In the previous Four on the Floor interview, we were treated to insights from one of horror’s leading new lights, Stephen Kozeniewski. For this interview, we get the perfect follow-up: Kozeniewski’s Slashvivor! coauthor Stevie Kopas.

Bio: Stevie Kopas was born and raised in New Jersey. She is a gamer, a writer, and an apocalypse enthusiast. Stevie will never turn down a good cup of coffee and might even be a bit of a caffeine addict. Stevie is the managing editor of the website Horror Metal Sounds, and she is also a writer/reviewer for the site.

Stevie’s works include the Breadwinner trilogy (The Breadwinner, Haven, and All Good Things), Never Say Die (collection), Slashvivor! (with Stephen Kozeniewski), and Madness Burns (collection).

Now here’s the interview!

James Gallagher: Horror can be beautiful, unsettling, terrifying, universal. If a Cenobite were forcing you to choose one thing you love about the genre, what would it be?

Stevie Kopas: Look, if a Cenobite were talking to me, I’d probably piss my pants. But I guess if I have to choose just one thing from the horror genre that I’m in love with, it would be the apocalypse. The reminder that humans aren’t invincible and we are more problematic than we think is great. I seem to always gravitate toward apocalyptic fiction of every media type, so that’s definitely my thing.

JG: Writers are always told to pen tales that only they could write. What do you bring to your writing that’s pure Stevie Kopas?

SK: I suppose I try to incorporate personality elements of people I know or have interacted with in my life into the characters I create. That makes them feel more real to me. Plus, I can take out my frustrations on anyone I feel like in any way that I want when I’m writing, so it’s definitely therapeutic. I also think I have a tendency to play on the sarcastic side of things. Writing is just more fun that way.

JG: How have your feelings about editing and the editing process changed since you began writing? 

SK: I have a huge respect for editors and the editing process. It’s a lot of work for both the writer and the editor (mostly the editor lol) and that respect increases with each thing that I write.

JG: What’s a recent book that you think everybody should be reading? Are there any movies or series that you can’t stop talking about?

SK: A recent book everyone needs to read? Well, I’m going to take this opportunity to shamelessly promote myself here! lol My most recent release, Never Say Die: Stories of the Zombie Apocalypse, was super fun to write and I think it’s a fresh and unique collection of zom-poc fiction for lovers of the genre.

As far as recent movies, I’m totally obsessed with Alex Garland’s Annihilation. It’s a beautiful horror film with stunning visuals and a haunting story, so people need to watch it!
 

For more information about Stevie Kopas, look for her on Twitter, Facebook, and her website.