[WiHM] Interview with Bookstagrammer, Reviewer, and Content Creator, Becca
Tell us a little bit about yourself! What is your role in the horror community?
Hi! My name is Becca and I’m a book reviewer/bookstagrammer/booktoker! I do dabble in other genres, but horror is the genre that I’m mostly passionate about (in both books & film!)
What was the first thing you encountered that made you fall in love with horror?
I’m bummed that I don’t have that one moment to talk about; that one movie that got me into the genre & made me never look back. Thanks to having a horror-loving father, it was just always there for me. I remember watching Jaws, It (1990), A Nightmare on Elm Street at such an early age. I remember having Halloween marathons with my family during the season, and Friday the 13th marathons every Friday the 13th. Thanks for making me the ghoul I am today, dad!
What does the horror community mean to you?
Oh gosh, it means everything to me. I can’t ignore that there are some bad eggs in the horror community, just like with every community, but the people I have had the pleasure to meet are amazing. This goes for the fellow readers & movie-watchers, along with the authors, actors and filmmakers. I’ve met people with the biggest hearts that are more than willing to give you the shirt off their back.
Who are your favourite women in horror?
Can I just say all of them? But okay, here goes: Cassandra Peterson, also known as Elvira, Kaci (The Homicidal Homemaker, Chef & TV Show Host), Lupita Nyong’o (actress, Us and Little Monsters), Jennifer Tilly (actress, Bride of Chucky), Caroline Williams (actress, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Stephanie (podcaster at Books in the Freezer), all of the final girls and scream queens, and of course, many more! As for authors, that list can also go on forever but here are a few mentions: Hailey Piper, Sara Tantlinger, Jessica Guess, Laurel Hightower, Tiffany D. Jackson, and V. Castro!
What are some of your favourite books written by women?
Below by Laurel Hightower, Go Down Hard by Ali Seay, The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon, Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica, Small Favors by Erin A. Craig, Hairspray and Switchblades by V. Castro, Food Fright by Nico Bell, Cirque Berserk by Jessica Guess, Benny Rose, the Cannibal King by Hailey Piper, The Possession of Natalie Glasgow by Hailey Piper, To Be Devoured by Sara Tantlinger, and Come Closer by Sara Gran!
If you could invite one woman from horror to dinner who would you invite and why?
Without a doubt, Cassandra Peterson. First of all, can you imagine how much fun that would be? I’ve loved Elvira for so long, but in more recent years (especially after her memoir release, Yours Cruelly, Elivra), she’s been a huge inspiration when it comes to never giving up on your dreams, being confident, and in general, being unapologetically yourself. I’d love to thank her for helping me become the woman I am today.
Women in horror have been making progress, but it’s clear that a lot of work is still needed to ensure that representation is correct and widespread . What is the importance of Women in Horror Month?
As it should be, I read and support women in horror all year long, however, I know that is not unfortunately the case for everyone. Which is 100% why WiHM is so important. A lot of content creators are using this month to really showcase women in horror & this attention is hopefully falling in front of the eyes of those who may not necessarily be aware of these authors, filmmakers, etc. And, hopefully, those who are just now discovering some of the talented women this month will let this exploration of women in horror spread into the other months.
In honour of celebrating Women in Horror, who do you believe readers should keep an eye on in terms of women in horror?
All of the authors mentioned above, along with Kaci (The Homicidal Homemaker) & Stephanie (Books in the Freezer). But also, Cassie Daley (@ ctrlaltcassie on Twitter) who’s an amazing artist, podcaster & book reviewer, all of the ladies over at Ladies of Horror Fiction, and Destiny (@ howlinglibraries over at IG) who’s always producing beautiful Bookstagram content & is the one that inspired me to create content! I also want to shout out the show on SyFy, Astrid & Lilly Save the World. Our two main leads are badass fat women who are tasked with kicking monster butt in order to save the world! Good fat representation means so much to me.
What do you have coming in 2022 that you can talk to us about?
I don’t have much planned. I’ve been really into crafting (sewing, arts, etc.) this year and learning new skills, and I’d love to be able to use these things to create some horror art! And, of course, I plan to continue spreading the horror love over on Instagram and TikTok!
