Scary Stories for a Good Cause: L.S. Johnson on "Ada, Awake"

By Loren Rhoads (https://lorenrhoads.com/)

Tell us a little about your story, “Ada, Awake.”

In 18th-century France, a young widow travels to sell an artifact, only to find the purchaser has more sinister plans.

What particular affinity for the history of France do you have that brings the setting in “Ada, Awake” to life?

Many years ago I had an idea for a novel, and I wanted to set it in a time and place where I could talk about current issues important to me, but without being overt (and preferably pre-telegraph, for plot reasons). I settled on a slightly alternative Ancient Regime France as the primary setting, which lets me write about vast economic inequality, racism, misogyny, and the various flavors of power people wield … all in a landscape studded with gallows, heads on spikes, branded criminals, and many other touches dear to a horror writer’s heart. All that research stayed in my head and spilled over into other stories, including “Ada, Awake,” which is among other things a nod to the powerful noblewomen that dotted the French landscape throughout that century—there weren’t many of them, but they were there, and they weren’t shy about wielding what power they had.

What is your relationship to California, and does California influence your work?

I moved to California as a young twenty-something looking for a change; I didn’t plan to stay more than five years. That was over twenty years ago now. At this point in my life I feel equally shaped by California and my hometown of New York, but I’m only now starting to write stories set in the latter. I think, for me, a place has to become mythical? malleable? in my head before I can write about it; by that logic I won’t write about California until some time after I leave, if ever.

As writers, we constantly use our imaginations, sometimes in terrifying ways. But can you imagine a hopeful future for California? What might that future look like?

California’s potential is tremendous, both economically and as a progressive beacon in the U.S. What is desperately needed is a clear-eyed look at our own greed, and to learn how to think communally again, rather than individually. We all need to give—some more than others—to ensure a better future for all.

Where can readers find more of your work?

My website is traversingz.com, where you can find links to my books and individual stories, and sign up for my mostly-monthly newsletter to get sneak peeks, ARCs, and more! I also have an author page on Amazon.

---

Publisher’s Note:

And with this post, this series exploring the concepts behind the stories in Tales for the Camp Fire and their authors’ relationships with California comes to an end. This all-volunteer charity anthology has come this far thanks to people donating their time and labor to put in the work necessary to bring this project to life.

If you would like to help out and get a great collection of horror stories, you can find the anthology in print and ebook on Amazon, or at future comic and book conventions (2020 dates TBA). You can also keep up to date on Facebook. All profits from the sale of this anthology will be donated to Camp Fire relief and recovery efforts administered by the North Valley Community Foundation.

My deepest thanks to everyone who has supported this book and given Tales for the Camp Fire the chance to accomplish its goal of giving back to the community.

Thank you,

E.M. Markoff (Tomes & Coffee Press)