We recently connected with Tom Rimer and have shared our conversation below.
Tom , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
I think growing up people (particularly a few teachers and librarians) tried to steer me away from books they deemed too “scary” or that they’d determined I shouldn’t be reading for one reason or another. Reading spooky stuff, “horror”, at a young age wasn’t particularly embraced by those around me, but it WAS what MADE me a reader. The genre was why I became so enthralled with books and why I knew I’d have to one day write them myself. And, in the end, those that tried to shield me from the scary stuff only ended up driving me closer to it.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I write horror.
So far, I have five books out in the world (and a sixth on the way) all published by the lovely people at Shadow Spark Publishing. I also have short stories published in a couple of anthologies. For over a decade I’d been writing and, until Jessica Moon and Mandy Russell at SSP discovered me, I hadn’t had much luck getting my work onto peoples’ bookshelves. My stories tend to start as nightmares. I pick my favorites (usually those that have terrified me the most) and turn them into books. A characteristic of my work is that all of my stories thus far have be set in the New England area (Massachusetts, most notably), which I feel is just fertile ground for my demons and goblins to prowl. I derive large inspiration from my memories perusing the horror section of my local video rental store, as a kid. My book covers tend to showcase that feel, especially. The most notable works (all novels) by me, include:
*ODIOUS GHOULS (a found-footage, 80’s VHS inspired monster-fest)
*MALEVOLENT NEVERS (a small-town, gothic horror story featuring a nursery rhyme come to life and a room full of clowns)
*THE GLOWING (a trilogy about time-traveling alien hordes, and a ragtag group of teens that are the only ones who can save the world)
In addition to writing horror, I really love to watch it. I’m the co-host of a YouTube series called Found Footage Fridays (w/ Angel Krause of Voices From the Mausoleum), where we break down and review all the latest Found Footage style horror films. We’re approximately 60 episodes in, so far, and have no interest in stopping any time soon.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
As a writer of horror, I had to immerse myself into other authors’ written nightmares at an early age. I will always remember purchasing a copy of R.L. Stine’s One Day at HorrorLand (part of the Goosebumps series) and the feeling I had staring at that cover. It quite literally gave me goosebumps. And, I’ll never forget that. I’ve always wanted to create works that will inspire the same feeling in readers and the same ravenous desire to read more. Books are awesome. People should get all jazzed up to read them… much like I did way back then and like I always have (at least, whenever I pick the right books).
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
So far, one of the most rewarding things I’ve experienced as an author is having readers tell me they’re picking up a copy of my newest book because they so loved an earlier book I wrote. The idea that someone out there is, one by one, collecting stories that I wrote…lining ’em all up on a shelf as I write ’em… a real, honest to goodness fan of MY work. That is the coolest thing. I’ll never get over that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tomrimerauthor.com
- Instagram: @bookishrimer
- Twitter: @RimerTom
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvFf4z3W4XSgOGO7QATm9unEw7b-uSkK0