An Engagement of Long Standing reminds the reader of a true, classic, holiday horror and it is especially perfect this close to Christmas.
Evalyn ran with him, struggling not to slip. The five blocks to their building’s entrance seemed like five kilometers.
The wind picked up. They both swung around the corner, hands clutched tight. Both of them had something to feel guilty about.
This couldn’t be happening to her. This couldn’t be real. She kicked aside a Scrumpy’s cider bottle. She didn’t dare look over her shoulder.
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” Christian panted in between whistling breaths.
“God forgive me,” Evalyn gasped out. “Please!”
Story by , featured in Tangle & Fen: A Dark Fiction Anthology (p. 184-285). Crone Girls Press.
Q (Crone Girls Press): What inspired your story in this anthology? Tell us the “story behind the story.”
A (Author): M. R. James’s essay, “Stories I Have Tried to Write”, was one source of inspiration, and I thought use the Christmas Cracker as a jumping off point for a tale set in the hear and now. The other was a news item about a woman dying from exposure because salvation army refused to let her into their shelter.
Q: Why do you write horror? What about the genre appeals to you as an author?
A: I write horror because I have more ideas for short horror stories than any other genre. It’s the easiest one to come by inspiration for and set the right mood in to me. I also want to write the kind of story I’d like to read, and I’m very picky about horror so there’s a lot of gaps for me to fill in.
Q: There are a number of different flavors of horror. Where does your story fit, and what drew you to this particular category?
A: I would classify this as a good old Ghost Story. The author who inspired me chose the Ghost Story as the horror area to investigate and I wanted to follow in that vein.
Q: The world has been through some turbulent times in the past few years. How have current events changed (or not!) your approach to the genre as a writer?
A: I’ve tried to increase my productivity in response to the isolation, at least during the second year of the pandemic. I also gained inspiration for one story from a pandemic-induced nightmare. On the whole though, I think I tend to write stories to provide escape from current events more than commentary on them.
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: I have a recently finished anti-imperialist fantasy novel to edit, and I’d like to knock out some short stories before my next big project, but honestly I’m in a bit of a creative dry spell. Maybe I’ll be able to whip “Bobby Higgins and the Cult of Blood” into shape, but maybe not.
About The Author
Spencer Koelle lives in a Philadelphia rowhouse with his partner, his roommate, and four orange cats. He enjoys scary movies, fake meat, and red wine. His website is www.spencerkoelle.com and his twitter handle is @KoelleSpencer. Spencer Koelle is an out and proud bisexual who startles easily and bites when cornered.
Be sure to check out their story in Tangle & Fen: A Dark Fiction Anthology
Crone Girls Press 