Dissecting S. Winterbourne
Welcome back to the Black Hare Press Dissecting Author interviews, where we dissect an author to find out who they are, what they write, and what keeps their creative juices flowing.
Today, we slice open horror writer, S. Winterbourne, to spill his writing secrets and learn more about his new release, Don't Look Back.
Welcome S. Winterbourne!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
S. Winterbourne, creator of horrific monsters, gothic horror, psychological terrors, and stories that will send a chill down your spine like the cold of a winter storm.
From the forest tundra of the cold Ontario north is where S Winterbourne lurks and writes away. By day, he daydreams of the many horrors and monsters to bring to life. And when the sun passes from the dusk into the night is when he brings these horrors and monsters to life. Always thinking of a new horror to bring to life. Always indulging in horror to be inspired to bring forth a new horror, yet brought to life.
When the creation of ink into words does not take up his time, he finds other ways to bring horror to life through other uses of ink. From the confidence of a page to the digital pixels of a screen, he will bring to life the horrific horrors and monsters that linger from within his mind. Whether by the shape of lines or by the construct of words, S. Winterbourne will bring terror to all who indulge in his work.
Connect
Instagram: @swinterbounre3857
Bluesky: @swinterbourne.bsky.social
What drew you to your preferred writing genres?
My main genre is horror, because I feel like horror has such a style that no other genre can invoke, a feeling of despair, dread and hope, all at once. It is a style that is truly divine and one I do love writing in.
How much of your writing is ‘write what you know’ or ‘researched to death’?
I am researched to death, if I wrote only what I knew I wouldn’t have many story ideas. There are so many cultures and history to learn from and take inspiration from, and the process of just learning is in itself a fun process to partake in.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
My main advice would be to think of an idea, not a story, not a plot, not a book. Just a single idea. Think small, think of a simple idea, an idea you are truly passionate about and the story will grow from there. You have to plant a seed so the tree can grow as they say and to grow a book you need the seed of an idea.
What’s your favourite or least favourite part of the writing process?
My favorite part of the writing process is coming to the end. I am always the most excited to write the climax, the grand finale of all that I had built up to the whole story is so rewarding to put to words.
Do you have a furry friend writing assistant ie dog, cat, bird, Hellhound, and how do they help you achieve your writing goals?
I have a scaled friend, a bearded dragon named Draco, he is a great listener to bounce my ideas and story concepts off of. He has helped me story board so many ideas in my mind. He is such a good listener.
What’s brewing? What are your next big writing goals?
Getting a full novella published is my next goal. My next story is almost ready, I just need to finish the final touches and my next story will be released for the world to read.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Don’t Look Back
by S. Winterbourne
LAUNCH DATE: 16th MAY 2026
A man wakes in an endless hallway with one rule for survival: never look back—no matter what begs him to.
James expected to wake with a hangover in his Vancouver flat—not on the cold floor of an endless concrete corridor.
Brick walls vanish into shadow. The ceiling is swallowed by darkness. A single wooden sign promises freedom at the far end… with one condition.
Don’t look back.
At first, James walks in silence. Then the noises start.
Crashing shelves. Footsteps behind him. Voices he knows far too well. Friends calling his name. A mother who should be dead. A child crying in the dark.
The hallway never changes—yet proof that others have passed this way appears beneath his feet. Scratches in the stone. Stains on the floor. Signs of desperate attempts to escape.
As the whispers grow closer and the temptations more unbearable, James realises the corridor is not testing his strength—it is testing his guilt, his fear, and his need to know what waits just out of sight.
Because in this place, curiosity isn’t human.
It’s fatal.
Don’t Look Back is a relentless psychological horror tale about trust, endurance, and the terrifying cost of breaking a single rule.
BLACK HARE PRESS LINK
BUY LINK
What sparked the idea for this story?
The idea came from the concept that everyone who reads horror always thinks of ten ways to beat the monster or survive the situation. Which I always felt is a bit of a stretch for what is more often than not life or death scenarios. So the thought eventually came down to just one single rule not to break in order to get out alive. Then the rest came from there.
Did you plot or pants this story, and would you change your process if you had to start again?
I plotted out the story in a timeline of events. This is my general process for all my stories so if I were to start again I would likely do the same process again.
What came first? The plot or the characters?
The plot, the plot and set up for the area was the most important aspect of the story that came to me. An endless hallway with no exit in sight with only one rule and one rule alone to follow. The rest came from there.
How much research did you need to do for this story?
Not a lot of research was required for this story as most is not based on reason or real world logic, it was limited to my imagination so I was quite free in how I handled the story.
How long did it take you to write this story?
It took me about a month to draft up the first draft of the story, then about another month to send it out to beta readers, then about another to write up the final draft. So the overall story took about three months.
How much did the story change from first draft to publication?
I’d say it changed up quite a bit from that very first draft, a good bit got cut and a good bit got added to the story to make it better.
How did you come up with the title?
I was told titles should be simple and short. Something easy to search. So I thought the one rule to follow would be short and easy for readers to find.
What part of the story was the most fun or the hardest to write?
The most fun part to write was the ending. I always look forward to writing out the final notes. To have all the build off finally pay off and this ending I feel like it really helps to hammer home the message of the story.
What’s your favourite scene? Why?
The scene right before the climax with the shower of blood as I feel like this will tap into a fear that is not all that common in horror, it helps to fuel the cosmic horror elements, and acts as a reference to one of my favorite horror set pieces of all time. On top of all of that it was just fun to write.
Is there a particular message that you hope readers will take from the story?
There is one message I would wish for readers to take from my story is this. We may look to the past to help guide us but we must not linger in it, lest we be held back, unable to move forward.
THE STITCH UP
How do you celebrate when you finish a story?
By starting the next story, that’s the reward for finishing.
If you could invite any three authors for dinner, whom would you invite?
I would invite HP Lovecraft, Mary Shelley, and Allan Poe.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve used as a bookmark?
Its not that weird, I will use a bent bookmark.
What’s the oldest book on your bookshelf?
Fables, Folklore and Ancient stories, Irish Folk and Fairy Tales.
Thanks for chatting with us. This interview is all stitched up.
Learn more about S. Winterbourne via the links provided, and remember to add Don't Look Back to your TBR list.
Want more? Catch up on all the Dissecting Author Interviews on the Black Hare Press website here: