Alex Severin was born February 21st, 1971 in the NorthEast of Scotland and
has been published under pseudonyms in "Blood Candles" e-zine, poetry anthologies for Anchor Books in the UK and The National Library Of Poetry in the USA. Alex writes poetry, short fiction, novels and screenplays, the latter
being her initial interest in writing.

Alex presently is under contract to Gothic Press: Publishers Of The Abstract for the release of several chapbooks. Her upcoming releases being "For The Love Of Blood" due for Summer of 2000 and "Pulse" tentatively scheduled
for Fall of 2000.

Alex's short "The Surrogate" was recently reccommended for the 2000 Bram Stoker Award.

Gothic Press: Publishers Of The Abstract
General Author Interview
 
Q1.  Name, Age, Sex & city of residence.

A. Alex Severin, Female, NE Scotland

Q2.  When did you start writing fiction or poetry?

A. I have always written to some extent but seriously when I was 21.

Q3.  Why did you start writing?

A. I started writing whilst I was caring for my Grandmother who suffered from chronic Altzheimers disease.  It was very cathartic for me to put all my frustrations and anger into writing.

Q4.  Have you ever been published and if so, where?

A. I used to write regularly for an e-zine called Blood Candles.  That was my first step into being published.  Now I am under contract to Gothic Press for several projects, the first of which is ‘For the Love of Blood’ which is due for release in August 2000.

Q5.  If you write under a psuedonymn, how did you come up with it?

A. I used the name Alex because it is androgenous and then GP went and put a photo of me on my site!  So, no mystery as to my gender anymore!  I chose an androgenous name because I feel that there is still a stigma attatched to women writers, especially in the horror genre/sub-genre.  I am guilty of that prejudice too because the only female author I read is Ann Rice.   The name Severin is just my favourite surname, because it sounds like ‘severing’.

Q6.  Who are your influences and why?

A. My main writing influences and inspirations are: Ann Rice because of the intense passion in her work.  It is so emotional, melancholy and yet fervent and full of life amidst so much death.  I love Clive Barker because he is very difficult to categorize and transcends the boundaries of labeling.  He is simply one of the greatest writers that there has ever been.  I adore Jeffrey Deaver.  He is absolutely deranged!  He’s a writer I really admire a great deal.  When I read his work he really creeps me out.  I like that!  But my main inspiration above all else is Kailleaugh Andersson; I love his work, his intellect and his style and him as a person too.  He makes me want to be a better writer.

Q7.  Has cinema ever influenced your writing and if so, explain.

A. I am heavily influenced by cinema.  The way in which I write is very visual; creating potent imagery is very important to me as a writer.  I also write screenplays, which are my first love in writing so visuals are crucial.  It’s no good just having something on a screen to look at, it must catch the eye, keep the viewer’s attention.  I feel the same way about prose; the reader should be able to almost see what they are reading as well as the words on the page.  Where prose is concerned, I am influenced by the films of Jean Rollin who practically invented the Erotic Horror genre on screen.  His films are rich and dark and also have a little camp humor thrown in for good measure!  And lots of blood and fangs!  My main screen writing influence is Quentin Tarantino (The Master!).  I also like to evoke the imagery from the old Universal horror movies and Hammer Films movies.  They were so atmospheric.

Q8.  Who are your favorite published authors and why?

A. Ann Rice for writing simply the best vampire fiction ever to be published, for her style and her passion and her depth of characterization.  I actually feel as if I know Lestat and Louis and Claudia.  And I want them to be real, that’s how much I love them.  Clive Barker for breathing life into the horror genre when it was almost deceased.  William Shakespeare for writing the greatest love story that there will ever be in Romeo & Juliet.  I will never tire of reading it, ever.  It’s just so romantic and beautiful and what being in love is all about; about willing to sacrifice everything you hold dear to be with your love, willing to kill or be killed, and being unable to live without the touch of their hand.   *sigh*  But my No.1 is Kailleaugh Andersson, no one inspires me the way he does and no one can make me feel the way his work makes me feel.  It was what made me fall in love with him initially.

Q9.  Who are your favorite un-published authors and why?

A. Sebastian Bux, a writer I used to work with on an e-zine called ‘Blood Candles’ a couple of years ago.  He has such a beautiful style, very dark and emotional, intensely Gothic.

Q10.What are your favorite zines or e-zines devoted to the genre?

A.  Well, the best Gothic writing on the web can be found at this wee site I know called Gothic Press - Publishers of the Abstract!  And that’s true!  Blood Candles has excellent vampire related fiction.  As for zines, being from NE Scotland I don’t have access to any and don’t know of the existence of a single one!

Q11. If you can classify your work into a genre or sub-genre, how would you classify it?

A. Oh, that’s a tough one.  The ‘Head Fuck’ genre I think would be the most appropriate title for a genre containing my work!  Seriously though, I think my writing would fall into the Gothic sub-genre.  It is Gothic, dark, blasphemous, erotic.

Q12.When writing, do you rely on imagination alone for your concepts or do often research an idea or subject?

A. Mainly imagination but if I write about something that has a specific period in time included, eg: a particular event or historical character then I make sure that my facts are correct.  I am planning a series of short stories at present with a theme of blood disorders which will require quite extensive research.

Q13.Moving outside the realm of writing, what is your marital status?  Please elaborate, your readers are interested in getting to know you.

A. Although we are not married, on paper as it were, I am very much Kailleaugh Andersson’s wife.  No one could ever compare.  He’s my eternal love. *gush*

Q14.Do you have any hobbies or interests? Please elaborate.

A. My main past time is writing, I love to write.  I love music and watching movies and heated debates about religion and politics.  I love to read books, listen to music, and I love to sing.

Q15.What do you consider to be of great importance in your life?

A.  The most important things in my life are, Kailleaugh, he’s my reason for being here, he’s my best friend, my confidante.  There is no one on this earth who understands me the way that he does and tolerates all my little neuroses - of which there are many!, without complaint; my family - my mum and dad support me in everything I wish to do and love me no matter what, Eva, my best girlfriend - she’s always there for me and knows what’s inside me.  And my writing is very important; if I didn’t write then I would never have found my one true love.

Q16.What are your likes and dislikes?

A. I don’t like and dislike; I love and hate.  I love words, I love writing, I love music and movies, I love it when I write something so good that it makes me squeal, I love fresh cherries *wink, wink, Kailleaugh!*.  I love stormy weather, graveyards and religious imagery.  I especially love religious imagery in graveyards during stormy weather!  *wink again!*  I love Gothy clothes, I love long hair on a man - one man in particular!  I hate people who are false, conceited, vain, affected, prejudiced.  I hate pedants.   I hate brussel sprouts and boiled cabbage and I hate people who hate!!!!
 

Q17.Do you have any goals? Please elaborate.

A. Lots!  I want to be a successful writer.  And that’s not about money.  I want to be held in esteem by my peers.  I want to be notorious.  I want to provoke reaction.  I want to write and direct movies.  I want to have at least one best selling book in my lifetime.  Most of all I want to live long and prosper *Vulcan salute* with my Kailleaugh.  *anybody thrown up yet?!*