Shady Secrets Await
Fischer's debut novel shows why she will be around for a long time. She understands story structure. Above all else, the plot is fueled by grief, trauma, and loss, moving seamlessly through the prose from beginning to end.
A cursed town continues to use up and discard its female denizens. A daughter returns home to find answers behind her mother's death and uncovers a horror trove of vile blood rituals that have been feeding a malevolent presence for over a century.
The question then becomes, how many more women must die to end this madness?
Savannah R. Fischer is the author of horror novels and short stories
Plan Your Visit to Shady Grove
Savannah R. Fischer, author of Incantations of Blood
AJ: I like to think every story starts with inspiration. Whether it’s a line from a song, an abstract idea, a personal experience, you name it. So, what would you say was the inspiration that spawned Incantations of Blood?
SF: When I first started writing, I was on a cryptid kick. I did banshees, a ghoul, dabbled in Krampus, among others. Originally, IOB was supposed to be a female-led story about the creature from the Black Lagoon.
AJ: From inspiration to the physical copy in your hand, a journey took place. How was your journey, Savannah? Did it go according to plan, hitting all the stops? Was it tumultuous? Did you get lost? Were there setbacks?
SF: In the beginning, I was a woman possessed. I wrote the entire first draft in ten days. Unfortunately, I was still a baby writer, having only been writing for about a month and a half. Then revisions were time-consuming, especially dealing with some personal challenges such as moving apartments in the middle of it all. There were times I didn’t think I’d make it, but my wonderful editor kept me going. Love you Stephanie!
AJ: I always wonder, did you know your final destination with our story’s cast of characters, or did you find it along the way?
SF: I am a panster to the max. The ending to IOB actually changed as the first one felt almost too “happily ever after”. I love Maeve’s journey, and I hope readers continue to connect to her quest to find answers in the town of Shady Grove.
AJ:I think, like any journey—hiking, driving, cross-country skiing, spelunking, magic ring disposal—writing a story almost always has a point, whether it be on day one or day one-thousand-and-one, where the thought of quitting and turning back comes to mind. What was that moment like for you? Was it brief? Was it difficult?
SF: After the beta feedback, I knew I still had a lot to change. I had unrealistic expectations on how quickly I could publish (never again) and was trying to find my footing in a new apartment and homeschooling a kindergartener. I was ready to throw in the towel and say I’m done, I can’t do this. It was a funk for a week or two, but we pulled through!
Incantations of Blood by Savannah R. Fischer
AJ: I don’t think I’ve ever gone on a trip, a journey, without losing something…might be a me thing. But I know we all lose something when writing a story. Often this is called “killing your darlings” in the editing process. What did Incantations of Blood lose that ultimately served it for the better?
SF: As I stated before, IOB was originally supposed to be about the creature from the Black Lagoon. There was an additional creature haunting Maeve, a woman covered in black ichor, calling to her. Ultimately, that plot point felt tired and useless, given all the other things going on in Shady Grove. Maybe our Black lagoon lady will get her own book some day, maybe she’ll just have to live rent-free in my head with my other bad ideas. We shall see.
AJ: And through it all—especially editing—the story changes and our daily lives bleed into the writing, whether it be through prose, narrative, or something entirely different. I call this the “soundtrack” to a story’s progression. What would you say was going on in your life, the world around you, that served as IOB’s soundtrack?
SF: Honestly, the main soundtrack was the sound of children playing, snoring, and Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department.” When I wrote IOB, I had a one-year-old and a four-year-old. I wrote during naps, during quiet play time, when they slept! “TPD” also hit a chord with my soul, especially “So Long London.” I think we can all relate to giving our all to something, diminishing ourselves in the process, waiting for something that’s never going to come, until we finally get the strength to walk away. But also, “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” is still my mantra!
AJ: Now, if there were a soundtrack in existence that could best accompany reading IOB, what would it be?
SF: Maybe I should sit down and make a playlist, because honestly I have no idea. Probably some Lana Del Ray, especially “Summertime Sadness” and “Season of the Witch.”
AJ: As you continue to develop new projects, what do the repercussions of IOB’s ending say for any future tales?
SF: I would eventually like to do an interconnected universe! I feel like IOB left enough of an opening for either a sequel, or at least several loose tie-ins. I don’t think we’re done with Shady Grove yet.
AJ believed reading Incantations of Blood required a spellcasting focus…
AJ: What advice would you give readers before patting them on the back and sending them down your literary roadways?
SF: Prepare for strong women, feminine rage, and some exciting twists. I want to play with your emotions! I will also say I currently have three WIPs, all wildly different from IOB and one another, and my writing has really grown and matured. So if IOB isn’t your thing, please still check out my future works. There might be something else for you!
AJ: Anything else you’d like me to share with folks? Factoid? Links? Sale? Image?
SF: I’m just a mom who loves to read and write! If you want to support me, here’s my site!
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