Horror works at any length. From a two-sentence flash fiction story to a 1,300-page epic journey about kids fighting a clown demon in a sewer, the genre has the ability to unsettle, disturb, gross out, and jump scare us in as few or as many words as possible.
Author P.M. Raymond has mastered the ability to frighten her readers in her collection, Things Are As They Should Be and Other Words to Die For. Below is my review of the collection followed by an interview with Raymond. Then, enter to win a paperback copy and a themed book box via the SweepWidget form below!
Things Are As They Should Be and Other Words to Die For plot summary
The collection contains over a dozen stories, many with recurring characters or their relatives, which serves and spikes twisty, horrific, and supernatural horror tales. Each story is fast paced yet firmly establishes its characters and their backstories, building a perfect storm of actions colliding with their consequences.
From an orphaned girl with a mysterious rash to a man who possesses a haunted record, the stories are diverse yet intertwined with magic, mystery, and a Louisiana landscape that is both exquisite and grim. The stories span multiple decades and a wide collection of characters with questionable morals as the balance of power teeters from one side to another. It shows how the wicked will eventually meet their doom while the lowly can become just as corrupted by their newfound upper hand.
The stories
Short story collections can be a gamble. Readers are typically going to find themselves rating each installment on a personal scale.
I personally found that each story in Things Are As They Should Be was a strong entry in the collection as a whole. Even though I preferred some over others, each one earned its place in the book.
My favorites in the bunch included Entitled Life and Untimely Death of King Booker, about a man whose wife and mother-in-law practice voodoo on him to punish him for his offenses against him. I also loved Too Late to Turn Back Now, about a woman who lures an old friend into the attic to get revenge on her for treating her badly in school. And of course, I loved Adventures in Babysitting, about a babysitter who takes a job watching a supernatural child on Halloween and unknowingly signs up to be her permanent caretaker.
The writing
I like that this collection is themed and intertwined, yet Raymond doesn’t lean on the whole in order to tell her individual tales. She maintains focus on the set up and delivery of grounded situations that are twisted into revenge stories that go far beyond cruel and unusual but also justified. Her stories gives the reader permission to put morality aside and drink in the entertainment of justice being served.
The writing is clear and simple, but it is also eloquent and impactful. There’s no flashlight over the face in their telling. Raymond trusts her storytelling abilities and grasps what makes the writing of the genre effective without being hokey.
I especially love the supernatural elements and how they are their own flavor of the witchcraft, shapeshifting, and cursed object subgenres. Within them, they tip the scales back in the favor of our underdog characters, even if that scale remains unbalanced, but sometimes balance isn’t required in order to make things as they should be.
My recommendation
I recommend Things Are as They Should Be to any horror fan who is looking for a well-rounded sampler of short horror stories to either devour in small bites or in a binge. I uncharacteristically took my time with this book and found that it held my attention throughout this read. It’s a sophisticated collection that you’re not going to find in the mass market but will quench your thirst for classic, yet unique horror stories.
My rating
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An interview with P.M. Raymond
What is your history with horror? Have you always been a horror fan? What are the first horror stories that scared you?
Growing up, there was no shortage of horror movies advertised on television. That was my first introduction to terrifying imagery.
The commercials left nothing to the imagination and were probably a glorified highlight reel of all of the movie’s best bits. Still, the shock and scares drew me in. I’ve been a fan of horror ever since.
Was it your plan to have the stories in Things Are As They Should Be interconnect from the beginning, or did that develop as you were putting the stories together?
It started with the story, “The Entitled Life and Untimely Death of King Booker.” I read the story, first published in the literary noir publication, Dark Yonder, at Noir at the Bar.
After the reading, several people wanted to know more about King and how he came to be. I was surprised at how this roguish man connected with the audience. From there, I decided to incorporate the Booker family into one more story I was already working on. It snowballed, and now I think about that family tree when developing new work.
Have you considered developing any of the stories or recurring characters into a novel?
Yes! I am working on novels that expand on two specific stories – A Nasty Business and Extraction. The first story won the Sisters in Crime Eleanor Taylor Bland award. I always felt like there was more left to say about a family from the Louisiana swamps and their hidden secrets. The second story is a crime noir with thriller elements, a genre blend I’m eager to explore.
What do you want readers to take away from the full title of the book: Things Are as They Should Be and Other Words to Die For?
The title is a promise and…a threat. “Things are as they should be” could simply mean that circumstances are out of your control. Go with the flow, don’t stress, and take life as it comes.
The phrase can also express an aggressive intentionality. “Things are as they should be” because YOU made it so. You willfully intervened to deliver an outcome that suits you and, ultimately, is the way it should be. I play with both sides of this coin throughout the collection.
You have accumulated an impressive collection of writing awards and recognitions. What advice do you have for writers who want to start submitting their short stories to contests?
Recognize that writing for the joy of it is the most important reason for writing, not placing in competitions. Some of the more recognized awards or competitions are open to a global audience, so they are very competitive to get in the top 50%, let alone top 10-15%, which is generally where quarterfinalist recognition begins.
I consider any competition or award submission a personal quest to see if my Southern gothic sensibilities connect. But if they don’t, I don’t take it personally either. I realize that my genre fluidity is not for everyone. I look for the next challenge and keep it moving.
My only advice is to submit your best work. Make sure it is a story or manuscript that has been through a rigorous editing process. Self-editing, a critique group, or a professional review all count. And don’t be afraid to write what you want. Don’t squeeze yourself into a trend to please a nameless or faceless judge.
A lot of the stories feature everyday objects that play a significant part in the horror element of the tale. Do story ideas usually come to you from taking the ordinary and twisting it into something supernatural or horrific?
I’m from New Orleans, so just about anything can hold a supernatural secret! A napkin or a paper towel could become your worst nightmare.
The culture I grew up in didn’t dismiss the idea that the real and spirit world could coexist. That objects have meaning, infused with more than our ancestors’ memories.
That is why you should be a little leery when purchasing antiques. The person or persons who owned it before you may have had darkness in their background, and that could pass to you through the object.
So they say…
The Louisiana setting gives the collection a very distinct tone and really romanticizes the setting. What are your favorite things about the area and culture?
I am originally from New Orleans. It’s my home away from home, so my favorite aspect of the area is definitely family. I have a rich history there that I am still discovering about my ancestors. It has been a fascinating journey to find out about my family’s past.
But, of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the food is my second favorite part of coming home.
The cuisine is unmatched, along with the unique Southern accent you can only find in New Orleans. IYKYK. There is an easy-going spirit in the Crescent City and a definite resilience that I take with me wherever I go.
I read some horror short film reviews on your blog. What do you look for when critiquing others’ horror stories?
When I review films, I am most interested in the writer and director’s thematic choices, the way they shape their aesthetic vision, and the storytelling. I can forgive a lot in a short film because they are often made on a shoestring budget with lots of heart and determination, but the storytelling needs to be there or else what is the point?
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