GVN sits down with Justine Pucella Winans, a young adult and middle-grade author, to discuss her latest novel, How to Survive a Slasher. In this interview, Justine discusses her love of the horror genre, the genesis of her latest novel, and what she’s working on next. 

GVN: Hello Justine! Thank you for speaking with Geek Vibes Nation about your upcoming YA slasher novel, How To Survive A Slasher. Can you start by telling our audience about yourself and your books?

Hello! Thank you for having me! My name is Justine, pronouns are they/them or she/her, and I am either known for being an author or for being a cat person. When not writing, I’m usually playing Pokemon, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, reading a lot of books and webcomics, or taking pictures of my amazing cats. I write fiction across age categories, primarily mysteries or horror with a sense of humor, and always featuring LGBTQ+ characters. A fun fact is that I currently have tattoos for each of my books, but we’ll see how long that lasts because I also have tattoos just for fun (mostly cats or anime references). 

GVN: How To Survive A Slasher blends classic slasher tropes with a unique twist. What inspired you to explore the horror genre in this way, and how did you decide to turn the typical “final girl” narrative on its head?

This book developed from a character concept I had been wanting to explore, which is actually different from how I typically come up with ideas, since I’m normally very much a plot-driven outliner. But I am a very anxious and organized person, and my husband is very much a chill, in-the-moment kind of person. I did want to explore that kind of relationship in a book, although since I am a horror author, I wanted to do it in a way that put these characters in a stressful situation, one right out of a horror movie. The idea developed from there in putting characters that would normally be extras or bit roles into the leading roles. I love the idea of a reluctant hero, and I think it is interesting to explore in queer narratives because so many times we wouldn’t be able to be the hero. Queer characters in slashers were often a side character or extra that would be killed in a brutal way–sometimes not even by the big bad villain, but in a horrific hate crime that didn’t further the plot. The Final Girl was always a straight, white, good girl–a sort of “everyman” character that was an idea of a symbol of “good,” to suffer at the expense of the story before eventually overcoming the big evil, losing nearly everything in the process but also perhaps gaining a bit of strength, self-assurance.

I wanted to play with the idea of a genderqueer character who would rather not be perceived having to step into this role they don’t quite fit into (almost Final Girl-passing) while also exploring how The Final Girl doesn’t need to experience total loss in order to fit into the role. Horror historically has issues, especially with marginalized representation, but it also did a lot for allowing women to carry entire films, to show their strength, so while I am subverting the trope as many incredible marginalized authors have been doing before me, I also still wanted to pay homage to the slasher genre formula, to the camp and the larger-than-life feeling that had kept me in suspense and entertained so many times. So while I poke fun at tropes of the genre and have a self-awareness in the book and take a personal angle to The Final Girl trope, it really is from a place of extreme love for all the horror stories that inspired me, that allowed me to explore these topics and add my voice to a subgenre that I ultimately adore.

GVN: The concept of the Slasherville books, which document real-life massacres and have become a phenomenon, plays a central role in the plot. What was the inspiration behind creating a fictional true crime series that parallels the events in your story?

When I did get to planning the plot of the story, the central concept of the plot was a character finding a manuscript in which they were supposed to be an extra, only to be thrown into the role of the lead. So the book element was always a part of the story. It is a trope used in a lot of fantasy/romantasy webcomics, which I do reference in the story (because, again, this really is a love letter to all the writers that have inspired me and how stories literally can save your life), and I wanted to explore it in a slasher setting. How much would CJ want to follow the original story versus taking the risk of trying to break free from the plot? It follows the idea of escaping destiny and what is “planned” for us, but in the realm of a slasher. So the story-within-a-story was nonnegotiable for me. But from there, I did like the idea of already having this mysterious writer figure and giving the found manuscript some credibility through having already successful works about these infamous massacres while giving a chance to explore some of the feelings around the line between sensationalizing horrific events and benefitting from shared experiences or things we can really relate to in fictional works.

GVN: CJ is a character who has experienced intense trauma, and her struggle to remain out of the spotlight adds an emotional layer to the book. How did you balance the horror elements with CJ’s personal journey of coping with the past?

This actually hadn’t been part of the plan when I first came up with the concept of the story. I was anticipating it to be FIRMLY in the campy/comedy subgenre of horror. But in the time that I was working on the first draft of How to Survive a Slasher, I was dealing with the unexpected loss of a kitten. It was sudden and absolutely devastating for me, and while it isn’t at all what CJ experiences in the book, I think I needed to get some of those feelings out, and it ended up influencing the way that I told CJ’s story. Of course, this also developed throughout revisions, but a lot of the exploration of grief and finding connection and support through friends and fiction was something that developed from my own experience. I do believe that the horror genre is an excellent place for addressing trauma and getting into big feelings–especially those related to fear, whether it be a fear of loss, or death, or being alone–and the other big emotions connected to it. So while CJ is very different from me, I was able to explore real feelings through her character, and I hope that can resonate with some readers.

GVN: CJ’s journey as a survivor of a real-life horror story mirrors many of the tropes we see in slasher films, but through her eyes, the story feels much more real and grounded. How did you go about making the horror feel more immediate and personal for her?

I do think it does come from that place of having a very real emotional connection to my character. A lot of what I was feeling about the extremely different things happening in my personal life mirrored some of the feelings CJ was having in theirs, even if it was a much more heightened, life-or-death situation! I think CJ’s feelings of their identity in terms of gender and sexuality and what it meant for their relationships was also something that came from a very authentic place, even if it was adjusted to fit her and the story. I love writing characters different from me and really developing who they are, but it always comes from a place of real emotion, or a real response and feeling toward a traumatic event, and I hope that is what comes across and grounds the story, even though the events can get a bit campy and surreal in terms of following slasher tropes and creating that atmosphere.

GVN: The Wolf Man is a terrifying figure in your story. Can you share how you developed this character and how you wanted to balance making him frightening without falling into typical slasher villain clichés?

I have a dream of someday tackling werewolves in a horror story, and until that day arrives, The Satterville Wolf Man is there to hold me over. (I’m kidding–mostly. I do love a good werewolf.) But I did want to create a figure that was human, but became sort of a legend that grew larger than one person. The Masked Killer trope not only is part of the slasher territory, but allows for a bit more mystery and also copycats–which was pretty important to the plot. I think what makes the slasher genre scary is the humanity of the evil. This isn’t a monster, or a demon, or a ghost. It’s a person. In some ways, that might make it seem easier to handle, but I think there is that real fear in how someone could do those kinds of acts. Unlike true crime, I think slashers do have more of that degree of separation that allows for a distance from death and to make entertainment more of a focus, but when you really think about it, being The Final Girl and facing someone who wants nothing more than to kill you, is actually terrible and scary as hell. That was what I wanted to explore in the Wolf Man. Someone who has that larger-than-life status, but is a very real, dangerous person, and also how easy it can be for so many to fall into a dangerous belief system that can cause actual harm, since the Wolf Man does come with some lore. I’m not sure I avoid some of the clichés completely, because I still did want to hit all the traditional slasher beats and sort of pay homage to my favorites, but some clichés (like a good villain monologue in the final confrontation) are clichés for a reason–they’re pretty awesome, in my opinion.

GVN: Horror fiction often uses metaphor to explore real-life fears and trauma. Are there any specific themes or issues you were hoping to explore through the lens of a slasher story?

I did touch on this a bit before, but I do think the book deals a lot with the fear and trauma around loss. CJ is still dealing with the loss of her father, and is terrified to lose the family they have left. Especially as the eldest sibling, she is desperate to keep the people she cares about–something Final Girls don’t typically get to do. In a lot of ways, the central fear of the story is that, which works pretty well in a slasher story. Through the story in a story trope, I also wanted to explore the importance of fiction and how it can make us feel less alone, and even understood, in ways we may not have felt possible. The book is also very meta, and breaks the fourth wall a bit. I’ve always been a fan of those kind of stories, and I think it allows for really interesting conversation about the interest in horror and death we as readers and writers have, and the power held through creating worlds and sharing stories. Ultimately, though, I really did want to create a space for a reader to have fun. I hope people resonate with CJ’s emotional and personal journey, but if you don’t and you just have a good time reading, that’s great too!

GVN: Your book is a love letter to classic horror while also subverting many of its conventions. What do you hope readers take away from your twist on these familiar tropes, especially for fans of the genre?

I hope readers can find comfort in the familiar and excitement in the fresh. A lot of slasher fans might not have a ton of titles where they find a genderqueer and bisexual lead, so I hope those looking for it find that fun and maybe even relate to some of CJ’s feelings. In general, I hope readers can be entertained and be able to piece together the plot while having a good time along the way.

GVN: The slasher genre is known for its memorable characters, particularly the survivors. What are you most excited for readers to experience about CJ, and why do you think she’s the perfect person to face off against the Wolf Man this time?

I believe that CJ is the perfect person to face off against the Wolf Man not only because they have prepared for it, but because she really doesn’t want to be. She had to have a lot of self-preservation skills from surviving the Wolf Man as a child, and that makes her brave and cautious. Oftentimes, the Final Girls end up alone, but CJ’s strongest when they are protecting and working with the people they care about, which I think readers might be able to relate to! Also, they have a good sense of humor, and that always goes a long way with getting me to care about character!

GVN: Can you tell us what you’re working on next? 

My next book is a sapphic Middle Grade Horror that releases this fall on September 30th! It is a fun spin on a haunted house story, in which a paranormal-obsessed thirteen-year-old gets more than she bargained for when her (fake) “haunted house flipping” moms move her into an actually haunted house. This book is really special to me, as it is dedicated to the kitten I lost, Kana, and she is featured as a character in the book. I’m really excited to share that one with readers! In terms of my next Young Adult book, I don’t have anything I can share at the moment, but hopefully will have news soon!

GVN: Please assign yearbook (or horror genre) superlatives to three characters in your novel. 

Most Likely to Survive (Maybe on Accident) – CJ Smith

Most Likely to Get Murdered While Watching a Horror Movie and Telling the Main Character Why Their Stupid Decisions Will Get Them Murdered – Nadia Martínez

Most Likely to Fight Killer in Order to Save the Cat – Sebas Martínez Arroyo

GVN: Where can our readers connect with you online? 

I’m usually most active on Instagram at @justinepwinans (with book updates but also sharing cat photos) but you can also find me on my website at www.justinepucellawinans.com

How To Survive A Slasher is now on sale whereever books are sold. 

About The Book

You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight meets Scream in this YA slasher that turns classic horror tropes on their heads.

Few people can say they faced the infamous Satterville Wolf Man and lived. But CJ Smith can.

She doesn’t talk about that, though.

CJ has survived the horror movie that is her life by following one rule: blend in and stay out of it. But that’s hard to do when your trauma gets turned into a bestselling book series. The Slasherville books are a true crime phenomenon, documenting the Wolf Man massacres that changed CJ’s life forever. CJ hates everything about the books and their fans, but at this point she’s just grateful there aren’t any more murders to write about.

Until one day when an unpublished Slasherville book shows up on her doorstep predicting new Wolf Man killings. CJ is sure it’s a bad prank. But then the events in the book start coming true, and when CJ breaks her one rule, the Final Girl-the person who, according to the book, was supposed to stop the Wolf Man-ends up dead. Suddenly, blending in and staying out of it is not an option, and CJ will have to use everything she knows about the rules of horror to make it out alive.

About The Author

Justine Pucella Winans (they/she) is a critically acclaimed and award winning author of queer fiction. They have written a variety of funny and/or scary books across age ranges, receiving accolades such as a Stonewall Honor, Indies Introduce, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, and multiple starred reviews. When not writing, she can be found taking too many photos of her cats, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, actively avoiding real life scary situations, and working their true goal of becoming a Pokémon trainer.