The following is an interview with Sean McDonough regarding the upcoming release of his novella, The Class Reunion. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with McDonough about the inspiration behind the story, his creative process in bringing the story to life, what he hopes that readers will take away from the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of your new novella, The Class Reunion! For those who may be unfamiliar, what can you tell us about the premise of the book, and what (or who) inspired the project?
Sean McDonough: The Class Reunion is a vintage-style slasher story. A group of alumni break into their abandoned grade school for an impromptu reunion… only to find that there is a killer waiting for them in the halls.
The inspiration for this story actually came from my old grade school. The school has closed down, but the building is still there. Every time I drove by it, it’s just this gloomy, deserted old building that demanded to be the backdrop for a horror story.
BD: Given your previous work with full-length novels, did you find any unexpected challenges or benefits to working in this shorter format?
SM: I’m a firm believer in the idea that the material dictates the format. The Class Reunion is a lean and mean slasher story. If I tried to make it any longer, it would have just slowed down the momentum.
BD: What do you hope that readers will take away from the book?
SM: I hope they’ll be a little more cautious in accepting an invitation to any class reunions.
BD: Do you find that readers of your previous work, including titles like Rock and Roll Death Trip, will easily find a home with The Class Reunion?
SM: Absolutely. I’m proud of the reputation I’ve developed as a purveyor of old school, gleefully gruesome horror. If you enjoyed my previous bloodbaths, you’ll have no problem jumping into The Class Reunion.
BD: Do you have any plans to revisit the world of The Class Reunion in future stories?
SM: It’s possible. There’s a broader mythology motivating the killer that I only hint at here. It could be ripe for development in future stories.
BD: Are there any other upcoming projects on which you are working that you would like to share with our readers?
SM: I’m already working on my next novel. I’ve only just begun, but it’s shaping up to be a much broader story than The Class Reunion. It might shape up to be the thickest story I’ve ever written.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about The Class Reunion?
SM: I’d say start with the Goodreads page, where you can see some glowing early reviews. Then, I’d urge you to swing over to the Amazon page and check it out for yourself!
