Over the next few weeks, I’m highlighting each of the six novellas and short stories in my new fantasy anthology, The Dark Forest Within. To start, here’s a look at the first tale in the collection: A short story entitled Papercut.

The oldest story in the volume, Papercut, was originally written in 2018, the same year I wrote my novel Ravenseed (I consider The Dark Forest Within a companion piece to that novel). I submitted it for inclusion in the Dragon Soul Press anthology First Love. Because supernatural themes were permitted in the brief, I offered this contribution. It was accepted, and the story was traditionally published before rights reverted to me. I’m including it in this collection because it remains a favourite among my short stories. Also, it fits the anthology theme like a glove.

The story concerns Gabriel, a lonely teenage boy living with his strict Jehovah’s Witness mother. He is visited in dreams by a mysterious paper girl. I don’t want to get into too many further plot specifics (I wouldn’t dream of spoiling it), but a surreal romantic adventure ensues, visiting the occasional dark corner. That’s not surprising, as the story deals with darker themes, including oppressive religious legalism, absent fathers, and overcoming fear. It’s also set at Christmas, along with the second story in this volume (I thought they’d go well together).

Inspiration for this story came from a variety of eclectic sources. A-ha’s iconic video for “Take on Me” influenced some of the pictures I saw in my mind whilst writing. Stop-motion visual effects guru Ray Harryhausen provided further inspiration, specifically regarding his classic Jason and the Argonauts (1963). There’s even a pseudo-Cronenbergian riff in the story, though I’d hesitate to call it “body horror” in the way one expects from his films.

Ultimately, Papercut is a sweet and fairly straightforward opener compared with the more complex tales that present themselves later in the anthology. I daresay it will strike a chord with anyone who has been in a cult, for one thing, but it mostly emerges as a feel-good modern fairytale.

The Dark Forest Within is out now in ebook or paperback via Amazon here (in the UK) and here (in the US). For Draft2Digital and its various outlets, you can pick up ebooks and paperback copies here.