Today I have a YA horror veteran on the blog here to talk about the first book in her new series. Her fame started with the first book in her Blue is For Nightmares series and continued onto her Touch series. Earlier this year she published Welcome to the Dark House, which I read and loved. Please welcome Laurie Faria Stolarz!
Peace, Love, Teen Fiction: First we’ll start with
basics, describe Welcome to the Dark
House in one sentence.
Laurie Faria Stolarz: A group of horror fanatics enters a contest and ends up living out their worst nightmares.
PLTF: Almost all of your previous books have some paranormal elements to them, but I didn’t see any in this book, why did you choose to go contemporary with this one?
LFS: All of my books have elements of the paranormal in them, including my title BLEED, but they’re all grounded in contemporary fiction. Even though extraordinary things happen in their worlds, they’re still very much everyday teens that must deal with the daily drama of friends, family, crushes, school.
PLTF: This novel has a very slasher movie vibe, were there any movie inspirations for the book?
LFS: So many. I was particularly inspired by the movies of Wes Craven, namely the “Nightmare on Elm Street” series and the Scream movie series. But I was also inspired by reality TV. I think the book has that sort of feel as well – kind of like The Real World or Survivor.
PLTF: Where did you come up with the idea for the Nightmare Elf and what fear of yours would he keep in his bag?
LFS: Ohhh, good question. I came up with the visual of the nightmare elf first – this cute little elf character but that also has a menacing side. He wants to know your worst nightmare and then he takes it, puts it into his bag, and uses it against you later. A fear of mine he might keep In his bag…my fear of clowns or porcelain-faced dolls. Both freak me out.
PLTF: What’s next?
I’m currently working on the sequel; RETURN TO THE DARK HOUSE will be out in the spring of 2015.
Lightning round
1. On a scale of 1 to 10 how scary is your book?
Honestly, it really depends who you ask. We all have a different threshold for fear. While some have told me that the book has kept them awake for days, others have said it’s more heart-pounding/suspenseful than fear-inducing.
2. If you were a character in your own book would you survive?
Personally, there’s no way I would’ve entered that contest – no way, no how. I’m the biggest scaredy cat ever. I get freaked out in my own basement some days.
3. Favorite scary movie?
Too hard to pick – either Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer. I also love Misery.
4. Favorite Halloween candy?
Super dark chocolate with roasted almonds – yum!
5. What were you last year for Halloween or what do you plan on being this year?
I don’t typically dress up. But I do dress my house up. You name it – spiders, pumpkins, ghosts, ghouls, a smoking cauldron, etc., etc.
This or That
1. Enter the contest or delete the email?
Definitely delete.
2. Face your nightmare or chicken out?
Definitely chicken out.
3. Serial killer or bloodthirsty sea serpents?
OMG, how can I answer that? Neither. Okay, I’ll take the sea serpents.
4. Freddy or Jason?
Ahhhh, another tough question. I’ll say Freddy. I’ve written enough books on dream and nightmare manipulation (The Blue is for Nightmares series).
5. Tricks or treats?
Hands down, treats.
Laurie Faria Stolarz: A group of horror fanatics enters a contest and ends up living out their worst nightmares.
PLTF: Almost all of your previous books have some paranormal elements to them, but I didn’t see any in this book, why did you choose to go contemporary with this one?
LFS: All of my books have elements of the paranormal in them, including my title BLEED, but they’re all grounded in contemporary fiction. Even though extraordinary things happen in their worlds, they’re still very much everyday teens that must deal with the daily drama of friends, family, crushes, school.
PLTF: This novel has a very slasher movie vibe, were there any movie inspirations for the book?
LFS: So many. I was particularly inspired by the movies of Wes Craven, namely the “Nightmare on Elm Street” series and the Scream movie series. But I was also inspired by reality TV. I think the book has that sort of feel as well – kind of like The Real World or Survivor.
PLTF: Where did you come up with the idea for the Nightmare Elf and what fear of yours would he keep in his bag?
LFS: Ohhh, good question. I came up with the visual of the nightmare elf first – this cute little elf character but that also has a menacing side. He wants to know your worst nightmare and then he takes it, puts it into his bag, and uses it against you later. A fear of mine he might keep In his bag…my fear of clowns or porcelain-faced dolls. Both freak me out.
PLTF: What’s next?
I’m currently working on the sequel; RETURN TO THE DARK HOUSE will be out in the spring of 2015.
Lightning round
1. On a scale of 1 to 10 how scary is your book?
Honestly, it really depends who you ask. We all have a different threshold for fear. While some have told me that the book has kept them awake for days, others have said it’s more heart-pounding/suspenseful than fear-inducing.
2. If you were a character in your own book would you survive?
Personally, there’s no way I would’ve entered that contest – no way, no how. I’m the biggest scaredy cat ever. I get freaked out in my own basement some days.
3. Favorite scary movie?
Too hard to pick – either Scream or I Know What You Did Last Summer. I also love Misery.
4. Favorite Halloween candy?
Super dark chocolate with roasted almonds – yum!
5. What were you last year for Halloween or what do you plan on being this year?
I don’t typically dress up. But I do dress my house up. You name it – spiders, pumpkins, ghosts, ghouls, a smoking cauldron, etc., etc.
This or That
1. Enter the contest or delete the email?
Definitely delete.
2. Face your nightmare or chicken out?
Definitely chicken out.
3. Serial killer or bloodthirsty sea serpents?
OMG, how can I answer that? Neither. Okay, I’ll take the sea serpents.
4. Freddy or Jason?
Ahhhh, another tough question. I’ll say Freddy. I’ve written enough books on dream and nightmare manipulation (The Blue is for Nightmares series).
5. Tricks or treats?
Hands down, treats.
What’s your worst nightmare?For Ivy Jensen, it’s the eyes of a killer that haunt her nights. For Parker Bradley, it’s bloodthirsty sea serpents that slither in his dreams.
And for seven essay contestants, it’s their worst nightmares that win them an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at director Justin Blake’s latest, confidential project. Ivy doesn’t even like scary movies, but she’s ready to face her real-world fears. Parker’s sympathetic words and perfect smile help keep her spirits up. . . at least for now.
Not everyone is so charming, though. Horror-film fanatic Garth Vader wants to stir up trouble. It’s bad enough he has to stay in the middle of nowhere with this group—the girl who locks herself in her room; the know-it-all roommate; “Mister Sensitive”; and the one who’s too cheery for her own good. Someone has to make things interesting.
Except, things are already a little weird. The hostess is a serial-killer look-alike, the dream-stealing Nightmare Elf is lurking about, and the seventh member of the group is missing.
By the time Ivy and Parker realize what’s really at stake, it’s too late to wake up and run.
Return To The Dark House is slated to hit shelves July 21, 2015 and let me tell you I can't WAIT to see how this series continues.
Find Welcome to the Dark House on
Laurie Faria Stolarz grew up in Salem, MA, attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston.
Find Laurie on
This sounds so creepy and cool!:)
ReplyDeleteMy worst nightmare is to be alone.... to be not love by anyone.: (
My worst nightmare? Dying in a plane crash.
ReplyDeleteMy worst nightmare is to be in total isolation, completely and utterly alone in a "last person on Earth" type deal.
ReplyDeleteMary DeBorde
ReplyDeleteHard to pick just ONE worst fear lol ....
probably premature burial :O *erk*
Mary DeBorde
ReplyDeleteBTW I really enjoy Laurie's writing and can't wait to read her latest! Her Blue is For Nightmares series was some of the earliest YA books I started collecting w/my daughter :)
I fear being alone the most, but my worst nightmare was when I was falling, which should have woken me up but I just kept on falling forever.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you Laurie for your interview :)
ReplyDeletemy worst nightmare was of a clown chasing me :/
ReplyDeleteThank you Laurie for your interview :)
ReplyDeleteI had a lot of nightmares but the most scariest was when I saw my own grave. It was too creepy.