How did “We’ll Never Die in the Woods” originate? What inspirations did you draw on?

“Diamonds & Toads” was one of my favorite fairy tales when I was young. I think I just liked the visual of roses and snakes falling out of people’s mouths. (Still do, TBH.) When I reread it as an adult, though, I was struck by how sorry I felt for the oldest daughter. Sure, she’s a jerk, but she also A) gets cursed to spit out toads and vipers every time she talks, B) gets kicked out of her home, and C) dies all alone in some dark corner of the woods—and all because she’s rude one time when she gives this (supposed) rich lady some water? Hell, she doesn’t even refuse the request! She just isn’t polite about it. I’m not above feasting on some just desserts, but this feels like an overreaction.

Combine that with an abused, vulnerable girl who marries the very first person who’s kind to her, and a dude who supposedly falls in love with this total stranger who just happens to be an endless source of wealth? Yeah. It didn’t take long for the fix-it fic to bloom within me.

What is your writing process like? Did this story fit the pattern?

If we can define my writing process as “writes at three a.m. when only the bats are still awake and constantly muttering, ‘Curses! The word count has exploded again!’” Then sure, this pretty much fits the pattern.

Is there anything you want to make sure readers noticed?

I mean. It’s a silly thing. But I felt strongly that the younger, sweeter sister should also be the one who swears more.

What are you reading lately? What writers inspire you?

Lately, I’ve been bouncing between queer horror (Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle, Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White) and Japanese mysteries (Don’t Call It Mystery by Yumi Tamura, The Mill House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji, The Village of Eight Graves by Seishi Yokomizo).

As far as writers who inspire me . . . so many short fiction writers, honestly. Isabel J. Kim has published an incredible amount of fantastic work over the last two years. Dominique Dickey’s “Who The Final Girl Becomes” is a wonderful exploration of identity and trauma. Easily one of my favorite stories I’ve read in 2023. And Suzan Palumbo has yet to write a story that I didn’t absolutely love. I’m really looking forward to reading her debut collection Skin Thief. (Hopefully, I’ll have already done so by the time this interview comes out!)

What are you working on lately? Where else can fans look for your work?

Lately, I’ve been splitting my time between writing ghost stories, fanfic, and a weird little novel about road trips and corpse art. My story “15 Eulogies Scribbled Inside a Hello Kitty Notebook” was recently reprinted in We’re Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2022. You can also find it in my collection You Fed Us to the Roses, published by Robot Dinosaur Press. And a full list of my published and upcoming works is available here on my blog.