After posting Marigold Rowell’s excellent tale, The Transom, we asked the writer a whole bunch of questions. You can read or listen to the tale here.

Q1. Where the hell did the idea for the entity come from in this story, and how can I banish it forever?  

The Transom was actually inspired by an episode of The Dick Van Dyke show, in which several characters plan to sneak into a locked office through a transom window over their boss’s door.  I thought how creepy it would be to glance up and see someone peering down at you through a high transom. That person would either have to be standing on a ladder, or be ridiculously tall.

To banish this entity forever, make sure you keep the curtains closed at night. And always take the elevator.

Q2. Do you tend to plot your stories out, or do you let them flow and just see what happens?

A mix. I write the beginning pages, and at that point I know if the story feels like a story. It’s very much a gut instinct thing. Sometimes, I will realize it’s a cool concept with no plot. Or, I’ve got the wrong angle of approaching the idea. Or I need to wait for additional inspiration to drop out of my subconscious.  If the beginning passes the sniff test, I’ll make a rough outline of the rest. Usually, I’ll stick to that, unless I get a really good idea.

Q3. I’m awed by the level of your descriptions in this story. Is that something you purposefully focus on? Any tips to share on how to nail vivid descriptions? 

I’m a visual person (I also draw and paint), and my writing process is basically transcribing the movie that I’m watching in my head. I do focus on descriptions deliberately. I’m a fan of onomatopoeia and subtle rhymes. I also love words that sound spooky. Lugubrious. Spine. Cloying. Abyss. Glower. Visceral.  Fun stuff like that.

My best advice would be to choose your descriptive words carefully, read your story out loud, and don’t be afraid to add a little purple prose here and there.

Q4. How much of your time do you spend writing short stories versus other projects?

That’s a tough one to answer, since I usually have multiple projects going at once. I’ll work on something until I get stuck, then I’ll switch. A few years back, I wrote a novel, which I’m now shopping around to literary agents. (Wish me luck!) But, I’ve been in short story mode for a while. The longest thing I’ve written recently is a novelette of 15k words or so, which I finished last year.

I do go through periods where I don’t want to write at all. That’s when a lot of my artwork happens.

Q5. What other works do you have on the go? Anything you’d like to promote?

I’m in the upcoming anthology Suffering the Other from Dim Shores Press (slated for March/April of 2026). All the profits from this anthology will benefit two charities: Transgender Law Center and the National Immigration Project. I’m very proud to be included in the project, and I encourage everyone to check it out.

I’m planning to release a few ebooks on my Ko-Fi page, as soon as I finish editing them. (Soon!) One is a novella titled Quahogs, about giant mutant clams attacking a sleepy Massachusetts beach town.
You can find me at https://marigoldrowell.carrd.co, which has my latest news, plus links to my social media.