We're happy to have Gabiann Marin's story for Clamour and Mischief, titled "Quoth the Raven," Gabiann reads from her tale on our YouTube channel.
What is the most unexpected tidbit you learned while researching your story?
The most interesting bit of information I gathered was just how big a role ravens, corvids and crows play in the inspiration of written works. Not just as subjects, but how often they feature in some way in the lives of the writers themselves. I knew before writing the story that Edgar Allen Poe had been inspired to write the poem The Raven by meeting the pet corvid of his friend Charles Dickens. However I didn't realise how important that particular bird, named Grip, was to Dickens' writing process. From all accounts Grip was a nasty, confounding creature who would regularly peck and scratch at visitors. Yet Dickens would never travel without him. Which inspired my idea of a dark muse who had both a hold over and effect upon the writer's creative process.
What was your favourite thing about writing a story for Clamour and Mischief?
I loved the process of thinking about what story would suit the subject matter of Clamour and Mischief, it is great to write within certain limitations because that is, I believe, what often really helps imagination and craft to improve. It's like being given a puzzle but I get to decide how I want to solve it. I also love the ability to write about things I am passionate about - animals and writing would be the top two - so this anthology gave me a chance to create a story about both.
Which is your favourite corvid and and why?
It has to be ravens I think – although I also love crows – the centuries of mythology around both of them are fascinating and their ability to be both part of and somehow apart from the world is something I would love to emulate.
My websites are gabiannmarin.wixsite.com/gabiann and www.threemuses.com.au.
Read all the Q&As with our Clamour and Mischief contributors.