[RLM] What prompted you to use the jottings of your nightmares to write this book?
As a child I dealt with sleep paralysis and night terrors. Over the years and into my adulthood, I kept notes and journals about my nightmares and tucked them away into desk drawers or computer files thinking I would never pick them up again. It wasn’t until the spring of 2025 that I considered writing a horror book between other releases. When I was going through my old files, I realized I had a treasure trove of inspiration and lost stories that needed some work. I collected all those that had collected dust and gave them new life and thus emerged My Dreams Come True.
[RLM] Was there a specific reason that you chose these stories to tell?
Mostly, I wanted to confront the terrors that plagued me at one time or another, especially those that felt most chilling even when I reviewed them. But I also wanted to challenge my craft and create novelettes/short stories that would span across various sub-genres of horror such as folk horror, psychological, gothic, paranormal, and more so I considered that when choosing the stories for the collection.
[RLM] What character or story from this collection was the most difficult to write and why?
The most difficult story to write would probably be Quemar. This particular story I had picked up and put away numerous times over a two year span trying to figure out how I wanted to breathe life into these characters. I had at least six different versions of the story before I finally picked it up again earlier this year and decided to go with a more historical approach that became the tale it is today. It is certainly one of my favorites now.
[RLM] Did you run into any hardships when recalling the details of your nightmares while creating your first draft?
The hardships were generally reserved for recalling how a nightmare made me feel. Some of them lingered beneath my skin for so long that when I picked up my notes to re-read, I would get goosebumps. Though I will say, in taking on this creative endeavor, I found with time I had taken control of the narrative (pun slightly intended), and was able to find power in putting it in a story.
[RLM] Is there anything specific you hope readers take away from your book?
I hope readers find some fascination with my dreadful tales, maybe even inspired to look at their own dreams/nightmares, write them down, and not feel alone. There are many people, and horror lovers, out there who love confronting their fears in a safe space that fiction provides. And I hope my book is one of them.
[RLM] What advice would you give to aspiring authors looking to publish a collection of horror stories?
Take tons of notes. Even if you think an idea is “dumb” or “not scary enough” I promise you it may spark something days, months, or even years later that would terrify you. Before publishing, make sure you find an editor (or at the very least beta readers) who works in horror so they can bring out the best version of your haunting stories. Another set of eyes can make the world of difference and challenge you to better your craft.
