PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Horror is art. Recently, I’ve been turned on to the work of Regina Stephens, a wildly talented horror artist and writer whose work I’d like to share with all of you. I had the chance to speak with her about her work and process ahead of the release of her new chapter-by-chapter Wattpad novel, which you’ll absolutely want to follow after reading the selection at this link.
https://twitter.com/ReginasHorror/status/1027725714513178624
It's finally done! That Banshee I promised all of you!
I'm thinking my next project will be a siren. For now, enjoy pic.twitter.com/UAhwE2wkdm— 🌈Regina Stephens ❤️💜💙 (@ReginaHorrorArt) July 30, 2018
PopHorror: Horror is obviously a huge part of your life. How long have you been a fan? What were your earliest film and literary influences within the genre?
Regina Stephens: I’ve been around horror movies pretty much my entire life. One of my earliest memories is my father showing me Beetlejuice and Arachnophobia. I was about three. I didn’t start reading horror until I was about 14. My first horror novel was Four Past Midnight by Stephen King and the first movie I saw in theaters was Secret Window based off the Stephen King novella (from Four Past Midnight). King influenced me a lot.
PopHorror: I think Stephen King has influenced all of us in some way! What came first for you, making horror art or writing horror stories? Which comes most naturally?
Regina Stephens: I’ve been writing longer than drawing, but only by two years. I didn’t start in horror, I started in fantasy. Anime was a big influence on both early on. But right around the time I started drawing more, I became obsessed with horror. It sort of seeped into everything I did. I would say neither really comes naturally, I have to work hard at both of them.
PopHorror: Personally, art is hardly my strong suit. Even if I could create something as great as you, it’d probably take me decades to finish- if ever. How long does it usually take you to finish a piece, and how much patience does it require?
Regina Stephens: Patience is something I wish I had more of. I’m addicted to instant gratification. I can sketch pretty quickly, but to do a piece like my banshee or the siren and werewolf, those take about two weeks. Keep in mind I have a day job which frowns upon me drawing on the clock.
PopHorror: Well, hopefully writing can be part of your day job in the future. “With A Perfect Picture” is such an incredible, Poe-like short story that I think our readers would love. It’s written from a singular perspective, so I’m curious… was there ever a point when you tried to get inside of your character’s head? If so, what was that like?
Regina Stephens: Poe was a huge influence when I wrote “With a Perfect Picture” and if you can believe it, I wrote that in high school, over ten years ago. I was in a very dark place then, and yes, I got into that character’s head. She was a good vent for some of my own madness. Not that I’ve murdered any one… At least, nobody not on paper.
PopHorror: Those poor dead characters! I’ve linked your Wattpad account so that everyone can check out your stories and poetry, all of which I loved. You’re writing a chapter-by-chapter horror novel there too, is that right? Can you tell our readers a bit about that and when they can expect to read some of it?
Regina Stephens: “Mr. Thumbkin” is going to premiere on my Wattpad on Friday, August 17th with chapter one. It will be chapter by chapter and I’m very excited to share it with everyone. The story is about Kim, who has buried too much of her past, and about what happens when the past catches up to you. Specifically, your old imaginary friend will come back and start murdering people. Imagine Drop Dead Fred as written by George RR Martin.
PopHorror: God, I can’t wait to read it! Before I let you go, is there anything else you’d like to plug? Any other works that you’d like our readers to know about?
Regina Stephens: I have a couple of novels, and I love to draw. But I’m an entertainer at heart, so please follow my Twitter and help kick my ass a bit with what you want to see more of.
