Mackenzie Kiera | Ladies of the Fright: A couple of icebreakers to start: when did you decide to become a writer, and who are some of your favorite authors?
Jennifer Dornbush: I didn't decide. I just knew. I was that kid creating backyard plays and forcing my parents to sit through them. I stated at 8 years old I was going to be a writer. I have SOOOOO many favorite authors ranging from children's literature to young adult to classic fiction. If you were to see my office full of books, you would see all my favorites.
MK | LOTF: Where are you in the world and what is it like?
JD: I recently just moved back to Phoenix after living in Los Angeles for 14 years. I LOVE the Sonoran desert. I really do. The first thing I did was renew my membership to the Desert Botanical Gardens. I can spend hours there observing and writing. If you really look at the design of desert plants, they look like something created for a horror flick. They're all spiky and twisty and misshapen. And some of them are poisonous. As is a lot of the wildlife: gila monsters, scorpions, rattle snakes. While I find the desert a beautiful and exotic place, it's also a horrifying place, by the way. Everything is designed to maim or kill you. You have to constantly be on the lookout around every corner. It's full of suspense. Everytime I put on my shoes in the garage I have to shake them out in case a scorpion has lodged inside. We've already killed three garage scorpions in just six weeks. How horrifying is that?!?
MK | LOTF: When in your life did you start to get into horror?
JD: Since I could remember. I mean, I grew up with human body parts in my freezer, vials of human blood in our spare fridge, and a guy's leg stored in a 55 gallon drum in our barn. I lived in a house of horrors. Hmmm…. do you think maybe that's why I gravitate to watching comedy so much?
MK | LOTF: A lot of people have been having a hard time finding their creative muse this year. How has your experience been?
JD: My experience has been outstanding! I have been able to do a lot of creative work this year and get so many projects off the ground. I have to say, the stay-at-home, cancel culture has definitely worked in my creative favor. It's like I finally got to take a long hiatus from so many other obligations that always get in the way and I have been able to really concentrate on creative endeavors. This includes reading. I have read more this year than in years previous.
MK | LOTF: Do you have any upcoming projects you would like to discuss?
JD: I'm writing a short story for an anthology to be published next year called Murder, Music and Mystery. It's theme is The Eagles album, Hotel California. Each author take one track from the album and creates a story around that track. I was lucky enough to get the title track, Hotel California. To my surprise, there are definitely horror elements creeping into my story. Usually I write straight thriller or mystery, but I'm loving the horror aspects to the story. It's California creepy!
MK | LOTF: Which (or which one(s)) classic book have you NEVER read and don’t intend on reading? (Think, like, Moby Dick, Wuthering Heights--that stuff)
JD: Tolstoy's War & Peace. Ugh. Just looking at that thick text sends palpitations in my heart. But maybe, just maybe, someday I would consider listening to it on audiobook.
MK | LOTF: Do you have a favorite monster? And why have they stolen your heart?
JD: I know it might be cliche, but Frankenstein is my monster. I'm in awe of Mary Shelley's creation and the way her themes stand the tests of time. I think they are more relevant today than they were in her era. The biggest question that she poses is what happens when we start creating our own little Frankensteins-- and believe me, they are already in the works through DNA, RNA, cloning, invitro fertilizations, hybrid human/animals — what place do they have here and how will we love and accept them into culture and society?
MK | LOTF: and where can our listeners/readers find you?
JD: I've got all the things… so easiest just to go to my website which is a one-stop shop. www.jenniferdornbush.com
Jennifer Fornbush is a screenwriter, author, speaker, and forensic specialist who aims to shed light and hope in the dark places of the human experiences.