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Raymond Gates: Clamour and Mischief's Author Spotlight

Clamour and Mischief authors Raymond Gates

A moody, doctored image of author Raymond Gates, where he appears to be holding his smiling face in one hand, having removed it to expose the interior or his skull, which contains silvery metal and shadow

We're here with Raymond Gates, who talks with us about his Clamour and Mischief tale titled "Once Upon a Midnight."

What is the most unexpected tidbit you learned while researching your story?

The high level of intelligence ravens possess. Their capacity for learning has been equated to adult great apes and they have been known to have a greater vocabulary than some parrots. They can plot and scheme: for example, ravens can imitate wolf howls and other predators to call them to a carcass they cannot break open, and when the predator is done eating, can feast on the remains. They also exhibit complex behaviours, like play and empathy.

What was your favourite thing about writing a story for Clamour and Mischief?

I knew as soon as Narrelle spoke to me about it what I would do: it was the perfect opportunity to revisit one of the great classics – and a personal favourite – of the horror genre. I can only hope its fans enjoy my telling of it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Which is your favourite corvid and why?

I’ve got to say the Australian crow. They are such an icon in folklore, mythology, and speculative fiction, especially horror. I say Australian crow because, in my experience of being woken by them as the sun starts to rise, they don’t just ‘caw’, they warble and cackle as if heralding the legions of hell.

My website is http://www.raymondgates.com.

Read all the Q&As with our Clamour and Mischief contributors.

Raymond Gates is an Aboriginal Australian writer currently residing in Wisconsin, USA, whose childhood crush on reading everything dark and disturbing evolved into an adult love affair with horror and dark fiction. He has published many short stories, including “The Enemy Within” in Clan Destine Press’s Sherlock Holmes anthology, The Only One in the World, and is working on his first collection of short stories and first novel. Learn more at: http://www.raymondgates.com.


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