Interview: Debbie Mumford on Fantasy for Lunch
Fantasy for Lunch is fourteen of Debbie Mumford’s fantasy short stories in two volumes, one story for each workday for two weeks, sized for the time it takes to eat a sandwich. It’s one of fifteen exclusive books in The Light Fantasy Bundle, curated by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
The Interview
The first story, “Enchantment, Inc.,” opens with a dragon stuck in human form being chased by trolls and hobgoblins through the lobby of a Las Vegas entertainment complex that’s owned and operated by the Realm of Faery. What inspired this fun story?
“Enchantment, Inc.” actually began as an assignment in a writing class I was taking. I was asked to write a fantasy thriller that took place in the here and now. I chose to create an entertainment complex in Las Vegas, but have it be owned and staffed by the Realm of Faery. It was a lot of fun to write.
What did you most enjoy about putting together this lovely collection?
I wanted to offer readers a duology: two related books in one digital package. I chose the “Fantasy for Lunch” theme since I enjoy reading a short story while I eat lunch. This was especially true when I was working in corporate America and had limited time for lunch. The stories took me away from my workday world and allowed me to return to my office feeling refreshed.
I really enjoyed looking through my fantasy short stories and deciding which to include. I wanted seven in each volume so that the readers would have a full week of stories to enjoy… fourteen in all. (Yes. I know. The workweek is traditionally five days, but you just never know!) I also enjoyed deciding which stories would go in which volume and in what order they should appear.
You love mythology, especially Celtic and Native American lore. Is there a myth or legend you’d like to use in a story?
I’m intrigued by the Native American concept of a skin walker. I’ve touched on this with my alter-ego’s trilogy about the Prentiss twins, but haven’t explored it yet as myself. We’ll see if I get around to it lol One thing I don’t lack is ideas!
In addition to writing as Debbie Mumford, you also write fantasy for tweens and young adults as Deb Logan. Have you ever had a story that could have been published under either name?
I do! Deb’s Seer Chronicles features a collection of short stories that, over time, have moved from YA into the “new adult” category and I’ve been tempted to pull them fully into Debbie’s domain. I’ve resisted the urge… so far. I really enjoy writing about Artie and Jed, but they’re growing up too fast!
You learned to quilt and “rapidly became obsessed” and you’ve now written a quilting mystery series! Has a quilt ever worked its way into one of your fantasy stories?
Not yet, but an ensorcelled quilt could make a fascinating tale. Especially a crazy quilt, or one made from clothing scraps. Like the quilt my grandmother made that has fabrics from my mother’s childhood dresses. Just think of the stories those bits of fabric could tell… and the trouble that could cause both the quilter and the original wearer!
You’ve written a lot of wonderful stories about dragons. What makes dragons so fun for you to write?
Long before I even dreamed of writing, I read Anne McCaffrey’s Pern series and fell in love with her dragons. She didn’t write them as fearsome beasts that destroyed villages and ate people. Her dragons were majestic, highly intelligent creatures, and when I finally began to write my own stories, that’s the type of dragon I chose to write as well. I’ve only written one very short tale where the dragon is a predatory beast… and even that dragon is excused since the man, the “Egg Thief,” created his own fate.
What are you working on now—and what’s fun or exciting about it?
Right now I’m in the middle of writing a novel, the second in a series, about the small mountain town of Dismal Notch. A place where the man who founded the town, General Abner Dismal, is also its most enduring resident. Abner died well over a hundred years ago, but his ghost refuses to leave. It’s his town after all. Due to Abner’s continued presence, the town has become a magnet for unnaturals. Every disgruntled ghost and ghoul, were- and witch in the Mournful Mountains is drawn to Dismal Notch—the unnatural destination of choice. My novels follow the adventures of Abner’s descendent, Delilah Dismal, who is both a witch and a seer.
The short story that started this series, “A Dismal Death,” appeared in one of your anthologies, Jamie, Haunted Waters. I’ve now published it myself, but I changed the name to “Dismal Waters.” Too bad I didn’t think of that originally!
If you enjoy supernatural cozies, be sure to check out the first novel, Dismally Dead. I hope to do a Kickstarter for the second novel early next year. The working title is A Dismal Diva.
About the Author
Debbie Mumford specializes in speculative fiction (fantasy, paranormal romance, and science fiction) as well as mystery and historical fiction. Author of the popular Sorcha’s Children series, Debbie loves the unknown, whether it’s the lure of space or earthbound mythology. Her work has been published in multiple volumes of Fiction River, as well as in Heart’s Kiss Magazine, Amazing Monster Tales, and many other popular anthologies. She writes about dragon-shifters, time-traveling lovers, and detectives—whether amateur sleuths or professionals—for adults as Debbie Mumford, and science fiction and fantasy for tweens and young adults as Deb Logan.
Find Debbie Mumford
Get the bundle
Fantasy for Lunch is one of fifteen exclusive books in The Light Fantasy Bundle, curated by Kristine Kathryn Rusch—funny, light, and romantic fantasy for a jangled season. Pay what you want, starting at $5, and you can choose to send a share of your purchase to World Central Kitchen. Live through October 29, 2026 at storybundle.com/fantasy.