Dragon Soul Press took the chance to interview Laura Bohlcke, an author featured in the Magick and Mystery anthology.

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1. Introduce yourself.
   • Hi! I’m Laura Bohlcke (pronounced Bowl-Key) and I’m a horror writer – try saying that
     ten times fast. Horror writer, horror writer, horror writer…maybe it’s easier if you don’t
     have a Texas accent. While writing scary stories is my passion, it isn’t paying the bills
     just yet. But luckily for me, I love my job as a freelancer in the film industry. It allows me
     to do short duration commercial projects that leave me plenty of time to work on my
     novels and short stories in between gigs.
2. What prompted you to begin writing?
   • I’ve always been drawn to the idea of being a writer and would often daydream about
     writing a horror novel. I was in love with the image of being an author – spending my
     days crafting terrifying tales about ghosts and goblins. But I wasn’t really doing anything
     to achieve that goal. It was during one of those flights of fancy that I had the realization
     that if what I wanted to be was a professional writer, then the absolute only course of
     action was to sit down and write. Since then, I have prioritized writing in my life…and
     make time for it almost every day.
3. Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?
   • I love all my stories. Each is special in its own way. But of my short stories, my favorite is
     called “Her Face.” It is the tale of a ghost in Victorian London who wakes in the void with
     no memory of her who she was in life. The story takes a tragic turn when she realizes
     her face has been turned into a death mask that has become so popular that it adorns
     the walls of the city’s posh houses. The casual way this violation is treated turns her grief
     to rage.
4. How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.
   • I’m in the process of writing my second novel. Just sent draft three out to my Beta
     readers. It’s a cautionary tale about what can happen when uninvited guests go poking
     around in the dark corners of a haunted house.
5. What is your writing process like?
   • A great deal of my writing takes place while I’m walking my dog, working in the garden,
     and cooking dinner. After the spark of an idea takes hold in my brain, I let my mind circle
     the subject and spinout different concepts and plot lines until something feels right. I
     tend to start with a very basic storyline, letting the characters that arise from the
     narrative dictate what paths they will take and how the story will end.
6. Where do you draw inspiration from?
   • This is a tough one. Everywhere. Could be an object in an antique store window, the
     details of a grisly murder from the 70’s, an article about a drowned woman’s face being
     used as decoration in people’s homes, even just a passing thought. Some tiny nugget
     that makes me ask “What if…”
7. Who is your favorite author / what is your favorite book?
   • I would assume that for lot of folks their favorite author is also the writer of their favorite
     book. But that is not the case with me. Neil Gaiman is my current favorite author. I love
     his use of language and the worlds he creates. But my favorite book is “The Crystal
     Cave” by Mary Stewart. It is the story of the magician Merlin as a child. I was in the 8 th
     grade and had lost interest in reading for fun when along came an assignment for my
     history class that required I read a historical fiction novel. My mother suggested “The
     Crystal Cave.” I was so captivated by the struggles and trials of young Merlin that by the
     time I reached the last page of that magic book, my love of reading had been reignited.
     For that, it will always hold a special place in my heart.
8. What is one goal you have for your writing future?
   • What is one goal you have for your writing future?
     It is always my goal that everyday I sit down to write I am better at it than the day before,
     but my biggest focus right now is completing my novel and using that to find an agent.
9. What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?
   • Since I write horror, I assume that the people who want to read my work are looking for a
     good creepy scare. And it is my deepest desire to give them the fright they are looking
     for.
10. Where can readers learn more about you?
    • I can be found on Facebook and Instagram.