We caught up with author Bridie Carter, contributor to Earth Island Books‘ Hardcore Horror anthology, to dive into all things dark fiction. In this interview, we explore her core inspirations, recurring themes, writing process, and how a punk rock perspective informs her horror storytelling.
Order Hardcore Horror HERE
How did you first get into horror? Do you remember the very first horror book or movie that truly terrified you?
At the age of 9 my mother decided to read me ‘The Thief of Always’ by Clive Barker and I’ve been hooked ever since.
Over the years, which horror authors, directors, or artists have had the most tremendous impact on your creative sensibilities?
I got into James Herbert in my teenage years and the way he mingles the fantastical with the grotesque in books like ‘Once’ reminded me of The Brother’s Grimm and fascinated me. I liked the clever way those worlds melded to create something completely captivating and gruesome. Anne Rice’s way of humanising the damned and the terrifying influenced my every thought for most of my twenties and is something I strive to emulate in my writing. In recent years a Grady Hendrix novel has been on my must read list to anyone looking for a book recommendation. His way of addressing political issues through horror whilst maintaining a sense of humour is something I really admire. I’ve tried to take the parts I love from these writers and put my own spin on it.
Hardcore Horror brings together voices from the punk, hardcore, and alt-rock communities. What do you think is the connective tissue between the underground music scene and the horror genre?
I think both scenes bring out the misfits in us all. A place where the people on the fringes of society can find community with other freaks like us. Where people can express art with all the danger but none of the malice. It’s raging against the dying of the light in a drop D tuning and carefully crafted simile.
Turning to your specific contribution to this Earth Island Books anthology, where did the initial spark or inspiration for your story come from?
Whilst driving through Y Eryri National Park I started thinking about Capel Celyn and its flooding to provide drinking water for the people of Liverpool. Post pandemic Welsh independence has brought many discussions to the table and one sentiment that keeps popping up is how many national resources from Wales are plundered by England. I started to wonder how fun abstract consequences of those actions might be.
Without giving away any major spoilers, what are the core themes or underlying fears you wanted to explore in this piece?
I suppose the underlying issue is the ‘othering’ of those places outside of south east England. The normalisation of inhumane policies swept in while we are turned the other way. Mostly it’s the manifestation of my fear that even when things go to shit, nothing changes. Normalisation through the justification of ‘means’ and ‘ends’.
How did your story evolve from the first draft to the final version, and what was the experience like working on it?
Some stories require years of planning and rewrites. This one however came really organically. The main skeleton of the story remained the same in every draft. The character work is perhaps where I spent more time in editing. I wanted to make sure I struck the right balance.
What was the most challenging aspect of writing this particular story? Was it nailing the ending, writing a specific terrifying scene, or something else entirely?
There is a chapter in the story that is particularly gruesome and I wrestled for quite a while on where the line was and whether I was prepared to cross it. Several times I said out loud while writing ‘my family is going to have to read this’. Now it’s out there I don’t regret writing it but I did panic over perception as soon as I hit that send button that removed it out of my hands and control.
When it comes to your writing process, how do you approach crafting a short horror story? Are you a detailed outliner, or do you let the narrative unfold organically?
I am very much a ‘see where the writing takes me’ kind of writer but I will also have a storyline in my head. I know what the main plot points will be and how it will end, how we get there though, well that’s a rollercoaster even I have to go on.
Horror relies heavily on pacing and atmosphere. What techniques do you use to build tension and a sense of dread on the page?
I love a good description – focusing on a micro detail to slow the pacing down. I like to almost tell a reader what’s going to happen, then describe everything so that there’s a sense of inevitability that’s inescapable. Equally as important though is the breaking of that tension with a well placed one liner which is what I really enjoy writing.
How do you approach character development in a short format, ensuring that the reader cares about the protagonist before the horrific elements take over?
I try to give a sense of who my characters are straight out of the gate in a short story. The brevity of short formats mean that you can’t spend pages crafting beautiful prose that links your reader inexplicably to the protagonist. I usually combat this with first person narratives as we can get a good sense of a character’s thought process and I couple it with some key dialogue moments that reveal who they are to those around them, not just who they see themselves as being.
Horror as a genre is incredibly vast and constantly evolving. What are your thoughts on the current state of horror literature and cinema?
Horror as a genre will always have its cult followings. As the world of ‘true crime’ becomes more mainstream there has been a shift in horror’s popularity. However, there is still a way to go to get the boom that the romantasy and the thriller genre have currently been enjoying. I think we are missing the diversity in horror that other genres are providing with the top sellers being the same few men for the last 30 years. The indie horror scene is fantastic. It’s a shame it isn’t reflected in the mainstream.
If you had to recommend one essential horror book and one essential horror movie, what would they be?
This is incredibly hard. Book wise – Grady Hendrix’s ‘My Bestfriend’s Exorcism’. It’s a good gateway horror with excellent comedic timing and an 80s soundtrack to die for…or even become possessed for. For film ‘Day of the Dead’ I have a soft spot for Bub and as my late step-father’s favourite film it’s a little bit nostalgic.
What is next for you? Are there any upcoming books, projects, or other creative endeavors we should keep on our radar?
I’m currently working on a novel steeped in folklore and witchcraft which is taking all of my attention at the moment. However, I’m sure there’s some more short story horror that may be creeping its way onto a page soon…
Finally, what is the one wavering thought or feeling you hope readers take away after finishing your story in the anthology
Just like the best punk songs I would love a proactive anger and sense of injustice.
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