Florence Ann Marlowe

Author of "Here Piggy, Piggy", the first story in The Fourth Corona Book of Horror Stories

Florence Ann Marlowe is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Masters of Horror Community. Her stories have been published in numerous collections and anthologies including Deadman’s Tome, Trumpocalypse, Fear’s Accomplice, Black Candies and Man Behind the Mask. Born and raised in Hoboken, Florence has lived from one end of New Jersey to the other. She currently lives in the same neighbourhood where the legendary Jersey Devil is said to have been born. Rumour has it, he lives next door.

What made you decide to write horror?

When I was a kid my father wouldn't allow me to watch horror movies or read anything even related to Horror. I used to hide issues of Vamperilla between my superhero comics. He considered Horror morbid and sick, so naturally I was obsessed with all things Horror. I got away with watching my favorite Saturday cartoon, Scooby Doo, because in the end it always turned out to be some guy in a mask. I had to sneak reading material my father would have found offensive. I read my first Stephen King novel, Carrie, when I was eleven and I was hooked.

When I was twelve I read Stephen King's short story collection Night Shift. Sister Joan, my seventh grade English teacher, had corrected a short story I'd written. She gave me a note, stressing, "Never use contractions." I argued that this was part of a dialogue and people always used contractions. She tsked at me and said I'd understand when I was older. So I brought my paperback copy of Night Shift in to show her. I defiantly insisted, "HE uses contractions and he has books published." She handled my paperback like it was a dead rat and sniffed, "This isn't writing. It's pulp." I returned to my desk, fuming. I remember thinking, I like the way he writes and that's how I want to write! So I started to write what I wanted to read.

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Do you write in any other genre?

I write all kinds of fiction (and non-fiction -- I started out as a news reporter), but Horror and Sci-fi is wherre I live. I have also written some erotica, but it always has a speculative twist.

Do you have you a reason for doing so?

Well, I'm pretty good at it. LOL

How much do you value reading the work of other authors?

A whole lot! I can always learn from my superiors. If you stop reading, you stop learning.

Does reading other people’s work affect the way you write?

Not really. I try not to get too involved in a novel while I'm in the middle of writing something. On the other hand, reading something great written by somebody great inspires me to write even more!

What are your favourite and/or least favourite tropes?

Honestly, I hate the "love at first sight" trope. I just don't buy it.

Which authors inspire you?

I'm inspired by so many great writers from so many different genres. Just to name a few hundred: John Steinbeck, Walker Percy, James Joyce, Charles Dickens, Jacqueline Susann, Sheridan Le Fanu, Nathanial Hawthorne, Anais Nin, Ray Bradbury, Issac Asimov, Larry Niven, Joyce Carol Oates, Poppy Z Brite, J. K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, David Court, Peter Straub, Anne Rice, Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell and of course, Stephen King. Seriously, there are hundreds. I am always in awe of great writers no matter what they write.

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