Interview with Andrew Pyper (Mason Coile): Horror/Sci-fi writer

Following the Dread Con 2024 event (September 11), we were very fortunate to conduct written interviews with several authors from the convention's first edition. After saving these interviews for a long time, and while we took a break, today we finally took them out of our safe so they can finally see the light of day. And who better to start off this section than renowned writer Andrew Pyper, also known as Mason Coile, a bestselling Canadian author who, sadly, is no longer with us, but whose work and legacy will live on forever. Join us for this sweet and short interview.

Famous for his novels The Demonologist, The Homecoming, and Lost Girls, as well as his last books, William and Exiles, under the pseudonym Mason Coile, Andrew has given us many Canadian horror and sci-fi literary gems. We were fortunate enough to meet Andrew on the panel “Incognito: Writing as you but as someone else," where he gave more insight into why writing under a different name was a need for him. In this interview, we asked personal questions about likes and affinities, touching on the differences between his two pen names, his horror inspirations, and many other topics. Andrew gives us a brief and beautiful glimpse into his life, for which we will always be grateful.

SINISTER CUPCAKES: Please introduce yourself, and please tell us any pen names or pseudonyms you write under.

AP: Andrew Pyper. I also write sci-fi/horror under the name Mason Coile.

SC: Tell us where you're from and any details about your background or past you wish to share

AP: Born and raised in Stratford, Ontario. Completed a BA and MA at McGill University and a law degree at UofT.

SC: What are some of your favourite horror authors or books, and why?

AP: Peter Straub, Ghost Story (deep backstory and rich characterization), Henry James, Turn of the Screw (sustained ambiguity), Shirley Jackson, Haunting of Hill House (bold reach into the unnameable, the uncanny).

SC: What are some of your favourite horror movies and why?

AP: The Shining (it's "big movie" scale, its cinematic sophistication); The Silence of the Lambs (pure thriller, but driven by horror); Midsommar (shifting tones, the brilliant main performance).

SC: What do you like to do for Halloween? What are your favourite aspects of the spooky season?

AP: I'm the dad at the door, giving out candy!

SC: Now that we have broken the ice... How would you describe your writing style?

AP: I was more of a maximalist in my earlier novels, but now (especially as Mason Coile) I'm interested in precision, clarity, brevity.

SC: What are your favourite aspects of horror in general?

AP: Fear is exciting and also deeply revealing. To explore it is to make one's text more involving on a number of levels.

SC: What are your horror inspirations?

AP: Peter Straub. Shirley Jackson. Henry James.

SC: When do you think your passion for horror and literature started? Is there a certain event or period that you can say started your captivation with it?

AP: I read widely as a kid, and horror was in the mix right from the beginning. My captivation comes from the way it allowed me to see the "normal" world around me in bending shapes and hidden shadows.

SC: What do you see as the biggest challenges of being an author in the horror realm?

AP: Horror has always been pushed to the outside borderlands of the bookstore. Even now, in the midst of a high point for horror, big publishers generally won't let horror occupy the mainstream. All of this is beyond the reach of horror authors themselves, of course.

SC: Do you have any rituals or a specific creative process while you write?

AP: Not really. I try to work first thing in the morning. I get stupider as the day goes on.

SC: What's the most important lesson you have learned about writing?

AP: Edit the work more than you think it needs. Because it needs it.

SC: Which of your own books is your favourite or the one you are most proud of? 

AP: They're my children! I love them all!

SC: Who is your favourite character from your books?

AP: Right now it's probably William, the robot from WILLIAM.

SC: Which is your newest book?

AP: WILLIAM

SC: What are you working on now?

AP: Outlining a new idea that may turn into a Mason Coile novel.

SC: Where can people find your books, and how can they find out more about you?

AP: www.andrewpyper.com

SC: Okay, now for the hard questions. What separates you from other horror writers? 

AP: Gosh. Probably my breadth of topics.

SC: What would you say is the most strange or unusual thing that has happened to you?

AP: Not to be shared.

SC: What is the one question you always want to be asked but never do? 

AP: What is your definition of success?

We are so thankful to Andrew for giving us the opportunity to reach out to him and have this amazing experience. As it has been one year since his tragic passing, we certainly remember him as an iconic figure in modern Canadian Horror literature, and his legacy will live forever. For more information about Andrew's work, you can find more information and other interviews here. As a bonus, you can check out one of our favourite interviews with Andrew from Steve Stred's perspective at this link.

If you are interested in learning more about this and other authors, we recommend you follow this blog closely for more interviews to come and new announcements for the Dread Con convention in 2026, where many authors will be featured, with panels, new book launches, more than 50 vendors, and this year will be the first two-day edition! We look forward to seeing you there. This was Dualia, and I thank you for joining me on this journey. I wish you all a good night.

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