Interviewing Marivi Soliven: Spooky Mo Horror Stories

Spooky Mo: Horror Stories is a collection of nine short stories written by Marivi Soliven featuring women who deal with professional rivals, cheating spouses, domestic violence, and detestable neighbors. Marivi Soliven expresses the internal motivations behind each character’s actions – their dreams, fears, and desires – ultimately humanizing the people who live in her stories.

Tell us more about how each story in this collection is a Filipino treatment of the Seven Deadly sins. 
I would rather have the reader go through that exercise. The Seven Deadly sins hook was something that came after the fact, when all the stories had been written. I did not start writing them with the intent to portray each of the 7 deadlies.What was the research process for these stories like? Minimal. For “Spooky Mo” I asked a professor friend who’d done research in Tokyo about the Japayuki and asked another professor friend about common Japanese surnames. Additionally, I looked up the phenomenon of vagina dentata after watching the indie flickTeeth. I actually went to that town in the Philippines where crucifixions are re-enacted, but as a tourist, not as a writer looking for short story material.

What role does the topic of domestic violence for women play in this short story collection? 
It’s in the story about the little girl being abused by her father and in “Bangungot”. I wanted to show how eventually, abusers get what they deserve, even if it has to come from supernatural sources.

The stories in this collection have also been described as “feminist horror stories“. How do the elements of feminism intersect with those of horror in this collection? 
The fact that the aggressors were women? I don’t know who described the collection as “feminist horror stories” but I never EVER start out thinking Well today, I’m going to write a feminist story. I avoid writing stories with a message. It’s preachy and annoying.

Which elements from your life or surroundings have played a large part in the creation of your characters and their respective worlds? 
Every experience is fodder for story.

There is an emphasis on traditional comfort food, the roles of women in a patriarchal culture, and Catholicism throughout these stories. What made you decide to explore these aspects of Filipino society? 
Ever experience is fodder for story. I happen to enjoy Filipino comfort food, I was raised in a Catholic patriarchal culture, so why not write from what I know?

Were there other topics that you aimed to emphasize in these short stories? 
The fun supernatural folklore stuff.

What audience did you have in mind when creating the stories? 
I never think of an audience when I write. If I did, I would be an advertising copywriter, which I was, before I turned to fiction.What advice would you give a reader unfamiliar with the Catholic context and Filipino culture to help with reading and understanding the themes behind your text? 
Just go with the flow and read other books if you really want to learn more about Catholics and Filipinos. I write stories, not textbooks.