Last but not least in my recent series of interviews with fellow All Dark Places authors, it is my pleasure to introduce you to the unfeasibly talented AM Cummins. As well as writing, she also hunts ghosts. No, really.

Give a short tease about what happens in your short story for All Dark Places.

My story in All Dark Places is titled The Harrison Farm. It’s about a young couple that moves into an old house and must learn a few old secrets before it’s too late.

What inspired your short story?

I love a good ghost story! So much so that my husband and I go ghost hunting when we find the time (mostly on vacations).

What do you find scary?

A dark backstory that doesn’t make sense until the big reveal at the end. I love to question and theorise why something spooky is happening throughout the story. I’ll admit also that I jump at loud noises or something unexpected, but in the end, I just don’t find that scary.

Have you experienced anything at all like a horror story in real life?

I have, actually! I even wrote a short story inspired by my experience: Adoption featured in an anthology e-book, Shadows of the Spectral. I, of course, changed a few things for entertainment value. But the story of the haunting is 100% true.

Why do you think some people are drawn to horror stories, and others are repelled by them?

A good horror story will stir up emotions. Sometimes those emotions can bring back haunting memories of personal experiences. I am a horror fan! When fear is in the air and the blood starts pumping, I know I’m alive.

To what extent are your characters based on you or people you know?

In this story, not at all unfortunately. I picked random pictures of people off the web and wrote my characters based on personality traits I thought they would have. The creation of characters is what drew me into writing.

Do you know your ending when you write, or do you start and see where the story or characters take you?

I know what direction my story is heading. I’ve tried to be a pantser, but then you spend too much time in the editing phase to my liking to fix all the holes. So I love to have a general (and negotiable) outline and let the story lead me to get there.

What is the best thing about being a writer?

I enjoy the creating part. Starting with nothing and making something. It can be a character, a story line, or world-building.

What is the worst thing about being a writer?

The second draft is the worst part for me. I have embraced the editing process completely. But once you take your baby, the manuscript you poured your heart and soul into, and give it a once over…Yikes! It can be soul crushing sometimes to realise it isn’t as perfect as you thought it was. The good news about that is you don’t have to face it alone. The writing community will give you just as much love as you show to it.

To what extent (if at all) do you agree with the statement “write what you know”?

Sure, writing what you know is easy. But nothing great came from easy. I’m a firm believer in pushing outside my comfort zone. My goal is to be the best writer I can be and you don’t do that by playing it safe. My passion is writing fantasy, but I’ve dabbled outside that genre. It was hard, but worth it.

Are you promiscuous or monogamous with your genre of choice?

I am all over the place in my writing. Of course, that doesn’t mean I publish everything I write. Currently I have been published fantasy and sci-fi stories, and now horror. I’m tackling romance next.

Which writers inspire you?

All of them, even you Simon! Writing is not easy. It can be frustrating and stressful sometimes. With deadlines, writers block, and marketing being an author is a lot of work. I applaud anyone who works hard to tell a story.

What are your future writing plans?

I am currently writing my first series to submit to a publisher. I devour series as a reader but always felt intimidated of them as an author. Challenge accepted!

What advice would you give someone who tells you they want to be a writer?

Write something. The internet is full of rules and advice about writing. It can become overwhelming. To find out if you honestly enjoy the process, go through it. Put your pen to paper. Rinse and repeat!

For more about AM Cummins and her writing, check out her pages on Amazon and Goodreads here and here respectively.

All Dark Places is released on the 30^th of October and can be pre-ordered here.