Interview with Stewart Bint on The Reality of Horror Fiction
Interview with Stewart Bint: The Reality of Horror Fiction
Horror fiction has the power to terrify, thrill, and even comfort us in unexpected ways. But what makes a truly terrifying story? And why do we seek out fear in the first place? To explore these questions, I spoke with author Stewart Bint, who shares his insights on crafting horror that feels all too real, his personal encounters with the supernatural, and the thrill of keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
Stewart, your approach to horror fiction is fascinating. Let’s start with a question many wonder about—who has the more twisted psyche, the horror writer or the horror reader?
Stewart Bint: You’ll be pleased to hear, it’s neither! In fact, being scared by horror fiction is actually good for us. When we're afraid, our bodies release chemicals that can make us feel good under the right circumstances. And when that fear comes from a book or movie, within safe boundaries, it can give us a rush—like a double espresso!
That makes a lot of sense. So, how do you ensure that your readers experience that fear effectively?
Stewart Bint: For horror to be truly effective, readers have to empathize with the characters. They need to care about them. My approach is to create relatable characters and put them in realistic situations. When readers think, This could be me or my family, the horror feels all too real. I build tension gradually—what starts as uncertainty becomes unease, then fear, then danger, then horror.
You’ve written several horror novels. Can you tell us a bit about them?
Stewart Bint: Three of my five novels fit into the horror genre—In Shadows Waiting, To Rise Again, and When God's Wind Blows. My short story collection, Thunderlands, also includes two horror tales: The Growing Thing and The Twitter Bully.
What draws you to writing horror in the first place?
Stewart Bint: I’m just an aging hippy who likes to entertain people through stories! My books aren’t great literature, but readers find them entertaining, and that’s good enough for me. I was bitten by the writing bug when I was seven, thanks to Doctor Who. That show made me realize it was okay to feel scared, and I suppose I now enjoy passing that feeling on to others.
That’s an interesting origin story! Did personal experiences influence your horror writing?
Stewart Bint: Absolutely. When my father died when I was 11, I retreated into my fictional worlds. In those stories, I had control—I could make sure my characters were okay in the end, even if they faced horrors along the way. Also, I’ve experienced the supernatural myself. The entity in In Shadows Waiting is based on something I saw in the early 1980s—red-eyed, misty, and standing on a gallery landing. That moment stuck with me and inspired my breakthrough novel.
That’s chilling. So, do you believe in ghosts?
Stewart Bint: I do. In my opinion, ghosts are either moments in time breaking through into the present or spirits trapped on Earth with unfinished business. I’ve witnessed both types. One was the red-eyed figure I mentioned, while the other was a recurring ‘flashback’ type ghost at my in-laws' house in London.
What about demons? Do you think they exist?
Stewart Bint: There are well-documented cases of demonic possessions and haunted places. They don’t play by the rules of known physics, which makes them even more terrifying.
That brings up an interesting point—if we could explain ghosts and demons scientifically, would they still be horror?
Stewart Bint: Not at all! If we understood the physics behind supernatural phenomena, ghost stories would become science fiction. But for now, it’s the mystery—the idea that something might exist beyond our understanding—that keeps horror fans coming back for more.
Any final thoughts for aspiring horror writers?
Stewart Bint: Just remember—make it real. If your readers believe it could happen, they’ll be scared. And that’s the whole point of horror, isn’t it?
Find Stewart Bint’s Titles here:
Website:
https://stewartbintauthor.weebly.com/
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