Pride Month Interviews: Meet Marc Ruvolo

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

I’m a queer writer/musician who lives in Portland, Oregon. I’ve written three horror novellas: Sloe (Unnerving Press 2024), Waste Ground (Slashic Horror Press 2025), and Pieties: Expanded Edition (Slashic Horror Press 2025). Pieties was originally published by Off Limits Press. I’ve also published over a dozen stories in magazines and anthologies such as Baffling Magazine (Neon Hemlock), Slay and Slay Again: A Queer Horror Anthology, and Cynthia Pelayo’s “Gothic Blue Book” series.  

What drew you to the horror genre?

I’ve loved ghoulish and phantasmagorical art and literature since I was a boy. I’m fascinated by art that invokes a sense of lingering dread, and plumbs the dark side of humanity. I’ve seen and done a lot of wild (some might call them unsavory) things in my life, and I find that’s when I feel most alive. 

What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community regarding LGBTQIA+ creators and content and what are some areas the community can still improve?

​In the last few years, we’ve seen a veritable explosion of queer horror books and publishers, which is heartening. And there seems to be a reader base for it that reaches beyond queer audiences, too. I’d love to see one big, yearly queer horror convention, like Stokercon. I think that would be fun.

When folks look back at the LGBTQIA+ movement of today’s day and age, what do you think the defining characteristic will be?

How incredibly clever and varied the stories are. By the very nature of their existence in modern society, LGBTQIA+ people are some of the most intelligent and resourceful souls ever created. They perceive things other don’t, and most of the time through a truly original lens.
 
What are some areas of queer horror you think are under-explored?

I think horror mixed with queer historical fiction is an under-explored niche. Queer folks have struggled and succeeded since the dawn of recorded history. It would be great to see a novel with queer characters set in say, the Ptolemaic dynasty of ancient Egypt, or in the battles for the Ardennes Forest in World War I. I also think trans authors have a lot more to say. I’d love to see a well-funded press dedicated to trans issues alone.   
 
What do you find scary within the horror genre?

Sundowning. Ghosts that that prowl while people sleep. Knives.
 
Who are some queer content creators in horror you think more people should discover?

I think Carlos E. Rivera and his White Harbor Series is really great. Hokunani Sorci wrote a truly creepy book called The Haven Horror. And David-Jack Fletcher (he also runs Slashic Press) has written some awesome and original books. 
  
Where can folks find you these days?

I have signed books for sale at https://vonvorgrikbookconsortium.bigcartel.com, and I can be found online on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky @marcruvolo.bsky.social.