
Hello Bookish Pals! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Loren Rhoads, a contributor to the latest Horror Addicts guide: Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2. The October-through-September month-by-month almanac has puzzles, crafts, articles, recipes, and interviews. Enjoy first-hand accounts of hauntings, nightmares, and vile vacations!
Using only three words, describe your work in Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2.
I happen to have three pieces in the book, so I’ll say: cemeteries, writing, and “Morbid Curiosity.” Titles count as one word, right?
Titles totally count as one word.:-) Next question: what do you strive for in your writing?
Compassion. We’re all going to die, so why can’t we make it better for each other before then?
I love that sentiment, Loren. Okay, name three horror books on your TBR.
L. S. Johnson’s Leviathan
Gemma Files’ We Will All Go Down Together
Gabino Iglesias’ Zero Saints
Speaking of reading, where is your favorite place to read?
On the sofa in the front window, as the sun sets.
Nice. What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk, whether in the writing itself or in your process?
I belong to five different groups of writers who co-work together online via Zoom. It really helps me to settle down at my desk when I know there are people on the other side of the computer, also writing.
Your “quirk” sounds rather productive. What aroma makes you euphoric?
Jasmine tea.
Mmm, yes. And salty or sweet, which makes the best writing snack?
I hesitate to admit that I’m addicted to cheese.
Cheese as a writing snack? That’s a first. Way to be an original, Loren! What is your next project?
I’m working on two at the moment:
First up is Tales of Nightmares, an anthology of horror stories I’m editing for Wily Writers. The book will include stories by Alison J. McKenzie, Angel Leigh McCoy, Bill Bodden, E. S. Magill, Jennifer Brozek, Lisa Morton, Weston Ochse, and Yvonne Navarro. That will be out in July. I don’t have the final cover for it yet, but it will look something like this one:

I’m also editing Death’s Garden Revisited, a collection of essays about why it’s important to visit cemeteries. The contributors include horror authors A. M. Muffaz, Angela Yuriko Smith, Christine Sutton, Denise N. Tapscott, E. M. Markoff, Emerian Rich, Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito, Francesca Maria, Greg Roensch, Mary Rajotte, Melodie Bolt, Priscilla Bettis, Rain Graves, Rena Mason, Robert Holt, R. L. Merrill, Saraliza Anzaldua, Stephen Mark Rainey, and Trish Wilson. Here’s the cover for this project:

Two fab projects. Where can we find you online?
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Loren-Rhoads/e/B002P905PE/
Blog: https://lorenrhoads.com/blog/
Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/aa9545b2ccf4/lorenrhoads
Twitter: https://twitter.com/morbidloren
Thank you, Loren. I enjoyed our little chat.:-)

Loren Rhoads is the author or co-author of five novels, including the succubus/angel duology Lost Angels and Angelus Rose. Unsafe Words collects her horror, dark fantasy, and science fiction stories. Her most recent book, a memoir collection of essays called This Morbid Life, just won an Independent Book Publisher Award.
Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2 is out now!
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Horror-Addicts-Guide-Life-2/dp/B09YNF5QM3
Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Horror-Addicts-Guide-Life-2/dp/B09YNF5QM3
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Horror-Addicts-Guide-Life-2/dp/B09YNF5QM3
With articles by: A. Craig Newman, A.D. Vick, Alyson Faye, Angela Yuriko Smith, Brian McKinley, CM Lucas, Camellia Rains, Carrie Sessarego, Chantal Boudreau, Courtney Mroch, Crystal Connor, D.J. Pitsiladis, Dan Shaurette, Daphne Strasert, Dee Blake, Emerian Rich, Geneve Flynn, H.E. Roulo, H.R. Boldwood, J. Malcolm Stewart, James Goodridge, Jaq D Hawkins, Jeff Carroll, Jonathan Fortin, Kate Nox, Kay Tracy, Kerry Alan Denney, Kieran Judge, Kristin Battestella, Ksenia Murray, Lee Murray, Lionel Ray Green, Loren Rhoads, M.D. Neu, Mark Orr, Martha J. Allard, Michael Fassbender, Mimielle, Naching T. Kassa, Pamela K. Kinney, Priscilla Bettis, R.J. Joseph, R.L. Merrill, Rena Mason, Renata Pavrey, Rhonda R. Carpenter, Russell Holbrook, Selah Janel, Steven P. Unger, Sumiko Saulson, Tabitha Thompson, Theresa Braun, Trinity Adler, Valjeanne Jeffers.
Yes, you see my name in the list of Horror Addicts contributors. I’ve never been included in something with such a, um, sexy cover. Kinda cool!
Thanks for the fun interview and congratulations for being part of the Horror addicts (Demon Pigs??? Intriguing!) and also Death’s Garden revisited! 🙂
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You are?! Why don’t I see your name in the contributor’s list? Oo, you have a keen eye to spot my name in the Death’s Garden Revisited contributors.:-)
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Priscilla’s essay in Death’s Garden is so good! I can’t wait for everyone to read it.
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Great interview! Wishing Loren all the very best with everything! Thanks for sharing, Priscilla. I love the sentiment of compassion. If only more folks thought the same way. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs 💕🙂
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I love Loren’s compassion statement, too.:-) Thanks for stopping by, Harmony!
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💖
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Here’s to more compassion all around! Thank you for reading the interview, too.
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Fun interview, Loren. Thanks, Priscilla!
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Thank You, Grant, for reading and commenting!
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Thanks, Grant! Hope you have a great weekend.
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What a lovely insight to this author, great interview Priscilla! 😁
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Thanks, Strange! Speaking of strange, your comment along with four other people’s were in my SPAM BOX. What the heck?! Glad I happened to check there and rescue them!
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Weren’t those questions fun? I really enjoyed this interview. Thanks for reading!
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That was fun! Congrats to both of your for the new book. And of course I had to stop and look up all three books that Loren recommended😁
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Hi Tammy! Thanks for stopping by.:-)
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My job here is done!
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Congratulations on the book, Loren–Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2. Yikes! I’m afraid of way too much to try these!
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You crack me up, Jacqui. Some day we’ll get you to read a fun werewolf story or something!
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A cozy werewolf story–I could do that.
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I love this idea.
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Congratulations, Priscilla. Clever way to let us know what is going on. Love the interview.
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Thanks, Pat.:-) Strange, your comment along with four others was in spam. Glad I happened to check there!
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Interesting. I was able to like with no problem but WP decided I was suddenly no longer logged into my account when trying to comment. I tried multiple times and was finally able to comment using my cellphone
🥴
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Odd. Who knows?!
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Not me. I did contact tech support.
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Thanks so much for saying that! Have a great weekend.
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This a draft of me trying to comment on Priscilla’s blog on my cell phone.
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It worked. You know, I’m thinking that since so many regular commenters’ comments ended up in spam that there was some kind of WordPress glitch today. Things seem to be working fine now.
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I tried to reply by computer but needed to usey cellphone again
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Now that is just weird. What’s going on??
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Test from a computer.
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Hi Pat, your test from your computer worked, but it ended up in spam. I had to fish it out. I also had to fish out Shari’s and Mae’s. I don’t understand why because all of you have posted comments without problem before. Well, I’ll certainly keep checking the spam folder!
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I enjoyed the great interview and the brilliant answers very much 💐💐💐
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Thank you, Luisa! I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend.:-)
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Lovely, thanks even if they have forecast storms-
I hope YOUR weekend is pleasant 🤗
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You made my day. Thank you!
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You’re more than welcome 🙏💐🙏
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A Horror Addict’s Guide to Life is such a great title! I enjoyed your interview with Loren. (I’ve been know to have cheese as a writing snack, too!)
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Isn’t it a fun title? What, another cheese-snack writer? They’re popping up everywhere! Thanks for commenting, Liz.:-)
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You’re welcome, Priscilla!
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See, Priscilla? It’s not that strange.
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🙂
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😀
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That was a fun interview. I’m always intrigued by authors who write horror. They seem so normal. Lol. Just joshing here. I was intrigued by the five writers’ groups and meeting through zoom. What a way to hold yourself accountable. Thanks for the introduction to Loren and her books, Priscilla. Congrats to Loren.
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Thank you for reading!
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I wouldn’t have thought that writing online with strangers would work so well, but it’s really changed my life. Thanks for reading the interview!
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Loren sounds like a very busy writer. Five groups? Wow, that’s a lot, but they clearly work for her. Thanks for the introduction and the great interview, Priscilla. Wishing Loren all the best.
BTW, I LOVE jasmine tea! 🙂
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Yeah, five groups, impressive! Jasmine tea is delicious, I agree! Thanks for reading and commenting, Mae.:-)
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Jasmine tea is the best. Do you have a favorite brand?
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Harney. Makes great Xmas gifts.:-)
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Loren, I can only drink decaf and it’s so hard to find, that I normally grab whatever I can when I can find it! 🙂
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Great interview, Priscilla and nice to meet you Loren! I like how original you are 🙂 Cheese is a good snack, too!
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Thanks for your kind words, Barbara. Maybe I ought to try a cheese writing snack.:-)
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Cheese is the best snack. I’m hoping to convert Priscilla.
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So, I have a confession, Loren Rhoads, I didn’t put two and two together until just now re: Morbid Curiosity, but I do have at least one issue in my collection…among my Carpe Noctums, Skin Twos, ReSearch Journals, and Propaganda Magazines. Just think, if I’d lived in California, perhaps we’d run into each other at a Survival Research Laboratories performance. <–from a long-time, albeit a little clueless, fan who just lost a little bit of old-school cred. Ha!
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It’s a small world, Willow! Thanks for stopping by.:-)
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I know, right? I’m just astounded!
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Wow, that’s great company to be in! I loved all those things, back in the day. Survival Research is still doing the occasional show. Maybe we’ll meet at one someday?
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I’m very abashed….
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Good interview, Priscilla! Nice to meet Loren here.
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Thank you, Audrey. Loren is a cool person and a talented writer!
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You are both too kind!
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Congratulations on two more publications, Priscilla! I wonder what kind of cheese Loren likes to snack on.
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My cheese varies. Sometimes it’s havarti, sometimes it’s pepper jack. I don’t know why I crave protein when I write.
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Need to feed the brain! Good choices. 😊
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Great interview 🙂 Sounds like it is a fun and scary read.
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I hope so! Thanks for reading.
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Hi Denise! There’s a section in the book on childhood fears, and I think those are the scariest!
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Good interview! Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2 sounds great as do the two collections!
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Thanks, Shari.:-) I’m glad you stopped by!
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Nice interview. Cheese for the win!
I had a moment of confusion at the end as thought the pic at the top was the author. Um. Ooos. Loren I do like your author photo better though.
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Hahaha, that’s funny, JM. Although, actually, Loren has a very sexy writing personality (and probably in real life, too, but I’ve never met her). Her This Morbid Life collection blew me away and made me blush!
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I think that’s my favorite quote about the book yet, Priscilla!
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Great interview, Priscilla. It’s fascinating to read about Loren, and I’m a fan of cemeteries, so her projects appeal to me. And congratulations on being in Horror Addicts Guide to Life 2, Priscilla! I’m going to check it now!
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You are always so supportive of writers everywhere, thank you, Olga.:-)
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