AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
WOLVES AT NIGHT Sara McDermott Jain
S
ara McDermott Jain is an award-winning, produced screenwriter and internationally bestselling author. Her passion is moving readers through fear and into empowerment via the thriller and horror genres. She's also the creator of the Book to Script Course, which shows authors how to adapt their books into screenplays, and she teaches both screenwriting and novel writing at the college level.
RAINE: Why did you pursue a career in writing? SARA MCDERMOTT JAIN: I always knew I wanted to be a writer, but if I have to dial into a central reason why, I think it’s because I believe very strongly in the transformational power of story. Our stories help us to frame our lives, have breakthroughs, and stay strong, no matter what happens. Whether someone is a reader or writer, this is a tremendous gift. Reading stories can help people better understand and find meaning in their lives. Writing does this as well, in a very personal way. Intentionally or subconsciously, we tend to write about things we’re dealing with, so while writing can be a way to build a career and entertain others, it’s also an ongoing road to self-discovery. RAINE: What drew you to the horror genre? JAIN: I’m fascinated by the horror genre! It’s because horror stories are metaphors for things we’re afraid of in life, things we need to overcome in order to achieve what we really want. In horror, we see people either rise up and defeat the “scary thing”—or be destroyed by it. That’s an amazing analogy for how things work in real life. If you think about the stories that have most endured over time (even going back 1000s of years), they tend to be stories with an element of horror. It’s because horror taps into a very primal place that resonates with people on a different level than any other type of story, and therefore, I think it actually offers more opportunity for growth than most other genres. RAINE MAGAZINE VOL 39
