Shimmer has a strange relationship with stories involving unicorns. They’re so stereotypical fantasy–but Laura Hinkle’s unicorn story “Lighting the Candles”…is not.

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Tell us how the story came to be.

I think it’s a biological fact that little girls love unicorns. I’ve always wanted to do a unicorn story, but without the traditional princess-in-the-woods approach.

What authors, if any, have influenced your own writing?

Stephen King’s On Writing has been an essential manual for me to improve my style of writing. I am also a huge fan of Caitlin R. Kiernan and Poppy Z Brite.

Are you satisfied with traditional labels for genre fiction? Do words like “speculative,” “slipstream,” and, for that matter, “genre” cover it?

I don’t pay much, if any, attention to the labels for fiction. If an author’s story is convincing and can hold my attention, regardless of the topic, I will devote my time to it.

If you could invite three authors, past or present, to dinner, who would it be, and what would you talk about?

I would absolutely love to sit down with Stephen King, John Green, and Charles Bukowski. Each of them brings something unique and starkly honest to their work. I’d like to think that we’d skip discussing business and get to laughing over drinks instead, though.

 What is your favorite Bradbury story/novel?

“There Will Come Soft Rains” is absolutely my favorite. It’s such an ominous ghost story that immerses you immediately.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a story based around the condition folie a deux. So far it’s a surreal kind of horror story, the kind of monsters that you see from the corner of your eye rather than being attacked directly. I can also sometimes be found lurking around WordPress at girlcontraband.wordpress.com.