There are many wonderful and intriguing things about author Randee Dawn. The mushroom she chose as her “symbol” for this anthology lead us to having a struggle to ensure it wasn’t so phallic that we’d not get in trouble when posting to social media. (She chose Phallus impudicus) She has access to foxes, she writes for a living, she is capable of writing in many different genres, and her story, Pretty Maids All in a Row, is a story that had me enthralled from the first page. A woman turned wife and mother by a man who is more interested in his work trips than his actual family, finds herself with quite the unusual garden… And a gardener who tells her it craves blood, sweat, and tears, but just how true that comment is wasn’t something she’d ever imagined.
Mysterious, thick grasses with blunted ends and a carapace-like scale across their tips had wrapped around the corpse.
Pretty Maids All in a Row by Randee Dawn, featured in Dark Spores by Crone Girls Press.
Q (Crone Girls Press): What inspired your story in this anthology? Tell us the “story behind the story.”
A (Randee Dawn): I have a very teeny-tiny front yard in Brooklyn (not unlike my protagonist) and I was fascinated with some of the weeds and mushrooms that grew out of it. And I just felt like the nursery-rhyme title inspiration needed a story to go with it!
Q: Why do you write horror? What about the genre appeals to you as an author?
A: I don’t always write horror, but there’s something liberating about it, being able to unleash the id and go for it. I’ve been on panels where we discuss humor — my first novel is a humorous one, and not scary at all — and there’s kind of the same feeling there: How do we push this to (in “Spinal Tap” terms) 11? How far can you stretch it before it breaks? I do also read a lot of horror, and I just find the stories incredible satisfying — you get a lot of plot and solid characterization, but not so much “literary” faffing around.
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’d say revenge horror, but also plant-based and domestic horror. I don’t know if I have a reason for being drawn to the category, but I do like to draw on the things in my own life (not that my husband is like the story’s spouse!)
Q: What do you love about mushrooms? What drew you to this anthology?
A: They are delicious! And they are smart. I feel like we underestimate everything they can do. I have mushrooms in the story, so that pulled me into the anthology!
Q: When you’re not writing, what might we find you doing? (Free time or for a day job?)
A: I’m an entertainment journalist, so that involves a lot of writing — just a different kind. I also really love to travel, so going to as many cities and conventions as I can is a real treat for me.
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: I have two novels coming out via Arc Manor/Caezik in 2025: Dark fantasies called “The Only Song Worth Singing” and “Leave No Trace.” They’re not horror exactly, but they do explore the dark side of rock stars, Irish fae, and the power of music.
About The Author
Randee Dawn is the author of the Amazon bestselling funny, fantastical pop culture novel Tune in Tomorrow (Solaris). She’s the author of numerous short stories, and in 2025 Arc Manor will publish two of her novels: The Only Song Worth Singing and Leave No Trace. An entertainment journalist who writes for The Los Angeles Times, Variety and Today.com, Randee lives in Brooklyn with her spouse and a whole lot of books.
Find her online at: https://randeedawn.com/
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Be sure to check out their story in Dark Spores
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