Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became a Woman In Horror writer.
I began writing full time in 2019 and have been so blessed to learn so much about my writing and genre since then. I’ve been married for almost 12 years and have three amazing little boys. My writing began as a therapeutic exercise. There was a period of time where my mind was so haunted; those ghosts HAD to come out. Writing was a perfect, safe and healthy way to do that.
What communities (online, IRL, paid, free) are you a part of that support your horror writing?
My first one that I joined and the one dearest to my heart is the Facebook Author Alliance. Besides that, alot of independent publishing companies have taken to making facebook groups for their authors, which is an amazing idea.
Are there tropes, particularly those about women in horror, you actively avoid in your writing?
Yes. I loathe the damsel in distress or ‘unhinged and crazy’ tropes. I think female characters and women in general have evolved so far beyond those constructs. My female characters may find some of their strength through evil madness, but they are overall very intelligent.
How do you feel about the past practice of women being advised to hide their first names when authoring books (J.K. Rowling, or a neutral name like Robin Hobb, for example) and do you feel we're past this in the writing world?
I’m not a fan of it, I think it’s insulting, however it is there for a reason. We move closer to moving past it everyday but I think it’s fair to say that in 2021, we aren’t quite there yet. For some reason, in my opinion that is, I found that a pen name that can be perceived as male was more successful for me than using an obviously female name.
Do you have any writing rituals?
I usually have some incense burning and am either listening to horror podcasts/Youtube narrators or I have true crime Youtubers playing on my tv in for background noise. I always write in my room, sitting criss cross applesauce (lol) on my bed.
It’s almost cliche that authors live on black coffee and hard liquor. What are you drinking right now?
You know, I have noticed the truth in that! Right now I am alternating between Coca-Cola and cinnamon churro medium roast coffee that is thick with cream and sugar.
It’s the zombie apocalypse and somehow you find yourself locked in a room with two other people and a horde of zombies on the other side of the door. There is no food or water, you have to leave to survive. Real or Fiction, who would you want in that room with you?
Honestly it would be my husband Stewart and my younger sister Melanie. My husband is my hero and life mentor. He’s taught me so much from such a young age and is so talented. He has tried so many hobbies and interests and dominates every one of them. It’s hard to find something that challenges him long enough for him to stick with, and I mean that in the best way possible. I have no doubts that he could get us out of any situation valiantly.
Besides him, Melanie is my best friend. We have so much fun together, no matter what we do.
Biography: N.M. Brown is an international best-selling author from Florida. She's a happily married mother who sheds light on the dark corners of the mind that we like to keep hidden. She's dabbled in fantasy and science fiction, but the horror genre is where her heart has a happy home. Her other publications include stories in Sirens at Midnight, the recent award winning series Calls From the Brighter Futures Suicide Hotline, the Scary Snippets Collections, Mother Ghost Grimm children's horror anthology, Dark Xmas, along with several others. Her passions include soap making, publishing and spending time with her horror loving friends and family.
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/NMBrownStories/
Oh wow I didn't see that coming. Brilliant. Terrifying and brilliant.