The following is an interview with writer Shawn Brink regarding the upcoming release of the novel, Bound by Blood. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Brink about what draws him to writing within the horror genre, what readers may take away from the story’s themes, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Bound by Blood! For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the premise of this supernatural thriller/horror story?
Shawn Brink: A demonic cult and a Christian church battle for territory. Combat lines are drawn. Angels and demons square off as brother goes against brother. The spoils of war are human souls. Who will rise victorious, and at what cost?
Here’s the book trailer for more info:
BD: As a creator, what draws you to the genre of horror?
SB: You have to be creative to write in any genre. Horror draws me specifically though because the possibilities are ripped wide open when you add in supernatural and horrific elements. The dilemmas the characters face are more unique – more extreme. Along those same lines, the solutions for overcoming dilemmas are equally unique and extreme. Horror is fiction on steroids. In this genre, you don’t just write outside the box, you obliterate it, thus destroying any restraints to the creative process.
BD: What can you share with us about your creative process in utilizing the tools of the horror genre to bring the story to life on the page?
SB: Like I mentioned, you can’t go outside the box with horror because the box doesn’t even exist. I write to instill a sense of foreboding and fear – and isn’t that the essence of horror?
BD: What are you most excited for readers to explore with this new release?
SB: I invite my readers to discover a whole new world. I’ve done a lot of work to create a believable world where angels, demons, and God exist alongside mortals. I’ve worked hard to create believable characters with realistic flaws. This is a book dedicated to exchanging shortfalls, shame, and guilt, for forgiveness and redemption.
BD: Are there any other projects from your body of work that you would like to highlight for our readers?
SB: I’m already working on the draft of my next work, a horror novel set during the Vietnam War. The working title is Tunnel Rat.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Bound by Blood and your other work?
SB: Here’s a link to my other novels.
Here’s a link to my published short stories and anthology contributions. (Some of these can be read for free if you’d like to see the kind of writing I do).
