“Humans can be monsters too. You’re just able to choose that for yourselves”

Bonnie has been writing for a long time, since she had access to a computer with MS-DOS. Coincidentally, that early access to a computer is probably also why she wound up getting a degree in Computer Science. While these two passions may seem contradictory, but there is a lot of creativity involved in software development and perhaps a bit more structure involved in writing than believed. This fascination with systems – and how they fall apart – contributed to the premise of “How to Survive Camping.” She combined this with her love of folklore (also gained at an early age) to create a world of monsters, rules, and someone just trying their best to do their job.

Kate is the campground manager. Her family have run the campground for years, having passed the old land down through the family for generations.  Kate’s family have learnt how to handle the many challenges that campers may face, from surviving the bad weather, coming prepared and planning for every eventuality of their stay. To help campers prepare for their experience, Kate sends out a list of rules. These rules ensure preparedness and survival – the latter of which cannot be stressed enough. For cold nights and water drenched wellies are not the only challenges that may face you when you come to stay in Goat Valley. 

Rule 3: Don’t follow the lights (I can’t believe I even have to say this one.) Don’t follow the lights. 

Kate’s world isn’t one of simple administration, booking forms and standard Health and Safety risk assessments, hers is a world of monsters and deadly creatures, who are her family’s responsibility to control and restrain. Whilst on the surface Goat Valley Campground is a large campsite, managed and fully staffed by local’s and Kate’s family (Jessie, April, Tobias, Brian and his dogs), underneath, Kate must work with law enforcement to cover up attacks and deaths, research cryptozoology, mythology and folklore, as well as pour over ancient notes and journals kept by the family to decide how to handle each creature as they make themselves known. 

“My Family’s philosophy has always been that if a creature isn’t an active threat, leave it alone. Don’t interact; don’t attempt to drive it off; just be glad it’s not trying to eat campers”

Based on her reddit posts and short stories about Kate and the campsite, Quinn’s novel is a fascinating concoction of mythological mischief, shining a heavy-handed light on monsters and creatures, including the unknown, the unreal and the undeniably unique. 

“A subtle streak of movement, like water flowing along the ground. Pale, dead flesh. A trick of the light.”

Whilst some creatures are familiar-ish (such as the Rusalka or Saint Nicholas), Quinn’s creepy creations range from the bizarre to the nauseatingly horrific. However, regardless of how extreme or disturbing the characters may be, Quinn’s presentation of each is blurred by the laid-back, almost irritated way Kate reacts to each creature’s chaos. At the arrival of each monster, Kate seems inconvenienced and exasperated rather than anxious or concerned. Kate’s attitude is uncanny and detached, as Quinn manages to inject humour into some of the most disturbing circumstances. 

“That’s how small towns are. Whenever something happens, people show up with food. New baby? Casseroles. Death in the family? More casseroles. Rescue someone’s husband from a massively haunted house? Hope you like casseroles.”

An apt example would include Quinn’s unique character of The Man with the Skull Cup, an apparently common entity who seems to prowl about the campsite, if he offers you a drink, you must accept, although you will writhe around in agony with severe poisoning for several hours if you partake. The Man only seems to leave the campsite when allowed and decides to take Kate trick-or-treating on Halloween. They knock on several doors, and sometimes, he makes the home-owners drink. Whilst Kate is very concerned by his motives to be off-site, she does realise quickly that there is a pattern to his poisoning:

“Are you only poisoning the people who give out shitty candy?”

Additional to her bizarre and comical creatures, Quinn includes some vile and twisted aspects to her tale, that feel more akin to traditional fairy tales or folk stories, where the monster kills children, steals organs to stuff into scare crows, keeps their victims alive but starving eternally, or simply keeps them in the dark. Parts of this novel are really unsettling, but thoroughly enjoyable (or endurable? Depending on how squeamish you might be). 

“The people began to dance, and I was compelled to join them. My body was not under my control.”

So, should you decide to visit Goat Valley Campsite, remember; This is old Land, and you might not be the only group visiting. 

“The rules of how the world functions shift on Halloween. People disguise themselves as monsters. Monsters disguise themselves as humans. And boundaries grow weak as all the world becomes old land.”

How To Survive Camping: The Man with no Shadow is available now – you can order your copy on Bookshop.org