Meet Bronte Rowan

Every Friday, we meet a member of the BFS and peer deep into their soul (or, at least, a form they filled out). Want to be featured? Email us: online@britishfantasysociety.org

Name: 
Bronte Rowan (he/him)

Which region are you based in? 
Austria

If you write, which genre:
Horror

If you don’t write, what do you do?
I’ll either be going down a random rabbit hole I found while researching; or I’ll be reading while snuggling up with my cat and a cup of tea.

Are you drawn to any specific SFFH sub-genres?
The Gothic!

Your influences

Tell us about the book/film/thing that got you into SFFH: What was it? How old were you? What impact did it have on you?

As a toddler, it was fairy tales. Charmed and Sailor Moon when I was a child. Later on, I’d fall in love with Lestat and the Gothic beauty of Anne Rice’s novels in my teenage years. 

How does that early influence show up for you (in life/writing/agenting/publishing/editing/reading) now?

I have always been drawn to stories about outsiders, and I do hope that I manage to give a voice to them in my own works. The early stories I read/heard/watched empowered people that were neglected by society, or even considered to be weak. 

Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?

Music. I always listen to Dolly’s bluegrass stuff, folk music, Mary Fahl, or Stevie Nicks while writing. Also, beautiful prose; there are certain authors that’ll be mentioned quite a few times in this questionnaire who always manage to ignite that spark of creativity inside of me. 

Shoutout to my cat—he may distract me from my writing when he demands more treats, but I do believe that’s just so that when I get back to it, it’ll turn into something better. 

Who do you look to as a genre hero? Why?

I adore Anne Rice for her beautiful prose and her world-building, as well as Joyce Carol Oates for her ability to weave the grotesque into the mundane, her insight into the human mind that she uses to scare us with either natural or preternatural elements, and her references to works by those in the genre who have paved a way for us that add a layer of history that isn’t of this world. 

(Pictured: Bronte’s bookshelves are full of his heroes)

Your Work

You’re stuck in an elevator for 60 seconds with that hero, and they want you to describe your work. Give us the pitch.

Dear Anne, dear Joyce: I aspire my work to be something that both of you would want to read. It shall be grotesque, it shall be sensual and, most of all, I hope that I manage to show society that those of us who are different from what is deems to be “the norm” are neither weaker, more evil, or—deities forbid—less valuable. 

My current project is a historical one, and as my witches and vampires travel throughout the world they shall encounter the grotesque, forbidden romance, and those that are, despite their differences, more kin than the people with whom our heroes and heroines share a DNA. 

*Use the remaining few seconds to fall on my knees and beg for signed books*  

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on a novel that will, hopefully, heal something inside of me, and inside of my found family of othered beings dwelling on this Earth with me. 

Thinking about all the stories/work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?

That would have to be my Masters’ thesis; not only did I spend more time with it than with anything else I’ve worked on so far, but it also taught me how crucial every single word is. 

Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?

I try to set aside some time every day—read, write, repeat. 

What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?

That everybody’s process is different—as long as you do you and don’t strive to imitate anyone, you’ll get those words down and they’ll be beautiful!

Do accept Poe’s challenge to lay bare your heart; it’ll be worth it. 

What’s your writing soundtrack?

My favourite vinyls by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Stevie Nicks, and Allison Russell will be playing all day!

(Pictured: Dolly Parton vinyls; sourced from her website)

The Quick-Fire Round

Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Horror

Quiet or loud?
Quiet

Dark or light?
Dark

Strict lines or genre blend?
Genre-blend

Awards or bestseller?
Awards

Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction infused with research that is the result of perusing multiple tomes of non-fiction! 

Poetry or prose?
Prose

Plotter or pantser?
Plotter

Reading or listening?
Reading

Notebook or computer?
Ideas in notebook, then develop them on my computer. 

(Pictured: more of Bronte’s bookshelves)

Favourite SFFH book of all time?
I can do three, in alphabetical order:
Bellefleur (Joyce Carol Oates) 
The Haunting of Hill House (Shirley Jackson)
The Witching Hour (Anne Rice)

Last book you read?
The Picture of Dorian Gray 

Any SFFH author on auto-buy?
Oates (am I becoming too obvious?) 

Favourite podcast?
I must confess that I really need to start listening to more podcasts. 

The Home Stretch

What’s the best thing about being part of the SFFH community?

The people! Everyone’s amazing at what they do, the community is inclusive, and everyone’s got so many great ideas for events…

Time to plug your stuff! Where can we find you and your work? What have you got coming up? Consider this your advertising space.

• I’m currently writing my first novel, and will be publishing the research that goes into it on my Substack (www.bronterowan.com)
• There, you’ll also find short stories I’ve written, as well as some poems
• I also adore talking about the genre with people—do get in touch with me on Facebook email me at bronte@bronterowan.com!