Author Chat: Chris W. McGuinness, Writer of “A New Eden” and “Artist’s Statement”

This is B.C. Johnson, your Batrachian indie author from the depths of the eldritch sea, and today we’re sitting down with Chris W. McGuinness.

About the Author

My name is Chris W. McGuinness, a former journalist who now writes horror and lives on California’s Central Coast.

I’ve been mostly writing and publishing short fiction for the last few years. I tend to write dark, surreal horror of the cosmic variety with elements of body horror, folk horror, noir, science fiction, and whatever other genres/subjects I’m currently obsessing over.

When I’m not writing, I enjoy craft beer, video games, and watching every horror movie I can get my hands on. 

The Questions

1. Do you have a writer you idolize?

The obvious answer is Stephen King. The man and his body of work loom large and I’m hard-pressed to think of any horror writer my age who isn’t influenced by his writing. 

I am also a huge fan of Laird Barron. I discovered his writing at a time when I wasn’t sure I had the confidence to write the kinds of stories I wanted to, and reading his short story collections blew my mind and opened me up to just how expansive and weird you can get when you work in the horror genre. He is right up there with King, in my opinion.

(Editor’s Note: Nailed it.)

2. What are you reading right now, and how is it?

I’m currently reading THE LOST THOUGHTS OF SOLDIERS by Delia Falconer, a book my wife—an excellent writer and poet in her own right—recommended to me.

It’s a fantastic literary character study that follows a man who survived the battle at Little Bighorn. The prose is beautiful, poetic, and haunting. I find myself rereading passages just to revel in how well-written they are. 

3. What’s the state of the short fiction world? Do you have any advice for other short story writers?

It really seems like the Wild West out there at the moment. There are so many magazines, websites, and new publications popping up, it can feel a little overwhelming sometimes. The good news is that it means there’s almost always a place for the kind of story you are writing. No matter how niche or weird you think your work might be, there is an audience out there if you are willing to be diligent and seek them out. 

In terms of advice, I think it’s important to be patient and persistent. I recently had a story that was rejected nine times over two years get accepted for publication. Don’t give up on your stories and always be on the lookout for opportunities to find them a home.

4. Which four stories by other authors go on your cosmic horror Mount Rushmore?

1. “In the Hills, The Cities” by Clive Barker
2. “Bulldozer” by Laird Barron
3. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates
4. “The Jaunt” by Stephen King

5. What does your editing process look like? Has it changed over time?

Whenever I finish a first draft, I resist the urge to jump right into editing, so I’ll usually put it away for a while and go work on something else. I find that having some time away from the story helps me come back to edit it with a more objective eye.

It makes me less precious about the writing itself and I can be more effective at cutting or changing things to get the story into something ready to submit for publication.

6. If the favorite story you’ve written got turned into a movie, who’s the perfect director?

I’d be honored if any director wanted to make a film out of anything I’ve written, but I really dig Panos Cosmatos’ movies. He has this nightmarish, hallucinatory style that I just can’t look away from.

7. Do you write with or without music? 

When I was a reporter, I got used to writing in busy newsrooms, so trying to write in total silence is a little unnerving for me. I like to write while listening to music as long as it doesn’t have any vocals. Lately, my go-to genres are chillwave and dungeon synth.

8. What craft beer are you currently into right now, and as a personal question, is my local grocery store aisle ready to stock anything besides IPAs anytime soon?

I am still happily riding on the hazy IPA bandwagon. Unfortunately, I don’t see the IPA craze ending anytime soon. Part of me hopes the trend will swing back the opposite way and we will return to the halcyon days of big, bold stouts and funky Belgian ales, but only time will tell.

(Editor’s Note: Damn. I need my reds, somebody, if you’re reading this and have access to malts and barley, make more craft reds.)

9. What’s your go-to boss Final Fantasy VII boss-fighting squad? 

I’ve always gone with Cloud, Red XIII, and Vincent. It’s a great combination that has served me well in many battles.

Where To Find the Latest Chris W. McGuinness Stories

My historical body horror story “A New Eden” will be included in Fraidy Cat Quarterly Vol. 3, which is available now via Amazon at https://a.co/d/4edGzon

I’ve also got a cosmic horror story, “Artist’s Statement” in the latest issue of Lovecraftiana Magazine, also on Amazon at https://a.co/d/9SQHLlh. 

Where to Find the Author

You can find links to all my published work on my website at https://chriswmcguinness.wordpress.com. 

You can also follow me on Threads at @chrismcguinness, or Bluesky at @cwmcguinness.bsky.social.

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See You Next Tuesday

This is BC again, thanks for stopping by! We’ll be back next Tuesday with fantasy author Charlie Freelander.

You can subscribe to my blog to get updates as they arrive, or follow me on Threads where I’ll be posting them as well.