Doing fun runs and themed 5Ks and 10Ks is something I really enjoy… or at least I did before reading Priya Sridhar’s “The Terrible Teddies.” Now, I have to think twice about running in the dark with characters from scary movies…
Q (Crone Girls Press): What do you write? How long have you been writing? What are your preferred genres and why?
A: I generally write fiction and nonfiction, with a smattering of poetry.
Q: What inspired your story in this anthology? Tell us the “story behind the story.”
A: Goosebumps was one of the series that got me into reading. It’s hard to find the short story collections, which went out of print, but I found a Wikipedia summary of one about a cutesy bear theme park with a dark side. I couldn’t find the story itself, however, no matter where I looked online. Eventually, I decided to try my hand at the summary but instead of doing a theme park I thought a zombie run would be fun, but with evil bears. My local library did a zombie run with kids but sadly I only saw the aftermath with white makeup and all. Later I did read the original story “Don’t Feed the Bears” and it was definitely different in terms of scope and prose.
Q: What draws you to the genre of horror/dark fiction? What do you find there that you don’t find anywhere else?
A: Horror and dark fiction allow us to be scared without getting hurt. You can explore impossible scenarios and sometimes possible ones that make you think. Kid’s horror is one of the reasons that I started getting into reading as a child because it’s scary but you can close the book and it’s done. It was reassuring, in an odd way.
Q: There are a number of subgenres/tropes/flavors of horror. Where does your story fit? What drew you to this particular category?
A: Mine is probably popcorn horror; it’s meant to be fun, and not too deep. You watch the reel, and wonder what happens next.
Q: Why horror? Why do you write it? What about the genre appeals to you as an author?
A: Horror allows us to enjoy danger without actually experiencing it. It’s fun to be scared when you’re safe at home and reading. What’s more, fear is not universal. Different fears affect us in various ways.
Q: Of the characters you’ve created, who is your favorite, and why?
A: Don’t have a favorite, LOL. That is like choosing favorite children.
Q: What do you find the most challenging about the writing process, and how do you meet that challenge?
A: The hardest part for me is writing middles, especially for longer works. As for how I meet the challenge? Generally I muddy through it, and then revise in later drafts when friends and editors help pinpoint what to fix.
Q: If someone asked you to recommend books/stories similar to what you write, who/what titles would you be giving them? And, why?
A: My friend Laura Diaz de Arce. She does great horror and such and we are good friends.
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: I have a novella coming out in the fall from Unnerving. There are also a few more short stories coming out from various presses. I would like to get a literary agent for my latest novel.
Q: Anything to add?
A: Look up creepy teddy bears online. You won’t be disappointed!
Priya Sridhar
A 2016 MBA graduate and published author, Priya Sridhar has been writing fantasy and science fiction for fifteen years, and counting. Capstone published the Powered series, and Alban Lake published her works Carousel and Neo-Mecha Mayhem. Priya lives in Miami, Florida with her family.
Learn more about Priya at her website, and follow her on Twitter, check out her Patreon, and follow her on Medium!
To read “The Terrible Teddies” by Priya Sridhar, pick up a copy of Stories We Tell After Midnight 2. And, once you are finished, please think about leaving us a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Reviews make our cold, dark little heart so happy…
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