{"id":9274,"date":"2022-08-08T21:02:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T01:02:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/?p=9274"},"modified":"2022-08-08T21:02:20","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T01:02:20","slug":"interview-david-simms-interviews-s-a-barnes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/interview-david-simms-interviews-s-a-barnes\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview: David Simms Interviews S.A. Barnes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

S.A. Barnes is the author of the terrific Dead Silence<\/em>, out earlier this year. Monster Librarian reviewer David Simms had an opportunity to interview her this summer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David<\/strong>:<\/span>\u00a0Dead Silence<\/em> is space horror at its best. What was the inspiration for this novel?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: I\u2019ve been obsessed with the Titanic for as long as I can remember. I pored over the photos from the wreckage when it was found. And I\u2019ve visited several exhibitions of the artifacts that have been recovered. However, I am a big chicken and afraid of small spaces so you\u2019d never get me in submersible to see it in real life. So I brought the wreck to space instead. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: Claire is an interesting protagonist. Introvert and damaged. Why do you think flawed\/broken<\/strong> characters work best for books in this genre?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: I prefer all stories to have a flawed\/broken character because I find it more relatable! And I think it gives the character a clearer growth arc.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But I think it\u2019s more prominent in horror because the stories often focus on the character\u2019s flaws, specifically creating their worst nightmare. That\u2019s what makes it horror, you know? I\u2019m terrified of birds and small spaces, so forcing me to belly-crawl into a tunnel filled with flapping wings and scaly feet\u2026I\u2019m shuddering right now. But someone else who\u2019s afraid of heights and spiders might not be bothered. It\u2019s about confronting your own dark terrors in the process of growing as a character, I think. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David:\u00a0 The book has been referred to as\u00a0The Shining<\/em> meets Titanic<\/em>. What’s your opinion on this?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Haha! That was actually part of my original pitch line for the manuscript, so I guess it must have been seen as accurate enough. I do hear that\u00a0Aliens<\/em> or\u00a0Event Horizpn<\/em> would have been closer, and both of those were certainly influences as well. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: The Aurora<\/em> is a memorable character in itself. Can you describe your process in writing this novel?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: Again, Titanic<\/em>! I wanted to bring to life that contrast of wealth and gross inequity. I wanted the Aurora<\/em> to be an object of desire, greed, even, but also for the eeriness to be the most prominent feature. Things are frozen in time, as if the Aurora<\/em> herself is just waiting for new passengers to arrive. \u00a0I wanted that feeling of bated breath, the haunted house that seems to react to your presence. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: Since this is a horror novel at heart, are you a big fan of the genre? If so, what are your favorites?<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: I love horror. I grew up reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz and V.C. Andrews. As far as favorites, I adored Strangers<\/em> by Koontz, Flowers in the Attic<\/em> by Andrews, and I\u2019ve never been able to finish Pet<\/em> Sematary<\/em> by King because it scared me too much! More recently, I adored World War Z<\/em> by Max Brooks, and anything by Mira Grant, particularly Into the<\/em> Drowning Deep<\/em> and the Newsflesh<\/em> trilogy. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: Dead Silence <\/em>is chilling in its depiction of the supernatural. What’s your take on beliefs in the paranormal, supernatural (super-normal)?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: I\u2019m sort of an open skeptic. I believe it\u2019s all possible, particularly ghosts and extraterrestrial life. However, when presented with evidence, I\u2019m more inclined to doubt first. Mainly, I think, because I don\u2019t want to get my hopes up! <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve only had one supernatural experience in my life (a ghost turned a light on for me), and that was more than enough for me! \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: You’ve been successful in writing YA fiction. The\u00a0Paper Dolls<\/em> trilogy is great. Do you have a preference– adult, or writing for teens\/children?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: Thank you! I love telling stories, for any audience! I think, however, teens and high school have changed enough from my own experiences\u2014in mostly good ways\u2014that I would have a harder time writing for that audience now in an authentic way. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: Speaking of horror, you’re also a teacher. Thank you– this year has been full of horrors! How has that experience helped you cope with writing dark fiction– and vice versa?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: The two help me find balance. Writing is a very isolating profession, especially in the last few years! Going to school, working with students, helps me get out of my own head. Plus, helping a student connect with the right book for them is an amazing feeling. But, as you know, schools are not always easy place to work, especially for the last few years, so writing is a way of exerting control over my environment in a way that doesn\u2019t exist otherwise. But mainly they\u2014writing and school\u2014make me feel like I\u2019m contributing in two very different ways, and I love that.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: Adding on to that last question: you tackle mental health in a strong, adroit manner. This is something that’s coming to the surface more and more in horror, but not science fiction. Any thoughts on this topic in fiction?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: I suspect we hope that mental health will be better addressed in coming years, which is why we don\u2019t see it as much in science fiction, which is frequently set in the future. I\u2019m thinking of Star Trek where poverty and world hunger have been solved by the 24th century. Which is wonderful and optimistic.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But I find I\u2019m more drawn to stories with characters I relate to, especially when those stories are set in an unfamiliar environment, like space. And I think as long as people are people, we\u2019re still going to struggle with the issues that come along with being human and imperfect. (Once we\u2019re all uploaded consciousnesses on a computer, I make no guarantees!)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: Deep space holds many terrors. What do you think is out there? (sorry– massive X-Files<\/em> fan here!)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: The truth! (Sorry, also a massive X-Files<\/em> fan!) In all seriousness, I\u2019m fascinated by deep space. I think most of us have a tendency to forget that we\u2019re on this rock, floating out in the middle of nowhere. And we\u2019re one rock of billions. Who knows what we\u2019ll find out there? I hope it will be friendly intelligence, but, as I believe, Stephen Hawking pointed out, anyone who can reach us is probably more advanced than we are and that usually doesn\u2019t end well. Meanwhile we\u2019re just blithely broadcasting our location for anyone\u2014or anything\u2014to hear. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: What’s next for you? <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

S.A.: I\u2019m working on another sci-fi horror novel! Set on an exo-planet this time. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: Do you have any recommendations for your readers? Any favorite new authors or ones you think your readers would enjoy?<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: Oh yes, I loved\u00a0Dead Space<\/em> and\u00a0Salvation Day<\/em> by Kali Wallace.\u00a0Salvaged<\/em> by Madeleine Roux is also excellent. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

David: Why do you think space horror is such a draw for readers\/film buffs? \u00a0Do you have a favorite?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

S.A.: I think it\u2019s a draw because it projects a future in which space has become a relatively normal environment in which to work, suggesting a hopeful outcome, but also that human arrogance, frequently a flaw that comes into play in these stories, is still around. I also think space horror offers the same appeal science fiction does\u2014the chance to learn about our society and its issues at a distance that allows discussion rather than immediate heated emotion.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

S.A. Barnes is the author of the terrific Dead Silence, out earlier this year. Monster Librarian reviewer David Simms had an opportunity to interview her this summer.   David:\u00a0Dead Silence is space horror at its best. What was the inspiration for this novel?   S.A.: I\u2019ve been obsessed with the Titanic for as long as<\/p>\n

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