REMAINS TO BE TOLD – An interview with Kiwi author Jacqui Greaves 

In this unique interview series, we chat with the contributors of Kiwi horror anthology Remains to Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, edited by five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Lee Murray (Clan Destine Press, 1 October). 

Today, we welcome author Jacqui Greaves, whose historical short story “Fires of Fate” appears in the anthology. 

Tell us about your story in the anthology.  

One of the walls of the Āpiti Tavern used to feature a blown-up photograph of a settler woman doing her washing. It was taken some time in the 1890’s, and the subject was Angela Jacobs. Behind Angela is a rough wooden fence, rumoured to hold ghostly faces. In the background is a glimpse of remnants of a burnt forest.  

My inspiration for “Fires of Fates” grew from that photo. Very little is known about Angela, or most other women settlers. Women gained the vote in Aotearoa in 1893, around the time the photo was taken. By that time, large swathes of the country had been cleared for agriculture by fire. Āpiti was one of the last remaining pockets of virgin forest left in the Manawatu.  

One of my favourite books growing up was a collection of myths and legends. It intrigues me how myths and legends from around the world share similarities. They are stories, which explain fundamental truths.  

I also love things being out of place: whales swimming in the sky; historical characters in the wrong time; elves in space. So, I introduced powerful women in the form of the Fates and Furies from Greek mythology into the ongoing conflict between Tāne-nui-a-Rangi and Tāwhirimātea.  

In Greek mythology, Prometheus stole the secret of fire from the gods and gifted it to humans in the form of a fire-drill. In Māori myth, Māui did much the same thing. In the process, he required the assistance of Tāwhirimātea, and fire ended up being stored in Tāne’s trees–to be released using a fire-drill.  

Brownie is the voice of so many men I’ve met. By the simple biological accident of being born, and recognised, as men, the Brownies of this world have rights and privileges never afforded to the Angela’s. The Brownies are not clever and they’re not brave, but they think they are. In “Fires of Fate”, despite the evidence of his own experience, Brownie believes he is a master of fire. The Gods disagree, and as for Prometheus, his punishment is meted out by birds of prey. 

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REMAINS TO BE TOLD – An interview with Kiwi author Helena Claudia 

In this unique interview series, we chat with the contributors of Kiwi horror anthology Remains to Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, edited by five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Lee Murray (Clan Destine Press, 1 October). 

Today, we welcome author Helena Claudia, whose historical short story “I’m a Gemini” appears in the anthology. 

Tell us about your story in the anthology.  

I was interested in writing about the “horror” that manifests in the heads and actions of people who have an incredibly negative reception of the world, such as our unnamed protagonist, who suffers from PTSD, drawing on my own experience. New Zealand is in the midst of a mental health crisis, and accessing help is particularly difficult for younger people and students who rely on overburdened university services. Our protagonist has suffered a great personal loss and is deeply combative and critical of everyone she encounters, yet still holds a deep desire to be appreciated by them. She generally wants the same things as the people around her, but her desire to protect herself prevents her from trusting them. The only way forward she can see is back.  

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REMAINS TO BE TOLD – An interview with Kiwi author Gina Cole 

In this unique interview series, we chat with the contributors of Kiwi horror anthology Remains to Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, edited by five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Lee Murray (Clan Destine Press, 1 October). 

Today, we welcome award-winning author Gina Cole, whose murderous short story “Blind Date” appears in the anthology. 

Tell us about your story in the anthology.  

My story “Blind Date” began as a very creepy short film script about murder and assassination. In the process of editing and turning it into fiction I ramped up the horror aspect and it morphed into a completely different and terrifying story.  

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REMAINS TO BE TOLD: An interview with Kiwi author Denver Grenell
 

In this unique interview series, we chat with the contributors of Kiwi horror anthology Remains to Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, edited by five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Lee Murray (Clan Destine Press, 1 October). 

Today, we welcome Denver Grenell, whose action horror short story “Ngahere Gold” [Bush Gold] appears in the anthology. 

What, in your view, are the core elements of Aotearoa horror? What makes Kiwi horror unique? 

Our landscape, our history, and our voice—all of which are intertwined like a complex raranga / flax weaving. There is a darkness to the history of Aotearoa, which hangs over us like a long (white) cloud and often seeps into our art—from the cinema of unease to certain musical stylings and, of course, our written word. 

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REMAINS TO BE TOLD: An interview with Kiwi author Debbie Cowens 

In this unique interview series, we chat with the contributors of Kiwi horror anthology Remains to Be Told: Dark Tales of Aotearoa, edited by five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Lee Murray (Clan Destine Press, 1 October). 

Today, we welcome award-winning author Debbie Cowens, whose Lovecraftian short story “The Reaper Beetle” appears in the anthology. 

Please tell us about your story, Debbie.  

My story “The Reaper’s Beetle” was a hybrid of two separate story ideas. One was the horror version of an incident from my youth when a friend disappeared during the night on a school camp, and we found her out in the bush after she’d apparently sleep-walked of the cabin. The other was more focused on tensions that can arise when old school friends reunite, especially when the relationships haven’t matured, and people’s lives have gone in very different directions. The story also in some way reflects my aversion and discomfort with funerals. Ever since my father’s funeral when I was younger, I’ve found them an anxiety-inducing blend of overwhelming, personal grief and a polite, formal ceremony.  

The story is also inspired by Lovecraft, his tradition of dangerous consequences befalling those who delve too deeply into the study of dark, ancient mythos, and the reaper beetle itself owes part of its creation to his story ‘Winged Death’ amongst others.   

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