A guest on several previous spotlights, I'm pleased to welcome back Reyna Gillette to talk about her new book series, 'Scared Yet,' and other projects.
Me: Hello, and thank you for returning to this! Since last we’ve spoke, you’ve been involved in a new book series, “Scared Yet.” What can you tell us about the books?
Reyna Gillette: Scared Yet? is my slasher series, which I began writing because I already had the Monsters book series and the Halloween Night series for kids, and I wanted to create something geared more toward adult readers. Each book tells a different story, with the exception of the Mr. Stabby books, which all connect as part of one continuing storyline. After writing the first Mr. Stabby: The Trick-or-Treat Killer, I decided to keep going, and there are now four books that follow that arc. Most recently, I added a Christmas slasher story titled Small Town Nightmare. I’m not sure how many books I will ultimately write in the Scared Yet? series, but for now, I’m having a lot of fun with it.
Me: How did the interconnected nature of the series come together? What type of work goes into making sure the series connects to each other?
RG: Every book is different, so it wasn’t too hard to get started since I always have so many ideas roaming around in my head. The Mr. Stabby books, which are all connected, were especially easy to continue because I intentionally left cliffhangers at the end of each one so the story could carry on. I have to admit, I’m a little sad that the storyline is now wrapped up and over, but I’m excited for the next few Scared Yet? books I have coming out. The next one is an ’80s-style creature flick.
Me: With the focus on creating strong, female-led characters in the series, what goes into making those kinds of characters in these books?
RG: I remember growing up watching Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween and Heather Langenkamp in A Nightmare on Elm Street or Adrian King in Friday the 13th, and thinking how cool it was to be a final girl. I wanted to grow up and be that kind of character, so writing strong female leads in my books is a no-brainer for me. I truly enjoy creating them because every story needs that one strong woman to step forward, take the reins, and kick butt.
Me: When writing a new project, what's the one fallback tactic that you're always able to draw inspiration from?
RG: Creating characters inspired by people I know and have met is something that keeps my stories feeling fresh and full of life. I enjoy developing those characters and watching them grow throughout the book. When it comes to inspiration, it really comes from everyone around me, and that’s something I love. Remembering someone I just met or even someone I went to school with, then borrowing little traits from that person, helps me shape and mold the characters in my stories.
Me: How do you settle on the plot for these novels?
RG: For me, I have a bit of a weird process. I need to have the beginning, middle, and end in my head before I can start writing. I can’t just sit down and figure it out as I go. I have to see the story first, at least in a broad sense, before I put anything on the page. It may sound strange, but it’s what works for me. Some writers like to create detailed outlines for every chapter, but I just can’t do that. I’ve tried outlining to see if it would help, and it’s simply not my style.
Me: Once these were finally written, what was the process for having them published?
RG: I worked with a few traditional publishers for years, but eventually I grew tired of not having a say in my covers or the way my books were formatted. I also felt underpaid, so I decided to get the rights back to my work and set out on my own. That’s when I created Last Doorway Press. Now I publish my books myself, hire my own editor, and my husband, John Gillette, designs the covers for me. It’s a small team, but it’s worth it because I have full creative control over everything. I love it!
Me: What, if any, plans do you have for continuing the series?
RG: My plan for the Scared Yet? series is to keep writing them until I’m completely out of ideas. As for my Slasher Girl series, I do have one more book coming out, and after that, I’ll decide whether or not to continue. My children’s series, Monsters, is still going strong, and I have plenty of ideas for more of those books. My son is seven, so I sometimes get some pretty great inspiration from him.
Me: Outside of that series, you’ve also written the “Slasher Girl” series. What did you do to separate this from the ‘Scared Yet’ series?
RG: Slasher Girl is a rape-revenge story, and even though it could fit within the Scared Yet? style, I began writing Slasher Girl years ago. It was traditionally published at one point, but it has always been its own series, one that I’ve given a lot of love and attention to. The story lived in my head for years until it was exactly the way I wanted it before I finally put it on the page. It’s become one of my most popular books, and I’ve been doing many Barnes & Noble signings for it. I truly love hearing positive feedback from readers and fans.
Me: How did the characters’ being massive horror fans affect the way the story developed? Was there anything while writing the characters that you were surprised by in telling the story?
RG: I had to make them horror fans. In a lot of what I write, there are always going to be characters who love horror or maybe have a treehouse or something else that feels nostalgic to me from when I was growing up. I enjoy weaving in those little details because I love watching nostalgic movies and shows myself. Stranger Things is a great example of bringing in childhood elements that make you think back to when you were younger. That’s something I really connect with. I just love the nostalgia of the ’80s and ’90s, and it naturally finds its way into my stories. I was surprised how the characters kind of took a life of their own. There was a certain direction I wanted to go, and it ended up going another, it happens, and I am very happy with it.
Me: As well, you’ve also started a video series on YouTube, called Behind the Stories, that explores the content behind your books. How did that come about?
RG: Yes! I’m super excited for my Behind the Stories show, which will be hitting YouTube very soon. I just finished writing all the scripts, and it was a lot of work getting my thoughts down on paper—everything I wanted to talk about, from how I create each book to the inspiration behind each series. I can’t wait for everyone to check it out! The reason I created this YouTube series is to help promote my books and share who I am as a creator. At first, I thought, “I’ll just do a few episodes and see how it goes,” but now I find myself with scripts ready for every single one of my books. It’s become a bit of a beast with a mind of its own, growing with each episode I write. I’m really looking forward to shooting, editing, and bringing it all together—it’s going to be so much fun!
Me: What has it been like going back and exploring the stories you’ve written in the past?
RG: It’s been a lot of fun, but also a bit challenging to remember exactly when certain story ideas came to me or what sparked them. That said, it’s going really well, and I’ve been rediscovering things I had totally forgotten, like movies or shows that helped get my creative juices flowing and inspired the stories. It’s been so fun to look back and reflect on how all my books came about.
Me: What else are you working on that you'd like to share with our readers?
RG: I’m working on a few scripts I can’t talk about just yet, as well as my next Slasher Girl book, which will be Book 4, and another Scared Yet? book called Silverfish. I’m also busy with the Behind the Stories YouTube show, which I can’t wait to share. On top of that, I’m filming Season 11 of Movie Massacre, and about to cameo in a movie, so I’ll be traveling soon for that, along with some signings. You can check out all my upcoming appearances at my website: lastdoorwayproductions.com
Me: Lastly, being that this is our Women in Horror Movement, what special message do you have for any women out there looking to join in the industry in any capacity as you are one yourself? Thank you again for your time!
RG: If you have a dream, whether it’s making a movie, writing a book, or crafting a script, only you can hold yourself back. If you want to do it, I say go for it. Even if you can only spare ten minutes a day to chip away at your project, just do it. And thank you so much for having me!
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