Chris Priestley: Mister Creecher

Why did you decide to write about Frankenstein's monster?

I have been fascinated by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein for 40 years. I was particularly interested in the fact that Frankenstein came to England and the idea really comes from that.

Did you set out to combine characters from Frankenstein and Oliver Twist from the start?

No. That notion came to me as I began to write. I wanted the reader to wonder who was the real monster at the end of the book. Oliver Twist is early Dickens and the meeting is 'possible' in terms of the dates. The notion popped into my head and I just thought I'd see where it led.

There are many references to 19^th century authors, poets and artists in Mister Creecher. What kind of research did you do for the book? Is this a particular period in history you are interested in?

I have been interested in the Regency period for a long time, but my interest began with Frankenstein.  I became interested in Mary Shelley's life and that led me to read widely on the other Romantic poets and artists. I am also interested in the artists of that period - Turner, Constable, Blake, Caspar David Friedrich, Goya. I did not want the novel to read like an historical adventure, but I did research the period thoroughly.  It's a fascinating time.

What is your favourite adaptation of Frankenstein?

That's interesting. I would say that it would still be the two James Whale movies of the 1930s - Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. Although I did see a filmed version of Danny Boyle's Frankenstein at the National Theatre recently and that was very good and much more faithful to the novel. But faithfulness does not always make for the best adaptation.

Who are your favourite horror writers and why?

I look for the same qualities in writers of horror as I do any other writers I enjoy - I like my favourite authors to have a definite -  and hopefully unique - voice. In horror writing, Edgar Allan Poe would be one for sure.  H P Lovecraft another. Robert Aickman. M R James. There are so many.

What are your favourite ghost stories/horror stories/horror films?

I tend to like creepy movies, rather than gory movies. I really like the original of The Haunting, based on Shirley Jackson's novel, The Haunting of Hill House. The Innocents, based on The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. I've just watched Paranormal Activity on DVD and that has its moments. As for stories, I love Edgar Allan Poe. Lots of books and stories that would not be described as 'horror' contain very frightening passages. Cormac McCarthy's The Road is a very scary book. As is Richard Matheson's I am Legend.  A lot of Kafka - a writer I really admire - is frightening and disturbing because it is so bizarre and nightmarish.

What is the scariest story/film you have ever read/seen?

I can remember finding Ridley Scott's Alien terrifying when I went to see it at the cinema as a student. It is essentially a haunted house/monster movie, set on a spaceship. The original Japanese versions of The Ring and Dark Water are pretty scary movies. There are so many different types of horror, but cinema obviously excels at making you jump out of your skin. The first of John Carpenter's Halloween movies for instance. Psycho is probably the grandaddy of them all. Essentially Alien used the same tricks as Psycho. 

Is there much difference in your approach for writing short stories and novels? Which do you prefer?

They are both very different. I love the mechanics of writing short stories. But it is the way that characters come to life over the course of writing a novel that makes writing longer pieces compelling in a different way. They both have their pleasures and their challenges.

Could you give us your top tips on writing horror?

Such tips could only ever be very subjective, but I would always say that you should never make the mistake of using gore as the punchline to a story. I don't think it's enough. I think repulsion is often confused with fear in books and movies. It's easy to repulse. It is a lot harder to scare, to induce fear - to trouble the reader long after they have read the book. Like all fiction, it is all about the release of information. But in horror this is especially important. It requires a deft hand or you kill the tension you've worked so hard to create. Every word needs to be right. Over-write and then cut back. Don't be scared to confuse your reader initially. If the bait is good enough they will follow it.

Read Chris Priestley's horror writing tips