First a few questions for Amelinda Bérubé:
1. Your author bio reads, "I write about ghosts and monsters and other things that go bump in the night." There are all sorts of urban legends that give life to these ghosts and monsters...if you could write from an urban legend prompt, what would it be?
Can you give a short premise of it? Give me a big old haunted building any day. Somewhere people have been known to disappear, that's bigger on the inside than it ought to be, that people emerge from with inexplicable blanks in their memories, that isn't always in the same place... I, um, may or may not have something up my sleeve along these lines for NaNoWriMo.
2. It seems people have a hard time surviving in horror movies. If you were dropped down into a horror film, what would be your game plan for surviving?
I don't think my chances of surviving a horror movie would be very high - especially not if a lot of running or fighting was involved! If I found myself beset by supernatural forces, I would definitely start by using my Google-fu to figure out what local mythology could be in play, what terrible crimes were committed in the vicinity, and so forth...and failing that, I'd be breaking out iron, salt, running water, all the classic defenses against things that go bump in the night. But that's assuming whatever's coming after me is playing by traditional rules...
3.Create a Halloween aesthetic for The Dark Beneath the Ice (can be a pinterest board, a few pictures, a few sentences, or a mix) I came across this video of literal dancing on knives - "En Puntas" by Javier Pérez - while I was working on revisions for the book; it combines a few of the motifs I played with in a really riveting and evocative way. I think it really captures a feeling of rigid self control, terrifyingly high stakes, and increasing, barely restrained panic and exhaustion, all of which was part of the atmosphere I was aiming for. What the dancer shouts around the two minute mark is je te deteste! - I hate you!
And let's check out Amelinda's answers for the This or That Halloween tag!
1. Witches of Vampires?
Ooh, vampires, please. Especially the truly scary historical kind that sprang from people's terror of contagion.
2. Trick or Treat?
Treats - chocolate, for preference, and lots of em!
3. Halloween Party or Scary Movie?
Scary movie. I'm a hopeless introvert.
4. Skeletons or Zombies?
Zombies - way grosser and scarier!
5. Trick-or-Treat or Hand Out Candy?
Can I hide in the basement with the above-mentioned scary movie instead?
6. Hay Ride or Corn Maze?
Corn maze, way scarier!
7. Bottle Feed A Baby Zombie or Walk Alone Through A Dark Forest?
A baby zombie sounds SUPER upsetting, so I'd definitely pick the dark forest.
8. Pumpkin Spice or hot Chocolate?
Chocolate will win any battle for my heart.
Make sure to check out Amelinda's book and social media: