Horror Q&A with Author K.T. Rose (The Haunting of Gallagher Hotel)

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Written By Chris Well
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“I’m not a fan of protagonists who are beyond human. I like to drag my main characters through the dirt so they can come back beaten and bruised, but enlightened and changed for the better.”

Horror author K.T. Rose shares what she wants out of a horror story.

K. T. Rose is a horror, thriller, and dark fiction writer from Detroit, Michigan. She posts suspense and horror flash fiction on her blog at kyrobooks.com and is the author of a gruesome, suspenseful short story series titled A Trinity of Wicked Tales and an erotic thriller, When We Swing.

Her latest work is the supernatural horror novel The Haunting of Gallagher Hotel—

When a master thief and a contract waitress get mysterious invites to an exclusive party at the haunted Gallagher Hotel, they discover more at play than simple celebrations. Hidden truths are revealed, and all hell breaks loose. But the “party” has just begun…

Will they survive the night? Or will their souls be devoured by the most haunted building in Michigan?

In this exclusive interview, the author talks with Monster Complex about The Haunting of Gallagher Hotel. She shares how she got started as an author, the inspiration behind the novel, and what she likes—and does not like—in horror stories.

Monster Complex uses affiliate links.

1 What are your earliest memories of horror and genre fiction?

When I was maybe about three years old, my Grandma would watch the Twilight Zone, Creep Show, and Unsolved Mysteries. My mother is a connoisseur of the creepy; we watched classical and contemporary Sci-Fi and horror movies daily.

2 When did you know you wanted to write? What inspired you to become an author?

There was a time in my adulthood when everything that I worked so hard for fell apart. Losing hair and running out of options, I sat down and asked myself: What do you want to do? Doesn't matter how outlandish it is. Just say it. I wanted to write scary books. And so I did and still do.

3 What inspired the story in The Haunting of Gallagher Hotel?

I went to Holly Hotel (a very real place) to a watch stand-up act in the basement. The hotel is advertised as one of Michigan’s most haunted buildings. It’s super nice and well-kept, clinging to its original Victorian feel. The restaurant is pricey, but top-notch. It’s a nice venue, and it doesn’t feel like a haunted house at all. But as I sat down there enjoying the show, a horrifying story developed underneath the laughter.

4 What surprised you in the course of writing or publishing this book?

How unique it turned out. It’s not your typical haunted house novel. It packs a punch. I also couldn’t believe how much I cried while writing this. It hurt to put some of the characters through such turmoil, but an important lesson had to be learned. This is also the first book where I tossed out word count and just made it how long I wanted it to be. It’s a personal record.

5 The Haunting of Gallagher Hotel is for fans of what authors, movies, tv etc?

This book is for readers who enjoyed The Shining, Amityville Horror, The Conjuring Series, The Haunting of Hill House, American Horror Story, and anything with insanely dark undertones, violence, and twists.

6 What are your pet peeves about horror fiction?

I’m not a fan of protagonists who are beyond human. If they start off perfect, there is nothing for them to learn and nowhere for them to go. I like to drag my main characters through the dirt so they can come back beaten and bruised, but enlightened and changed for the better because of the plot and people involved.

7 What do you (as a fan) look for in a horror story?

A realistic protagonist and antagonist placed in a messed-up situation. I love that ‘all is lost!’ feeling. But even more, I love how the author creatively twists things up, showing how far our hero will go to replace, bring about, or maintain order. Human psychology is so interesting.

READ AN EXCERPT HERE

Chris Well

Chris Well been a writer pretty much his entire life. (Well, since his childhood.) Over the years, he has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio, and books. He now is the chief of the website Monster Complex, celebrating monster stories in lit and pop culture. He also writes horror comedy fiction that embraces Universal Monsters, 1960s sitcoms, 1980s action movies, and the X-Files.

https://chriswell.substack.com/
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Excerpt: The Haunting of Gallagher Hotel by K.T. Rose