Shannon Scott’s story, Foraging, is a gripping tale of mystery, horror, and psychological terror. When new parents find their babies toes have simply gone missing, they are left lost, confused, and forever changed… I loved the addition of medical staff that didn’t grasp the urgency and even did not believe any drama was occurring — I’ve seen that first hand so often that the character’s response was just splendid! This story delves into the life new parents live and explores just how far a mother would go for their baby.
āThey had not discovered a candy house or a witch, just a lot of plants and animals and the dead tree.ā
Foraging by Shannon Scott, 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 (Shannon Scott): We had a wet summer and something fungal popped out in the hedge. So creepy, so fascinating. I couldn’t stop snapping photos with my phone and sending them to grossed out family and friends.
Q: Why do you write horror? What about the genre appeals to you as an author?
A: I find horror relaxing. Reading and writing it. I’m a Scorpio.
Q: What do you love about mushrooms? What drew you to this anthology?
A: Mushrooms are so alive, so connected to the earth. I love to eat them finely chopped and baked in bread. I think they’re just as beautiful as flowers, even though they’re not trying to attract any attention. They are a secretive species. So am I.
Q: When you’re not writing, what might we find you doing? (Free time or for a day job?)
A: Prepping for my classes–my new course this semester is “The American Crimes Films of Martin Scorsese.”
Q: What’s next in your writing journey?
A: My dream is to write a trashy neo-Victorian horror novel.
About The Author
Shannon Scott is an English Professor in the Twin Cities. She has contributed essays to collections published by Manchester UP, Routledge, Palgrave, and Bloomsbury. Shannon has also published short fiction inĀ Nightmare Magazine,Ā Coppice and Brake,Ā Nightscript,Ā The Other Stories, andĀ Water~Stone. She is co-editor ofĀ Terrifying Transformations: An Anthology of Victorian Werewolf Fiction, 1838-1896Ā and has created two lecture series on the horror genre for Audible.
Be sure to check out their story in Dark Spores
Crone Girls Press 