From playwright, director, and award-winning screenwriter Rob Stennett comes a chilling story that calls into question our perceptions of what is “real” and what is simply superstition and will ask you, “how far will you go for your family?”
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION DRIVING THE STORY IN HOMEMADE HAUNTING?
In life there are things we know we shouldn’t do. There are certain sins that we think we’re stronger than and yet we dabble with them anyway because it seems fun or like it can help us find success and personal gain. The age-old question of would you sell your soul to find success was at the center of Homemade Haunting.
Because I think I struggle with that. I think if I could just have this one thing (whatever it is the great job, the right amount of money, success, and on and on…) I will finally have arrived. But I always learn it’s more complicated than that.
Plus I grew up reading stories from authors like Stephen King and Frank Perretti and I thought what if I had a character who woke up in the middle of that world? What if he saw angels and demons and the dead rise? How would he honestly react?
All of those questions inspired me to write this book. And I’m really proud of how it turned out.
STARTING OUT, WHO WERE THE AUTHORS WHO INSPIRED YOU? WHO INSPIRES YOU NOW
George Orwell is the first author who I read his work and it blew my mind. I could not believe how powerful 1984 was. Today I read anything and everything and great writing of all kinds inspires me.
But there are certain authors that I always return to Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Tim O’Brien, Tom Perrotta…I know, kind of eclectic list, but I’m drawn to great writing much more than any particular genre.
HOW DOES YOUR FAITH INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING?
Well, obviously it influences it in subtle way like worldview. I’m drawn to stories about God and who believes in Him and who doesn’t and why that is. But I try my hardest not to preach in my novels. I hate sermonizing in literature. A story should explore something and have more questions than answers.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN THAT YOU WANTED TO BE AN AUTHOR?
I’m still not sure I want to be an author. It’s hard work. But I’m working on another book and just when I think I’ve written my last great book a new idea wakes me up in the middle of the night…
WHY DO YOU THINK STORY IS SUCH A POWERFUL WAY TO COMMUNICATE TRUTH?
We live stories. We all make decisions that send us into doing things we never thought possible and learning truths things we never thought we’d know. We read other stories to better understand our own.