Thank you for visiting What’s Good to Read, and a big welcome to our author interviews!
Today we are talking to Stephen Kozeniewski (pronounced “causin’ ooze key”), a two-time winner of the World Horror Grossout Contest. He loves to write science fiction, horror and splatterpunk novels. I loved reading Slashvivor! and Razortooth, which he co-wrote with Stevie Kopas.
After reading these fantastic splatterpunk horror novels (Razortooth is a prequel to Slashvivor), I am happy to welcome him to What’s Good to Read, so let’s find out more about him, starting with some quick facts.
Quick Facts about Stephen Kozeniewski
FAVOURITE BOOK: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
FAVOURITE AUTHOR: Brian Keene
FAVOURITE FOOD/MEAL: Cheesesteak
FAVOURITE ANIMAL: Felis Domesticus (aka domestic cat)
FAVOURITE MOVIE: Unforgiven
CELEBRITY CRUSH: Meghan Trainor
If you could start by introducing yourself to everyone, let them know where you’re from and some of your interests and hobbies.
Hey, everybody, my name is Steve Kozeniewski. I am from Philadelphia and currently live near Harrisburg. I’m broadly interested in all sorts of science fiction and horror. In what little free time I can muster between my day job, my small business, and writing, I’ve been known to play video games and do some tabletop modelling and wargaming.
What inspired you to start writing?
I never really had an “ah ha” moment as I’ve heard some authors describe where I suddenly realised I could write. I remember always writing, generally trying to ape things I enjoyed like kaiju movies or Sherlock Holmes. I do recall very early on realising how hard it was to put a sentence together and tell a story. Although, positively, I also realised even at the age of 5 or 6 that the only way to get better was to keep at it, so I did.
What is your preferred genre to write in?
I greatly enjoy writing science fiction, although I’m probably a little better at writing horror at this point. My sweet spot is mashing up those two.
What is your writing process?
I don’t have much a of a process anymore. I used to need candles and music and all sorts of things. These days I just sneak in as much writing as I can in between the day job and other responsibilities. On the technical side, I do typically only write two drafts: a first draft and then I edit the hell out of it. It’s funny that I say that because for the first time probably ever I did a third draft on my most recent piece, a non-fiction work. But by and large two drafts is still my primary method.
What is one thing you wish you know now that you didn’t know when you started writing?
I’m assuming you mean that I wish I knew when I started that I know now? I guess I wish I knew how much constant rejection was involved in writing, from agents, publishers, readers, just about everybody.
What was the hardest part of getting published?
Honestly? Getting over my initial fear of rejection and just getting started querying agents and publishers. I spent decades not doing that.
If you use a pen name, why, and how did you come up with it?
I don’t use one but I sometimes wish I had. I sometimes feel like it’s hindered me to have such a hard to spell name. But it also seems daunting and laden with issues to adjust fire now. So I guess I’m stuck with it.
What book is your favourite and why?
The Brothers Karamazov really changed what I believed could be done with a narrative. It was so instantly engrossing, dense, and psychologically revealing, while simultaneously being deeply philosophical. Supposedly the piece, which was considered Dostoyevsky’s magnum opus, was just a prequel to a trilogy of longer works he planned to write. I think the literary world would be completely different today if he had lived long enough to finish those.
Who are some of your favourite authors?
I’m fortunate that some of the best authors I know are also some of my best friends, in the persons of Somer Canon, Mary SanGiovanni, Wile E. Young, Brian Keene, Wesley Southard, and many, many more.
What are you working on right now?
Right now I am putting together my first short story collection, which will also include a raft of autobiographical material. I’m calling it YES, I AM A VAMPIRE.
How do you handle a bad review?
I’m pretty inured to it at this point. I’m pretty sure I had the worst review I’m ever going to get, about seven or eight years ago, and it was so laughably outlandish I can’t even really be mad about it. I’m not trying to come across as Billy Badass or to diminish anyone’s pain or anything, I’m still human, of course. It’s just that after a certain point if you haven’t developed a very thick skin in this industry, you’re probably not cut out for writing.
What’s next for you as an author?
Very soon I’m going to be releasing my first short story collection, which will contain extensive story notes so it will also do double duty as an autobiography. I really think people are going to like it.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
If all goes well, in five years I’m hoping to have my house paid off. Then I’ll have to give some real hard thought to retiring from my day job and writing full time.
Where is your ultimate holiday destination?
I dunno. I’ve been a lot of the places I’d really like to go. I’d love to get back to Düsseldorf one day.
What’s some of the items on your bucket list?
Career things, mostly. Get a Big 5 deal. Win an industry award. The goalposts always keep moving, but I guess those are the big two for now.
And finally, if you could choose one superpower, what would it be and why?
Invisibility, so I could punch the buttons on traffic lights and nobody would know who did it.
I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Stephen Kozeniewski for taking the time to answer these questions and providing some fun answers (I particularly love his superpower answer). I am looking forward to reading more of his books in the future.
If you want to find out more about Stephen Kozeniewski and his books,
you can find him at:
Amazon – http://amazon.com/author/kozeniewski
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/KozAuthor
Twitter – https://twitter.com/outfortune
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7183355.Stephen_Kozeniewski
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/skozeniewski/
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@kozauthor
Blog – http://manuscriptsburn.blogspot.com/
Mailing List – http://eepurl.com/cIfqPL
To purchase any of his books, visit
Click here to read our reviews of books by Stephen Kozeniewski