Q&A with Hannah Rebekah Graves – Author Interview

We’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive Q&A with Hannah Rebekah Graves, the talented author behind The Damnedest Thing. Known for her lyrical prose and emotionally resonant storytelling, Hannah delves deep into themes of grief, love, and self-discovery. In this intimate conversation, she opens up about the inspirations behind her work, the challenges of writing raw emotion, and what it means to be vulnerable on the page.

With a unique voice that blends poetry and narrative, Hannah shares insights into her creative process and the personal experiences that shape her stories. Whether you’re a longtime admirer or new to her work, this interview offers a moving glimpse into the mind of a writer unafraid to confront life’s darkest and most beautiful truths.

About The Author

Tell us more about you

Everyone always asks if you’re a cat or a dog person, but I’m a bird person. Especially parrots. I have two cockatiels named Bananakin and Baby (not my choice on the last one, but we rescued her when she was already elderly and we didn’t want to make things difficult for her by changing her name) and my dream is to one day own an indoor/outdoor aviary full of parrots, big and small. (The ultimate dream is a Quaker Parrot, which is unfortunately illegal where I live in California. The ultimate ultimate dream is an umbrella cockatoo, though my wife is terrified of them.)

What are the three items you’d take on a deserted island?

My phone, because it has satellite mode so I could still talk to my wife, a battery pack and whichever one of my millions of stuffed animals happened to look the saddest to me when I was prepping. 

Who is your biggest role model?

Anne Boleyn. Now there is a woman who knew what she wanted and went for it, regardless of what it cost her or what people said about her. (I’m gonna end it there; Anne Boleyn is one of my special interests, and I could keep you here for hours.)

What is your favourite book and who is your favourite author?

This is a really hard question because it’s ultimately going to depend on my mood and what I say now will not reflect what I might say tomorrow. But today, and most days, it’s The House in the Dark of the Woods by Laird Hunt. As far as favourite author goes, it’s Ania Ahlborn, hands down. She’s yet to write something that I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed and I love her formula of ending everything on a terrible note. 

Do you prefer e-books, physical books or audiobooks?

I’m afraid I don’t have the patience for audiobooks, though sometimes I wish I did. I prefer reading e-books because then you don’t have to worry about having lights on when your wife is sleeping and it just processes better in my head, for however weird that may sound. I collect physical books, though. My process is I’ll usually read the e-book and, if I liked it, then I go out and buy a physical copy for my bookshelf. (Don’t talk to me about the entire bookcase I have dedicated to books which I bought the physical copy for first and have yet to purchase the e-book. Some choices were made.)

Is writing your full-time profession or a hobby?

I consider writing to be my job, but I also serve as Acquisitions Manager for Graveside Press. 

What social media platform do you like and use the most?

On any platform you could imagine – except X because ha! I’m easily most active on Threads. Probably too active. Isn’t everyone these days, though? 

My social channels are:

Your Writing Process

How do you go about starting a new novel?

I get vague ideas for what I want to write about – vampires, ghosts, serial killers, etc – but everything really begins with a single line. The opening sentence. It has to be perfect and sometimes it takes a while to come to me, but it always does and then I can proceed with business. I just go with the flow with short stories, but for longer stories, I write out the outline by hand because something in my brain just tells me to do it that way.

I tried one time to write without an outline – with this book, even! – and a muse completely shut down on me because he didn’t like the way the story was headed. So now I plot and plan and everything and everyone goes along happily. Or as happy as they can be when one mostly writes horror, haha.

Where do you like to write?

I like to write in my office. I can switch out my keyboards there, depending on how I’m tolerating sound for the day – sometimes I really need loud clicky-clacky, sometimes I need silence – and it’s just the most comfortable place for me to be. When one of my chronic illnesses are flaring up, though, it’s the trusty laptop and the bed. Which is where I’m currently filling this out!

What do you like most about writing?

I’m not sure how to answer that one. It makes me happy in general. Putting my ideas to screen and watching them transform into stories that maybe other people want to read. For me, it’s like letting out a lot of noise in my head. It’s relaxing, it makes me happy, it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something. For the process itself, it goes back to finding that beginning line. That’s when I know I’ve got what I need.

What do you find stops you from writing more?

My chronic illnesses and my work at Graveside Press. Sometimes I don’t feel good, sometimes I have submissions that need reading. Every once in a while, there will be a simple lack of motivation, but that’s usually related to stress or depression. 

What genres do you like to write and why?

I write both horror and dark fantasy, along with some romantic elements, but my favourite genre to write is horror. Horror, in any format, is my ultimate special interest. It’s where I feel comfortable, where I feel at home. Plus, I’m kind of messed up in the head a little, so it works out. The disturbed writing, the disturbed or something. 

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring writers?

Choose the right spouse, lmao. Honestly. My wife is a graphic designer and an editor, so I save lots of money on stuff. But, honestly… just write. Write what’s in your heart. Even if you’re choosing writing as a career path, I think it is the most important thing that you enjoy the work that you put out, so – write what your heart tells you to write. Write what you enjoy and what you’d want to read. I find it goes a long way in helping me from slipping into ‘this is work, therefore this is a chore.’ I enjoy my writing, I enjoy the stories I tell. Your audience – and there is one out there, no matter what weird stuff you come up with – will find you. 

Showcase your books!

How many books have you written and if more than one, what’s your favourite?

I wrote a number of books years ago under the pen names Rowan Altwood and K. York. Those are going to be re-edited and given updated covers and what not and then I’ll consider them present work, but as far as present work – I have The Last of the Real Ones, a cosmic horror novelette, and The Damnedest Thing, a dark fantasy/horror novella about chaotic, queer vampires. Now, if we’re talking about how many books have I written that haven’t been published yet, the number is much higher, haha. I already have all but 2 books finished to round out my year and I’m a chunk of the way through both of those. 

How long did The Damnedest Thing take to write?

The Damnedest Thing took me, uhhh. A few days. When you get manic, you get manic, lmao. 

Lastly, what is your favourite thing about being an author?

When someone tells me my book(s) really resonated with them. I mean, I’m doing it for myself, but it’s always nice to hear that someone else connected with it, too. That makes me happy. 

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