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Author and film critic from Airdrie to release second novel this year

The horror author noted there are approximately 100 chapters written by Pettis and his colleagues about their favourite horror movie and why it was so impactful to them.

An author who grew up in Airdrie is releasing his second novel this year – a non-fiction horror anthology called The Inspiring World of Horror, on Sept. 27.

Caillou Pettis, a local horror aficionado who has developed a following on YouTube as a film critic, released a Stephen King-inspired horror anthology earlier this year called While You Sleep.

According to Pettis, the latest release is a compilation of submissions from authors, screenwriters, actors, directors, and film critics who each provide insight into a horror film of their choosing that has inspired their lives or influenced their careers.

Pettis said he came up with the idea for his second book last June, adding he has wanted to put together a collaborative book with the help of others in the industry for some time.

“I always wanted to … explore how influential so many horror movies can be for so many different people in the industry,” he said in an interview.

The horror author noted there are approximately 100 chapters written by Pettis and his colleagues about their favourite horror movie and why it was so impactful to them. Notable contributions include Jeffrey Reddick of the Final Destination franchise; Will Honley, author of Escape Room: Tournament of Champions; and James A. Janisse, a YouTuber with 5.6 million subscribers.

Pettis remarked the writing process was a bit tricky for his sophomore book-writing venture, as he wasn’t always sure how to make first contact with others in the industry. He also worried they might not show interest in the project. He added he began to bridge relationships with others through Facebook.

“Everybody that I told the idea to was very enthusiastic about writing for it,” he said of the initial writing process. “I basically [told] them there’s really no rules about this book – all you have to do is write about [what is] your favourite horror movie and why.”

He added the process took approximately one year to compile everything, mostly because of the high number of authors who were contributing to the book.

“Of course, people have different schedules and time frames than I do, so it took a while to bring it together, but finally, it’s finally done,” he said.

Pettis said he was inspired to write a novel that would highlight how inspiring horror movies can be for so many people in the industry.

“I find a lot of people I talk to in the movie community, they tend to say what I always say, [which is that] horror is the best genre of film,” he said. “But it’s sad, because a lot of horror movies these days don’t make as much as we would like them to.

“But there’s that big community out there that really appreciates them.”

According to Pettis, after the release of his latest novel, he is going to take some time off from writing, but added he will get back to work on his upcoming novel projects around Christmastime.

“My plan, or at least my hope, is to publish at least one or two books every year, and I already have an outline for what that’s going to look like,” he said. “Since While You Sleep came out in March, I’ve been working on a second book in the series that will likely be released next year.

“I’m also working on a couple of secret horror novels at the moment.”

The Inspiring World of Horror is currently available for pre-orders for digital copies on Amazon, Indigo, and Barnes and Noble websites.

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