Alan Fisher is an attorney living in Washington, D.C. He’s published two novellas, Servant of the Muses and A Pearl for Her Eyes, under the name Brad White. His story, “The 
Confession of Diego Stoessel,” was included in Alban Lake Publishing’s Lovecraftian anthology, City in the Ice. Another short story, “Pangloss,” was featured on the Hugo Award-winning podcast Starship Sofa. His favorite authors include John le Carré, William Gibson, Raymond Chandler, and Neal Stephenson. When not writing, he enjoys playing board games with his wife and sons and running role-playing games for his friends.
How did you become interested in the Victorian era?
I’ve always been a reader of history, with a particular focus on military history. The Victorian era was such a critical time for the shaping of the modern world that I naturally was interested in it. From the Great Game in Central Asia to the Scramble for Africa, you will find a lot of threads we’re still pulling at today started back in Victoria’s time.
What is your favorite Victorian horror story?
Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. Probably not regarded as a horror story by many, but any beast that can make Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson freeze, even for a moment, is one to be reckoned with.
Do you have a favorite Victorian horror movie?
I can’t say I have a particular favorite.
Are your characters based on real people?
Not really. The Constable of the Tower could be seen as an echo of the classic Colonel Blimp stereotype, the aged colonial soldier with the big mustache, I suppose.
Do you use an outline to write? Or do you write by the seat of your pants?
I dislike the term ‘pantser,’ but it is what I am. My first work started simply from the idea that “my muse had left me,” which ended up as the first line – “My muse walked out of my life on a cool October morning . . . .” – in a noir urban fantasy novella. I really had nothing more to go from. Similarly, for The Moat House Cob, the story started with a quick check of Wikipedia’s list of divination methods, which led to arachnomancy, and from there the story unfolded.
Do your characters have free will? Or do you decide their fate?
How could they have free will? I created them and determine what will happen to them. That’s part of their horror!
What are you most afraid of?
These days all my fears seem horrifyingly mundane, but I’ve never been a fan of spiders (as my story attests).
What is your favorite form of divination?
I don’t believe any of them work, but I’ve always enjoyed Tarot decks for the art and the symbolism. A particular favorite is Edward Gorey’s Fantod pack. They’re interesting to study and, when you have no good ideas, tossing a few around might spark something.
Who is your favorite horror author?
I’m almost hesitant to say old Howard Philips Lovecraft, but I must give credit where it’s due. I’d also add early Steven King, Lord Dunsany, Neil Gaiman, and Charlie Stross.
What does the future hold for you? What books, short stories, or works do Horror Addicts have to look forward to?
Sadly, I haven’t done much writing lately. I’m about 50,000 words into an actual novel, but not a horror piece. I have about a dozen fragments and starts, some horrifying, and some just horrifically bad.
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