Alp’s story is an empowering tale that shows first impressions aren’t always the whole story. It has a ghost story feel to it, but has so much more, as this ghost is a real person. It had me hooked from the first sentence and I had to stop myself several times as my eyes tried to jump ahead, eager to find out about the mysterious tenant, Chelleach.
“Ciallaionn se a gortaitear thu.”
“Excuse me?” Liz said.
Chelleach continued to stare back, as if willing Liz to read her mind. Liz shook her head, not comprehending. “I don’t understand—”
The old woman harrumphed with evident frustration. She tossed a small metallic object at her feet. Liz bent down and picked it up, amazed to see it was a key. She glanced up, ready to thank her, but the landing was empty. She’d never heard her leave. Sighing, she turned, inserted the key in the door, and turned it. It fit perfectly. She let herself in and tossed the garbage bags where they had been earlier. Let Greg deal with them. Instead, she ran to her laptop and opened Google translate, selecting ‘Detect Language Automatically.’ Then she typed the phrase phonetically, as best as she could remember, and hit, Enter. Google spit out the translation.
‘He means to hurt thou.’
It was Gaelic.
–To Thine Self Be True by Alp Beck
Q (Crone Girls Press): Author Interview Question 1: What drove your story for this anthology? Tell us the “story behind the story.”
A (Alp Beck): This is a refreshed reprint of a story first published in 2015. It deals with a young couple and domestic violence. It also contains supernatural elements that delve into the power women possess to protect each other.
Q: What does it mean to read and write horror when you’re competing with news headlines (for example, this anthology came about in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V Wade)? How has it changed (or not!) your approach to the genre as a writer or as a fan?
A: It hasn’t changed my writing, but it has certainly shortened the distance between fiction and reality. Horror takes all forms and the phrase, “Oh, that would never happen.” Has been flipped on its head, becoming more of a dare, than an absurdity. Most stories start with, ‘What if?’ and we, as writers, run into the creative, dark woods to frolic with our imagination. I think now, I bring a greater amount of anger into those woods and the theme is more about vengeance and the reversal of roles in our society. Okay, I guess my writing has been affected after all.
Q: There are a number of different flavors of horror. Where does your story fit, and what drew you to this particular category?
A: I love psychological suspense based horror. Building dread is a fantastic tool and I toyed with the idea of allowing the readers to see the direction this couple is heading, before they themselves are aware of it. Using the refusal to see your situation for what it is, allowed me to hopefully surprise the characters and the readers.
Q: Why do you write horror? What about the genre appeals to you as an author?
A: When I think about horror as a genre, I think about rollercoasters and how I used to close my eyes on swings, as I pushed myself to go as fast and as high as I could manage; all to feel that scary flutter of fear in my stomach. We are drawn to controlled, safe scares, I think, because it makes our life seem better, in comparison. Less frightening.
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: I’m working on a horror themed novella set in the travel industry.
About The Author
Alp Beck lives in New York City. She writes in all genres but prefers horror. Her essays have been featured in the New York Times and the NY Blade. She is a big fan of the short story format and believes, “When you master the art of the short story, only then are you ready to tackle novels”. She will continue to write in the format until she gets it right.
Writing has never been optional for Alp. Like eating and breathing, it’s something integral to her existence. She’s grateful to be able to entertain her readers.
It wasn’t easy getting her first break in publishing. Fortunately, a close friend and saw her potential and that was the beginning of the first chapter of their professional literary life. Since then, Alp Beck has published a number of short stories.
You can find her at her website AlpBeck.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Be sure to check out her story in A Woman Unbecoming
Crone Girls Press 