WIHM 2026: Meet Sara Fitzgerald

Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.
 
My name is Sara Fitzgerald. I am new to horror, but I love it, and I’m off to a good start. I won First Place in the horror category in the Eagle Mountain Contest in 2025. I have two pieces in Darkness 102: Advanced Lessons Were Learned. I also have a horror short story in Twisted Tales and another short story coming out this fall in Collective Madness. I’m not quite sure it’s a true horror novel, but I have a terrifying serial killer in the book, Consumed, under my pen name, Vivian Cline.

What drew you to the horror genre?
 
I have always loved horror movies, one of the main things I have in common with my husband. About a year and a half ago, I was feeling stuck with my writing, basically bored. I saw that a nearby university had a horror writing course through continuing education. I liked the instructor, Johnny Worthen, and it was in October, which I thought was fun and scary. That was the start of my horror writing. 

What do you find scary within the horror genre?
 
What I find truly scary is body horror, for example, the movie The Ugly Stepsister. The kind of horror I love is monsters. For example, I loved the new Frankenstein movie on Netflix.
 
Who are some women in horror you think more people should discover?
 
Elizabeth Suggs. Not only is she a brilliant and talented horror writer, but she is also the publisher of Collective Tales Publishing. She creates anthologies with her partner, Jonathan Reddoch, that are truly horrifying. Plus, she is committed to showcasing diverse voices.

Where can folks find you these days?
 
The best way to keep track of me is on my Instagram page, @sarafitzgeraldbooks. If you are interested in my scary serial killer book, my pen name is Vivian Cline, and my novel is Consumed. Instagram page @vivianclineauthor.

Here are some links to my work;
 
Darkness 102: Advanced Lessons Were Learned
Twisted Tales
Consumed by Vivian Cline 

Bio:
Sara Fitzgerald is an award-winning, multi-published author. Sara has won numerous awards. Recently, she won the prestigious Gold Quill Award from the League of Utah Writers in 2025 for her novella Making a Mess of Things and the Silver Quill Award in 2024 for her novella A Kiss for Kate. She won first place in the horror category in the Eagle Mountain Writing Contest in 2025.
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Sara makes her home in Salt Lake City with her husband, daughter, and their zany American Eskimo dog, Glitter. She loves writing, watercolor painting, and spending time with her family.