4 minute read
Horror writer
HORROR,
HE WRITES
STORY BY JOSIE RANDALL | PHOTOS BY SERGEI BELSKI
It would be as early as 2 a.m. on a school night when Caillou Pettis would finally peel his eyes away from yet another horror fiction novel.
He’d lay in bed staring up at the ceiling. Sometimes scared straight. Other times, inspired to write his own horror anthology.
“I kind of wanted to write a book for as long as I can remember,” says
Pettis, who was born and raised in Airdrie.
“When I was younger, I used to read a lot of the young-adult style horror books. Like Goosebumps, Fear Street and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Those books were crazy to me, but they were also very easy to read. I always kind of thought it would be cool if one day I could write a story like that.”
Over the years, Pettis took inspiration from everywhere. Random pictures on the internet, people he met on the street and strange things that happened to him while growing up.
Eventually Pettis locked himself to a desk for four months to write While You Sleep. It was released in March 2022, and is available on Amazon and Kobo.
He describes it as 10 pulse-racing stories all set in the fictional city of Newryst — one of the most terrifying places known to mankind.
“I wanted to create a diverse selection of stories. So for example one is about sleep paralysis, one is about this kid who wakes up in this room and he has no idea how he got there and has to find clues to get out,” says Pettis.
FROM FILM CRITIC TO AUTHOR
The first-time author has always had a foot in the entertainment industry.
In 2012 Pettis created a YouTube channel reviewing movies, toys and video games. He’s also produced content for other YouTube channels boasting more than 10 million subscribers and one billion video views.
“I had always really liked watching movies, but I started watching videos of people analyzing movies – talking about what made movies so great and different aspects of filmmaking. I thought ‘well I could do that,’” Pettis says.
“Movies I had been watching my whole life were different. Even books, I started looking at how they were composed. I felt really strongly that I could be a voice people would want to hear from.”
Pettis began writing movie reviews when he was 16 years old, eventually starting his own website, cailloupettismoviereviews.com, and becoming an official movie reviewer for Rotten Tomatoes.
His work has also appeared on IndieWire, Awards Radar and Gold Derby. MORE THAN STEPHEN KING
Pettis says one of the reasons horror and thriller content has always interested him is just how diverse the genre can be.
“There are so many things you can do,” says Pettis.
“Like psychological horror, a gore or slasher kind of thing – and that’s something I tried to do with my book is, different types of horror. There’s a lot of potential for fresh and interesting ideas with horror.”
Pettis has already started work on a second book set within the same universe as While You Sleep, but he says it’s not necessarily a sequel.
Instead, it’ll be filled with different characters and different stories in Newryst.
“I am hoping that after reading the book people will have an appreciation for horror. Because it’s not all Stephen King. It’s not just about making your heart beat fast,” says Pettis.
“It can help us better understand ourselves and how we would react to situations. It can also even help us understand the world around us. Even if you have to sleep with the lights on sometimes.” life We are thrilled to share the Airdrie Reads 2022 finalists! After another host of incredible submissions by a talented group of Albertan authors, the five champions have chosen their titles to defend. Definitely put these titles on your to-read list. Stay tuned to our social media for information on the authors, the champions, and where you can purchase these books!
The titles and their champions are:
•Kids of Concern, by Perry Logan, defended by Veronica Funk •Murder on My Mind, by Dana Goldstein, defended by Tara Molina •The Shade Tree, by Theresa Shea, defended by Tega Odogu •Touch, by C.B. Czech, defended by
Amber Kakakaway •Creeboy, by Teresa Wouters, defended by
Karina Clayton
What is Airdrie Reads?
Airdrie Reads is a local Alberta spin on an epic national book battle – Canada Reads. Airdrie Reads combines the passion for books with the drama of reality TV – think The Bachelorette meets literature! The contest is sponsored by Big Sky Author Services and The Feathered Pen, providers of local author services, with the aim to promote authors in Alberta. We also hope to inspire Airdronians to read these local treasures over the summer. Finally, during the Airdrie Reads contest, we will also be engaging local businesses in the community on social media to promote the ‘support local’ theme.
How it Works
Once the book entries have been shortlisted, five Airdrie champions will choose one of the finalists’ books in which to indulge, and then they will pitch their book selection to a panel of judges. Airdronians can cheer on their favourites while they watch the champions persuade the judges in a video-pitch showdown, and the winning Alberta author will be crowned this year’s Airdrie Reads winner!
The Prize
In addition to the winning author’s book being highlighted on the shelves of several local stores, they will receive a free social media endorsement from both Big Sky Author Services and The Feathered Pen, and the grand prize of a professionally written article in the fall issue of airdrielife magazine!
