An interview about The Cure

Know a Nominee – Thoughts on Writing and The Cure

An Interview with JG Faherty

A few weeks ago, the HWA interviewed all Stoker nominees regarding their works. Here is the one done about me.

HWA - Please describe the genesis for the idea that eventually became the work(s) for which you’ve been nominated. What attracted you most to the project? If nominated in multiple categories, please touch briefly on each.

JGF - The idea for The Cure came to me when my dog got sick and we were at the vet. I thought how terrible it is that animals get ill or injured and then have to go weeks recovering without understanding why they don’t feel well. And then I thought, there have been several books about people who can heal by laying hands, but they only treat other humans. Why not animals? So that gave me the main character for the book, a veterinarian who can heal with a touch.

HWA - What was the most challenging part of bringing the concept(s) to fruition? The most rewarding aspect of the process?

JGF - The most rewarding part of the process was watching all the pieces come together smoothly at the end and creating a build up that, I believe, really resonates with readers. The most challenging aspect was making sure the different criminal elements in the story didn’t come across as 2-dimensional or as carbon copies of each other.

HWA - What do you think good horror/dark literature should achieve? How do you feel the work(s) for which you’ve been nominated work fits into (or help give shape to) that ideal?

JGF - My belief is that horror, like any fiction, should first and foremost entertain. It should also strike hard at emotions—the ones we usually try to avoid in our everyday lives. Fear, disquiet, sorrow; these are the places where horror works best. And in that respect, I think that The Cure will keep people on edge with the action and suspense but also induce a few shivers.

HWA - I’m curious about your writing and/or editing process. Is there a certain setting or set of circumstances that help to move things along? If you find yourself getting stuck, where and why?

JGF - Well, I pretty much always get stuck in the middle. It’s happened with every book I’ve ever written and The Cure is no exception. When it happens, I put the project aside and work on something else. Sometimes that might just be for a couple of weeks; in some cases it’s been for a couple of years. Then I’ll get that ‘aha!’ moment and dig the story out and write feverishly to the end.

HWA - As you probably know, many of our readers are writers and/or editors. What is the most valuable piece of advice you can share?

JGF - Writing is hard, but the secret to becoming a better writer can be distilled down to these basic rules: Practice, study (read!), learn from other writers (workshops), and get yourself good beta readers.

HWA - If you're attending StokerCon this year, what are you most looking forward to at this year’s event? If not attending, what do you think is the significance of recognitions like the Bram Stoker Awards?

JGF - I am definitely attending. It’s a great way to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and build contacts within the industry. As far as recognition, winning (or even being nominated for) a Bram Stoker Award is very rewarding because it lets you know your peers feel your work has merit. And it can catch the eye of an editor, too, and perhaps open a few more doors.

HWA - What scares you most? Why? How (if at all) does that figure into your work or the projects you're attracted to?

JGF - Death scares the hell out of me. I fear getting old, getting sick, getting injured—because all those things lead to death. I really love my live, and learning new things, and doing the things I enjoy. I don’t want it to end. If I could stick my brain in a robot and live forever, I would! I think this plays a key role in all my writing because dark fiction in all its forms ultimately deals with death. How we react, how we fight it, how we hate the idea of that skeletal hand tapping us on the shoulder someday and saying “it’s time.

HWA - What are you reading for pleasure lately? Can you point us to new authors or works we ought to know about?

JGF - My most recent reads were books by Michael McBride (Subterrestreal), John Palisano (Ghost Heart), and Maynard & Sims (Death’s Sweet Echo). Some of my other favorite authors (I won’t mention the ‘big’ names everyone is familiar with) are Rena Mason, Erinn Kemper, Patrick Freivald, Peter Salomon, James Chambers, Chris Marrs, and Chantal Noordeloos.

Check out The Cure and all my other books here: Amazon

And please visit my website, www.jgfaherty.com, to keep up with the latest news