Alex Tilley is a Canadian from Toronto, Ontario. He was born in Oshawa, Ontario in 1990, and lived there until about 2008. His writing journey began at a very early age, although he admittedly had a severe tendency (still does) to withhold his explorations and creations from other’s eyes. He honed his craft by reading excessively, consuming everything he could. Although Alex doesn’t consider himself a writer of horror, or even a connoisseur on the genre, his writing tends to draw on dark aspects as an act of cathartic creativity. He is overly fond of researching matters of the occult, and spend a lot of his time studying world religions, mythological constructs, and supernatural concepts/creatures.
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Website: https://www.alextilleyauthor.com
Instagram: @alexander_tilley
Email: alextilleyauthor@hotmail.com
QUESTIONS:
- Tell our readers a little about yourself and your writing (including publications).
I’m a Canadian writer from Toronto, Ontario. I published my first novel of a folk horror/anti-colonial/magical realism/dark fantasy series called Meshkwadoon in December 2021, with the second in the Meshkwadoon series published in April 2023. I’m not much of a marketer, as I prefer to just focus on the artistry of writing and creating, but Meshkwadoon: Book 1 won the 5-star gold award through Literary Titan, which I was pretty pleased with. I have written some short stories, such as “The Twin Keepers,” which is featured in Horrorscope: A Zodiac Anthology Volume 1. My writing tends to focus on the dark, macabre, realism of psychological trauma, with an underlying spiritual theme. I despise political conundrums but have a personal intent to shine light on current issues, such as the systemic impact of colonialism on human nature and child trafficking.
I’m not much for long aimless walks on the beach, and prefer to utilize my energy in an intentional and dedicated fashion, such as reading, writing, researching, playing video games, doing things around the house, for work, with my family… I’m a busy little bee. A secluded Scottish cottage in an autumn rainfall sounds just about right for me.
I also am deeply into vampires and serial killer psychology and behavior. Hannibal Lector is my fictional spirit person. - What writing projects are you currently working on?
I write a lot of poetry and have an unpublished collection that I will likely eventually share…who knows. I am also working on a literary fiction novella and a dark fantasy novel.
Meshkwadoon: Book 3 looks a few years away in the writing process.
I have two short stories upcoming for publication: “When the Dust Settles” (to be released in the Grid Iron Gates of Hell anthology collection on January 13, 2024) and “A Cold Wind’s Call” (to be released in the Horrorscope: A Zodiac Anthology Volume 4 collection in February 2024). - Are you a daytime writer, a mid-day writer, a nighttime writer, or just someone who writes when the mood hits you?
A nighttime writer by necessity, as I work a 9 to 5 and have a little one, but I could write anywhere and at any time if the opportunity was accessible for doing so and the space was free of interruptions and causes for procrastination. - Do you have a writing “Bucket List” (goals you want to accomplish as a writer)?
Going into writing, I didn’t. I always just wanted to write for the purpose of creating my own art in a format that I love. Now I think if I heard someone I didn’t know mentioning or discussing my book in passing, or seeing them reading it on a train, that would be enough for me to be satisfied and accomplished, perhaps even a little giddy…even if they think it is terrible. - Who is your favorite author and why?
This is a tough one… I typically have fluctuations among my top 10 based on my current emotional state or current mindset. I tend to have an unwavering appreciation for Nietzsche, but Tolkien is a strong contender, as well as Haruki Murakami, Edgar Allan Poe, Alexandre Dumas, and Anne Rice. I also appreciate the realism of Fyodor Dostoevsky. I’ve recently been loving the works of Leigh Bardugo and Brooklynn Dean. - How many books do you read in a month? What are your favorite genres?
Three? I tend to lean into the Fantasy and Literary Fiction realms because that’s just what I have on my shelves, but I definitely have a preference for magical realism, gothic horror, and dark fantasy. I’m a very slow reader. - When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Always. I remember setting up a security question for a Final Fantasy forum at age 9, and my go to answer for “What is your dream job?” was always writer. I spent much of my childhood on different forums sharing poetry and collaborating on writing prompts. Even then I had a tendency to lean into the macabre and psychologically thrilling. - Do you have any “rules” when you write? (EX for me: the dog never dies!)
None. My only personal rule is that it sounds good to me when read aloud. For art’s sake I do not shy away from topics or themes. Animals die, friends die, parents die… everyone and everything eventually fades into nothingness and decay, and my intent is to capture those moments or feelings of trauma, excitement, and anxiety and write them in a way that is interesting, and, hopefully, beautiful. - Speaking of animals, do you have any pets?
I have a grumpy blue tabby cat named Loki. - What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?
Be patient. Stay focused. Have fun. Embrace feedback, even if you feel like it’s soul crushing or misguided or lacking in understanding.
And, just write… That’s all it takes. Just keep writing until all of a sudden you have choppy manuscript that you think may be one of the worst things to ever be put on paper, and then refine it until you hate it even more. Then choose to either show people, or just keep it for yourself. Enjoy the experience and have pride in yourself. Writing is as much an art as painting.
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