Written Author Interview
1. Tell us a bit about yourself. What sort of things do you enjoy doing outside of writing?
Obviously, I love to read, even when it has nothing to do with research or finding inspiration for my current WIP. Horror is my favorite, but I also enjoy great literary writers like Ruth Ozeki, Isabel Allende, and Toni Morrison (whose work borders on horror in many cases).
When I step completely outside the world of books, I enjoy going for a run, hiking in the woods, or traveling to a new city or country. Travel is definitely an addiction of mine. I had a unique opportunity a few years ago to travel internationally for work, and during that time I spent time in over fifty countries. Now I hope to focus more on travelling to new places in the US.
2. What is your most recent book about?
Afraid to Feel is a slow-burn horror novella that plunges into emotional paralysis and the cost of silence. Told through the worn-out perspective of Cory Gardner, a tired father and withdrawn husband, the story reveals what happens when a man raised to suppress every emotion finally opens the floodgates.
In therapy, Cory reveals a belief that his world is artificial, that perhaps he lives inside a simulation. This fractured view of reality leaves him detached from his wife, his children, and from life itself.
In order to save his marriage, Cory must dredge up his darkest memories, which bleed into the present. His childhood secrets do more than haunt. They infect.
3. If there was someone famous that you would recommend to read your book, who would it be?
I would love more than anything than for Stephen Graham Jones to critique my book. For starters, he was a major influence in my decision to become a writer. I knew I wanted to write a book for many years, and even though I was a big fan of horror, I never imagined I could create anything worthy of the genre. That completely changed when I read The Only Good Indians. Obviously, I didn’t think I could write something as scary or brilliant as that novel, but it really expanded my mind as to what horror could look like. I felt inspired and started keeping a list of ideas. A couple of years later, I started my first novel.
Also, SGJ is continually studying horror as the art that it is. He looks for new ways to construct a story or
old tropes he can meld into a tale with a powerful impact on the modern world. Of all the author’s I’ve read, his afterwords or acknowledgements sections are top class. He often invests several pages explaining what the journey was like, how and where he did his research, what surprised him along the way, and what other works influenced him. I look forward to reading these every time.
4. Do you have a favorite spot you like to sit and write?
When the weather permits it, I love to sit on the back deck and write. I think having some outside air, smells, and sounds wake me up a little more versus staying inside. When it’s too hot, cold, or loud outdoors, I enjoy writing in my office, especially when one of my cats decides to stop by and curl up in my lap. Also, when I’m feeling uninspired or my writing is sluggish, I’ll go to coffee shop. It’s not my go-to option, but sometimes the change in scenery can make all the difference.
I’m also a believer in writing wherever you are. I’ve drafted a number of short stories or segments of books on airplanes, in airports, on trains, or even in hotel lobbies. There are obviously places where your writing will flow the best. But no place should keep you from writing at all.
5. Did you experience any form of writer’s block while working on this piece? If so, what tips do you have for other authors that are struggling with writer’s block?
I did have a unique experience with this book, but it wasn’t traditional writer’s block. The idea had bounced around my brain for a few months before I saw an open call for short stories with a theme that was somewhat similar. I thought it was perfect, so I flew through a first draft, resulting in 8,000 words in just three days. The only problem was that it met the maximum word count exactly, and I didn’t feel it was quite wrapped up. Hoping for the best, I submitted it as it was. When it got rejected, I wasn’t that surprised, and honestly, maybe even a little relieved. I saw an opportunity to turn it into the story it was supposed to be. That “short story” became the second part in a three-part novella.
I thought I’d share this because, while it wasn’t a case of writer’s block, I did put up other walls for myself. I tried to force my story into a mold that wasn’t right for it, and then I submitted something that was subpar at best. I learned two things from this experience. First, you can’t expect your story to be something it’s not. Just bring it to life, and it’ll be what it was supposed to be. Second, nothing you write is ever a waste. Either your rejected piece just needs a little more love and nourishment, or, worst case, you got a little more practice out of it. Even mediocre writing is better than having written nothing.
6. What time of day is most productive for you to write?
When I first wake up in the morning, I’m usually not in the mood to write. I tend to spend my first two to four hours reading, and then I jump into whatever story or book I’m working on. That means I generally do most of my writing from mid-morning until the late afternoon. Of
course, if I have a tight deadline, I might write from 6am to 6pm.
7. When you are writing, what are you typically listening to in the background? Silence? Favorite playlist? Podcast?
I prefer silence, or at least a reasonable amount of it. I find my best ideas flow when there’s nothing else to impede them. I can handle a bit of music and don’t mind the background noise at a café or airport, but podcasts are better for my downtime, especially if the topic is relevant to my current WIP.
8. Is there a particular scene or part in your book that you are incredibly proud of?
I’m really pleased with the way my book wraps up. Part 1 of the book relies on character development, which means expecting a bit of patience from the readers. Part 2 jumps into the scary stuff, the trauma that turned the main character into who he is. Finally, Part 3 takes all of that and compiles it into a neat package, with what I believe to be a great moral for the story. Without spoiling too much, the final lesson of the book is essentially: Hey guys, it’s ok to feel. Hiding from your emotions only gives them more power.
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About
Alex Tucker is an HWA writer from the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. His novella Afraid to Feel recently debuted through Alien Buddha Press, and a second novella will be published by Baynam Books in 2026. Alex’s short fiction has been featured in Occupying Bodies from Black Hare Press, Carols for the Dead from Desiree Horton, and Creepy Podcast’s daily Patreon. Others will be included in upcoming works by Graveside Press, Inky Bones Press, Burial Books, and SGNL Magazine. He is also a blog contributor for Burial Books. Prior to becoming a full-time author, Alex worked as an engineer in various locations around the globe. He currently lives in Japan with his wife and their two cats, returning to the US in 2026.
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