Interview with Alex Woodroe, author of The Night Ship

This week, I’m excited to invite Alex Woodroe onto the blog to discuss her latest horror novel, The Night Ship!

The Night Ship is a survival story set in 1980s Romania. After a mysterious message is heard from the radio, the whole world goes dark. Rosi and the other survivors must rely on each other to find a way to survive in a new world. But, if Rosi was unsure who to trust before the darkness, she’s even more unsure of her allies now.

1. For those who have never read any of your works before, how would you describe your writing?

It’s always hard to imagine how it will land with readers, but I can say that what I want my writing to be is an escapist thrill that allows a reader to shut the world out and be absolutely transported for a little while. I want the places to feel real and fantastical at the same time; an elsewhere that might be, with dangers and horrors and a lot of anxiety, but one that can be faced and overcome. Whether or not I accomplish that, it’s always the goal.

I’m also aware I lean very much towards the Weird tradition of focusing more on the immediate of what is going on, the intimate of how people react to it, than on explaining anything beyond the scope of their limited knowledge; that can often be frustrating for readers who love clear answers. I try to make up for it with strong visuals and atmosphere, and hopefully that helps!

2. The Night Ship is your second published novel. Was there anything you wanted to focus on in your second book? Did you make any changes to your writing process?

Control. This will probably sound dull, but I really tried to focus more on having control over the plot, not letting it run away with me. I tried to be more focused, plan ahead more, and always know where I’m going. My first published novel was also the first novel I’d ever written, so we’re all on my learning journey together, in a way. I’m green, but I can see where I could get stronger and I try to work on that.

3. Do you have any advice for authors trying to write horror?

Write it like nobody’s reading! Release your inhibitions, feel the rain on your skin. Then, if you decide that piece is getting published (and they don’t all have to; and it’s best if not all are), edit it like everyone’s reading.

4. Which authors have had the biggest influence on your writing?

William Hope Hodgson, Shirley Jackson, Michael Marshall Smith, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Tony Burgess. But I’ve always read across genres and I think that shows up in my writing chaotic genre-bending novels, too, so while I don’t think anyone would hear Jane Austen’s clever style in my prose, nor find Harlan Coben’s intricately-raveled mysteries in my plots, there’s no way they don’t all leave their own mark.

5. What inspired you to tell a post-apocalyptic story in 1980s Romania?

2025 Romania! It’s incredible how far we’ve come since the revolution that overthrew dictatorship, and yet in many ways are still suffering the consequences of it. For people living through times of drastic change and turmoil—which may as well be all of us, now—it can feel a little like the world as you knew it ends with every new news cycle.

6. Although the creeping dark is the most visible horror in the story, Rosi more often fears not knowing the thoughts and intentions of those around her. What is the significance of the story being told from her perspective?

I think she’s a grounding force; in a situation where there’s nothing else grounding, literally. She makes her opinions clear and approaches everything with curiosity, and in a way that makes her a great guide into this other world.

7. It seems very hard to imagine how people would react to their world collapsing around them. Where did you find inspiration for developing your characters in that context?

I think a lot of people, myself included, go through periods in life where they feel like they have absolutely no control, no hope, and no way to predict what tomorrow would bring. That was a lot of my young life, so writing characters who are taking desperate leaps into the unknown kind of comes naturally; or, I wouldn’t really know how to write any other kind. We’re all a lot stronger than we think and can adapt to so much more than we imagine, if need be.

8. You’re trapped in a truck after the apocalypse… Which of your characters do you want with you and why? What 3 survival items did you bring?

Rosi, easy. The two of us on the same team could conquer the abyss. I’d grab a good knife, a coil of cured sausages from the pantry, and my dog. Yes, he counts as a survival item, he’s an excellent alarm! Couldn’t sneak a leaf past him.

9. What was the most fun part about writing The Night Ship?

The little bits of errant radio transmissions between chapters; it’s been wonderful to imagine a range of people all dealing with what happened in a range of ways. It’s a good reminder that we don’t all experience the same things in the same ways, not even the end of the world.

10. What do you hope readers get out of reading The Night Ship?

Escapism, always. To leave the world behind for a little while. It’s the way I’ve always felt about books, ever since I nicked Brian Lumley out of the school library when I was much too young to be reading him. A relief from the pressures of reality.

11. Are you working on any new projects that readers can look forward to?

I have a wonderful little novella coming out this October from Clash Books called Tatratea; it’s about a researcher heading into an ancient abandoned manor to uncover what’s emitting radiation from the gardens and whether it’s connected to why the entire world has gone insane. She quickly becomes trapped inside and discovers sentient flora, cosmic forces, and her own dreams are all fighting against each other.

And I’m working on a new novel; something culty and thoroughly Weird that I’m very excited about, but that’s still in the early stages!

Where to find The Night Ship by Alex Woodroe:

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Have you read The Night Ship? Let’s chat in the comments!