On this month's Special Page:

Heather Graham has written over 150 novels and novellas, has been published in approximately 25 languages, and has had over 75 million copies of her works printed.

Heather Graham Pozzessere is a multi-faceted writer who writes in many genres including romance, horror, thriller, and mystery. She writes as Heather Graham as well as the pen name Shannon Drake. She has written over 150 novels and novellas, has been published in approximately 25 languages, and has had over 75 million copies printed. Romance Writers of America presented her with the 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a former Vice President of the Horror Writers Association. She has received the Thriller Writer's Silver Bullet for charitable enterprises.

Interview by The Horror Zine Staff member Trish Wilson

TRISH WILSON: You've written with your real name as well as the pseudonym Shannon Drake. What made you choose to use a pen name, and is there significance in the name Shannon Drake?

HEATHER GRAHAM: I started writing before email—and knew no one. But I bought a copy of Writer’s Digest Writer’s Market. My first sale was a short horror story to a magazine called The Twilight Zone. Then I sold a book to Dell, but the book was contemporary. I had worked on several historical novels but they wanted to stick with contemporary, so . . . when I sold to another company, it was expected that it would be with a pseudonym. Shannon Drake? Deep thought – no. I was told I had a minute and two of my kids walked into the room in that minute—Shayne and Derek—and therefore, Shannon Drake was born.

TRISH WILSON: You earned a degree in theater arts from the University of South Florida. What made you choose theater? What was your favorite role as an actress, and what is your favorite play?

HEATHER GRAHAM: I adore theater to this day! My mom was a fan, so I started going to plays when I was very young. Wow. Too many wonderful plays, but I loved doing both Godspell and Superstar, The Heiress, Hair, and many more. One of my favorite instances wasn’t theater, but TV. A group of us used to stay at the Lizzie Borden house after Necon every year. (Trish's note: Necon is a New England speculative fiction convention.) A producer was there—I thought she was from my publisher because I was supposed to do a bit. She thought I was her actress. I explained to her that I was a bit older than Lizzie—32 at the time of the murders—but that my daughter had just graduated CalArts and would be great—so . . . Chynna got to chop up a block by my head as I lay there as Abby. Favorite occasion, too—they asked me if I wanted to throw stage blood at her. I said, “You bet!” After, she was walking around between takes and by the window; I heard a horrendous scream and raced over and a party of ten was running like rabbits from the front of the house. They will be forever convinced they saw the ghost of Lizzie Borden!

TRISH WILSON: Did theater influence your writing career?

HEATHER GRAHAM: Definitely. It’s all about telling stories. Beyond a doubt!

TRISH WILSON: You've written in numerous genres, from romance to horror to thrillers and mystery. What lead to your decision to write horror in particular?

HEATHER GRAHAM: My mom was an Irish immigrant. My great-grandmother was filled with stories about banshees, faeries, and so on. My dad’s side came with Scottish lore—kelpies, selkies, and wulvers—actually, good “monsters” who helped the poor by bringing them fish so that they could eat. I loved them! Then I fell in love with the work of Edgar Allan Poe. But . . . I’ve always read just about anything, and a good story is a good story to me, no matter what the genre.

TRISH WILSON: What advice would you give writers who write in multiple genres?

HEATHER GRAHAM: There are two trains of thought—one, brand yourself. Be known in a specific genre. I love so many different books and, of course, ideas go in different directions. If someone wants to write in different genres, that’s their writing spirit. Just be careful that on a cover and in back-cover copy it’s very clear just what the book/story is—that way, if a reader just likes the author’s voice and will go anywhere, they’re informed. And if they don’t like a certain genre, they won’t be angry if they buy a genre they don’t like and then they will still look for the author in the genre they love.

TRISH WILSON: What scares you?

HEATHER GRAHAM: Lol—world’s worse coward. Just about anything! The bad things about imagination—you can imagine all kinds of horrors happening!

TRISH WILSON: Did you have mentors early in your career who helped you? If you did, who were they? What kind of help did they give you? I've noticed some writers have had mentors and they've maintained professional relationships and even friendships with them.

HEATHER GRAHAM: Our groups! I belong to HWA, MWA, RWA, and ITW. (Trish's note: Horror Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers) I think we have an amazing community with authors including David Morrell, R.L. Stine, Lee Child, Charlaine Harris, and so many more being incredibly giving, great human beings as well as authors. Each group I’m in offers wonderful friends—and, in fiction, at least, I always find it amazing just how much help everyone is willing to give everyone else with info about work, places, history—anything that they know—as well as info about trends, who is publishing what, how to find an agent, and hm, publish traditionally, small press, or independently. 

TRISH WILSON: What advice would you give a writer who is just starting out?

HEATHER GRAHAM: Write! Be true to yourself. Be disciplined—if you want a few hours every day, stick with that. If you have a full-time job and something happens on Sunday when you’re going to write, just “get back on the bike” and make sure you write when you’re supposed to the next Sunday. Also, don’t forget that we start writing because we love to read! Don’t lose that love. Read a different genre than what you’re writing if you’re worried about any of it sinking into your brain while you’re on your own project. But never stop loving books! Of course, when you finish, do something! There are choices today, mainstream, small press, self-pub. Figure out what is best for you and what you’re writing.

TRISH WILSON: What advice would you give a more seasoned writer?

HEATHER GRAHAM: Keep reading and writing! Something will always seize your imagination—use it!

TRISH WILSON: It was a pleasure to meet you at 2024's NECON convention in New Hampshire this past July. How often are you a guest at conventions, and what do you see as positives about the convention experience?

HEATHER GRAHAM: I love conventions. We see others. I learn so much from friends, not just about writing or the state of publishing, but about life, people, and, of course, friendships.

TRISH WILSON: Please leave your web site, Patreon (if any), social media links, etc. Also, what are your plans for the future? What other future project may readers look forward to?

HEATHER GRAHAM: Theoriginalheathergraham.com; heather graham on facebook, Instagram, and TicToc.

And thank you so much! Right now? A horror story revolving around wet cryptids, and a murder mystery novel about strange deaths and a hunt on a luxury cruise to discern just who is causing them and why!

Thank you again! Also, on the website, there’s a choice for “Readers.” Several free short stories, some crew, some other, to find and download there!