In anticipation of Halloween coming up on Saturday, we interviewed Eric Praschan, a suspense/thriller novelist with a few quasi Halloween-themed questions.
Eric, thanks for choosing us for your portraits. Ready for Herndon Photography’s 5 question interview?
Thanks so much for taking my portraits! You did a fantastic job! I love Halloween, so bring on the questions!
1) If you had to be a movie monster, which one would you choose?
If I could be any movie monster, I would be the Predator. I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t want to be able to turn invisible, have laser guns, and sport some killer dreadlocks?
2) What’s your biggest irrational fear?
My biggest irrational fear is being chased. Sometimes I walk quickly because I feel like I’m on the run. I try to use my own irrational fear as fuel for my characters. If they are being pursued in a scene, I take the tiny bit of nervousness I might feel and expand it into anxiety/terror for my characters based on the situation.
3) In gathering information for your novels, you visit some creepy locations. Which location gave you the biggest goosebumps?
The creepiest location I’ve visited was a grungy downtown spot in Springfield, Missouri, where I went to research ideas for a scene. There were animal skulls perched on a fence, bald baby dolls lying together in a heap, and old street signs nailed together. Talk about creepy!
4) What’s your latest novel about?
My latest novel, The Burden of Silence, deals with a young woman’s death in a small Missouri town. Many people watch her die, but no one is willing to admit what they’ve seen. The woman’s brother, Jack, returns to the town and has to seek the help of his loathed ex, Tessa, to solve the mystery of his sister’s death by following clues she left behind for him before she died.
5) Now for the most important question…what is your favorite Halloween candy?
Before I found out I was allergic to dairy, my favorite Halloween candy was Snickers candy bars. Snickers are the perfect combination of salty and sugary goodness this side of eternity: peanuts, caramel, and chocolate. Now that’s delicious candy! However, now that I have to be a dairy leper, cut off from the dairy world, I’ll settle for Skittles.
Eric Praschan lives in Columbia, Missouri, with his wife. He loves suspense fiction books like an addiction. He has a background in drama, music, teaching, and theology. Some of his hobbies include watching college football and monster movies, listening to hard rock music, and playing basketball.