Kim Goldie’s film

“People in general, whether they choose to show it or not, can be quite judgmental. I think it’s part of human nature, it’s easy to single people out if they’re dressed a little unusual or a bit outlandish,” says Kim. That feeling is one of the reasons she founded Heywood’s first ever Horror Con, called Horrorwood. “I wanted to create a space where it didn’t matter.” and she’s proud that Horrorwood supports the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in their work to stamp out prejudice, hatred, and intolerance, and create a culture of inclusivity and respect.

“I wanted to put on the kind of event that I would want to go to, with the things I’d want to see and the atmosphere I’d want to feel. And it just kind of went crazy.” Her instincts proved right: around 600 people turned up to the first event. “I think deep down, not many people admit it, but a lot of people enjoy that kind of adrenaline rush, they love that feeling of, ‘Oh my God, this is terrifying.’”

Kim credits her dad for sparking her love of horror. “He’s a prolific reader and a big fan of the old Hammer Horror films, and we used to watch them together.” In her teens and early twenties, though, she often struggled to fit in. “I was into stuff that most people my age weren’t into.”

By her mid-twenties, she stopped trying. “It was a lot of energy wasted pretending to enjoy things I didn’t. I threw myself into what I loved, and when you do that, you find your own crowd.”

It’s a lesson she’s now passing on to her children. “I try to encourage my kids as much as I can just to be themselves.” She believes it’s just as vital for adults. “Your creative expression is who you want to be, and how you’d like the world to see you. If you don’t get to express that, it can make for a depressing adulthood. Finding a space to be yourself, surrounded by like-minded people, is good for you and for society as a whole.”

Her leap of faith with Horrorwood has since grown into a new venture, Distant Screams, which she runs with her partner. They’ve built a business around event planning, set building and scare acting, with ambitions to expand Horrorwood and move into set production for theatre and film. Kim’s advice to anyone wondering if they should take their own creative plunge? “If you think you can do it, give it a go.”

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