Author Jamie Lackey’s story, Swamp Fever, hit me to my core. I think anyone who grew up in a family that felt trapped, in a family that had one member trapping them specifically will feel themselves in this story, and the message it brings… it’s a horror story, it truly is, but it has a beauty to it. A dignity that surpasses the fear of what all is going on, a reminder that even outside this fictional world we can do battle in many different ways. Let’s hear more from the author about what her thoughts were as she spun this tale.
“I’m sure we’ve all thought about it. About walking down to the swamp and giving up on being people.”
Swamp Fever by Jamie Lackey, 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 (Jamie Lackey): This story is inspired by my grandfather, and a lot of the details are pulled directly from my life, which isn’t something I do often. I lived next door to him growing up, and he’s never been a kind person. He is currently very old and very mean and is using his control over the family farm to make my father and brother miserable. This story was born from a combination of my anger over that whole situation and a coworker from Arizona telling me about Valley Fever, which is a lung infection caused by breathing in spores, and if it isn’t the perfect seed for a horror story, I don’t know what is.
Q: Why do you write horror? What about the genre appeals to you as an author?
A: I think my favorite thing about writing horror is the language I get to use to set the tone of a dark story. There’s something uniquely evocative about description in horror, something that speaks to a deep, primal thing in my soul. I love how you can describe an everyday thing and make it terrifying by using just the right words.
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 call this story folk horror, which I’m drawn to due to my own background (I grew up on a dirt road in rural PA) and my fascination with nature.
Q: What do you love about mushrooms? What drew you to this anthology?
A: I took a mushroom foraging class a handful of years ago, and I was instantly hooked. Everything about mushrooms is fascinating. How much mycelium is threading through the topsoil and how the network passes nutrients around. The fact that you can taste a poisonous mushroom and still be safe (probably) as long as you spit it out. The way dryad’s saddle does actually smell like watermelon rind. Mushrooms are just so NEAT. They do so many things! And so many of them are so beautiful. So of course I had to write a story for this book, and I’m excited to read everyone else’s stories!
Q: When you’re not writing, what might we find you doing? (Free time or for a day job?)
A: I love to travel and hike and forage for mushrooms. I play tabletop RPGs, read a lot, and crochet when the weather is cool. I watch anime and like going to the movies. I like to cook and bake, especially with friends or family. My day job is in customer service.
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: I am working on a sequel to my novella The Forest God, which is one of my favorite things that I’ve written.
About The Author
Jamie Lackey lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their cats. She has had over 200 short stories published in places like Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex Magazine, and Escape Pod, and she has a novella and two short story collections available from Air and Nothingness Press. She has also self-published a novel, two novellas, a novelette, and three short story collections. In addition to writing, she spends her time reading, playing tabletop RPGs, and hiking.
Find her online:
https://bsky.app/profile/jamielackey.bsky.social
https://twitter.com/anyaselena
https://www.facebook.com/TheBooksThatJamieWrote
https://www.instagram.com/jamierlackey/
Be sure to check out their story in Dark Spores
Crone Girls Press 