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Story Art Sneak Peek
Amazing Artwork By Daniela Rivera
"His Little Helpers"
Anthology: More Than A Monster
Release Date: Sept 8th, 2023
Preorders: Coming Soon
About the Author: Alex Wolfgang is a horror author from Oklahoma City. His debut collection, Splinter and Other Stories, is available now. You can find his work in Cosmic Horror Monthly, Nocturnal Transmissions Podcast, and the anthologies Howls From Hell, Bloodlines, and the upcoming Fiend in the Furrows III: Final Harvest. When not reading and writing horror, you can find him hiking and camping, playing tennis, drawing with ink, and watching movies with his wife. You can follow him on Twitter @alexwolfgang, on Instagram @alex__Wolfgang, or visit his website: www.alexwolfgang.com
Release Date: Sept 8th, 2023
Preorders: Coming Soon
About the Author: Alex Wolfgang is a horror author from Oklahoma City. His debut collection, Splinter and Other Stories, is available now. You can find his work in Cosmic Horror Monthly, Nocturnal Transmissions Podcast, and the anthologies Howls From Hell, Bloodlines, and the upcoming Fiend in the Furrows III: Final Harvest. When not reading and writing horror, you can find him hiking and camping, playing tennis, drawing with ink, and watching movies with his wife. You can follow him on Twitter @alexwolfgang, on Instagram @alex__Wolfgang, or visit his website: www.alexwolfgang.com
Q & A
How does it feel to have this story published for the first time?
Incredible! I wrote this piece about three years ago and have been slowly refining and editing it into what it is today, so it's wonderful to see it fulfill its potential and find its home.
What inspired the idea for your story?
I've always enjoyed both folk horror and holiday horror, so it was inevitable that I'd try my own twist on the Krampus legend. Ultimately though, the monster in my story bears only a small resemblance to Krampus. What ended up interesting me more was the theme of adults hiding things from children to protect them, only for these secrets to cause more suffering than they prevent.
We know that writing can be a tumultuous journey with a lot of obstacles, what is your kryptonite as a writer?
I'm probably not alone in saying procrastination is my biggest Achille's heel. It's always easy to put off a project for one more day, even though every time I finally put the work in, I wonder what was really keeping me away.
Clearly, you’ve succeeded at writing a captivating story for GrendelPress, but we all start somewhere. What advice would you give yourself as a young writer?
Stop worrying about the quality of your stories and just write, at least for the first couple years. I spent a lot of time agonizing over words and trying to perfect every piece, when I should have just been exploring and enjoying the process of learning to create.
We’d like to argue that every good story makes both the author and the readers feel something. What perspectives or beliefs have you challenged with your story?
Growing up, I think everyone has a moment when they realize their parents aren't super humans who know and understand everything about the world. They're just (hopefully) trying to do their best despite their imperfections. Many stories have explored this theme, but I think mine takes it a step further.
What do you love most about your story’s genre?
I consider my story to be a folk horror tale, which is a subgenre I've been exploring a lot lately. I love that folk horror can rip a reader from the chaos of the digital age and plunge them into the chaos of the past, where things still felt unknowable, but for much more primal reasons.
Tell us about your favorite author. What about their book(s) call to you and how do they inspire your own writing?
My favorite author changes regularly, but lately I've been really enjoying the work of Brian Hodge, particularly his short story collections. He has the incredible ability to create a fully realized world with rich characters and leave you feeling like you've finished a novel after reading a story with less than ten thousand words. I especially recommend Skidding Into Oblivion.
What are some other genres you’d like to break into and why?
I've delved into the past here, so I think I'd like to delve into the future soon. Sci-fi horror appeals to me because I see it as a kind of sister genre to folk horror.
If you had to pick another story of yours to share with your readers, what would it be?
If you enjoy my take on folk horror in More Than a Monster, I encourage you to check out my story "Malleability" in the the folk horror anthology Fiend in the Furrows III: Final Harvest. It tells the story of a young girl trying to make sense of the strange entities that rule her town, forcing the townspeople to endlessly create works of art for an unclear and potentially nefarious purpose.
