Upon the Pale Isle of Gloam follows a girl who wakes up on a deserted shoreline with no memories and surrounded by supernatural beings. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I have a deep appreciation for gothic fiction. One day the desire struck me to start on a story that would be somewhat of a love letter to the genre. To me, few things capture gothic storytelling better than horror. So, when I started writing Upon the Pale Isle of Gloam, I wanted to draw inspiration from the classic themes and elements we all love in gothic literature and horror. Things like existentialism and abandoned places, for example. A misty, supernatural island seemed like a great place to start.

What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?

That’s a great question. I think people are complicated, and though most are aware of that, there’s still this tendency to try and generalize others. Sometimes we’re quick to label them. Sometimes we oversimplify the complex problems they’re facing. We force black and white bottom lines onto gray areas. But no matter how much we do it, those complexities and gray areas are still there glaring back at us. Ignoring them doesn’t make them any less relevant.

Exploring parts of the human condition that are overlooked and shrugged off makes for interesting stories. At times it can be awkward. Sometimes ugly. But we can learn a lot from taking a moment to consider what others are going through. Maybe even learn more about ourselves—all while indulging in the escapism that stories deliver. Just look at the impact of a book like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

I felt that Upon the Pale Isle of Gloam delivers the drama so well that it flirts with the grimdark genre. Was it your intention to give the story a darker tone?

It was, absolutely. I tend to be drawn toward dark stories that make me feel something or walk away with a different perspective, even if it’s not one I’m comfortable with. When I chose to write a tale set within the gothic horror genre, I felt a darker tone would be crucial to delivering the kind of story I wanted to tell.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?

I’m currently in the early stages of my next book, which will likely be more of a literary drama rather than horror. It’s hard to say when I’ll be finished with it, though I hope it won’t take me too long. In the meantime, I’d like to encourage readers of Upon the Pale Isle of Gloam to follow me on social media for updates. I’d love to hear from everyone.

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