Fred Wiehe

Fred Wiehe teaches Creative Writing to children of all ages and adults. He is also a professional, bestselling writer and a member of the Horror Writers Association. However, his novels, books, short stories, and screenplays crossover genres into urban fantasy, science fiction, supernatural thrillers, paranormal suspense, and more. He writes for both adults and young adults.  Strange Days—a supernatural crime thriller—was called “a creepy, hair-raising, chill bumping read” and “a winner in its genre” by Midwest Book Review. His other books include the science fiction novel Starkville, the horror/suspense novel Night Songs, and the dark fantasy novel The Burning. His short story Trick or Treat; It’s the Puppet People was published in the 2007 Halloween edition of Sinister Tales Magazine, and his short story Trick or Troll was published in the 2008 Halloween edition of ShadeWorks. Both stories are included in the anthology Holiday Madness published by Black Bed Sheet Books.  Recently his novel Fright House, about an insane asylum turned Halloween attraction, gained enormous critical acclaim.  “Creepy and highly entertaining,”  says Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of THE NIGHTSIDERS and ROT & RUIN.  He and his family reside in California’s Bay Area as he continues to release new and amazing works, and watch for more to come right here at Black Bed Sheet Books.

Website:  https://www.fredwiehe.com

Black Bedsheet Books Interview: Fred Wiehe

I had the chance to sit down with author Fred Wiehe and ask him some questions about writing, Fred is a favorite author of mine and talking to him is always a pleasure.

1. For those who don’t know, tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a member of The Horror Writers Association and the bestselling author of Aleric: Monster Hunter, The Collected Nightmares, Fright House, Holiday Madness, The Burning, Strange Days, Night Songs, and Starkville. I’ve published numerous short stories in print and online and have written two screenplays—one based on Fright House and the other based on a novella in The Collected Nightmares titled Under the Protection of Witches. I’ve also written a bestselling how-to book for writers titled Creative Writing: Get Started Writing Fiction and have taught fiction writing to both children and adults. On a personal note, I hitchhiked from Cincinnati, OH to San Francisco, CA in 1978 after graduating from the University of Cincinnati. I lived in San Francisco for six years, first in the Tenderloin then out by San Francisco State and later in the Sunset District. I met my wife in 1985, working at a school for emotionally disturbed children in San Jose, CA and have lived there ever since. We have two grown sons. My wife and I are pet lovers owning horses, dogs, cats, birds, and a tagu (a South American lizard).

2. Which book made you fall in love with wanting to write?

I took a Creative Writing class in college and fell in love with writing fiction. At the time, I was reading a lot of Richard Brautigan, the San Francisco poet and writer, and Kurt Vonnegut, so a lot of what I wrote emulated them. But the book that really did it for me was Watchers by Dean Koontz. It was that book that turned me on to writing horror and inspired me to be a professional writer. I wrote my first book Strange Days, which wasn’t published until years later but then wrote Starkville, published in 1997. From there, I never looked back.

3. Who is your favorite author?

I’m a big fan of both Stephen King and Dean Koontz’s earlier works. I also love Clive Barker, Shirley Jackson, Jonathan Maberry, Ramsey Clark, Peter Straub, Neil Gaiman, Deborah LeBlanc, Barbara Hambly… And the list goes on. These days, I’m also trying to discover lesser known authors of horror; there’s a lot of great ones, especially here with Black Bed Sheet Books; some of my favorites are Jason Gehlert, Tom Sawyer, Reyna Young, Patrick James Ryan, Rey Otis, and Sue Dent.

4. Is there something you have not done yet in the writing world you want to do?

I have made the Amazon Bestseller List 3 times now with 3 separate books. However, I have yet to make the NY Times or Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller Lists. That’s definitely a goal. I’ve been nominated for a Stoker Award but have never made the final ballot or won. That’s another one on my bucket list. Also, I’ve had 2 screenplays stuck in pre-production hell. I definitely want to see them be produced and released.

5. What are you working on next? (If you can say anything about it at all)

I’ve completed a contemporary science fiction novel titled Bloodshot. It’s about an experimental physicist who has discovered a way to open portals to parallel universes. In his own universe, he has murdered his girlfriend for believing she’s betrayed him. And now he travels from universe to universe, killing her over and over again. Because, hell, once is just not enough. To fund his project, he sells a new psychotropic drug called Bloodshot. Unfortunately, inducing cannibalism is a side effect. Overdose, and your head explodes. It goes without saying that he’s a genius but also quite mad. It’s also about the two cops trying to catch and stop him. I hope to have Bloodshot released sometime in 2021. I’m also working on a contemporary fantasy novel titled Days of Fire and Ash. It deals with strange balls of light in the night sky and spontaneous human combustion. A young girl who recently has been orphaned due to her family being killed by a mysterious fire sets off to investigate, discovering an Otherworld replete with fairies, elves, wizards, and demons. I should be completing that very soon. And lastly, I’m working on The Collected Nightmares Volume II.

Thank you so much to Fred for the interview, it is always a delight and to find out more about Fred and where you can find his books please check out his website https://www.fredwiehe.com

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Praise for Fred Wiehe

“With Aleric: Monster Hunter, Fred Wiehe breathes dangerous new life into urban fantasy. With a lightning-fast pace, dangerous twists and action that will leave you breathless! Disturbingly entertaining!” –Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best selling author of DUST & DECAY and DEAD OF NIGHT

“Fred Wiehe’s latest novel Aleric: Monster Hunter is an ambitious book that ties fast paced action into well-researched gypsy custom.” –Read Horror

If penned by a less competent author, Aleric: Monster Hunter could have wound up “over the top” because it crosses into so many different types of monsters. In lesser hands, the book could have come across as “trying too hard.” But Fred Wiehe delivers a smooth, believable account of a troubled man on a mission. Wiehe’s Aleric is a convincing character, and the types of monsters that Aleric seeks makes us glad to be a voyeur of his adventures. Aleric: Monster Hunter is one thrill-ride of a monster mash.” —Jeani Rector, The Horror Zine

On HOLIDAY MADNESS:

“Ghouls and Santa, Ghosts and Aliens—a stocking full of bloody holiday stories hung with care. Scrooges of all ages will shriek with delight!”—Del Howison, author, editor, part-time actor, and owner of Dark Delicacies Bookstore in Burbank, CA

“[Holiday Madness is] a chilling collection of madness and despair that will turn your insides out.”—Lee Pletzers, author of over 40 short stories and editor of four anthologies.

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