People like to ask how writers come up with ideas, so I want to continue sharing “behind the scenes” tidbits! Here are fun facts on stories featured in my new anthology The Misery King’s Country. While I won’t divulge huge spoilers in this blog, be advised, it’s more fun to read the story before you read “behind the misery.”
The Misery King’s Country (2023)—NEW to this anthology is the titular tale, which serves as my Rod Serling-style flash fiction intro. This is a sibling story to “The Misery King’s Closet,” which kicked off my previous collection. Fun fact: I confess that I hadn’t initially realized I was co-opting the name “King” and pairing it with one of Stephen King’s most famous works Misery. I consider it a happy, subconscious, accidental homage to the first adult horror author who I gravitated toward as a young reader—though I admit as of this writing I haven’t read Misery (shame on me). The first King novel I ever read in 6th grade was The Dead Zone, which absolutely captivated me. I haven’t locked in the theme of my next Misery King Anthology, but I’m considering The Misery King’s Courtship, The Misery King’s Machine, The Misery King’s Christmas, or The Misery King’s Halloween. If you have a preference, let me know!
Chickenscratch (2016)—First published in Double Feature Magazine, this story was born from a “six-word” writing exercise at the Brookfield Writers Group. Every writer in the group submitted a word and six were chosen at random. I can’t recall all six words anymore (“honeycomb” and “bubbles” are still in there), but the story never would have materialized without the Brookfield group. My Brookfield colleagues were also instrumental in having the story workshopped (and re-workshopped!) Chickenscratch is also one of the few “zombie” stories I’ve written. Given how much great zombie fiction is out there, I try only to write a zombie story if I feel like I’ve got an interesting or unexpected angle. Chickenscratch also reflects an odd trope in my writing in which someone skewers something with a pitchfork in a barn. I don’t know why that scenario keeps coming up in my stories, but if you want to read a very different story about a pitchfork stabbing, check out “She’s Comin’ With Me” in Valentine Terror Tales!
Axman’s Bridge (2019)—This 100-word drabble, first published at The Horror Tree, is tied to an urban legend I heard as a high-schooler in Chicago’s South Suburbs. Go ahead and Google “Axman’s Bridge Crete IL” because the real story is certainly creepier than mine, but it made for a good basis for a short shocker where ghost hunters bite off more than they can chew.
Knife Salesman (2023)—First published by Rooster Republic Press as part of their Two-thousand Word Terrors. I first came up with the salesman character, and he and his case of deadly instruments clattered around my brain for a few years before the rest of the tale came together. I originally envisioned this as a short film, so here’s hoping someday someone will make one!
That’s all for today, but I’ll share more “Behind the Misery” notes in the coming weeks. THANK YOU to everyone who has picked up a copy of The Misery King’s Country. I greatly appreciate the readership and look forward to hearing what you think. Remember to review!
