Dissecting Robyn Fraser

Welcome back to the Black Hare Press Dissecting Author interviews. Each month we'll slice open an author to find out who they are, what they write, and what keeps their creative juices flowing.

Today we dissect horror writer, Robyn Fraser, to spill her writing secrets and author aspirations.

Welcome, Robyn!

Who is Robyn Fraser?

Robyn Fraser is: a South African living in Switzerland; a writer of horror fiction; a devourer of dark books and films; a folklore enthusiast; the guardian of guinea pigs and feeder of rats; the cat's mother. She has had short stories and poetry published by Eerie River Publishing, Black Hare Press, Noctivagant Press, Literary Mama, and in the Mslexia anthology Best Women's Short Fiction 2023.

Find Robyn here:
Website: www.robyn-fraser.com
Facebook: @robyn.fraser.66
Instagram: @robynfraser66
Bluesky: @robynfraser66.bsky.social
LinkTr.ee: linktr.ee/robynfraser66

What inspired you to start writing horror?

I've always loved horror and the strange and dark. I read all the scary stuff growing up—Stephen King, Christopher Pike, Goosebumps—and then at uni I got into dark fantasy and supernatural thrillers. It’s just always been my jam. Writing horror feels like home.

Do you have a writing routine or ritual?

I try to write early in the morning or late at night—whenever the house is quiet. Candles and instrumental music help set the tone. I’m not a strict outliner, but I do like having a rough sense of where the story’s going before I dive in.

What draws you to dark fiction?

It’s honest. Horror doesn't lie to you about what people are capable of. And there’s beauty in exploring the things we fear most. It's cathartic, and it's powerful.

If you could collaborate with any author, living or dead, who would it be?

Shirley Jackson. Her writing is subtle but so unsettling. I’d love to sit in a room with her and just talk story structure and creepy themes.

Tell us about your latest work.

My most recent story, Escape Island, appeared in a survival horror anthology. It’s about a woman who wakes up on a deserted island with no memory of how she got there—and things only get weirder from there.

What’s something readers might be surprised to learn about you?

I have a background in science and once worked in a forensics lab. That definitely bleeds into my stories!

What's next for you?

I’m working on a novella involving haunted bones, a winter storm, and a woman trying to outrun her past. It's cold, it's bleak, and it’s very me.

Thanks for joining us, Robyn! We look forward to reading more of your chilling stories.