unusual, Florida! She’s a writer of short stories and poetry. Her words haunt places such as Cemetery Gates Media, Brigids Gate Press, Vastarien, Ghost Orchid Press, Death’s Head Press, October Nights Press, The Denver Horror Collective, and poetry in Black Spot Books inaugural women in horror poetry showcase: Under Her Skin and Under Her Eye. She definitely has more in the works, including her first collection coming sometime in 2025. When not writing or subbing at the local middle school, she spends time reading in bubble baths, snuggling her rescue animals, going on adventures with her partner, and searching for seashells and treasure along the beach.
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