Jocelyne Gregory, author of “Holy Harvest” in the upcoming collection of utter speculation THE DANCING PLAGUE

Our first open call for a collection of utter speculation yielded amazing results, and we were very lucky to get to work with nine fantastic authors, each one giving us a unique and fascinating story explaining the dancing mania of 1518.

Jocelyne Gregory’s story ” Holy Harvest” stuck out in particular because of the sense of innocence and faith in an insane and dangerous world. The reader comes to understand many things that the main character, young Margaretta, does not.

Gregory has her MFA from the University of British Colombia and has worked as a teaching assistant, manuscript consultant and children’s book reviewer

What made you decide to write a story for The Dancing Plague: A collection of Utter speculation?

I saw the call for it on The Horror Tree website, and I was so intrigued by the topic I knew I had to try my hand at writing what happened during the dancing plague. It’s one of those periods in history that I’ve always wondered why it happened.

How did you formulate your theory? How much did you rely on research?

I did a lot of research when I was plotting the story. I researched the cathedral, clothing, religion, and which language was being spoken as that area of Europe seemed to switch hands between the Germans and the French often. I originally thought about writing the events as they happened, but I found writing it as a testimony gave me more freedom to focus on the characters personalities.

Do you think your speculation could be a feasible explanation for the plague or were you just telling a good story?

I think it could—in a way. I suspect the drinking water might have been contaminated either by natural or human toxins upstream, and there was either an amoeba or a parasite that infected the dancers. I think people’s diets would have been a bit different so they might not have all been eating the same bread and risking ergot poising, but they likely would have been drinking from the same water source. The “angels” are a different matter.

What other projects are you working on? Where can we look for you next?

I finished a fantasy romance novel, “Saints and Scales,” and I am currently working on sequel. I’ve also just finished a science fiction short story, “The Teddy Bear Club,” about twin sisters, hackers, and a corrupt CEO. I’m also working on, “Death of a Witch,” about a teen girl who needs to solve the murder of the witch with the aid of two otherworldly allies.   

You can follow Jocelyn Gregory on Twitter @Jocelyne001