As you may know, February is “Women in Horror” month. To celebrate, PromoteHorror.com asked women from different professions if they would like to answer some questions about being a “Woman in Horror,” and more. One of those women, who was kind enough to answer our questions, was writer, gamer, editor, and podcaster Stevie Kopas. Lets see what she said about being a “Woman in Horror”…
-PH: When did you first become a horror fan?
-Stevie: I’d have to say that I’ve had a love of horror since I was a child. My dad introduced me to horror films from Romero (and of course slasher films like Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street among others) and video games like Resident Evil at a young age and I’ve been hopelessly in love with the genre ever since!
-PH: Was there a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to go from being a fan of horror to a woman who contributes to the genre, or did it just kind of happen naturally?
-Stevie: I always had a love of writing, whether it be creating my own work or reviewing the work of others. One day, at the urging of an old friend, I turned a short story into a book, and then that became a trilogy that led to other great things. I’ve only been really participating in the horror scene for a few years now, but I’m definitely happy to be a part of it.
-PH: What does having a “Women in Horror” month mean to you?
-Stevie: I think it’s great for women to have an entire month where they are in the spotlight and can promote their work. It’s a fabulous opportunity to be recognized and celebrated, but I also think it’s a bit condescending that women wouldn’t be recognized and celebrated in horror all year long. Shrug. Just my opinion.
-PH: Is there a woman in horror who you consider a role model?
-Stevie: Any woman who works hard, puts herself out there, and lifts up those around her is a role model to me.
-PH: How do you think the role of women in horror has changed over the years?
-Stevie: I think women are being recognized more for their role in horror by not just being consumers but creators. It’s wonderful to see women respected for the content and quality of their work.
-PH: If you could serve a role in horror that you’ve never done, what would it be?
-Stevie: I would absolutely love to be a content writer for video games. That would be the ultimate dream.
-PH: Who is your favorite final girl, and favorite female villain?
-Stevie: Favorite final girl? Hands down Ellen Ripley. Favorite villain? Wow, that’s a tough one, but I’d have to go with the first one that pops into my head – Rose from Get Out. What a C word. Jordan Peele did a great job with that character.
-PH: Being that this is PromoteHorror.com, please feel free to plug your current/next horror project.
-Stevie: Right now I’m focusing on my film reviews and building up my podcast. I’m the managing editor of a great site called horrormetalsounds.com and the podcast, Horror Metal Cast, is live every Monday night at 7pm Eastern on YouTube. Check out my facebook for links and more info on that. I’ve got a few works in progress at this time that are no where close to completion, but keep your eyes peeled for updates as they come. Follow my blog (www.someonereadthis.com), the facebook page (facebook.com/thebreadwinnertrilogy), or my Twitter (@apacotaco) for news and updates! And of course, people can check out any of my books and shorts stories that have already been released (site: http://www.someonereadthis.com/books/) I love talking horror with creators and fans alike, so people can always reach out to me via my website.
We would like to thank Stevie Kopas for taking the time to answer our questions, but more importantly for her contribution to horror!