Its a ghost story told four ways, the writer tells EW.
[Its] an exploration of who has the right to tell thest types of stories.
Do the fans own it?
Do the storytellers own it?
Do the stories that the people are about [own it]?
Do I even have the right to tell this story?
Im by no means off the hook here.
The novel is inspired by a true story.
There is a Little Witch Girl of Pilots Knob from Kentucky, says Chapman.
I turned it into Pilots Creek in Virginia, just to avoid any litigious witches.
Chapman was also influenced by a number of horror movies.
Below, the writer talks about the books five most important cinematic inspirations.
The Fog (1980)
CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN:I have to give credit toJohn CarpentersThe Fog.
Part one of the book is just a complete ripoff of that intro.
I love that first shot of the watch, and it snaps, and John Houseman.
It is one of my top five favorite horror films.
I remember finding the VHS and nobody had heard of it.
But I thought it was just such a wonderful kind of tone poem.
Its about a young woman who is relased from a sanatorium.
She and her husband move to a farmhouse that they get for a steal.
I remember the first time watchingBlair Witch, it was the same thing.
That was honestly the genesis for the whole book, because ofRinguand its remake.
So I looked to American folklore, and thats when I found the Little Witch Girl of Pilots Knob.
And what is it like to read a book about being aware of a book thats about a movie?
And I wanted to pay homage to Kevin Williamson and kind of bow down at this altar.
The Remakingis out now.
