Dragon Soul Press had the chance to interview D.J. Tuskmor, an author in The Fear Doctor: Volume One anthology.

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1. Introduce yourself.
   • My name is D.J. Tuskmor, and I am a writer of all things horror. I love exploring
     all of the subgenres of horror and pushing myself to make readers experience
     different emotions. Writing is not my day job, but it is my passion. Aside from
     reading, writing, and exploring the craft of storytelling, I love to spend time with
     my family and get out in the woods for some rest and relaxation.
2. What prompted you to begin writing?
   • I have always loved the craft of storytelling. I was a voracious reader from a very
     early age, and I loved escaping away to all of these different worlds. My parents
     were awesome in supporting my love of stories and never stopped me from
     reading any book I wanted. At some point, maybe around fifth grade, we started
     creative writing as a unit in our ELA class. Once I realized I could be the one
     taking readers on a journey, I never looked back.
3. Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?
   • “Knitting Granny” was a story I wrote in a high school creative writing class. The
     prompt that inspired it was a gaudy button I randomly selected from a bag of
     buttons. The elevator pitch would be: A high school student finds themselves on
     the wrong end of an armed robbery while working at their grandmother’s knitting
     supply shop and finds out that Granny’s love of action movies is more than meets
     the eye.
4. How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.
   • I have three major projects slated for the next 18-24 months. The one I am most
     excited about is a novella called Carnival Under the Blood Moon. Carnival Under
     the Blood Moon explores the themes of hell and redemption, as characters
     confront their deepest fears and traumas in a nightmarish carnival, seeking
     survival and contrition for their past sins.
5. What is your writing process like?
   • I am a classic planster. That is to say, a hybrid of a planner and a pantser. I
     usually get a nugget of an idea and start free-writing about it. When I have a
     basic understanding of the path the story will take, I start coloring in with some
     characters and themes. Eventually, I have a pretty comprehensive chapter list,
     main plot points, themes I want to explore, and character sheets. Once I start
     writing, though, I let the characters and the environment take me off the planned
     path where it feels right. Usually, the themes and characters stay intact, but the
     overall story evolves into a better version of what I planned by its conclusion.
6. Where do you draw inspiration from?
   • Everything. I am always listening to others, reading, taking in my surroundings,
     learning about folklore, watching movies, and workshopping with other writers. If I
     had to boil down where most of my inspiration comes from, it is probably the
     folklore and ghost stories of New England, where I grew up and currently reside.
7. Who is your favorite author / what is your favorite book?
   • I think you would be hard-pressed to find a horror writer who wouldn’t point to
     Stephen King here, but I am going to take a different approach. The author I am
     most obsessed with right now is Clay McLeod Chapman. I think his books just
     ooze atmosphere, and his prose makes me jealous as an aspiring author in the
     same genre. Also, he seems like a genuinely great person, which only improves
     his standing in my eyes.
8. What is one goal you have for your writing future?
   • I mentioned I have a few projects in the works right now, and I believe all three
     have the correct qualities to find a home with a publisher. Publishing one,
     specifically Carnival Under the Blood Moon, is my nearest-term goal.
9. What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?
   • I want what I write to stay with the reader for some time. I strive for readers to
     remember a particular scene or line months after they are done reading my work.
     More than anything, I hope there is a feeling associated with that memory.
10. Where can readers learn more about you?
    • I have a website. You can also follow me on Twitter.