His Other Work
Books & Stories
Thank you to Grendel Press for having me, and publishing I Am Monster.
And thank you to the readers.
I appreciate your time!
Story Art Sneak Peek
Amazing Artwork By Daniela Rivera
"I Am Monster"
Anthology: Paramnesia
Release Date: April 7th, 2023
About the Author: Born in California but raised in New Jersey, Christopher, the author of THE CORN WITCH, THE BIRTHDAY GIRL AND OTHER STORIES, as well as numerous short stories, enjoys spending his free time hiking and searching for ancient evils.
Release Date: April 7th, 2023
About the Author: Born in California but raised in New Jersey, Christopher, the author of THE CORN WITCH, THE BIRTHDAY GIRL AND OTHER STORIES, as well as numerous short stories, enjoys spending his free time hiking and searching for ancient evils.
Q & A
How does it feel to have this story published for the first time?
It feels wonderful!
What inspired the idea for your story?
Real life.
My mother was very ill, and this story is very much hers. She passed when I was 15 years old and there is a lot that I don't know about her past, her mental illness, and this story was an exercise in trying to understand a small part of what she went through.
I Am Monster was based on memories and a few journal entries written by my mother. This story is 90% real life.
My mother was very ill, and this story is very much hers. She passed when I was 15 years old and there is a lot that I don't know about her past, her mental illness, and this story was an exercise in trying to understand a small part of what she went through.
I Am Monster was based on memories and a few journal entries written by my mother. This story is 90% real life.
We know that writing can be a tumultuous journey with a lot of obstacles, what is your kryptonite as a writer?
If I'm being completely honest with myself, being lazy. I've been all in at times but have also neglected the craft and passion quite a bit as well. Perhaps fear plays a part in that...either way, stories don't write themselves, and it's time for me to get to work.
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?
Just write. Write what you want to write and don't worry negative about things being messy at first. The words and ideas won't develop unless you put them down on paper. And first drafts are first drafts for a reason.
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?
I set out writing I Am Monster as a way of maybe understanding the past, so I didn't think during writing that I was challenging perspectives, but perhaps the story does indeed challenge the way we perceive mental illness and those suffering from it. I think it also challenges the way we treat one another and the long-term effects that negative treatment can have on another's wellbeing. Mental Health and taking care of it is very important and something that's still often overlooked.
Tell us about your favorite author. What about their book(s) call to you and how do they inspire your own writing?
I don't know if I have ONE favorite author at this point. There are many talented writers out there and just them creating is inspiring. Many of these folks have families and day jobs and life that they have to fit their writing around and yet they follow their passion. That's inspiring. And from their works, inspiration can be found in a title or a sentence or pacing or what have you.
However, if were talking early on, and if we need a well-known name here, Dean Koontz was a big influence when I started writing.
However, if were talking early on, and if we need a well-known name here, Dean Koontz was a big influence when I started writing.
What do you love most about your story’s genre?
I love horror because it is a vast genre that can mean a lot of different things to a lot of people, and also one, that I feel, encompasses real-life the most.
What are some other genres you’d like to break into and why?
Westerns. I enjoy reading them now and again and think it would be fun to try my hand at the genre. Also, Young Adult as I believe I have stories to tell them as well.
