Alumni Spotlight: Kristi Petersen Schoonover
Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s stories have appeared in many publications, including Generation X-ed, Horror Library Volume 7, Lovecraftian Microfiction Volumes 6 & 7, Wicked Creatures, Crow & Cross Keys, Dancing in the Shadows: An Anne Rice Tribute Anthology, Dead Stars & Stone Arches, and others; work is forthcoming in Out of Time: True Paranormal Encounters. Her novel, Bad Apple, will get a 10th anniversary release this year, and her short story collection, The Shadows Behind, will be followed by a second collection in 2024. She is also currently curating the anthology Wicked Sick for Wicked Creative. She holds an MFA from Goddard College, has held three Norman Mailer Writers Colony residencies, is founding editor of the journal 34 Orchard, is a board member of the New England Horror Writers and is co-chair of the Horror Writers Association’s Connecticut Chapter. She lives in the Connecticut woods, where she enjoys watching birds with her husband, Nathan.
From the time that Kristi was a child, she had full access to the library in her dad’s den which contained 1970s thrillers like Jaws, Stepford Wives, Rosemary’s Baby. We talk about Kristi’s childhood, as she weathered her mother’s illness and death and had to grow up quickly to take care of her siblings. Only later did she come to realize that her childhood “wasn’t normal” – but growing up this way strengthened her multitasking abilities to resiliency in weathering destabilization (which came in handy during the pandemic).
Kristi is an experienced writer and literary magazine editor and this conversation is incredibly valuable for any writer who wants insight from both sides of the submission process. Keep up with her writing, literary journal and news at the links below:
Keep up with Kristi
- Website: https://kristipetersenschoonover.com/
- Facebook & Instagram: @kpschoonover
Recent:
- “Floor Song Tango” in Out of Time: True Paranormal Encounters by Timber Press
- “Beware Burning Snow” in Siren’s Call
Published:
- The Shadows Behind
- This Poisoned Ground
- “A Bone to Pick” in Toasted Cheese Literary Journal
- Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole: Tales from Haunted Disney World
34 Orchard:
Read Kristi’s archive of work online:
Recommendations:
Books:
- Jaws, Peter Benchley
- Stepford Wives, Ira Levin
- Rosemary’s Baby, Ira Levin
- The Sweet By and By, Jeanne Mackin
Movies:
- Nope, Jordan Peele
- Get Out, Jordan Peele
- Midsommar, Ari Aster
- Hereditary, Ari Aster
- The Witch, Robert Eggers
- Fire of Love, Sara Dosa
