Eric Woods, Author

Follow Brianna Malotke!

– Website: www.malotkewrites.com
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannamalotke/
– Slasher: https://www.slasher.tv/briannamalotke/about OR username @briannamalotke

Questions:

1. Tell our readers a little about yourself and your writing (including publications).
   I’m active in the Horror Writers Association and am co-chair of the Seattle Chapter. My background is in apparel and costume design – which led to my first horror poetry collection, Fashion Trends, Deadly Ends. It’s a grisly journey though the history of fashion. My most recent horror poetry collection, Lost Cherry, explores what it’s like falling in love with evil. Outside of my standalone work, I have pieces in various magazines, zines, and anthologies. These include The Dire Circle, The Nottingham Horror Collective, Under Her Skin, and HorrorScope: A Zodiac Anthology Volumes 1 and 4.
   
   Some fun things I’ve done include being a “Writer in Residence” at the Chateau d’Orquevaux in France and contributing to the second season of the Hallow Ian Horror Hour TV show with Tapped House.
   
   While most of my work is within the realms of horror and nightmares, I enjoy writing love stories. I have a completed novella series, Sugar & Steam, published with Last Chapter Press under the pen name Tori Fields. My next series with them starts this November and it’s called Ink & Love. 
   
   Outside of reading and writing, I spend most of my time learning pole dancing in 8-inch heels or boxing. If you follow me on Instagram or TikTok you’ll get a lot of goofy dance videos mixed in with my writing posts and pet photos.
   
2. What writing projects are you currently working on?
   I’m currently in the editing phase for my next poetry collection, Death is a Tease. It explores dealing with love and loss. Whether it’s a successful relationship, trying to heal your inner self, or grieving for someone who’s gone – this poetry chapbook dives into intense emotions that people experience as they try to find a place for themselves. Other than that, I’m doing a lot of body horror poetry (no specific submission or purpose) and finishing up a slasher short story for a 2025 anthology.
   
3. Are you a daytime writer, a mid-day writer, a nighttime writer, or just someone who writes when the mood hits you?
   I am a total mood writer! Sometimes it means I’m at my computer with a cup of coffee and the sun just starting to really shine in my office and other times I’m fighting off sleep to wrap up my thoughts for a storyline. However, I am never a mid afternoon writer. I constantly lose all focus between lunch and dinner.

4. Do you have a writing “Bucket List” (goals you want to accomplish as a writer)?
   I haven’t really thought about this until now. For my horror writing, and perhaps my poetry in general, I would say a “Bucket List” item is to win a Stoker Award (the trophy is a haunted house!) or to have one of my poetry books be one of those things high schoolers have to read and write an essay on in class. As for my romance writing I would LOVE to get one of my novellas turned into a movie. Think classic Christmas romcom type movie that is cheesy and on everybody’s must watch holiday movie list. 

5. Who is your favorite author and why?
   This is a really tough question. I don’t know if I have an all-time favorite but I do have a handful of authors that I would read anything they release, even if they swapped genres. This includes Lynsay Sands, Kimberly Lemming, and Scarlett St. Clair. It all comes down to their writing style, voice, and how they write their witty banter between characters. 

6. How many books do you read in a month? What are your favorite genres?
   It depends on where I’m at with my own writing and just general busyness of life. I would say if I’m in the groove and loving everything I’m reading, then about 8-10 books in a month. However, there’s been times where I barely read 1 book in a month. I’m both a mood reader and writer, so sometimes I struggle to finish books.

8. HORROR FANS (pick 1-3): What was the first horror movie you ever saw? What is your favorite horror movie? What is the worst horror movie you have ever seen?
   I believe the first horror movie that I ever saw was Scream. It’s one of my mom’s favorites so I watched it pretty young. I don’t remember much, just a lot of yelling and running. One of my favorite horror movies is Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). The costumes are exquisite pieces that are beautifully made and really immerse you in the story. Along with that, I remember watching The Others for the first time and loving the twist. As for the worst, probably the first Leprechaun movie. I just wasn’t a fan and didn’t want to watch any of the ones after it.

9. Do you have any “rules” when you write? (EX for me: the dog never dies!)
   I agree with you on the dog never dies. I would also say I tend to stick away from rape revenge as a plot point. Not like a huge reason, I just enjoy writing femme characters that want to kill for other reasons.

10. Speaking of animals, do you have any pets?
    Yes! I have two orange cats – Ollie and Malory. And a small senior dog named Elvis. He’s a long haired chihuahua who looks like a cross between a fox and a corgi. They all take sun beam naps in the afternoon and become demons when I’m trying to go to bed at night.

11. What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a writer?
    Don’t be afraid to rewrite scenes! Or throw them out and start over! I constantly make multiple versions of stories or poems. It helps me see the different options and decide which one if the best option.