Disability Pride Month Interviews: Meet Marten Norr

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.

I’m a freelance artist, author, and researcher based in Eastern Washington state. As a trans guy, I feel at home in the horror genre because it tends to focus on the transgressive, progressive, and boundary-pushing. And yet, so often in books and film, queer and disabled bodies function as the horror itself, metaphorically or literally. Growing up, I wanted to see someone like me as the protagonist rather than the evil force the protagonists are trying to defeat. I like to think I contribute to the genre by subverting and altering those stereotypes, adding my unique voice to the writing community and exploring horror, both body and cosmic, through a distinctly queer and disabled lens.

What drew you to the horror genre?

I’ve always been intrigued by all things gross and weird. I’m drawn to the horror genre because it gives me leeway to allow my characters and worlds to be gross and weird, while still being sympathetic, funny, cool, even desirable. I find that the genre is oddly freeing in that capacity where other genres are restrictive.

If you could recommend one creation of horror that everyone should consume that features either disabled creators or characters, whether that be a book, podcast, movie, art, etc., what would you recommend?

My favorite book of all time, Perdido Street Station by China Mièville, has a disabled POV character. His arc is both fascinating and horrific, as is the novel as a whole. It’s a masterclass in worldbuilding, characterization, and stamina. It is extremely gross and bizarre, and not at all an easy read, but it’s also enthralling.

What do you find scary within the horror genre?

If a story can make me imagine the sound of something horrifying, it will almost certainly scare the crap out of me. Soundscapes in movies are what always gets me, as well. The bear in Annihilation is grueling to look at, sure, but the agonized “help…me…” is what ultimately makes me have to skip that scene every time. So if a novel creates such a lush atmosphere that I can almost hear what the characters hear, that’s guaranteed to make me turn on the light.

What advice would you give to the next generation of disabled horror content creators coming into the horror genre?

Just trust yourself to be as weird as possible. 

Where can folks find you these days?

I’m pretty much exclusively on Instagram and Threads, as @Martennwrites. You can find my debut novel, Demon Engine, listed on the tRaum Books website.