I think of setting as almost a character of its own, influencing the other characters in ways they're not even aware of. So much of the success of a good ghost story rides on creating a creepy atmosphere; details of the landscape itself can help create a sense of dread. Jennifer McMahon atmosphereawarecharacter share on social
Some people say, 'Write what you know.' My thing is, 'Write what scares you.' Jennifer McMahon peoplescarething Change image and share on social
All my life, I had this idea that if I could unravel the mystery that was my mother, then I could help save her. But it didn't really work. We were close, but she struggled with mental illness and alcoholism, and it was rough at times. Jennifer McMahon alcoholismcloseidea share on social
I graduated with a B.A. from Goddard College in 1991 and then studied poetry for a year in the M.F.A. in Writing Program at Vermont College. Jennifer McMahon collegegoddardgraduate Change image and share on social
I think we all have a kind of dark side, and that's what keeps life - and characters - interesting. That's one of the things that I'm drawn to write about again and again, the secrets we keep and how they shape us. Jennifer McMahon characterdarkdraw share on social
I practically lived in the woods when I was a kid, avoiding grown-ups and my dysfunctional family, pretending I was half-wolf, a feral child who napped in nests made out of ferns, ate wild blueberries, and wove sticks and feathers into her hair. Jennifer McMahon avoidblueberrychild share on social
I absolutely love writing about the things that scare me, the things that keep me up at night. I don't quite know why. Perhaps because so many things do scare me, and this is my subconscious way of trying to exercise some control over things that go bump in the night! Jennifer McMahon absolutelybumpcontrol share on social
You can have the greatest characters in the world and write beautifully, but if nothing's happening, the story falls on its face pretty quickly. Jennifer McMahon beautifullycharacterface Change image and share on social
My grandmother was a psychiatrist and possibly the ultimate of all skeptics. But even she couldn't explain the strange noises we so often heard in the attic. Jennifer McMahon atticexplaingrandmother Change image and share on social
I have a friend who calls me the queen of the nightmares because I've always had really bad nightmares. I keep a notebook by the side of my bed, so I'll wake up in the night from a bad dream, and my heart's pounding, and I'm really scared, but I write it down, and sometimes I get ideas for books that way. Jennifer McMahon badbedbook share on social