TOBY CRABBE
Author Toby Crabbe
Writing out of the quiet countryside of Shropshire, Toby Crabbe is an internationally published writer of horror, dark fantasy, and magical realism. Graduating from the University of Wolverhampton with a Bachelor's degree in Creative and Professional Writing, his works of speculative fiction started appearing in a chronicle of publications from a young age. Notably: LOVE ME, LOVE ME NOT (BLACK HARE PRESS) HO HO HO: MACABRE MINIMA (BLACK HARE PRESS), RUN, RABBIT, RUN (BLACK HARE PRESS), HALLOWEEN #1 (THIN VEIL PRESS), and HOME GROUND: MYSTERY AND MAGIC (CRUMPS BARN STUDIO).
THE THINGS THOUGHTS FEAR — out with POE GIRL PUBLISHING — is his debut short story collection, focusing his creative writing energy firmly into the various subgenres of horror.
Toby Crabbe signed with POE GIRL PUBLISHING in February of 2024.
He can be found under his own name on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER (X).
AUTHOR Q&A
POE GIRL: What or who inspired you to be a writer?
TOBY CRABBE: I've always enjoyed storytelling in one form or another, either through film, television, or through the written word. Growing up, I had a natural talent for language and words, and often used that to create stories for tabletop role-playing games to play through with my friends. Their excitement and response to the stories I told fuelled me to continue writing more and more, sharpening my creativity.
I also was exposed to certain films from a young age by my father (a verified film-nut) influenced my later writing career and love for cinema and the horror genre. CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954), THE WOLFMAN (1941), and other notable Universal Monster classics inspired an enthusiasm for horror and "creature features" which carried over into my stories. There may even be some nods to them in my collection!
Later in life, I started reading profusely, garnering shelves upon shelves of fiction (notably: horror, dark fantasy, and science fiction). Then, some years ago, the thought struck me: I COULD DO THIS. I could create my own worlds, stories, and characters in the genres I grew up with. Now, that's what I've done. It's finally real.
I haven't looked back since!
POE GIRL: What gave you the idea of your latest book?
TOBY CRABBE: My debut short story collection, THE THINGS THOUGHTS FEAR, came from the want to explore the different sub-categories that exist under the umbrella of "horror". The idea first struck me during university. One particular module saw us studying the many faces of horror — many of which I was already aware of through mediums such as cinema and novels. Let alone through existing works such as the RAVENLOFT IP produced by Dungeons & Dragons and expanded upon throughout the decades by many authors.
I’m very easily swayed from one atmosphere of writing to another. When winter rolls in, I want nothing more than to write isolationist tales set in the snow. When the veil is at its thinnest for Halloween, I'm tempted into writing autumnal folk-tales about witches, pagan spirits, and dark carnivals. Therefore, I figured I'd collect all my unpublished work into a single collection. Thusly, THE THINGS THOUGHTS FEAR contains tales of gothic horror, folk horror, ghost fiction, body horror, murder mysteries, and dark fantasy.
You won't be stuck for choice!
POE GIRL: Who is your favourite writer and why?
TOBY CRABBE: The author who I most enjoy reading is Gerald Brom. First and foremost, Brom is a dark fantasy illustrator. Therefore, a number of his novels include incredible paintings relevant to the story. Brom often crafts his stories from folklore, mythology, and urban legends. All of which are elements which inspire my own work.
Though, my heaviest influences range far from Brom alone. Writers such as Clive Barker, Ray Bradbury, Kim Newman, Neil Gaiman, Dan Abnett, H. P. Lovecraft, and Guillermo Del Toro (my favourite filmmaker) influence me greatly. Spanning beyond writing, I owe particular thanks to Swedish illustrators Johan Egerkrans and John Bauer.
POE GIRL: What is your favourite book and why?
TOBY CRABBE: That's the forbidden question. When you read as many books as I do, it's an effort for one to triumph above the rest. I can say, however, that SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, by Ray Bradbury, is the novel I return to most often. Bradbury's descriptions drip off the page like streaks from an oil painting. The novel captivates me with each read. In my opinion, it is a masterpiece of dark, fantastical fiction. Though, I'd be remiss in not honourably mentioning: SOUL HUNTER, by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, KRAMPUS: THE YULE LORD, by Brom, and THE CALL OF CTHULHU, by H. P. Lovecraft. These were works of fiction which truly started me on the path of reading and writing.
POE GIRL: Do you read a lot? If so, what are you reading right now?
TOBY CRABBE: I read A LOT. I started heavily reading spontaneously roughly three years ago. Since then, it's become my primary mode of entertainment and "research". I make an effort to read one book a week, regardless of length or format (digital, paperback, hardback, audio). That's a promise I've made good on for the past two years. I've read well over one hundred and fifty books since pursuing publication. I'm surrounded on all fronts by books. It's getting out of control. My writing may focus primarily on horror and dark fantasy, but I also read lots of science-fiction too (notably Black Library publications).
Currently, I'm re-reading Clive Barker's original fable THE THIEF OF ALWAYS.
POE GIRL: What writing projects are you working on?
TOBY CRABBE: After writing THE THINGS THOUGHTS FEAR, I thought I'd take some time to gather myself and rest on my laurels for a little while. I considered that seriously, after all, I write everything longhand first. Instead, I continued writing. What can I say? I couldn't help myself. I'm currently working on writing a novella that incorporates my favourite tropes of English horror and folklore: sleepy villages, fog-shrouded countryside, and howls in the night. That's all you can know for now!
POE GIRL: What do you like most about writing?
TOBY CRABBE: I enjoy the thrill. That might sound strange — hunched over a leather notebook, scribbling by flickering ring-light. But I get caught up in the thrill of writing and producing my own stories which I can vanish into. I get to explore different settings, characters, atmospheres, and play with imagery I otherwise would not. Of course, my want to tell a story and bring that same thrill to others is fulfilling. But I write for myself first and foremost. It's a selfish vice that I unapologetically adore.
POE GIRL: Where do you see yourself and your writing in five years' time?
TOBY CRABBE: In five years' time, I hope to have produced multiple books spanning the genres of horror, dark fantasy, and magical realism. Who knows where my writing will take me? I'm not that forward thinking, you see. For now, I want to continue to create and weave words together in a way that I — amongst the readers — can enjoy from beginning to end. That's all that truly matters to me regarding my prose.
POE GIRL: What one writing tip would you share?
TOBY CRABBE: One writing tip, but there are so many! I'm new to the publishing industry. Other than THE THINGS THOUGHTS FEAR, my portfolio mostly consists of rogue short stories, vignettes, and works of micro fiction. I'm still learning too! That being said, I truly think the most important thing is for writers to write. And beyond that: to finish writing. There is ALWAYS a chance for budding new creative writers to have their work published in one manner or another. Finish your work. Finish your story. Write it out in full. Forget how rough your first draft is. It is a draft nonetheless. Look at your word count. Is it in the ballpark? Great! The chance of your unwritten work being published is ZERO.
POE GIRL: What would you say to educate and inspire young writers?
TOBY CRABBE: Being a young writer myself, I feel particularly qualified to answer that! I think all young writers need to read. Read, read, and read. Learn what you want to write, write what you want. A good writer makes you want to read. But a great writer makes you want to write.
I can try inspiring for you too. I first thought it was impossible, that my writing would never see the light of day or take me anywhere. Eventually, I just sent it out with my fingers crossed. There is a treasure trove of magazines and publishers announcing open calls for anthologies all the while. Why not give one a try?
My first ever publication was a one-hundred-word piece of micro fiction, published digitally, which got three likes. It was hardly motivating. But I continued. I kept sending my work out. I started small, with micro fiction which appeared in printed books. I worked my way up to vignettes, then to short stories. I slowly increased my word count. Then, I gathered my stories together to form my first ever collection, THE THINGS THOUGHTS FEAR.
Now, I have thirty-odd publications under my belt, appearing in a number of hardback / paperback anthologies, digital magazines, and more. I've been privileged to have my first ever book published at the age of twenty-one. Something I never would have thought possible. This never felt like a young man's game! Trust me; if I can do it, you can too.