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Lynsey May's short story Date Night appears in our anthology Perfect Circle. Here she is to answer some questions for us about her story, along with her approach to writing and reading in general.
Q & A with Lynsey May
Can you tell us anything about the inspiration behind your story Date Night?
I’ve been fascinated by vampires ever since I was a kid – I even tried to transform my bunk bed into a coffin at one point. It started with comedy, The Reluctant Vampire by Eric Morcombe, and moved on to Stoker, Rice, and Brite as I got older. I still love a good vampire story, Women Eating by Clair Kohda is a recent favourite, and I wanted a chance to use a bloodsucker to explore ideas of consent in a changing societal landscape.
What attracts you to writing short stories in general?
There’s something so satisfying about a well-crafted short story. The best ones are like a shot of espresso — everything you need in one powerful package, quickly savoured and adding a burst of energy to your day.
And how about the appeal of supernatural or speculative fiction? What draws you to using those ideas in your work?
I love to be creeped out, especially when there’s a strong emotional angle, and both supernatural and speculative fiction are perfect for this. There’s nothing like having something sneak its way under your skin.
I love to be creeped out, especially when there’s a strong emotional angle, and both supernatural and speculative fiction are perfect for this.
When and where do you most enjoy writing?
I’m definitely a morning person, which does not fit my love of the dark at all. I like to write early, before I have the chance to be distracted by the day. If I’m writing later on, then I like to do it in a café or library, where I can be rewarded with a book or a snack.
Moving on to your own reading, what’s your ideal time and place to read?
I will read wherever and whenever I can, but there’s something about an unexpected pocket of time during the afternoon when you can curl up on the sofa with a book that is extra special.
We’re using our Little Uncertainties project here at Uncertain Stories to distribute free short story booklets to readers (and potential readers!) across the country through cafes and bookshops. If you could give copies of one short story – classic or modern – to everybody in your own home town, which story would you choose, and why?
I keep coming back to this question and I just can’t settle on one specific story, so I’m going to cheat wildly and mention two of my favourite collections instead: Blood by Janice Galloway and Where the God of Love Hangs Out by Amy Bloom. Both illuminate the everyday in the crispest and most visceral ways.
Do you have a favourite memory of reading a book or story? Maybe a moment that really left an impression on you?
While I have lots of nice memories of racing through or luxuriating in books more recently, the biggest memories are from childhood. Being read to, having stories told to me. I vividly remember running through to tell my parents I could read a ‘grown up’ book by myself (a novel rather than a picture book). Being able to lose yourself in a book or story is just such a wonderful gift.
Finally, do you have a favourite independent bookshop you think people should visit?
This is a very difficult question when you live in Edinburgh, where we are lucky to have such a thriving network of independent bookshops. I love so many, Rare Birds Books, Golden Hare, The Edinburgh Bookshop, Lighthouse Books, Portobello Book Shop, but my ultimate shout out has to be my local, Argonaut Books, who brought books to the bottom of Leith Walk.
