K.A. Roy — an interview with the author of An All-Consuming Hobby
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Do you or anyone else in your household have any fish tanks?
I don't personally--not my thing--but my spouse has five 10-gallon tanks and one enormous 105-gallon tank. Currently. That number has waxed and waned over the years!
How many fish tanks is too many fish tanks?
Before upgrading to the 105-gallon, my house had anywhere from eight to twelve smaller tanks at a time. Most of them were shrimp tanks, to be fair, but anything above... let's say, two, is too many in my opinion. They might turn against you otherwise, you know?
Do you think the protagonist keeps the tanks? Are they not worried they might be next? Or could the hydra turn them into their care taker?
I think the protagonist does keep the tanks! There's something hypnotic about the life with in, perhaps something other-worldly, and I believe there's a likelihood they succumb to the same obsession as their spouse in the end.
In the world of this story, how far do you think the hydra could go if they aren't stopped? Could they consume the town? Take over the world?
With enough food, the possibilities are endless. And suppose the protagonist becomes meal number two, and then someone comes to check on the absence of the couple, and so on, the supply chain would more than provide the opportunity for expansion. Imagine an entire street coated in hydra! No thanks.
If you woke up one morning and your partner was completely consumed by something from a fish tank... what's your first move?
Take the kids and cats (assuming all have survived the carnivorous tank) and dip. The next obvious move would be to call in some kind of reinforcement, but I'm not sure an explanation would hold up with local cops, so I'd probably call my in-laws who are lawyers seeking guidance... and to deliver the bad news.
Lastly, since you're in the Chicago burbs... are you a smart Cubs fan or the enemy? Or if sports aren't your thing, how does it feel to be represented by Da Pope?
If I had to pick a baseball team, it would be the Cubs. Not to mention Wrigley Field has been great to me during summer concert season in recent past. However, in the realm of sports, I grew up in a hockey family and married into a football family, so I'm much more "Go Hawks!" And "Da Bears" than a Cubbie.
Also, pretty cool to have a Chicago Pope. I heard he voted in the midterms, so that's a brownie point in my book.
How many times has this story been rejected?
Seventeen times! Which is my lucky number, hey!
What’s one of your recent favorite short stories?
I'm going to have to give a shoutout to Proliferation by J.A. Bryson found in Haven Speculative Issue 25. It's a story I was lucky enough to first read as an associate editor and ended up making it to publication. If An All-Consuming Hobby is up someone's alley, Proliferation will be too! Botanical horror (particularly through the lens of motherhood) is a great love of mine.
What book are you reading right now?
I am currently reading The Elementals by Michael McDowell, which came highly recommended by several writer friends. I'm never reading just one book though, so I'm also listening to An American Marriage by Tayari Jones.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
This year I've had a few short works published: "Mother:Nature" in Waxen; "You, Who Will Carve it From Her" at Creepy Podcast; "Hand in Hand Among Ruins" in Gnome & Bone Magazine; "The PAT" in Enshrouded, A Horror Anthology. Upcoming work to keep an eye out for includes "Beneath the Eye of the Islet" at Tales to Terrify and, in January 2028, my novella "Failure to Dissolve" will release with Slashic Horror Press! I'm slow to update, but past works can be found through my website, kayleighroywrites.com