Author Interview * MM Schreier!

 

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of MM Schreier’s debut collection, Monstrosity, Humanity. I’ve followed MM’s short fiction for several years, always admiring the variety of creatures and the way she brings them to life. This collection doesn’t disappoint. While I enjoy the imaginative array of monsters, the thing I love most is the wide range of writing styles. Some of these pieces center classic horror, while others are laced with wit and humor, and still others flow with lush lyricism.

Thanks to MM for taking time to answer my questions!

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Myna: Tell us about your upcoming collection! What’s it about? What themes do you explore?

MM: The book is called Monstrosity, Humanity and is 25 dark stories that push boundaries by exploring humanity in monsters and the monstrosity of humans. I wanted to offer readers stories with layers, for the world is rarely black and white.

Cover design by MM Schreier, 2024

 

Myna: Do you have a favorite character in the book?

MM: That’s such a hard question! I love all of them for different reasons, but the arachnid creature in “Blind Weaving,” is such a deliciously obnoxious narcissist–a very human trait. At the same time, it revels in the divinity of aesthetics/creation and is gentle and kind to its tiny little spider cousin. I love that complexity.

 

Myna: What’s unique about this book?

MM: Despite the theme, the story styles are wildly varied. There’s everything from literary, Lovecraftian, folk, psychological, and quiet horror to very contemporary lit and sassy, macabre humor. Dark speculative as a genre is a huge category, and there are a lot of flavors to taste here.

 

Myna: When a reader finishes the last word in the book, what emotion will they be feeling?

MM: I hope, thoughtful. Sure, there are some very creepy moments in this collection, but this book isn’t really about the scares. I think there is a lot of opportunity to reassess our worldview and our own nature as a species.

 

Myna: How did this collection come about?

MM: It hadn’t really been on my radar, but you can only be asked by readers “when are we getting a collection?” so many times before the idea takes root. When I took a closer look, I realized between previously published work and backlog/in-process stories, I had enough material on the theme. I also have writing friends who’ve put together some lovely collections, which inspired me to give it a go.

 

Myna: How would you describe your writing style, in general? Does that hold true for this book?

MM: I love beautiful language, and think my default style is typically lyrical and descriptive. While the readers definitely get that in some of these stories, again, there’s a lot of variety. I like exploring and trying new things.

 

Myna: How do you stay motivated?

MM: I’ll admit, I’m a writing contest junkie. There’s something about the deadlines and competition that spurs me to get my fingers on the keyboard. And prompts will often get me thinking outside the box. But at the end of the day, there are so many stories clamoring around in my head, begging to be let out, that it’s pretty easy for me to stay motivated. It’s the limitation of time that’s the real barrier to creative work!

 

Myna: What’s next for you?

MM: I’m currently working on a novella-in-shorts that will feature mythology in a contemporary setting that will hopefully be released this fall. There are lots of projects in the works, so stay tuned! 

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MM Schreier is a classically trained vocalist who took up writing as therapy for a mid-life crisis. Whether contemporary or speculative fiction, favorite stories are rich in sensory details and weird twists. A firm believer that people are not always exclusively right- or left-brained, in addition to creative pursuits Schreier is on the Leadership Team for a robotics company and tutors maths and science to at-risk youth.

 

Find links to purchase Monstrosity, Humanity here!

Web: mmschreier.com

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Instagram: @mmschreier

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BlueSky: @mmschreier.bsky.social