Meet A.E. | Author, Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with A.E. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi A.E., why did you pursue a creative career?
I decided to pursue a creative career in the arts (writing) for a number of reasons. Firstly, all I want to do is create. I love telling stories, and any chance I get to craft a story, I jump at it. I didn’t want writing as a job to be a dream, I wanted it to be my reality, so it is. The second most important reason is probably because I got sick of hearing about the “starving artist” trope. No. Pay artists for their work. I didn’t want to shy away from doing what I love because everyone was telling me I wasn’t going to make any money. I grew up poor, in a tiny town, so jobs that didn’t pay were a big dealbreaker for my parents when they talked about career choices. The fact that I wanted to be writer concerned them. So, I guess, the third reason would be spite. It’s worked out for me so far.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a horror writer. I write other types of works too: fantasy, sci-fi, non-fiction, plays, poetry, etc. But at the core of my writing is horror. I’ve been a horror fan all of my life, begging my family members to tell me urban legends and folk stories even when I was a child. There’s something about horror that resonates with me. Not so much that I find comfort in it, but rather, recognize it, feel bad for it. I don’t pretend that monsters have a heart of gold or that if I’m nice enough to them, they’ll fall in love with me. I know monsters want to hurt people, and I pity them. I write stories about monsters and the people who have to deal with them — and those stories are the ones that others gravitate toward. Those are the ones that people mention to me at conventions or are highlighted in reviews. They’re human stories. I write about horror; I write about humans. It wasn’t easy to get here, to writing these stories. I had to be vulnerable with myself (it was the worst), then be vulnerable to a whoever was going to read my stories (that was a little better). The community of writers that I met while getting my MFA at University of California, Riverside, low-residency program in Palm Desert were the most helpful in getting me to where I can be vulnerable and professional and honest. Something I really needed in my writing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First and foremost, it’s got to be Meow Wolf. An immersive fairytale, sci-fi adventure with an amazing story and cool interactive art? Sign me up!

Next, would be Babe’s Tea Room. I love anything thematic, and Babe’s has got the garden, cottage core, afternoon tea theme right in Denver. One of my favorite places.

It’s time to go outdoors (if weather permits), and our next stop would be the Aurora Reservoir for some paddleboarding, kayaking, or archery (I’ve got my bow and arrows ready!), or maybe just a nice walk around the area.

After a nap, because who doesn’t love a good nap, we’d go get grab some food at Neko Ramen & Rice. Yes, the food is good, but also CATS! I really love cats a lot, so I love that this little ramen and rice bowl place is decked out in the most adorable cat decor.

We’d probably end the night either doing karaoke at Rumours Karaoke Cafe where the crowd is always having a good time or maybe play a little Magic the Gathering or D&D at one of the Enchanted Grounds cafes, depending on who is visiting.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my grandmothers, Clara Delgado and Josephina Santana.

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