From a young age, Drew Forest was fascinated by the idea of the ‘monster under the bed’ – and that penchant for all things petrifying and peculiar has seen him develop into a published author, based right here in Manchester.
His writing plumbs the depths of the horror, thriller and paranormal genres, allowing for an intense and evocative experience.
Drew’s completed work so far includes three-full length novels and a number of short stories. These shorts in particular explore the goings-on of ghosts and monsters – brilliantly brought to life by his grandmother’s old typewriter.
His debut novel ‘The Corpse Rooms’ was published in 2016 and covers horror, madness and mystery as it follows the story of Theo Randell – a man battling addition and inner demons, forced to face his fears when all is threatened.
And just to hear the titles of his other material is enough to send to a chill down anyone’s spine. ‘Reading the Palms of Dolls, ‘The Screaming Scarecrows of Silence Falls (A Halloween Short)’ and ‘Malevolent Flesh’ all bristle with bold storylines and shocking happenings.
According to Drew himself, some big influences on his work include the likes of Stephen King, Poppy Z Brite and James Herbert – so without further ado, HAUNT Manchester decided to speak to him about horror writing, Manchester and all things spooky:
Hello Drew! When did you start writing horror and why do you think this is a genre you feel comfortable in?
“Hi Emily! I must've been around 6 or 7 years old when I first decided to write my own horror-influenced stories. As a young child, I suffered the worst nightmares and back then I never thought I would've embraced the idea of anything paranormal. I owe Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street a lot of the credit as I 'accidently' saw it at a neighbour's house and was instantly enthralled by the character of Freddy Krueger and the imagination behind the storytelling.
“It was also around the same time as the Goosebumps and Point Horror series saw a release - these were a collection of books aimed at kids and teenagers bringing to life stories of monsters and all things creepy. I wanted to share my own creepy tales so I started a series, with the first entitled, 'The Nightmare Man.' I drew the front cover myself (a creeping shadow looming over a decrepit doorway). I typed it up on my grandmother's old typewriter and managed to convince my teacher to read it to the class. Needless to say, she never quite looked at me the same way every again!”
Has Manchester and the dark cityscape ever served as a source of inspiration?
“I've lived in Manchester my entire life and there's no doubt that the city has served as an influence in my writing. Though my characters tend to live in fictional towns and cities, readers from the area of Manchester may find homage to the area in certain names and descriptions. It's hard not to feel influenced especially by a dark alleyway in the Northern Quarter late at night or a deserted bus station where disused tickets drift eerily across the pavement. Though Manchester is often seen as a bustling and vibrant city, I like to look beneath the surface and plunge into its darker depths.”
Is there a particular place you go to write or anything you do to create ‘mood’?
“Music is perfect for creating mood. I've compiled a specific playlist of purely instrumental, ambient and film scores that I will often play in the background to help keep me in the right frame of mind when I'm writing a piece. I find it to be the perfect catalyst in conjuring macabre and creepy images which may or may not find their way woven into the storytelling. I tend to write better in an empty house, specifically sat at the dining room table. I'm not sure why it works so well but I feel at my most productive in that particular set up.”
When you write horror, do you write for a certain effect i.e. to frighten your audience?
“I have two aims in mind when I set about writing horror. Firstly, to entertain. I want the reader to become so engrossed in the story that they have to stay up all night in order to find out what happens next. And secondly, I want to induce chills down their spine, to ensure they've locked the front door before going to bed - anything that makes them feel quite uneasy. If my story can do those two things, then I consider that to be a job well done!”
What do you think the most frightening thing you have written is?
“It's really difficult to pick one thing out individually and I think fear can be completely subjective to an audience, so I tend to include lots of different tactics in order to scare the reader. Whether that be from a psychological aspect, something truly disturbing or just down-right gross... certain styles of horror create different effects.
“Personally, there are two scenes in 'The Corpse Rooms' that will always stick with me. One is a creepy encounter in an abandoned outhouse in the middle of the night and the second is a disturbing turn of events when the main character confronts a mysterious stranger. I don't want to reveal too much but they have definitely found their place lodged firmly under my skin.”
Do you think there is still an appetite for horror literature?
“Yes absolutely! I think now more than ever! Horror is really a powerful and influential genre and everyone, from all walks of life, has experienced it in one form or another. Literature in itself is a great way of expressing and perhaps even purging ourselves of certain fears. As much as I love watching a great horror film, there's nothing quite like picking up a book and embarking on a solo journey into a world and fearlessly braving the images and ideas within its pages. It's a form of escape and I think we all need that from time to time in our daily lives.”
Can you tell us a little more about your inspirations and influences?
“My inspiration comes from many different places. As I was growing up, I read authors such as R. L. Stine, Stephen King, John Saul and Poppy Z. Brite (to name but a few). I had always aspired to be just like them - creating stories for a living and giving readers an entertaining ride!
“I am also influenced by many different sources - the art of Olivier De Sagazan for example, played a part in constructing certain scenes in The Corpse Rooms, a Tori Amos lyric and Alice in Wonderland inspired my second book, Reading the Palms of Dolls. It could even be a simple stroll or a dream that ends up providing ample material for stories, it's important to stay open to ideas in whatever form they present themselves to you.”
What are your ongoing writing plans/ideas for the future?
“I'm currently planning my fourth novel. I'm attempting something a little different this time around and I've begun bedding the roots on my website with a few short character-driven pieces. Though these won't be directly tied to the novel, they're the stepping stones for something a lot larger that I am working on. Aside from that, I plan on releasing another Halloween short story to coincide with my favourite season and I'm also interested in working on a collaborative piece with an illustrator.”
To find out more about Drew Forest and his work, he is online. https://drewforestwrites.wordpress.com/
Introduction and interview by Emily Oldfield