Ninetoes spoke with JF Gonzalez Lifetime Achievement winner Christine Morgan about her career.
A while ago, in a Dark History article, I covered a sudden blizzard in the Midwest that killed somewhere around 219 people, a lot of them school children. My editor told me I needed to read the book White Death by Christine Morgan. After reading this banger of a book, I reached out to the author to see if she wanted to be in our spotlight. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Christine Morgan.
Q: What do you want readers to know about you as an author?
CM: First off, that I appreciate each and every one of them, whether they’re reading my stuff or not; the world needs all the readers it can get. Secondly, while I take the craft very seriously, striving to do my best even when (or especially when) the subject matter is outlandish or absurd, I rarely take myself seriously. I’m in this for the love of language and fun of storytelling.
Q: What inspired you to start writing? When did you start?
CM: As far back as I can remember, I was always making up stories, even before I started writing them down. My toys had very complex and involved dramatic storylines going on. In school, I was the kid who balked at “boring” assignments about how I spent my summer vacation or whatever; I’d turn in something about talking animals or ghosts instead.
Q: What works do you currently have available (solo and anthologies)?
CM: Oh, lots … novels including White Death, Trench Mouth, The Night Silver River Run Red, Lakehouse Infernal, Warlock Infernal, Infernal Queen, Spermjackers From Hell, His Blood, Birthright, Black Roses, Gifted Children, Changeling Moon, Murder Girls, The Horned Ones: Cornucopia, Tell No Tales, and Nympho Shark Fuck Frenzy (with Susan Snyder) … novellas Homebody, Cunt-Kick the Witch Bitch (with Edward Lee), Damned Lazy … collections including The Raven’s Table, The Wolf’s Feast, Around Eldritch Corners, Almost Normal Horror, Temples Tombs and Terror: Tales of Ancient Times, Rip Your Heart Out, At the Acres of Madness, None So Blind, Buzzards and Bone, HorrorSmut, Dreadful Fancies, Dawn of the Living-Impaired and Other Messed-Up Zombie Stories, and 3 issues of Pulptastic Yarns: Martian Matinee, Midnight Movies, and Barbarian Bloodbath. As for anthologies I’ve appeared in, I’d need a whole ‘nuther page.
Q: What was your gateway into horror?
CM: Saturday night old black-and-white creature features when I was little, and my maternal grandfather’s bookshelf of horror paperbacks he had to keep in the garage because Grandma didn’t want them in the house. Every time we’d visit them, I would be out there in the garage. He’d let me borrow or keep whatever I liked. I still have that copy of The Shining from when I was ten, faded, peeling silver foil, yellowed, read to tatters. One of my aunts told my parents reading that stuff would warp me for life. Happily, she was right!
Q: What are your favorite subgenres of horror?
CM: Hands down, extreme and splatterpunk. I love the cosmic, quiet, and other kinds too, but something about the really hardcore, gross, sick, nasty, twisted, outrageous stuff really speaks to me. Discovering Edward Lee and Richard Laymon was a moment of “wait, we can DO that?” awakening I treasure to this day. Most of all when it’s done for fun, to push the envelope and just go nuts.
Q: If you didn’t write horror, what other genre do you think you’d be in?
CM: I started out writing fantasy, because I was a D&D player since my early teens, and even though I read much more horror than fantasy, at the time I didn’t think I had the chops to do horror justice. But even then, my fantasy tended to take some dark turns. I also love historical fiction; Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon series was a major influence. And, really, no genre is off the table, if the right idea comes along.
Q: What are some authors (traditional or indie) that have inspired you or helped you along your journey?
CM: Early inspirations were Stephen King and John Saul, then Dean Koontz, Bentley Little, and Robert McCammon. With some V.C. Andrews thrown in; our local library must’ve assumed they were like Anne of Green Gables and shelved them with what would nowadays be called YA. But, above all, my guy Edward Lee, who took me under his wing, let me play with his toys, and has become an influence, mentor, and dear friend.
Q: What’s on your TBR? Anything coming out soon that you’re looking forward to?
CM: My TBR tends to get out of hand; I do some reviewing as well and have all kinds of goodies waiting in the wings. Next up on my list is the Werewolves II anthology edited by Kevin J. Kennedy (his anthos are always top notch!)
Q: What are you working on now?
CM: At the moment, given the crazy state of the world and how hectic my own little corner of it has been, I have several larger projects on hold — a sequel to Spermjackers From Hell, a probable-novella called Oblivia, and what I hope will be another continuation of the Infernal series, I Was A Teenage Hellspawn. Plus various short/long stories at different stages. I am currently focused more on stockpiling reviews and doing edit-gigs for fellow authors. So, I’m always busy, one way or another, with somebody’s words at least!
Q: Where can readers follow you and find your books?
CM: My (in need of updating) website at https://christinemariemorgan.wordpress.com/ has lists and links, as well as my archive of reviews, some free stories to read, and other whatnot. I’m not tech-savvy enough to be cool on Instagram or Substack or those places, but I’m usually lurking around Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/christine.morgan.3154) and am always glad to hear from folks via email, christinemariemorgan@gmail.com
Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.
PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing, nor do the views or opinions of Crystal Lake necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or its staff. Thank you for understanding.
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