R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland Ginger nuts of horror review website

R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland

Table of Contents


Please tell the readers a little bit about yourself.
R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland
R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland

Hi! I’m an Irish writer. I’m twenty-five. I am the author of The Elemental Witches series; An Inquiry Into Innocence; A Country Girl, A Big Girl; and Gruesome Getaway. I’ve also had poetry, short stories and pieces of creative non-fiction published across the world in literary magazines/journals like The Wexford Bohemian, Spellbinder Magazine, Vagabond City Literary Magazine and Loft Books.

Gruesome Getaway is my first official “horror” book. I’ve always been a huge fan of the horror genre, and I have a particular love for road-trip horrors, slashers and cults. I suppose that’s where the idea for Gruesome Getaway came from – a life-long love for this kind of horror.

I hold a BA (Hons) in Psychology from Waterford Institute of Technology, a Master of Arts (Research) from South East Technological University and a Certificate in Creative Writing from The Open College. I also work fulltime as a civil servant in the Department of Housing and currently reside in Dublin, Ireland.

Which one of your characters would you least like to meet in real life?

I definitely would not like to meet any of the inhabitants of the fictional village of Killimercy from Gruesome Getaway. They’re absolutely frightening. Inspired by slashers and cults, all the village’s inhabitants eerily work together, following the orders of their vicious, murderous master, Fíonn. When I think about what it would be like to find myself in an unknown place, surrounded by people that are thirsty for my blood – just like the main characters in Gruesome Getaway – I shiver.

Which of your characters is your favourite?

I hope it’s okay to include two characters here. Declan and Tadhg from Gruesome Getaway. I had such a fun time writing their characters. Declan and Tadhg are young professionals in Dublin – Declan works in a solicitor’s office and Tadhg is a Master’s student. They are twin brothers and are renting a tiny apartment in Dublin.

Through Declan and Tadhg, I was able to explore some of the issues impacting my generation today: the housing crisis, the wealth gap, etc. Also, aspects of the relationship between Declan and Tadhg are inspired by my own relationship with my twin brother. I suppose that makes these characters extremely personal to me; I can almost see my brother and me in the story. And because of this, I will always have a soft spot for Declan and Tadhg.

Which of your books best represents you?

Gruesome Getaway probably best represents me. As I’ve mentioned, the relationship between two of the characters is heavily influenced by my own relationship with my twin brother – and we really do have a great relationship. The novel draws on my love for road trip horror (as the main characters travel from Dublin city to the rural midlands of Ireland) and cults (as the village of Killimercy is not a normal village), combining the two in a way that – I hope – will pique readers’ interests.

Moreover, the characters feel very real and personal to me, especially the main character Tadhg who, like me, is gay. As well, my thriller novel, An Inquiry Into Innocence, acts as a good representation of me. While I was writing An Inquiry Into Innocence, I was also completing my Master’s Degree, where I examined ‘Fitness to Stand Trial in Ireland’.

Through my studies, I came across a lot of research that proved to be invaluable to the story, like mental illness in Irish prisons, day-to-day life in prison, the operation of the Irish legal system. As such, though the story is fictional, it is heavily informed by academic research, which in my opinion, allows An Inquiry Into Innocence to feel more genuine.

Other than the horror genre, what else has significantly influenced your writing?
R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland
R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland

I’ve always loved reading. I grew up reading Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games. From there, I branched out to become interested in a wide variety of genres, ranging from literary fiction and romance to thrillers and horror. I guess that’s why I’ve written across genres myself – The Elemental Witches is fantasy, A Country Girl, A Big Girl is historical fiction, An Inquiry Into Innocence is a thriller, and Gruesome Getaway is a horror.

Through my interest in various genres, I’ve learned that characters and setting are extremely important. For instance, when writing Gruesome Getaway, I wanted to mention issues that young adults are facing today. I also wanted to explore queer-related issues. Yes, at the end of the day, Gruesome Getaway is a horror story, but I wanted it to be something more. And through my love for a wide variety of genres and attention to current affairs, I tried to make it something more.

The term horror, especially when applied to fiction, always has such heavy connotations. What’s your feeling on the term “horror”, and what do you think we can do to break past these assumptions?

I definitely believe that when the term “horror” is mentioned, a shiver can run up people’s backs. Horror is something that scares us, terrifies us, creeps us out, and people may shiver away from that. Gruesome Getaway is my first horror novel; when I tell readers that have enjoyed my previous books that my next book is a horror, a slight terror sometimes fills their expressions.

Also, I think people may have a tendency to consider horror as somewhat inferior to other genres, especially because horror movies can be much cheaper to make. But thankfully, I think these negative assumptions are becoming irrelevant. Horror has become so much more. Horror books and movies tackle societal issues, relevant themes, the list goes on and on. There’s so much more to a horror story than just a mere fright! And I think people are starting to realise this. For me, I’m not afraid to call myself a horror writer. In fact, I’m proud of it. In the future, I hope to set more of my stories within this genre.

Should horror be political?

I’ve noticed that there is much debate at the moment on the question of: should certain media be political? With an increasing number of books being banned and the underfunding of libraries across the globe, I imagine this debate will likely endure for years. With regards to the horror genre, I think it may be political, especially if that’s what the author intends or what the consumer is seeking to interpret from the text.

At the beginning of Gruesome Getaway, I do make some political commentary by talking about the cost-of-living and housing crises and the wealth gap. I similarly make political commentary in An Inquiry Into Innocence by exploring issues within the criminal justice system. Therefore, I’m not sure if horror should be political, but I think it may be political.

Why do you think so many people enjoy horror?

Simply, I think people like to be scared and, in some cases, creeped out. Watching a horror movie or reading a horror novel can be exhilarating. The thrills raise our heart rates, increase our alertness, slow and excite our breathing. This can be exciting. As well, I think the horror genre can be expertly used to examine a variety of themes, especially social issues, which can be intriguing for viewers/readers. For instance, It Follows does an excellent job at highlighting the negative consequences of sexual encounters, and The Invisible Man skillfully deals with themes of abuse.

What, if anything, is currently missing from the horror genre?

Today, I don’t think there is a lot missing from the horror genre. There seems to be a wide variety of horror stories out there, and these stories are being created by an even wider variety of individuals in my opinion. Personally, I’m delighted to see that there are many queer stories being told within the horror genre. A recent example could be the lesbian relationship portrayed in Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, or Hell Followed With Us which focuses on a trans boy; there’s also the classic example of Carmilla. Perhaps future storytellers will continue to explore these themes to come up with more electrifying, thrilling stories.

What new and upcoming authors should we take notice of?
R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland
R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland

At Cranthorpe Millner, there are lots of incredible horror writers. Stacey Dighton, Chris Coppel, Jennifer Claywood and Bruce Martin have all released stories that have terrified, intrigued and captivated me. I would definitely recommend giving these authors a try! 

And who would be on your Mount Rushmore of horror?

That’s a great question. Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, Mary Shelley, and Riley Sager. There are many more writers I would like to add, but I feel these four have had, or will have, a legendary impact on horror.

Are there any reviews of your work, positive or negative, that have stayed with you?

Yes! I’ve been a huge fan of the horror genre for most of my life, so when I received the below review on Instagram, comparing Gruesome Getaway to some of the movies I adore and complimenting my use of a queer main character, I was delighted:

“I ADORED this. My favorite genre is MLM horror and there are so few books that fit it, nonetheless so few that fit it and are good. This is one of the few mlm horror novels I’ve read that were actually horrific and I LOVED IT. I was so engaged and curious as to what would happen next, I read 40 pages one night and the rest of the book the next night in one sitting. I loved all of the red herrings/narrative tricks to make you think it will go one way, but it actually goes another.

They were brilliantly done and completely threw me off multiple times. The horror of feeling as if you’re going crazy because no one can see the situation as you do is such a good trope imo and this book did it excellently. 

Not only was the horror itself phenomenal, but the characters were brilliantly written. You could truly get a sense for who they were and how relationship dynamics worked between everyone. It was so interesting seeing the familial vs. romantic dynamics between everyone, and how it affected their actions in regards to the town. This was brilliantly written and hands down one of my favorite horror books I’ve read in a while. A perfect length as well, not too short or too long. Great for fans of The Ritual, The Ruins, Midsommar, and/or Last Days.”

What aspects of writing do you find the most difficult?

The biggest difficulty for me is suffering imposter syndrome. I sometimes feel that what I write isn’t “good” enough or that I don’t deserve the praise I’ve received for writing my books. When I started writing and submitting work to publishers, I experienced a lot, and I mean A LOT, of rejections. But that’s the nature of the publishing industry: You’re going to get a lot more rejections than offers of publication. Imposter syndrome is a challenging thing to feel, and I still haven’t found a way to fully overcome it. But I always remember – it just takes one “yes.”

Furthermore, at the moment, I am finding it difficult to find time to write. I have lots of ideas for stories swirling around in my head but finding the time to actually write them is tough thanks to my job and other obligations. Writing can also be a solitary process so feelings of loneliness can become present at times, but thankfully having a gentle editor and a strong group of friends is a great help with this.

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

I suppose the best answer is that writing both exhausts and energizes me. If an idea for a scene pops into my head, I feel a rush of adrenaline and I have to write down everything as fast as I can. Sometimes, I type so fast and viciously that I’m amazed my laptop still works. At the same time, I can also feel exhausted when writing. Depending on the day or the amount of work I have to do, especially if I have a deadline to meet, sitting down at my laptop to write, edit or review can really drain me.

It can be difficult to strike a balance between the two, but thinking of the finished project, imagining somebody (usually my mother) flicking through the pages of my story, really makes the late nights, stress and wave emotions worth it.

What’s your best advice for new authors about social media?

That’s a tough one. It can be difficult to figure out what actually “works” when it comes to promoting your writing on social media. My best advice would be to start an author Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter account and follow as many publishers, fellow authors and literary magazines as you can. Don’t be afraid to engage with posts either. There is no “perfect” step-by-step guide to follow when it comes to social media so just find what works for you and make sure that you enjoy whatever it is you decide to do.

How do you balance making demands on the reader with taking care of the reader?

It can be difficult to balance these two, indeed. You want to keep the reader engaged and interested, so it can be a difficult to decide whether to keep a certain aspect of the story ambiguous until the end or to give the reader crumbs to follow. This also has a major impact on what kind of “mood” you are trying to create in the story. In Gruesome Getaway,I tried my best to strike a balance between keeping the reader interested and unbored, while also creating an eerie, mysterious atmosphere.

Writing is not a static process; how have you developed as a writer?

I can definitely say I’ve come a long way as a writer since self-publishing my first novel The Elemental Witches at the age of twenty-one in July 2020. At the start of my writing career, I faced rejection after rejection after rejection, and I genuinely believed my work would never be published by a publishing house. So, I picked myself up and self-published. From there, I started to really work on my craft. I worked hard, reading widely and penning short pieces in the Notes App on my phone.

Then I started to write short stories, poetry and creative non-fiction pieces which were then published by literary journals/magazines across the world. This really helped to get my name out there and build the publications section in my author bio. When An Inquiry Into Innocence was accepted for publication I was over the moon.

Months later, the same occurred for A Country Girl, A Big Girl. Later again, Gruesome Getaway was accepted. I learned that not giving up in the face of rejection pays off. Just because one publisher says “no”, it doesn’t mean that every other publisher will say the same. Success takes time and hard work. I was patient, worked hard, and I’m happy to say that all of it was worth it.

What’s the most surprising thing you learned while writing your books?

While writing all of my books, I discovered that I have no issues with killing off characters. Whether that character takes the form of a villain, hero, friend or foe, no character is safe! I also learned that I am not immune from spelling mistakes, grammatical errors or glaring plot holes. Thankfully for me, the editing process exists to rectify these plentiful errors.

What does literary success look like to you?

Indeed, I would love to see one of my titles on the New York Times Bestsellers list or adapted into a movie. But for me, being proud of and satisfied with my finished story always suffices. Seeing my books for sale on Amazon or looking at the list of titles I’ve penned on my website always brings a proud smile to my face.

In addition to that, having other people – friends, reviewers, etc. – take the time to read my books and offer both positive and negative critiques reminds me that I’ve written something that someone else wanted to read. And when someone tells me that they “loved” my story or stayed up all night to finish reading it, a proud smile fills my face and I cannot help but feel like a literary success.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received regarding your writing?

Write the book that you want to read. If you are interested in what you’re writing, the process will be much more exciting and enjoyable.

Do you have a favourite line or passage from your work, and would you like to share it with us?

Declan moans and coughs up some blood. He spits it onto the grass. “See,” he struggles to say. “It’s too late for me now, Tadhg. Save yourself. You’ve spent our whole lives putting me and what I want first. Let me put you first for once. Please.” 

“Declan—” I’m searching for words, but can’t find any. My heart is pulsating with unimaginable speed. 

“Stop thinking about it and just do it,” Declan orders. “We haven’t got much time left, Tadhg.” He touches my shoulder with his free hand and looks into my eyes. 

“You can do this,” he says.

Can you tell us about your last book, and can you tell us about what you are working on next?

Gruesome Getaway follows Tadhg Kelly as he joins his twin brother, Declan, and his girlfriend, Katie, on their getaway to a cabin in rural Ireland. Tadhg has just found out that his boyfriend, Dermot, has been cheating on him, so he hopes that the trip will allow him to escape all the drama.

But Tadhg soon finds much more that a mere cheating scandal to worry about.

The trio enter a scary village called Killimercy. Odd things happen as soon as they arrive: a strange man peers into the window of their cabin; a mysterious break in occurs; and a unique Celtic symbol seems to haunt Tadhg wherever he goes.

Just as the trio ready themselves to flee, things only get worse.

Gruesome Getaway is heavily inspired by road trip horror movies like Jeepers Creepers, X, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and horror media that focusses on cults like Midsommar and Devil in Ohio.

At the moment, I am in the very early stages of plotting a home-invasion-inspired novel – think The Strangers and Knock at the Cabin. It will likely follow a young, queer main character and his mother as they fight to protect their home.

If you could erase one horror cliché, what would be your choice?

To be honest, I’m a fan of some horror clichés. I love the final girl trope, something I adapted in Gruesome Getaway to become the Final Gay trope. I also enjoy when a character’s mobile phone dies or loses signal at the worst moment, when a killer is able to catch up to a sprinting victim when they’ve merely been walking, and when a person stupidly moves into a creepy haunted house.

It excites me, and I think these clichés bring a level of familiarity with them, so I know what I’m getting myself into. That said, there are some clichés that I’m not the biggest fan of, namely, when a character falls and starts to crawl instead of getting up to run, when a character doesn’t call 999 when they should, and finally, when a character runs up the stairs instead of fleeing out the open front door.

If your partner was going to leave you for another author, which author would you like them to end up with and why?
The Heart and Soul of Horror Review Websites R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland
R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland

I would say Riley Sager. His writing ability is incredible. With his amazing ability to create characters and his capacity to craft a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end, Sager truly is a horror legend. A close second for the purposes of this question is Danielle Valentine. I loved Delicate Condition and it had me hooked from page one. The way Valentine creates suspense with her main character Anna’s mental state is something I envy, and something I tried to mirror with Tadhg in Gruesome Getaway.

What’s the one question you wish you would get asked but never do? And what would be the answer?

Question: Who’s your favourite Final Girl?

Answer: Sidney Prescott.

Gruesome Getaway by R N Cogley

R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland
R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland

When twenty-three-year-old master’s student Tadhg Kelly joins his twin brother and his girlfriend on their getaway to a cabin in rural Ireland, he hopes to escape all of the drama that’s been destroying his life. He wants to forget about his thesis deadline and the terrible, never-ending bad news that fills the headlines. Most of all, he wants to forget about his cheating boyfriend.

But Tadhg soon finds much more than a mere cheating scandal to worry about.

As soon as the trio enter the eerie village of Killimercy, odd things begin to happen: a strange man peering into the window of their cabin; a mysterious break in, and a unique Celtic symbol haunting Tadhg wherever he goes.

Just as they ready themselves to flee, things only get worse…

R N Cogley

R N Cogley and The Elemental Witches
R N Cogley and His Gruesome Getaway to Ireland

R N Cogley is an Irish author. His short stories, poetry and creative non-fiction pieces have been published around the world. He is the author of The Elemental Witches series, An Inquiry Into Innocence, A Country Girl, A Big Girl and Gruesome Getaway. He holds a BA (Hons) in Psychology from Waterford Institute of Technology, a Master of Arts (Research) from South East Technological University, and a Certificate in Creative Writing from the Open College. He currently resides in Dublin, Ireland, and works as a civil servant.

Instagram: @ryan_cogley

Facebook Page: TheElementalWitches 

X (previously Twitter): @RyanCogley1

www.rncogley.wordpress.com

Gruesome Getaway by R. N. Cogley (978-1-80378-251-5) is published on 28th January 2025. Get your copy here:

Waterstones | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Elemental Witches Series

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  • Jim Mcleod

    Jim "The Don" Mcleod has been reading horror for over 35 years, and reviewing horror for over 16 years. When he is not spending his time promoting the horror genre, he is either annoying his family or mucking about with his two dogs Casper and Molly.

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