Steven Marshall is a British horror author who now calls Toronto home. While many horror writers look and act like horror writers; take Stephen King, for example – the typical harried artist with a tortured soul that you may not choose to come across in a dark alley. Then you have Steven Marshall, who from the outside, looks like a seemingly normal single father with a nine-to-five job and a friendly and outgoing personality to match.
Steven has several articles published in British and North American newspapers and magazines. Many of his short stories are prize-winners and have been published in Writer’s Journal, Simulacrum, Thirteen Stories Magazines, Writers Undercover and Scratchings on the Moon: Stories from the Edge.
In 2007, Pieces of Lorelei’s Heart earned him an honourable mention in Spec-Fic World SF contest, and was released as a chapbook by PATC press. His current work is a collection of horror short stories entitled Night Worlds – stories of ordinary people who come face-to-face with the undead and ultimately their own demons.
How did you get started writing horror? Was you family supportive at the time?
I started dabbling in horror writing at a very young age… probably 8 or 9. I was always fascinated by the Black & White Universal Monster movies… all that Lon Chaney/Bela Lugosi/Boris Karloff stuff. I’d sneak down in the middle of the night and hide behind the couch to watch Mummy movies, or ‘The Wolfman’ or whatever was playing on late night TV. My mum and dad were very supportive of my interests. Oddly enough, so were a few of my school teachers. Maybe if they hadn’t been… then I might have become a Doctor or Lawyer or something.
Where do you draw ideas for your stories?
I get a lot of material from dreams. Anyone who’s ever spent lengths of time with me will tell you that I can have the most vicious nightmares, and have yelled the house down on more than one occasion. I studied dreams a lot in my late teens/early twenties and learned a system to train my brain so I remembered a lot of that stuff. I’d write it all down in the morning and sometimes get whole stories from my nightmares. I don’t suffer as badly with sleep-disorders these days, but every once in a while I still get the odd doozy.
Who is your favourite character? Is there one you now miss and perhaps want to bring back?
Avalon the vampire (from ‘The Isolation Angel’) is my favourite character, hands down. She’s very real to me; infinitely complex and tragic. I’ve a wealth of unpublished material regarding her past, present and far distant future. She was initially an integral part of an epic vampire saga I was writing for many years. Sadly, I think the time for that story is past. The market has been oversaturated with vampire stories… I just don’t know if the tale I was writing is relevant anymore. I’ll probably publish one or two more stories about Avalon, but that’s about it. Most of her story will remain buried in my imagination. Perhaps that’s where she belongs.
Which characters is most like you and why? Has that character taught you anything?
It’s very difficult to answer this question as each character (even the darkest ones) has a little piece of me in them, somewhere. I think the character that was most RECENTLY like me, would be Morton Diggs from “Boneyard Blues”. I was in a very dark place when I wrote that story; utterly depressed and disillusioned by everything. Like most writers, I survived by channelling that energy into the written word. Has the character taught me anything? Yes. He taught me that life, no matter how bad it may get, is truly better than the alternative. And if you’re not happy with something in your life, then change it. You have the power.
England is the perfect backdrop for horror stories. Do you think Canada can bring the same inspiration?
Canada is filled with inspiration… from its breathtaking wilderness to the hypnotic beat of city life. I’m inspired on any given Saturday night when I’m let loose amidst the Toronto nightlife. Every story I’ve written in the last 5 years has taken place in Canada. I can’t see that trend changing anytime soon.
Tell me some of your all-time horror favourites – movie, story, villain or monster?
All time favourites… as I said, I have great affection for the old Universal Horror Movies of the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s. “The Wolfman” starring Lon Chaney Jr. is quite possibly the greatest horror movie ever. Central character, Larry Talbot, is such a classically tragic figure. The story is brilliant and the make-up by legendary artist Jack Pierce, is utterly iconic. Too bad they missed the mark with the recent remake.
Later came the new wave of screen monsters, such as Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street), Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th) and Michael Myers (Halloween). All owe debts to the path laid by Universal Pictures. As far as literature goes… if I can write one book that’s even HALF as terrifying as Stephen King’s “Salem’s Lot”, I’ll die a happy man.
Do your sons share the same love for the macabre?
My sons definitely share my love of horror. Right now though, my youngest is in the “Giant Monster” phase. He’s an 8 year old encyclopedia of Godzilla knowledge. Sooner or later though he’ll gravitate toward the Werewolves, vampires and zombies.
What is the advantage of short story format for this particular genre?
I don’t know if there are particular advantages to short horror stories Vs full length novels. It’s certainly harder to translate a message in the shorter format. But perhaps that makes it ultimately more rewarding. If you can make your point in a relatively quick journey of 2,000 words, then 100,000 words really allows you time to stop and see the sights.
What are you working on now?
What am I working on now? Currently I’m trying to conquer an elusive short story called “Pa’Quiss” that wants to be much longer. If I can overcome the difficulties that have plagued the process, I think it will be the most frightening story I’ve written so far. I’m also working on two novels, not to mention a new story centered on the “Boneyard Blues” protagonist, Morton Diggs.
To order you own copy of Night Worlds, contact Craigleigh Press.