H.C. Ricci — an interview with the author of How to Avoid Your Problems
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Any weird things going on in your home lately, H.C.?
I’m continuously clearing black gunk out of my bathroom sink, but it keeps coming back, almost immediately. I suspect it’s evolving.
If you had to use a word that was not a color to describe how the portal looked, what comes to mind?
Radiant, and blindingly so. Or, maybe more of a shimmering iridescence?
How do you think Doug’s therapist reacts the next time he walks into their office?
I don’t know. But I suppose, if I had to start over and rewrite it, I might set it in the therapist’s office and use that setting to frame the narrative, maybe even embedding the story inside a dialogue between Doug and his therapist, selectively teasing out the details bit by bit.
What do you think is actually going on in Doug’s head when he sees himself in the mirror? Does he recognize something is off? Is he completely subsumed by whatever has taken over?
Like all stories, it’s up to the reader to decide. I’d like to think that Doug’s denial has given way to a sort of radical acceptance. I suppose you could also interpret it as regression and further denial. Perhaps there’s more lurking beneath the surface.
My words hold a mirror to your own beliefs. Are you an optimist, a pessimist, an out-of-the-box thinker who likes to slap your own uncanny and totally unhinged ending on things?
What’s a great short story you’ve read recently?
“Moon Drama” by Ashlee Lhamon. I don’t often laugh out loud when I’m reading, but with a premise like that you can’t help but giggle. Also, “Make Westing” by Jack London.
What book are you reading right now?
Carl’s Doomsday Scenario from the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. I love the tone and voice, but could do with a few less stats.