Creator Spotlight: Horror Author Alyanna Poe

January 20, 2022

Alyanna Poe horror author books — Courtesy of Alyanna Poe

Two hundred and thirteen years ago, one of the greats was born. Edgar Allan Poe entered the world on January 19, 1809. As one of the OG horror masters, Poe self-published his first book around the age of 18. The world was given the opportunity to explore the American writer’s mind because he allowed it. Known for his poetry and short stories, Poe secured a reputation for mystery and macabre. His stories dealt with people and their inner turmoil. Our worst enemy resides in our own heads, and Poe captured that well enough to remain popular to this day. We all know Edgar Allan Poe’s work. It would be hard to find a person who can’t name at least one of his stories. And, again, his first work was self-published.

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These days, self-publishing is even more commonplace than being a contracted writer. Countless books flood Amazon and other vanity publishers. Writers attend markets and conventions to peddle their work to new readers. Today, readers can find independent writers the same way we can find “local” bands that play a thousand miles away. The internet made a big world bigger and smaller at the same time. Such a small world, in fact, it’s easy to have stumbled upon a writer who just happens to be the first cousin six times removed from Edgar Allan Poe himself. Alyanna Poe readily admits her relation to the American great, but she hardly flaunts it. She just happens to share an interest in the same macabre and the same exploration of the senses. She also self-published her first book. The similarities end there as Alyanna Poe intends to make a name for herself, and rightly so. Her passion for writing comes through immediately. When speaking to her, and when reading her work, you get the sense that she’s only begun to make her own mark on the world as a writer. “The only way I know how to communicate is through my writing,” she said.

Poe describes her book Eaten as “Splatter Punk.” It’s not the same old zombie story. She’s invented a world where death is no longer a permanent condition. In fact, life in the traditional sense is no longer ubiquitous. Instead, we are all dead. Her zombie story is followed up by Void, a continuation within the same universe. “Depression inspires me,” she claims. It’s easy to see her muse was born in a time when she was hassled, bullied, and shunned by her peers. Her stories come from deep inside where it’s dark and murky. It’s an unwelcoming place. You are not invited in. You are snatched from your sunny world and dragged into her darkness.

Similar to her distant cousin, Poe has recently learned that she’s falling in love with the short story. Her third book was a collection she titled Cradles the Brain. It’s named to evoke the idea of what it’s like to hold a book. You’re holding the mind of the writer in your hands. You’re invited into the inky crevices of Alyanna’s mind. The various haunted themes are designed to dare you to walk deeper into the cave. Poe calls you like a Siren. Once you’ve answered the call, you can consider yourself devoured.

Poe’s latest collection is on the way. Rejects is the forthcoming collection that deals with themes of alienation and rejection. The heartbreaking tales offer no relief, and they are not for the average reader. Poe isn’t afraid to punish her protagonists even when you’ve been conditioned to root for them. It’s evident that she’s still learning her craft, but she isn’t shy about stepping into the role she sees herself in. She deals with death as if she’s already experienced it. She is not afraid. This young writer is just getting started. If you love horror with a human element, it might be time for you to begin exploring her work. Rejects and the rest of her work are available now.

Creator Q&A:

Favorite creative influences:
“Writers like Stephen King and Poe have of course inspired me, but I feel I am most influenced by music. Music has a way of making us feel involuntarily. I try to achieve the same level of emotion in my writing.”
Favorite horror writers:
“Stephen King is definitely my favorite author. I know it’s the generic answer, but after going to a swap meet and buying The Stand for $2 from a man selling books out of his van, I fell in love with King’s writing style. I lugged the uncut version around my middle school like it was The Bible until I finished it, and less than a year later, I plotted out Eaten, my first novel. Poe is, of course, a huge influence in my life, as I am a born Poe with relations to Edgar. He’s a huge inspiration, but our styles greatly differ. I would never compare myself to the great Edgar Allan Poe.”
Favorite horror story or book:
“The Stand, of course, as it was my first experience with adult horror. A close second is Kathe Koja’s The Cipher. It was so depressingly terrifying, like watching someone slowly die.”
Favorite horror story or book YOU’VE written:
“I love ‘Vitality.’ ‘Vitality’ is a series of three short stories in my collection Cradles the Brain. It’s about a plague doctor’s day-to-day job of taking care of her people, as well as her experience with witchcraft. Natural medicine and natural magick tend to cross over often, and I wanted to blend these two into a very eccentric character. She ends up accidentally killing her crush/patient with a love potion and tries to bring him back from the dead.”
Favorite horror movie or monster movie:
“I Love Silent Hill for the character creation. There are so many unique monsters all throughout the movie, plus I love a good ‘religious people are actually bad’ trope, especially coming from a long line of witches myself. I love The Texas Chain Saw Massacre for the characters as well.”
Favorite monster of all time:
“Frankenstein’s Monster. Not the cartoony versions or TV versions, but the raw original from Mary Shelley’s story. He was so misunderstood, and I relate to him. He was hated and despised by his creator. The very person that created him, shunned him. I [also] understand the pain of feeling like you don’t belong.”