Briana Morgan is a horror author. Her books include Mouth Full of Ashes, The Tricker-Treater and Other Stories, Unboxed, and more. She’s a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and a book review columnist for the Wicked Library. When not writing, she enjoys gaming, watching movies, and reading. Briana lives in Atlanta with her partner and two cats.
What first attracted you to horror writing?
I’ve always loved dark, morbid things. When I was a kid, I dove headfirst into the Goosebumps books and kept reading them even though they gave me nightmares for a while. I watched my first horror film, The Sixth Sense, when I was twelve, and read Stephen King’s Cujo at thirteen. I’ve been hooked on horror ever since.
What is your most notable work?
This question is a tough one. In terms of sales, my best-selling work is The Tricker-Treater and Other Stories, followed by Mouth Full of Ashes.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on a found footage horror piece featuring sirens and a flooded bunker. I’m hoping to query it and get an agent once it’s finished. For now, I’m just focused on having fun with it.
What is your writing routine?
Most days, I wake up and have coffee with my fiance. Then, I head downstairs, turn on some lo-fi beats, and open Scrivener. I have a set word goal I try to hit every day (it varies for each project and deadline), so I write in 20-minute sprints until I hit or exceed that goal, with 5-minute breaks after each session. I also have a playlist for each book I’m writing, but lately, any music with lyrics is too distracting for me.
Who do you admire in the horror world?
There are so many indies killing it in the horror world right now, and I’m honored to be friends with some of them. My favorites are Eric LaRocca, Gemma Amor, Hailey Piper, Sonora Taylor, Scott Moses, and Haley Newlin, to name a few. Of course, I admire King and Tremblay, too, but they get a lot of shoutouts. If I can introduce just one person to an indie horror author, I’ll consider my work done.
Do you prefer all out gore or psychological chills?
I’m much more interested in slow builds, suspense, and psychological chills than all-out gore. As a reader and a writer, terror works better when it’s had time to simmer.
Why should people read your work?
If you love exploring the darker side of humanity, suspense building through character-driven narratives, existential dread, and a little heart, you’ll enjoy my books.
Recommend a book.
The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones! Chilling and visceral. This book will stick with you long after you read it.
BOB PASTORELLA