WIHM 2026: Meet Kimberly Pinzon

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

I've been reading, playing, and watching horror media since when I was probably too young to be doing so. While I still won't go into basements by myself and definitely will not play with Ouija boards, I have found a love for the genre that can border on being all consuming at times.  When I'm not engaging  in some sort of horror medium, I enjoy hiking (the steeper the trail the better), gardening (bugs are a whole other horror), or doing my day job as a 911 dispatcher.

I wrote a book about women in horror movies which explores whether or not the genre is misogynistic, and how women have shaped horror since the beginning. Lately, I have been focusing on more fiction writing, but I will talk with just about anyone about horror, the different nuances of the genre, and how it reflects our everyday lives.
 
What drew you to the horror genre?

Horror really centers women in a way that you don't always see in other genres.  I also just like being afraid in a "safe" way. At the end of the movie, book, or game, you can go back to living a regular life free of evil clowns and malevolent spirits. Plus, the genre isn't afraid to just do its own thing, which can make it a lot more fun than other genres.
 
If you could recommend one creation of horror that everyone should consume, whether that be a book, podcast, movie, art, etc., what would you recommend?

This might be a cliche, but Alien, one hundred percent. You have a mysterious monster, a well developed cast, and an amazing Final Girl in the shape of Ellen Ripley. It carries several other tropes, such as not believing the woman character, a hidden traitor, and corporate greed as an enemy, and handles them really well. Considering it has only two main areas (the human ship and the alien ship), it has very detailed world building that has led to so much more content. I could go on about this movie forever.
 
What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community and what are some areas the community can still improve?

Some days I'm so proud of the community because it feels like we are one of the more accepting communities out of the genres. Then there are days when I need to remind myself that it's okay to let people have their (wrong) opinions not based in fact.
 
Who are some women in horror you think more people should discover?

I don't know about discovering, but I'm hoping to see more from Coralie Fargeat and Nia DaCosta.
 
What advice would you give to the next generation of women coming into the horror genre?

Don't be afraid to UNAPOLOGETICALLY be yourself. Don't worry about what everyone else likes or doesn't like. There are going to be other people who enjoy what you do just as much. Try out different subgenres, because you never know what kind of new obsession you might find.  Take up space and make your voice heard.
 
Where can folks find you these days?

You can find me primarily on Instagram at @ModernMonstress. I also have a Threads and TikTok account under that name, but I'm not on those as much as I am Instagram.

Bio:
Kim grew up in the wilds of New York City, only to find greater happiness in the wilds of the Pennsylvania mountains. Being a full time writer will probably always be a dream, but at least it's a good one. She's about to publish her fifth book, an underwater body horror, and is super excited about it. In the meantime, she spends as much time outdoors as possible, and crawling around on the floor in the dark to scare her partner, Kyle. She's also a shark nerd, and thinks she'd survive giving a Great White a nose boop.

Links:
Website
Instagram