Author M. Lopes da Silva’s story The Parasitium is an excellent addition to our Dark Spores anthology! This is an author who clearly understood the assignment when we asked for spore themed horror and also took into consideration just what our press stands for, showcasing diversity, inclusion, equality, and fantastic writing.
This anthology works as an amazing example of where we are in the world, and that is exactly what we wanted. But I could talk about that all day. Instead, let’s hear from M. Lopes da Silva!
Buds of fruit broke through the surface of scar tissue like spring growth cutting through a thaw.
The Parasitium by M. Lopes da Silva, 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 (M. Lopes da Silva): The tension between queer loneliness and the vulnerability of seeking community is something I encounter out in the world and think about a lot. People are often quick to disassociate or seek harmful communities or things that only temporarily feel good before doing the deep work of healing and reaching out to others. To me, that is both deeply tragic and horrifying.
Q: Why do you write horror? What about the genre appeals to you as an author?
A: I write horror because I believe that understanding what we fear, and why we fear it, can be incredibly meaningful, and even help us transcend from living in a state of anxiety and fear.
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 don’t usually think about genre while writing, and leave that up to the readers to determine. As a reader considering my own work critically, I would probably categorize “The Parasitium” as trans literary body horror. I believe that a lot of trans horror authors are frequently drawn to body horror because we have experienced the horror of being confined in a form that does not align with our genders – I am no exception to this.
Q: What do you love about mushrooms? What drew you to this anthology?
A: There’s a lot of things to love about mushrooms, from their gills to their weird mycelium networks. I have a lifelong passion for all things biological and strange; this anthology felt like a good fit.
Q: When you’re not writing, what might we find you doing? (Free time or for a day job?)
A: I’m currently studying to be a scientific illustrator. You can purchase some of the designs that I make as stickers at https://www.fullmoon.market – as well as my handmade soaps and cool things like pins and clothing that one of my partners, Afton, designs. I also teach poetry workshops as part of the Trans/gressive Writers’ Workshop.
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: Currently I’m in the middle of writing a couple of novels (if I only have one “big project” going on I can sometimes get unfocused/distracted so two is the minimum), collecting some of my poetry into a chapbook, and looking for a home for a trans western anticapitalist splatterpunk novella I wrote last year, as well as a home for a non-binary western narrative poem I finished this spring. I’m currently collaborating to create some fascinating performance pieces that combine dance with poetry. I also have some short stories and poems coming out soon in various publications – if you’re interested I give updates about these releases on my Instagram.
About The Author
M. Lopes da Silva (he/they/she) is a polyamorous, bisexual, and non-binary trans masc author and artist from Los Angeles. He writes pulp and poetry, and lectures about the political power of desire. His poetry can be found in Eye to the Telescope, The Dread Machine, and Electric Literature. Weirdpunk Books just released his collection of heartbreaking and exquisite trans and queer horror stories, Infinity Mathing at the Shore and Other Disruptions, March of 2024.
You can also find him on BlueSky
Be sure to check out their story in Dark Spores.
Crone Girls Press 