How did “Apolépisi: A De-Scaling” originate? What inspirations did you draw on?

The initial framework for this story came from me thinking about the Little Mermaid fairy tale and wondering what her story would look like if turning into a human wasn’t a deal or a choice but rather a transformation she was always destined to go through. How would that gradual change play out and affect her, her family and community? I had also been thinking about the old movie: Creature from the Black Lagoon and how poignant the underwater scenes in that movie are. The creature is such a lonely figure and his loneliness comes across without any words. That performance haunts me all the time. When I imagine the characters in this story they look like the Creature from the Lagoon.

Generally, 2021 was a difficult year for me personally. A lot of the emotional content of this story comes from me getting over a broken heart, my own grappling with gender and my feelings around my mother’s reaction to me coming out to her. I think we tend to build up the biggest expectations around our hopes and plans for our lives with the people we love. The bulk of this story is largely me processing how people reacted to me when I did not meet their expectations.

What are you reading lately? What writers inspire you?

I’ve been reading a lot of horror short story collections. Over the Summer, I read We Are Here to Hurt Each Other by Paula D. Ashe and Convulsive by Joe Koch as well as the poetry collection Saint of Witches by Avra Margariti. They were all stunning. I’ve also become a big fan of Hailey Piper and adore her book Queen of Teeth. I am currently finishing off Nghi Vo’s The Chosen and the Beautiful. I love Vo’s novellas and work generally.

As for who inspires me, I think I’ll forever be indebted to A.C. Wise’s short stories. When I first began writing, I zeroed in on her as someone whose style and voice I liked. I am a big fan of Clara Madrigano and H. Peuyo who are horror short story writers based in Brazil. They write the kind of horror I aspire to create. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my Trinidadian peers such as R.S.A. Garcia and Shari Paul who both write phenomenal Caribbean science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Finally, I love the work coming out of markets such as Fiyah, Baffling Magazine, Apparition Lit, and Anathema: Spec Fic from the Margins. I’m inspired everywhere really. Every time I click on a story link and read, I learn something. I’m spoiled for sources of inspiration.

What is your writing space like? What do you like to have around for optimal creativity?

I write at my desk in an alcove in the upstairs hallway of my house. It is my favourite place in the world and I spend a lot of time there. I bought the desk with money I earned from selling short stories. I never say things like this, but I’m very proud that the desk I write on was paid for by writing. I keep Poison Ivy comics and prints of illustrations that accompany some of my published work within reach. I have art and letters friends have sent me in the drawers. There’s a bookshelf with all of the books that are important to me against the wall to my left. I usually have a cup of tea or a can of Dr. Pepper to drink while I’m working.

I can’t focus without music. I always have headphones on. I have a form of synesthesia where I see shapes and forms and a kind of flow when I listen to music. Whenever I write, I pair these visual impressions with the mood, tone, and plot of the story. When I feel that the narrative “movement” of the story matches the flow of the song I’m writing it to, I know I’ve finished my draft.

Other than writing, do you have any other creative pursuits? What do you do to relax?

Is gardening a creative pursuit? In the spring and summer I spend a lot of time growing vegetables. I love everything about plants. They’re such miracles. If I had been a better math student I would have studied botany in university. I like to draw a lot though I’m not exceptional at it. I try and practice a bit here and there when I can get a moment. I’ve been practicing my ukulele a lot. I’ve improved but am still not ready to give a concert! I don’t know if I ever just relax but these things take my mind off of writing or writing-related work occasionally.

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

Fans! I never thought of myself as having fans before. I’m working with dave ring at Neon Hemlock on getting my dark fantasy/horror short story collection, Skin Thief ready for publication in fall 2023. The collection will include my published work as well as an unpublished novelette called “Kill Jar” which I am excited for everyone to read. It’s a lesbian gothic horror set in a secluded mansion in the early 1900s. The story has a greenhouse, a cemetery, poison kisses, and a terrible family secret—everything I adore writing about!

In addition to the collection, my novella is currently on submission and hopefully I’ll have more news for everyone about that very soon. I do have a couple of solicited short stories to complete which should be due out in 2023 as well. Finally, I’m working on a Gothic novel which is also set in the early 1900s. It’s quite ambitious but I’m hoping to be finished writing it by the end of this year if everything goes to plan!