Ann O’Mara Heyward

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “The Carny.”  TheGhostStory.com, edited by Paul Guernsey, May 2023,  https://theghoststory.com/the-carny.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “Buying the Farm.”  The Solar Press Horror Anthology Volume I, edited by Finnigan Houston and Nickol Houston, Solar Press, December 2023, pp. 157-166.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “Missing Lula.” Jane Nightshade’s Serial Encounters, edited by Jane Nightshade, Hellbound Books Publishing, March 2024, pp. 176-186.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “See Kamp, et al.” Tales of Medical Malevolence, The NoSleep Podcast, Host/Producer David Cummings, Episode S21E04, Creative Reason Media, 26 May 2024, https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com/episodes/s21/21×04.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “Consignment.” parABnormal Magazine, edited by H. David Blalock, Hiraeth Publishing, June 2024, pp. 7-23.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “The Guests.” GASPS, an Anthology of Quiet Horror Curated by Judith Sonnet, edited by Danielle Yeager, independently published, 2 July 2024, pp. 183-200.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “The Carny.” 21st Century Ghost Stories, Volume III, edited by Paul Guernsey, Wyrd Harvest Press, September 2024, pp.15-24.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “The Waiting Room.”  Behind the Shadows II, edited by Sara Jordan-Heintz, Inkd Publishing, 13 September 2024, pp. 121-132.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “The Monster Maker.” Stories to Take to Your Grave: Mortuary Edition, editor D.L. Winchester, Undertaker Books, 3 October 2024, https://undertakerbooks.com/products/stories-to-take-to-your-grave-mortuary-edition-epub.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “Barry’s Gate.” parABnormal Magazine, edited by H. David Blalock, Hiraeth Publishing, December 2024, pp. 104-113.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “Tourtière: A Culinary Horror Story.” Self-published e-book, 9 March 2025, https://www.amazon.com/Tourti%C3%A8re-Culinary-Ann-OMara-Heyward-ebook/dp/B0DZYKL7N6/.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “Tourtière,” Tales of Fraught Fatalities, The NoSleep Podcast, Host/Producer David Cummings, Episode S22E19, Creative Reason Media, 20 April 2025, https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com/episodes/s22/22×19.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “Period Piece.”  Thuggish Itch:  School, Gypsum Sound Tales, 22 March 2025, pp. 11-19.

Heyward, Ann O’Mara. “Be Careful What You Wish For.”  Carnival of Horror, edited by D.L. Winchester, Undertaker Books, 4 April 2025, pp.71-83.

Today, Lefthand Path Press had an excellent opportunity to sit down and chat with Award-Winning Writer Ann O’Mara Heyward. Whose work includes “The Monster Maker” (which was nominated for the “Best of the Net” Anthology), “The Waiting Room,” and “Missing Lula” as well as her short story “The Carny” – which received the Ghost Story’s Supernatural Fiction Award as well as a Pushcart Prize nomination.

Thankfully, we had the time to welcome our guest and ask her questions about her career, writing process, inspirations, and even her upcoming projects. We got a unique look into the life of a unique Author with a unique voice, and we couldn’t have been happier to get to know her. We also got a few chills talking about what sort of Horror inspired her more creative works!

So feel free to sit back and relax while we dive into the mind of one of Horror’s up-and-coming authors!

Rease S.

Thank you for meeting with me today! Why don’t we start with an introduction so readers get to know you better? Tell me a little bit about yourself. I’m sure everyone who reads the interview would love to know more about you and what they’re in for.

Ann O’Mara Heyward

Well, I like to write quiet Horror. By that, I mean Horror about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances or horrifying situations, whether those situations are supernatural or magical, human-made, or nature run amok. I call it Quiet Horror, but I usually try for a gut punch right at the end.

I’ve only been writing fiction for about three years, so the experience of being interviewed is a little astonishing to me.

I’ve been a lifelong fan of the horror genre. First films as a kid, then Stephen King’s books, of course. I also love Shirley Jackson, Daphne du Maurier, Cormac McCarthy, and Flannery O’Connor.

Rease S.

Honestly, that sounds quite amazing! Only three years? Wow. I read your story “The Carny” not too long ago, and I enjoyed the ending a lot. It really did deliver a gut punch in the end, and I see why it won an award. Only three years of writing shows you have quite the knack for it. I know some people who have been doing it for quite a while – and not in just the horror genre – who haven’t found success or felt too nervous to go for it.

So, to know that you’ve been doing it only for three years is quite inspirational! Your earlier statements tie in perfectly with my next question. I was going to ask you what inspired your Quiet Horror, as the concept is intriguing.

Ann O’Mara Heyward

Maybe it’s just a strange way of looking at the world (which my family and friends would certainly agree with). Sometimes, I find things hysterically funny that others don’t. Sometimes, I find things disturbing that others are quite OK with. Sometimes, I see certain moments or situations as surreal, and stories come from all that. Some of my stories spring from real memories, taken to a much more extreme conclusion than in real life.

Maybe Horror is just my way of processing how I see the world sometimes.

Rease S.

Well, they do say that good Horror has a basis in truth. Many of the best Horror (or at least my personal favorite) always feel like there’s some nugget of truth in them that inspired the story. Plus, it’s incredible that you can take something that happened in your life and craft an interesting story.

So, circling back briefly to when you said you’ve been doing this for three years, what motivated you to start? What helped push you to start writing professionally and share your stories? As I said, a lot of writers never make it that far.

Ann O’Mara Heyward

Well, like any writer, you have to start somewhere. What prompted me to write my very first story, “See Kamp et al.,” was The Ghost Story’s supernatural fiction contest. I saw a notice for it and thought, “What the hell, why not? I love reading this stuff; why not try writing some of it?” I didn’t place anywhere in the contest then, but Paul Guernsey, the editor there, is terrific at encouraging writers. So, I kept going on with new stories and kept sending them out. One thing that I learned is not every story will fit every editor, so you have to keep trying if you believe in the work you’ve done.

It helped that I’ve got an absolutely honest reader in my husband, Eric. He kept saying, “These are good,” and I knew he would tell me if they weren’t. We both care about books and literature too much to not be honest about them. He’s my first and best reader.

I also belong to a writing group. They are terrific and make me a better writer whenever they review my work. My sister is also kind enough to read my work and tell me what she thinks.

Rease S.

I love the shoutouts. Support is a writer’s best friend, and it’s awesome to hear that so many people support your writing. From those who are further in their careers, spouses who believe in you, family who support you, and even fellow writers. A rising tide lifts all boats, after all.

That leads me to my question. I know you mentioned several names that shaped your love of Horror. Are there any authors or writers whose works shaped your writing voice?

Ann O’Mara Heyward

Stephen King, for sure. I love his short stories, especially. Cormac McCarthy…that lean, spare prose is something I strive for. Shirley Jackson was a genius in turning the every day into a nightmare. Daphne du Maurier…just read “The Birds,” as she wrote it, as a stunning exercise in quiet Horror. Flannery O’Connor… “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is one of the best damn horror stories ever written. I’m still hoping I can write one THAT good someday.

Annie Proulx, too…she’s another writer with lean, spare prose that can just punch you in the gut.

Rease S.

That’s a great goal to have. I think all writers aspire to do something like that one day, where they write something fondly thought of. It seems that you’re on the right path, though. Not to mention that’s a lot of good authors to take inspiration from.

Other than authors, do you take inspiration outside of reading their stories? Are there any other mediums that you enjoy to help round your inspiration out or shape your stories in any way? Different mediums can be music, movies, television shows, podcasts, or anything else.

Ann O’Mara Heyward

I am a horror film fanatic. In fact, I’m working on a nonfiction book of essays about different films, hoping to lure people into the genre by sharing why I think they should care about it. I also love podcasts like the NoSleep podcast, which has used some of my work.

Music, too: I have a pretty eclectic taste in that. Certain songs or classical pieces evoke a mood, emotion, or memory…not so much that I listen to them while writing, but that I may hear something that triggers a thought or memory that leads to a story.

I have good childhood memories of television shows like The Twilight Zone, Dark Shadows, Kolchak, and The Invaders. God bless my Mother; she was into many of them, and we’d watch them sitting side by side.

One other—possibly weird—influence on my writing is landscape. It’s a source of mood in many of my works and inspired some stories directly. We just returned from a trip to Nebraska, and I think there will be stories from that.

Rease S.

Oh wow, that is a wide variety of inspirational sources! That must help out a lot. Films and music help with my writing as well, so I always find it fascinating when I see where other writers get inspired. I especially liked hearing how you shared interests with your Mother, which helped cultivate your writing.

Now, you have me interested in your writing schedule. Do you have a set time to write, or does it just come out randomly, and you write the moment you’re inspired?

Ann O’Mara Heyward

No, no set schedule. It’s more that when I fall under a story’s spell, I keep on it. Then, there might be a little while where I wait for the well to refill.

Rease S.

I honestly feel you on the inspiration thing. When the iron is hot, you have to strike, you know? Plus, it seems to work out very well for you.

Since you mentioned working when the inspiration kicks in and you need to get the story out, is there any before-writing ritual you do? Do you listen to music, eat snacks, or do anything that helps the inspiration flow better?

Ann O’Mara Heyward

No, just sit down at the computer, then I’m off. Maybe a cup of coffee, but not always

If I’m under the spell of a story in progress, it’s like the words flow through me…rather than from me…if that makes sense.

Rease S.

Oh, that makes perfect sense to me. I’ve felt that several times while writing, too, and I find it a wonderful feeling when the words flow like water. So it’s impressive that your stories come out like that whenever you sit down.

Now, I wonder what your editing process looks like. You previously mentioned your writing group, husband, and sister, but is there a process you go through during editing?

Ann O’Mara Heyward

I don’t know if it’s a process, but I usually edit as I go. When I sit down to a story in progress, often I’ll review what I’ve written so far and make edits, rather than waiting until the end and doing it all at once. Usually, when I put it in someone else’s hands, there won’t be too many typos or other errors, but it’s always good to get an extra set of eyes on it! So, I always have Eric look at it. He makes good catches.

Rease S.

I think we all wish we had an Eric in our lives, so it’s lovely to see another shoutout for such a supportive husband. Admittedly, I’d like to know what your writing space looks like. Do you have anywhere that you like to write, such as a desk or table or just wherever? Is it like your inspiration where you write wherever you’re at?

Ann O’Mara Heyward

It depends on where I am. At home, I’ve got a desk/office. In Florida, it’s the dining table. We have a little place there that we go to throughout the year. If I’m traveling, it’s wherever I can park my laptop or a pad of paper if I’m not with a computer. Sometimes, it’s scrap paper or the notes app on my phone.

Rease S.

Very versatile! It makes me wish I could get into that mindset of writing wherever I am. You’re certainly inspiring me to learn to do that.

It must certainly help you to feel comfortable no matter where you write or what tools you have on hand. With all this talk about writing, while inspiration has a hold of you, that leads me to my next question. Do you decompress after any writing that you do? How do you relax after you’ve finished writing for the day?

Ann O’Mara Heyward

I’ve always been one of those weird people who find work very satisfying in and of itself. So, I don’t feel the need to relax afterward or decompress. Finishing a story and feeling like you’ve achieved what you want always feels good. Sometimes, I need to take a conscious break from a story if I’m wrestling with something in it, and then it’s helpful to do something relatively mindless and unrelated to writing, like going out and working in the yard.

Rease S.

That sounds relaxing in and of itself. It’s interesting how you both approach and disengage from the writing process. I know plenty of other writers who have to decompress immediately after writing and “let their mind rest” a bit, so hearing your approach is intriguing.

Earlier, you mentioned a nonfiction book you were writing. For those who follow you and want to see more of your writing, what do you have planned for the future? Are there any upcoming projects you want to share with everyone?

Ann O’Mara Heyward

I’m excited about my first collection coming out with Lefthand Path Press, which will have some of my previously published work and some brand new work together in one place for the first time. I hope readers enjoy that. I’m hoping to bring out a collection in the future of just stories set in Florida. In parallel with my fiction writing, I’m working on the horror movie book, “The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Horror Movies,” which I hope to have out in the next year. I also just recently published a long short story, “Tourtiere,” as a Kindle download, with proceeds to benefit organizations supporting civil liberties.

I’m also co-editing Hellbound Highway, an anthology with Jane Nightshade for Hellbound Books. It will consist of stories about one of my favorite horror movie themes: The road trip gone horribly, terribly wrong.

Rease S.

Oh wow! I’m excited to check those out when they’re done, too! I’ll undoubtedly have to keep an eye out for them, and I’m glad you’re also working with Lefthand Path Press. I hope your current readers are excited and any future readers enjoy them when they are released.

You’ve clearly been very busy, and with three years of hard work behind you, it’s exciting to see what the next three years will bring. Do you have any other Social Media accounts besides your Facebook page to follow? Do you also have any platforms on which fans can support you, such as Patreon, Ko-Fi, or Ream?

Ann O’Mara Heyward

I’m on Bluesky. Right now, my website address goes directly to my Facebook page, but I’m working on getting a much more developed website in place in the next few months. Right now, I have no other platforms.

The easiest way to find me right now is on Facebook.

Rease S.

Hopefully, readers will feel compelled to go looking for you and give a shoutout! I also can’t wait to see the website when it’s finished. Hopefully, the website will be ready by the time this interview is out.

I have one more question for you. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers who want to get their writing published?

Ann O’Mara Heyward

Yes. Above all, keep trying. I have published stories that were sent out at least five or six times before they found a home. Join a critique group if you can. Mine is terrific, and there have been stories I’ve put in front of them that were getting rejections—and, when I got and incorporated my group’s feedback, found a home right afterward.

And read…read…read. Not to imitate anyone’s work but to develop your own sense of what resonates when you read it. Then you’ll know it when it comes out on your own pages.

Rease S.

That is very good, practical advice! After this, I might also have to look for a writing group. You’ve inspired me to step up my capabilities and go just as far.

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. I imagine you’ve been very busy lately and have a lot to do, so I won’t keep you too much longer. This was a lovely interview, and you are a lovely person with some very evocative stories that are so much fun to read. I’m looking forward to seeing your other projects, and I certainly need to add Quiet Horror to my rotation of horror genres to read when I need some spooky fun.

Ann O’Mara Heyward

Thank you! It’s been a pleasure!

That was all we had today, but we’ll be seeing a lot more from Ann O’Mara Heyward in the coming days, especially as she’s working with us at Lefthand Path Press on future projects.

For those who enjoyed the interview and want to read her stories or learn more about her, her work can be found in the following anthologies: “Solar Press Horror Vol. 1” and “Jane Nightshades Serial Encounters.” The NoSleep Podcast is currently adapting her work to audio format, as she has a growing list of other Short Story Anthologies.

You can also find out more on her website http://annoheyward.com/ or find out more information on her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/annoheyward  as well as find the anthologies she’s in on her Amazon page located at https://www.amazon.com/Ann-OMara-Heyward/e/B0CXMMJLDZ

Happy reading, and as always, keep your eyes on the shadows.

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Ann O’Mara Heyward is a horror fiction and nonfiction writer in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.  Her short story “The Carny” won The Ghost Story’s Supernatural Fiction Award (Spring 2023) and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her fiction has appeared in Solar Press Horror Vol.1, Jane Nightshade’s Serial Encounters (Hellbound Books), GASPS edited by Judith Sonnet, Stories to Take to Your Grave, Mortuary Edition (Undertaker Books), Behind the Shadows II (Inkd Publishing), parABnormal Magazine, and been aired by the NoSleep Podcast. She is also at work on a nonfiction book on horror film, entitled “The Thinking Woman’s Guide to Horror Movies.”

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Rease Stoneheart is a werewolf addicted to coffee, reading, travel, and MMO games. A writer who loves Fantasy, Horror, Sci-fi, and more, he’s often bouncing between the Midwest and the Highlands of Scotland, looking for his next adventure as well as inspiration for many of his stories. Currently, he’s working on his novel series “Hearts of Stone In a City of Gold” alongside other projects for Lefthand Path Press, and you can find him at https://linktr.ee/reasesoffice for everything he’s involved with.