The following is an interview with C.M. Forest regarding the upcoming release of the novella, We All Fall Before the Harvest, from Timber Ghost Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Forest about the inspiration behind the story, what he hopes that readers will take away from the project, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of We All Fall Before the Harvest! For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the book’s premise, and what inspired you to tell this story?
C.M. Forest: Thank you! I would describe the novella as a cosmic horror story first, but it has some aspects of both folk horror and crime noir, as well. I had just finished work on a novel and wanted to jump into something smaller, meaner. I’ve long had this desire to mix cosmic horror with farming for some reason. Finally having the time to let that concept flourish, I quickly came up with the plot for We All Fall Before the Harvest.
BD: What can you tell us about your creative process in bringing this story to life, and what (or who) have been some of your creative influences?
CMF: Since this was going to be a novella, I approached it more the way I would a short story, as opposed to a novel. Instead of the endless plotting I usually bury myself in, I decided to take a core idea—a criminal in possession of a cursed object—and see what would spring to life. There were no direct influences for the story itself, but I was watching a lot of crime movies at the time, so some of that surely seeped in.
BD: What makes Timber Ghost Press the best home for this novella?
CMF: Initially, I knew very little about Timber Ghost Press. Their name had come up on a social media post regarding indie horror publishers, so I decided to check them out. It didn’t take long for me to identify them as a fantastic potential home for We All Fall Before the Harvest. At the time, Timber Ghost had only released one book (with two more on the horizon), but the level of polish and professionalism evident in that book (21 Grams) elevated them above a lot of their contemporaries. I feel incredibly lucky to get in on the ground floor with Timber Ghost, as I believe they are going to grow immensely in the coming years.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that this story will connect with and impact readers?
CMF: With any luck, it will make them feel like they need a shower afterward! But all kidding aside, We All Fall Before the Harvest is a visceral, gritty ride with some big ideas. Hopefully, the story will implant itself in the reader’s mind and continue to flourish long after the final page.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
CMF: Yes! I have a novel, Infested, releasing June 1st through Eerie River Publishing. Beyond that, I am working on a new novella, another horror subgenre itch I’ve been meaning to scratch for some time. It is still early in the process, but the idea is fertile ground for me, so I expect a nice yield.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about We All Fall Before the Harvest and your other work?
CMF: The best place to find me would be at ChristianLaforet.com. From there, you can access all my various social media links, as well as get updates on new releases.
