If you know my writing at all, you probably know I write emotionally dark stuff that doesn’t quite dip over into horror. However, being a part of the Inkubator community has challenged me to stretch my wings and try a variety of styles and genres.

Over the past year I’ve written perhaps three borderline horror shorts that I’m proud of. It’s made me realize that horror has many subgenres and I like dark, thrilling images.

The other day I was talking with a friend of mine, and he mentioned the phrase “to eat crow.” I had no idea what he was talking about. Turns out, the phrase comes from a story written in the early 1900s about a man who says he can eat anything. It has come to mean the same as eating one’s words or eating a slice of humble pie.

I loved the phrase. It niggled into my head and demanded I write a story about it.

So I had a girl needing to eat a crow. That’s about it.

However, I talked to one of my other friends and she reminded me about a terrifying story her sister had recently shared with her. This involved a crow flying into the window just as she had her fortune read. Sound familiar?

I knew this had to be the story of Lucy Pemgrass. Once I had those two pieces, it flowed easily. One of those absolute treats to write.

The second treat came yesterday when I learned it had taken first place in the Tales from the Moonlit Path contest. You can read the story there, and I would love to hear what you think of it.