INTERVIEW WITH KOURTNEA ZINOV'YEVNA

The latest Positively Horror interview is with the great Kourtnea Zinov'yevna. Please enjoy the full interview below.

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your relationship with the genre?

I've loved horror for basically my whole life. I was raised by my grandma and she was a big horror hound; obsessed with Stephen King, so it was just a nice family thing. I got obsessed with seeing how things were made. 

What was your introduction to horror, and at what age?

I couldn't even tell you what age I first got into horror. I think of stuff like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark that was on when I was a kid and think that might be it.

Your focus is with body horror, what makes this sub-genre stand out to you? 

I think I was fascinated with body horror before I really knew what it was. But it's definitely a genre I grew into. I used to be very into the extreme horror but I got bored of it. With body horror anything is possible, and it's always disgusting.

You're currently working on the feature 'Order of the White Worm', could you tell us a bit about it? 

Order of The White Worm is a very personal work to me about eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and pregnancy. Our main character, Brendell, is someone who is desperate to lose weight by any means necessary. When she is given a magic weightloss pill she starts to lose weight, but is overcome by insatiable hunger.

Who are some of your favourite people working in the genre at the moment?

I'm really interested in Leigh Janiak, Kei XI, Ari Aster, Robert Eggers. I'm sure there's so many I'm blanking on!

And are there any other projects you're involved with that you'd like to talk about?

I'm actually not involved on anything else currently. This is taking up all of my time and energy really. If you want you can check out my first short, featured on Rue Morgue's website, on YouTube, Mantis.

Thank you again to Kourtnea for the great interview. Check out the link below to watch the short 'Mantis':

https://youtu.be/U8dlB_FG43U

Click below for the 'Order of the White Worm' Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Order-of-The-White-Worm-106127514991725/

INTERVIEW WITH HABIBA EL-SADANY

Positively Horror recently had the opportunity to ask indie author Habiba El-Sadany a few questions. Please enjoy the full interview below. 

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your relationship with the genre?

I’m Habiba El-Sadany, a 19-year-old Egyptian-Austrian author and I’m planning to major in English and American studies. At 17, I published two books: WHEN I WAS ALIVE which consists of 4 thriller novellas & TRAPPED which consists of 14 horror tales, and my first movie (a psychological thriller which I had written 2 years before) premiered. This year, specifically around 2 weeks ago, I published my third book which is called CURSED. It consists of 8 horror stories about a cursed necklace and those who wear it.

What was your introduction to horror, and at what age?

I was introduced to horror stories at a very young age; I loved them as a child! I always asked family and friends to tell me horror stories and urban legends, and then I moved on to horror movies and short stories, all of which I enjoyed very much. I still consider having a friend tell me a horror story they’d recently heard over a cup of tea the recipe to a perfect day! 

You've been publishing books since the age of 17, and you've also written a screenplay. Do you plan to do more work in film in the future?

For sure! It was a very unique experience. My first movie, The Labyrinth Prisoner, is Egypt’s first full-length independent movie. I’m currently working with the same team of highly talented and dedicated college students, and a second movie should be in the making soon!

You have a new book out called 'Cursed', could you tell us a little about it?

Cursed is a horror book which consists of 8 short stories about a cursed necklace and those who wear it. You join the necklace on its journey from one household to the other, and you experience it breaking hearts, attracting misery and destroying lives – all in the most blood-curdling way possible.

Who are some of your favourite people working in the genre at the moment?

I’m a huge fan of Stephen King (duh), Kealan Patrick Burke, and Ania Ahlborn. Although Rachel Harrison has only published one novel as of now, she’s already one of my favorite people in the horror community and I can’t wait for her new book. Add to that all the brilliant indie authors!

Thank you again to Habiba for the interview. 

You can check out her work by following the link below:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B097NQL1NN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_HGZAZPRME7K5CYV1ES8H