By Griffin Raynor
“There is a dark corner in my room, and the shadow
cast across my walls and carpet is far larger
than it should be, far deeper than it usually is.”
So, my story, A Heavy Hug – quoted above – is going to be in an Improbable Press Anthology, Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging.
This anthology is centered around cryptids of all types, both existing and invented, but with an emphasis on emerging – and on the more positive side of cryptids – creatures that laugh; creatures that love; creatures that humans can actually, perhaps, gaze upon without terror.
My creature embodies a need that all humans have: warmth, comfort, safety. I tried to envision a cryptid that I would want around. I love horror, and I love hurt/comfort, so this was the most natural thing in the world for me to write.
I’m very excited and grateful for this opportunity, as this is my first story to get professionally published anywhere! I've been working for the last several months on writing more short stories, improving my skills, and submitting to lots of different mags and journals in that well-known struggle to get my words out there.
I actually almost didn't submit A Heavy Hug – I had started it and then gotten caught up in work and life and other writing and procrastinated until I only had the day-of to finish editing and send it in, and I nearly talked myself out of it. I'm glad I didn't, because this is gonna remind me for a long time that we miss 100% of the chances we don't take.
Improbable Press has been a joy to work with in this process! I love the enthusiasm for this project and I can't wait to see the finished anthology. I can’t even imagine how I’m going to feel when I hold these books in my hands, but I’m almost certainly gonna cry a little (or a lot). I can’t wait.
Griffin Reynor is a writer and editor from Texas. They enjoy all kinds of fiction, and have lately been drawn to horror and all manners of darkness. Griffin is also a big fan of games, science fiction, and making and collecting weird jewelry. You can find them on Twitter @ERaynor1 to see more of their rambling and occasionally, writing. Griffin's story "A Heavy Hug" appears soon in Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging (Volume Blue).