6-1-2026 Latham's Last Words: Pride Month Interviews: Erica Summers
- Donna Latham
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
It's Pride Month and I've gathered some interviews with some amazing LGBTQIA+ authors which I will be posting throughout the month.
Our first interview is Erica Summers. A wonderful human being that I am so happy that I've gotten a chance to meet in person. She is always a joy to be around and her writing is phenomenal.
Tell us a little about yourself.
My real name is Erica Summers but I also write fiction under the pen names Odessa Alba and Trixie Fairdale as well to keep my work separated a bit for readers. I write horror, non-fiction, romance, cozy mystery, fantasy, and children's books. I was born in Wyoming and moved to central Florida for a while and then to Louisiana for about a decade. I now live by the beach in Connecticut where I spend all of my free time solving cold case file games, putting together puzzles, kayak fishing, and spending whole days in my vegetable garden. I am a cancer survivor, a long-time painter and digital artist, a conservationist, a raccoon and opossum rehabber, animal fanatic, and a filmmaker and grip on movie sets. I call myself a "Jill of all trades, yet a master of none."
How important do you think queer representation in horror is?
I think it is extremely important to have queer representation in not just horror, but in all genres. I, myself, am extremely bisexual so to me, it is as natural having queer characters in my books as it is being friends with many in real life. I have always been interested in queer representation in horror, as well. In fact, many years ago, when I made my first horror feature film "Sins of the Flesh" it featured lesbian characters even back then (some 20+ years ago).
Tell us about your most recent release, or an upcoming release.
My most recent horror release is a collection of my short stories called The Rictus Grin and Other Tales of Insanity. My most recent non-horror releases were Mojitos & Murder (Book 2 of the Uma Blanchard Cozy Mystery Series), Size Doesn't Matter (a non-fiction gardening book), and a children's book called An Earth Day Adventure (The Choice is Yours Book 6). Currently, I am working on a cozy mystery series with my sister, Heather Wohl, who is also LGBTQIA+ and I have plans to write a sequel for my debut horror novel, Mantis, (about a hilarious bisexual trying to stop a demon apocalypse) in the coming months, although I don't yet have a release date for that. I am also currently outlining book 3 of my Uma Blanchard Cozy Mystery Series and book 4 of my New England Billionaire's spicy romance series. I just wish there were twice as many hours in the day for writing!
Which character you've created is your favorite and why?
Mantis is hands-down my favorite character I've ever created. She is a more unfiltered version of my tacky, trashy self and I think she's just hysterical, as do most people who have checked out that (somewhat obscure) novel. I also love Uma Blanchard from my cozy mystery series because she is basically Mantis, only 69 years old and Cajun.
Where can readers find your books?
Worldwide. All of my books are available on Amazon and many of them are also available in brick-and-mortar stores worldwide as well as Kobo, Smashwords, Apple, and Barnes & Noble. But searching any of my pen names on Amazon should lead you to a treasure trove of goodies!
Where can readers follow you on Social Media?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keekaproductions/
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