Interview with K.L. Cerra, Author of “Such Pretty Flowers”
I had the pleasure of interviewing author K.L. Cerra recently, who wrote the sapphic Southern Gothic thriller/horror novel, Such Pretty Flowers! This novel is a treat for fans of botanical horror (although if you have trypophobia like me, be forewarned that it plays a part in this novel!)
Kim is a mental health professional such as myself, and I could see a lot of mental health pieces within her novel that I loved. I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I enjoyed talking with her!
- Sage Moon: Hi, Kim! I loved Such Pretty Flowers and its southern gothic vibes. What made you want to incorporate southern gothic in this specific novel?
K.L. Cerra: Hi, Sage! Thanks so much for interviewing me, and for the kind words. I was inspired to write Such Pretty Flowers after a trip to Savannah, Georgia. The city utterly enchanted me – all the old architecture, the squares, the rich history and ghost lore. One visit is all it took to convince me to set a story there!
- SM: I find genre-bending novels to be so compelling. The way that you incorporated horror, thriller, and mystery within this novel created such a well-rounded and atmospheric read. Do you like to incorporate various genres in all of your work, or are there times when you want to stick to one genre?
KLC: Hmm, I don’t think this was something I consciously did, actually! When I was brainstorming for my next project (that ended up being Such Pretty Flowers), I jotted down a bunch of ideas that interested me. Then I wrote them on notecards and mixed and matched them in an attempt to spark inspiration. If memory serves, some of these seeds of ideas included “florist,” “mystery illness,” and “Savannah.” I guess my projects tend to be an amalgamation of things that interest me, rather than adhering to a strict genre.
- SM: Maura is such an engrossing and eerie character. I loved her fixation on carnivorous plants! Botanical horror has taken off recently, and I love (while being terrified of!) this sub-genre. Did you intend to incorporate botanical horror when creating Maura’s character?
KLC: Thank you! Yes, I’d been playing around with the idea of incorporating some kind of spooky florist into a story for a while, but I don’t think I realized that botanical horror was a “thing”! I had such a good time crafting Maura’s character—and researching all her creepy plants along the way. Fortunately, my mom is a landscape architect, so I was able to do some “consulting” there.
- SM: LGBTQIA+ representation is so important, especially in horror. You recently blurbed one of our novellas through my queer horror publisher, Pride with a Bite (thank you again!) and I loved how you incorporated this important representation in Such Pretty Flowers. Is incorporating queer characters important to you in your writing?
KLC: Absolutely! Holly’s grappling with her sexuality was a central piece of Such Pretty Flowers and I tried to be really thoughtful about the way I portrayed that. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to blurb Waxing Off! I thought the way the author explored sexuality, identity, and transphobia through the lens of werewolf lore was so creative and impactful.
- SM: When it comes to horror novels, and those that genre-bend but incorporate horror themes, I’ve found that readers are so passionate and varied in their responses. Horror is so personal. What would you say to horror writers (aspiring and published) who are struggling with reviews and criticism?
KLC: Oh boy, this is a tough one. I’d echo what you said—that there is so much subjectivity in this genre in particular. Opinions can be…intense. I’ve learned to no longer look at my reviews because it wasn’t doing my mental health any favors, but I realize this is easier said than done. For us writers, we have to rest assured that we put our best possible product out there. Such Pretty Flowers went through so many rounds of revisions with seasoned professionals, and I often needed to remind myself to trust the process. Our work isn’t going to appeal to everyone, and if it’s eliciting strong reactions (even if not all positive), that’s ultimately a sign that we’ve done something right.
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