Dark Waters

We're joined by Josh Mendoza to discuss switching between screenwriting and novels, $1,000 lego sets, and finding light in the darkness. We also get a sneak peak of his book Shadow of the Eternal Watcher, the fun parts of editing, and creepy Twilight Zone episodes. Josh Mendoza is a screenwriter, director, producer and author.  Mendoza is the founder of Strike the Sun Entertainment, and his movie work has been recognized by film festivals and competitions alike. Mendoza's debut novel, Shadow of the Eternal Watcher, was released in January 2025. The novel is a noir detective mystery that spirals into a science fiction adventure. The novel has already received positive reviews from Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus Reviews. It was recently featured as one of the best upcoming sci-fi books for 2025 in New Scientist. Prior to his writing career, Mendoza received a BA in English and Creative Writing from Stanford University and an MFA in Film and Television Production from USC's School of Cinematic Arts. He was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and lived for over 15 years in Los Angeles, California.  He splits his time between the deserts of Arizona and the city of angels with his wife and two children.Mendoza is currently developing multiple feature-length scripts and writing his next novel.Dark Waters vol. 1 & 2 are available to order! To get a copy, head over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.comIntro/Outro music: www.bensound.comDisclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated.

Thomas Trang joins us to discuss nuances in villainous characters, balancing exposition in narration, and his book Dark Neon & Dirt. We also get a sneak peek of the book, talk second-person narrations, and the geopolitical considerations of Jafar. Thomas Trang is a French/Vietnamese writer currently living in the UK after stints in Australia, New York, and Singapore. His stories have previously appeared in FutureQuake, Full House Literary and the Revolutions 2 anthology. He is currently working on a SF trilogy which mixes cyberpunk with the gritty realpolitik of The Wire and Cold War spy fiction. His novel, Dark Neon & Dirt, was released by Shotgun Honey in March 2025.Dark Waters vol. 1 & 2 are available to order! To get a copy, head over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.comIntro/Outro music: www.bensound.comDisclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated.

The audio recording of our crowdcast for Dark Waters Vol. 2 - the podcast's second anthology of dark fiction. Guest host Bobby Mathews comes on board to talk through the anthology, and we're treated to some guest readings by several of the anthology's authors. We would also like to extend our congratulations to Jacqueline Freimor, whose story "Cruel to Be Kind" will appear in Best American Mystery & Suspense 2025, as well as DW authors Mary Thorson & Victor De Anda, whose pieces from other publications will also be included. Dark Waters vol. 1 & 2 are available to order! To get a copy, head over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠linktree⁠⁠⁠⁠Bobby Mathews is a novelist, short-story writer, and journalist who lives in Birmingham, Alabama.He currently has two books under contract with independent publisher Shotgun Honey. Living the Gimmick, a crime novel set against the backdrop of 1980s professional wrestling, published in May 2022; Magic City Blues, a noir love story set in Birmingham, was released in 2023.His collection Negative Tilt was released in 2024, with the title story having won a Derringer award in 2023. Also featuring Mary Thorson, Victor De Anda, Joel Nedecky,Gabriela Stiteler, Stanton McCaffery, Jacqueline Freimor, and Dannye Chase. Are you an author with a release you'd like to discuss on the show? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.comIntro/Outro music: www.bensound.comDisclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated.

The wonderful Wes Browne joins us to discuss finding new books in unexpected ways, the perfect Bouchercon experience, and his new book They All Fall the Same. We also get a sneak preview of the book, touch on finding the ideal segments for author readings, and how taste can be incredibly subjective.Wes Browne lives within the Kentucky River Basin in Madison County, Kentucky. He has practiced law as a criminal defense attorney, prosecutor, and public defender in Appalachia for over 24 years. He also helps run his family's pizza shops. His novel They All Fall the Same was named one of 2025's biggest mystery or thriller releases by Goodreads and one of 2025's most anticipated books by Book Riot Read or Dead. His debut novel Hillbilly Hustle was named one of 17 recommended lockdown reads by Merriam-Webster in 2020.Dark Waters vol. 1 & 2 are available to order! To get a copy, head over to our ⁠⁠⁠linktree⁠⁠⁠Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.comIntro/Outro music: www.bensound.comDisclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated.

Noah Rymer joins us for a lively discussion of Catholic literature and morality, Flannery O'Connor fandom, and selecting the least-bad vices. We also get a sneak peak of denouement, now available from Anxiety Press. Noah Rymer is a poet, editor, and prose writer who runs the literary outhouse Pere Ube as editor-in-chief, and whose debut novella denouement was released in March 2025 from Anxiety Press. He usually writes within the suburban gothic, and these dreadful narratives can be found within most magazines of ill-repute, such as APOCALYPSE CONFIDENTIAL, BRUISER, DO NOT SUBMIT!, and other similarly sordid sleaze-rags. You can often find him spiraling slowly into madness or chasing the specters of early modernity out of his closet. Dark Waters vol. 1 & 2 are available to order! To get a copy, head over to our ⁠⁠linktree⁠⁠Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.comIntro/Outro music: www.bensound.comDisclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated.

We're joined by the talented Nick Kolakowski to discuss his upcoming release Where the Bones Lie, stylistic choices for author readings, and dive into various rants including Chuck Palahniuk photographs, the 2008 writer's strike, and being shouted out of imposter syndrome. We also get a sneak peek at Where the Bones Lie, talk about the importance of having/building writing communities and dive into the "undermess." Nick Kolakowski is the author of several horror and crime novels, including Absolute Unit (Crystal Lake Publishing) and Where the Bones Lie (Datura, coming out 3/25). His short stories and nonfiction essays have appeared in various anthologies and magazines, including House of Gamut, Mystery Magazine, Shotgun Honey, Rock & A Hard Place, and Best American Mystery & Suspense 2024. He lives and writes in NYC. Dark Waters vol. 2 is now available to order! To get your copy, head over to our ⁠⁠linktree⁠⁠ Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated.

We're joined by the awesome Jaima Fixsen to talk about her new book The Specimen, steminist literature, and 19th century medical ethics. Also, how to balance the supernatural and the human in stories, Edinburgh history, and the Pythagoras math cult. Jaima Fixsen is a USA Today and International best-selling author living and writing in Alberta, Canada. Her novel, The Girl In His Shadow (co-authored under the pen name Audrey Blake), was selected as Libby's 2022 Big Library Read, and has been translated into six languages. Jaima studied Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta, and her experiences learning anatomy and dissecting cadavers began her fascination with the history of medical science, which often figures in her stories. Her debut crime novel, The Specimen, was released this year. Jaima still works in health care, supporting children with disabilities and their families. She loves history, snow, reading, snow, and spending as much time as possible in the Canadian Rockies. Dark Waters vol. 2 is now available to order! To get your copy, head over to our ⁠linktree⁠ Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined again by the incredible Jordan Harper to discuss the US release of The Last King of California, writing the stories you want to write, and having an impromptu meeting of the S.A. Cosby fan club. We also get a sneak peek at The Last King of California, discuss publishing across different countries, and whether or not the UK has a valid excuse for not understanding the word "shotgun." Jordan Harper is the Edgar-Award winning author of She Rides Shotgun, Everybody Knows, the short story collection Love and Other Wounds, and The Last King of California. Born and educated in Missouri, he now lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a writer and producer for television. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. Host note: This episode was recorded prior to the publication of Vanity Fair's piece on Cormac McCarthy and Augusta Britt. The Dark Waters team does not condone the actions of McCarthy in regards to his relationship with Britt. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the lovely ⁠Rob D. Smith⁠ to discuss his debut novel, numerous short stories, and French etymology in book titles. We also get a sneak peek of ⁠Good-Looking Ugly ⁠talk about editing for a press, the relevance/importance of humor in dark fiction, and how Rob became dubbed the "Funkle." Rob D. Smith is a common man attempting to write uncommon fiction out of Louisville, KY. Currently an editor at Rock and a Hard Place Press, his work has appeared in Apex Magazine, Shotgun Honey, Pyre Magazine, Thriller Magazine, Tough, Thicker Than Blood, Vautrin, and several other crime, horror, and speculative magazines, anthologies, and online publications. ⁠Good-Looking Ugly⁠ is his debut crime novel. Find his work at ⁠https://robdsmith.carrd.co/⁠. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

Debut novelist Sean Jacques joins us to discuss his book Doe Run, reading lists for high schoolers in 2024, the importance of indie publishing venues, and glimpses into the minds of former theatre kids. We also get a sneak peek of Doe Run, and touch on whether or not Into the Wild is tragic, turning diaries into movies, and the effects of children's dystopian stories on millenial minds. Sean Jacques was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks. Currently, he resides in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains near Los Angeles with his wife, two daughters, and a bird dog named Rye. He is a literature teacher and author after previously working in the film industry as a  screenwriter and script analyst. His short stories, plays, and poems can be found in several noir and grit-lit publications. Doe Run is his debut novel. You can find him on his ⁠website⁠, ⁠twitter⁠, and ⁠instagram⁠. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by attorney and author Russell W. Johnson to his Mountaineer Mystery series to discuss some of our favorite topics - dark fiction in dark times, dealing with rejection, and whether Jessica Lange was secretly the real killer all along. We also get a sneak peek at the second book in the series, The Mountain Mystic, and discuss character morality, conspiracy theories, and Ron Earl Phillips covers. Russell W. Johnson is an attorney who got so sick of billable hours he started writing crime fiction. His first story was published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and won the Edgar Awards' Robert L. Fish prize in 2015. Since then, he's had stories published in a number of outlets, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and won the West Virginia Writers' Pearl S. Buck Award for Writing for Social Change. His Debut Novel, The Moonshine Messiah, won the West Virginia Writers' First Place prize for Book Length Fiction. Dark Waters is OPEN for submissions for our second anthology. Check out our website ⁠www.darkwaterspodcast.com, ⁠our ⁠Twitter,⁠ or our ⁠Instagram⁠ for more info. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by HWA NY chapter coordinator James Chambers and discuss his body of work, using horror as a way to process the world, and Lovecraftian writing in contemporary settings. We also get a sneak preview of his collection A Bright and Beautiful Eternal World and collectively wonder at how certain stories find their place in the children's section. James Chambers is a Bram Stoker Award® and Scribe Award-winning author and a four-time Bram Stoker Award nominee. He is the author of the short story collections A Bright and Beautiful Eternal World, described as “stellar” by Publisher's Weekly, On the Night Border and On the Hierophant Road, which received a starred review from Booklist, which called it “…satisfyingly unsettling”; the novella collection, The Engines of Sacrifice, and the novellas, The Devil in the Green, Kolchak and the Night Stalkers: The Faceless God, Three Chords of Chaos, and many others, as well as the original graphic novel, Kolchak the Night Stalker: The Forgotten Lore of Edgar Allan Poe. His short stories have appeared in anthologies and publications in multiple genres, including crime, fantasy, horror, pulp, science fiction, steampunk, and more. He edited the Bram Stoker Award-nominated anthologies, Under Twin Suns: Alternate Histories of the Yellow Sign and A New York State of Fright as well as Even in the Grave, an anthology of ghost stories. He has also written the comic books Leonard Nimoy's Primortals, "The Revenant" in Shadow House, and The Midnight Hour.  Dark Waters is OPEN for submissions for our second anthology. Check out our website www.darkwaterspodcast.com, our Twitter, or our Instagram for more info. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the fantastic Jahmal Mayfield to discuss his incredible debut novel Smoke Kings, as well as the beauty of rom coms and Japanese philosophers. We also get a sneak preview of Smoke Kings and discuss tunnel vision in looking at political/socio-economic issues, and having honest conversations through a fictional lens. Jahmal Mayfield writes gritty crime novels that touch on large social issues. He was born in Virginia but currently resides in New Jersey. In addition to writing, he serves as the director of a nonprofit program that provides employment support to people with disabilities. Mayfield is a husband and father of two young adults who are both embarrassed by his frequent forays down the rabbit holes of YouTube to view old 90s hip hop videos. Smoke Kings was inspired by Kimberly Jones' passionate viral video, “How can we win?” Follow him on Twitter and pre-order the audiobook of Smoke Kings at Barnes & Noble. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

Our audio recording of our crowdcast with editor Barbara Byer and writers from Motel: An Anthology, celebrating the it's release. Featuring contributors: Casey Stegman Nils Gilbertson Cole Beauchamp Tessa Rossi and M.E. Proctor Barbara Byar is a working-class American (CT and CA) writer living in Ireland for over 25 years. Her critically acclaimed collection of stories: Some Days Are Better Than Ours (Reflex Press) was short-listed for the Saboteur Awards. Her short fiction has been published and prize-listed widely. She was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Irish Short Story of the Year in 2023 and longlisted in 2021. A recipient of an Irish Arts Council Literature Bursary and an Agility Award, she is a Fiction Editor at Variant Literature and is currently writing a novel set in motels. Find her at her website, or on Twitter. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

Our audio recording of our crowdcast with the crew from the fantastic mag Rock and a Hard Place celebrating the release of their anthology The One Percent: Tales of the Super Wealthy and Depraved Featuring the editors: Roger Nokes Jay Butkowski Albert Tucher Paul J. Garth R.D. Sullivan and Rob D. Smith And writers: James D.F. Hannah Curtis Ippolito Scott Von Doviak and C.W. Blackwell. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the phenomenal talent that is award-winning author Jordan Harper to talk about Everybody Knows, late stage capitalism, horseshoe theory, and universal guilt. We also discuss his other works She Rides Shotgun, and The Last King of California, his past experience in music journalism, and Western society being a catalyst for noir stories. Jordan Harper is the Edgar-Award winning author of She Rides Shotgun, The Last King of California, Everybody Knows, and the short story collection Love and Other Wounds. Born and educated in Missouri, he now lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a writer and producer for television. She Rides Shotgun has also been optioned for a movie staring Taron Edgerton Find him on Twitter, Everybody Knows at Mulholland Books, and his other work at HarperCollins. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the awesome Beau Johnson to discuss facial recognition skills, reading as a family activity, and his latest release The Abrum Files. We also talk about time travel, tackling heavy topics through a variety of mediums, and rawness in writing certain genres. Beau Johnson lives in Ontario, Canada and is the author of the Bishop Rider books. Gun to his head, he will always choose pancakes over waffles. Find him here & his work here. The Dark Waters anthology is also out now! Find it at ⁠Barnes & Noble⁠, ⁠Amazon⁠, and ⁠many other outlets⁠. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the incredible talent that is Ai Jiang and talk about their projects both released and upcoming, whether AI will take over the world, and if the apocalypse can come before we've written the books we want to write. We also get a snippet of I Am AI and talk about using horror as a way to discuss grief. Ai Jiang is a Chinese-Canadian writer, a Nebula Award finalist, and an immigrant from Fujian. She is a member of HWA, SFWA, and Codex. Her work can be found in F&SF, The Dark, Uncanny, The Masters Review, Prairie Fire, among others. She is the recipient of Odyssey Workshop's 2022 Fresh Voices Scholarship and the author of Linghun and I Am AI. Find her on Twitter and online. The Dark Waters anthology is also out now! Find it at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and many other outlets. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We debrief from our first ever Bouchercon - talk about things we loved, people we loved, and books we're looking forward to. We are also opening for submissions for a Dark Waters anthology! Check our Twitter @podcastwaters for more info. Want to submit your writing for an episode? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the wonderful Holly West and second-time visitor C.W. Blackwell to talk about Bouchercon 2023, editing anthologies, blind submissions, and efforts to widen submission pools to as wide a group as possible. We also talk about the Bouchcon anthology Killin' Time In San Diego, hear a sample of C.W.'s story within it "Hard Rain on Beach Street," and get excited for a West Coast trip. Bouchercon 2023 attendees; Holly will be a panelist on "Music and Mysteries: Musician Detectives or Song Inspired Stories" Aug. 30 & will be moderating the "Anthony Short Story Anthology" panel Sept. 1. Kirstyn will be a panelist on "The Exciting First Few Years Rollercoaster: Authors Share Their Debut Experiences (good and bad)" Sept. 2. Holly West (she/her) is the Anthony Award-nominated author of the Mistress of Fortune historical mystery series and the editor of Murder-A-Go-Go's: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of the Go-Go's, and the 2023 edition of the Bouchercon anthology Killin Time in San Diego. Her novella, The Money Block, about a pair of grifters who set up a cryptocurrency con, is out now from Down & Out Books. More at https://hollywest.com/https://hollywest.com/. C.W. Blackwell is an American author from the Central Coast of California. His recent work has appeared with Down and Out Books, Shotgun Honey, Tough Magazine, and Reckon Review. He is a 2021 Derringer award winner and 2022 Derringer finalist. His folk horror novella Song of the Red Squire was published in 2022 from Nosetouch Press. His crime fiction novella Hard Mountain Clay was published in January 2023 from Shotgun Honey Books. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the awesome Alexander James to go on many nerdy tangents and get a sneak preview of his debut novel The Woodkin. We also talk about complex timelines in writing, relative degrees of horror, and Nate's appalling lack of bookshelves. Alexander spent most of his childhood in southern Germany, and then went to culinary school in South Louisiana. He's worked as a chef in everything from atrocious mall restaurants to a northern Italian farm-to-fork joint with Michelin dreams. He started writing because he's only got another ten years or so left in his knees. When he's not sweating through a crushing dinner service, he's either drinking Scotch whisky in front of his computer keyboard or backpacking...also with Scotch whisky. He is also the creator of the Critically Stupid Podcast, a comedy dungeons and dragons real play podcast, and the author of The Woodkin, which is scheduled for release in August 2023.  You can find him on twitter or at his website, and preorder The Woodkin at Amazon or Barnes & Noble Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're re-joined by the amazing Jack Moody to discuss the ins and outs of the writing process, from editing to submitting, marketing, and dealing with rejection in a "nose to tail" look at the parts of writing beyond getting words on a page. Jack Moody is a novelist and short story writer from wherever he happens to be at the time. He is the author of the novel Crooked Smile, the short story collection Dancing to Broken Records, and the novella The Monotony of Everlasting. He is a former staff writer for the literary magazine and podcast Brick Moon Fiction, and his work has appeared in multiple publications including Expat Press, Misery Tourism, Maudlin House, Punk Noir Magazine, Scatter of Ashes, Paper and Ink Magazine, Horror Sleaze Trash, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, Bear Creek Gazette, and The Saturday Evening Post. He didn't go to college.Follow him on Twitter and find his work here Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by Peter Farris to discuss finding inspiration in unique places, transitioning from horror to thriller writing, and rural noir stories. We also get a snippet of The Devil Himself, and discuss both the French and US publishing worlds, the relevance of luck, and the importance of perseverance. Called a “serious new talent” by Barnes & Noble, Peter Farris is the award-winning author of Last Call for the Living, The Clay Eaters and The Devil Himself. Published in France to critical acclaim, The Devil Himself won Le Prix 813, Best Foreign Novel at the Beaune International Film Festival, was an official selection for the prestigious Grand Prix de Littérature Policière and named a finalist for Le Prix SNCF du Polar. Among other accolades the novel received starred reviews in Rolling Stone, Hebdo and Le Parisien, and was picked one of the best mysteries of the year by ELLE and L'OBS Magazine. Also published in France by Éditions Gallmeister, The Clay Eaters was praised in Le Monde, debuted on the Palmarès Livres Hebdo des libraires Bestseller List, selected a Bookseller Best of the Year by Palmarès Livres Hebdo, was shortlisted for le prix Libr'à Nous 2020 and was a finalist for the 2021 Le Prix Lire En Poche. In 2022, Arcade Crimewise published The Devil Himself in English worldwide and the novel will see an Italian translation courtesy Milan-based publisher NN Editore. The French translation of a new novel The Bone Omen ("Le Presage") was released this year by Éditions Gallmeister. Peter lives with his family in Georgia. You can find him on Twitter. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by fellow Midwesterner Scott Mitchel May to discuss the categorization of Ohio, the twisted origins of some Arthurian legends, allowing readers to feel uncomfortable, and finding out twists as readers do. We also get a sneak preview of his debut novel Breakneck: or, it happened once in America, discuss the pros and cons of trying to plot map and how expectations within the publishing industry have changed from decades past to the 2020s. Scott Mitchel May is a writer living in Madison, WI. His short fiction has been published in many literary journals including The Maryland Literary Review, HAD, W&S, Maudlin House, Bending Genres, and Rejection Letters. He was the winner of the 2019 UW-Madison Writers' Institute Poem or Page Competition in the category of literary fiction, and his unpublished novel, Bridgeport Nowhere, was shortlisted for the 2022 Santa Fe Writers' Project Literary Award. His debut novel, Breakneck: or, it happened once in America, was published by Anxiety Press in late April 2023. He is also the author of the novelette, All Burn Down, forthcoming in October 2023 from Emerge Press, and his second novel Awful People: a ghost story is coming in early 2024 from Death of Print Books. He holds a GED from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and a BS in English Literature from Edgewood College. He tweets @smitchelmay. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

In which we discuss After The Lights Go Out by John Vercher, mental health, the toll that contact sports take, and one-star reviews. Also the cost of entertainment, conflicting character motivations, and balancing multiple issues within a story. If you want to hear from the author himself, check out his appearance on NPR's Fresh Air. Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of mental health, including self-harm and suicide. If you are struggling, please know help is available. If you are in the US, call or text 988, or visit https://988lifeline.org/ If you are in the UK, call 0800 689 5652 or visit https://www.spuk.org.uk/national-suicide-prevention-helpline-uk/ Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by author Adam Godfrey to discuss his novella, Narcissus, crossing genres, being a panster vs a planner, and myth retellings. There are also several side tangents involving music, movies, and music in movies. Adam Godfrey hails from Chesapeake, Virginia, where he lives with his wife and three daughters. He holds over twenty years of experience working for the United States Department of Defense in information technology and cybersecurity risk management. He holds a master's degree in cybersecurity, and his professional contributions to the field have been internationally featured across a variety of media platforms. In fiction, Adam is a novelist and author of short stories. His genre-crossing work ranges from the suspenseful to the horrific, frequently characterized by central threads of plausible science and technology gone awry. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We are joined by the a brilliant new name on the horror scene, Rae Knowles, to talk about narcissistic love interests, the tragedy of plot butterflies fluttering away the second you have the ability to write, and taco bell erotica. We also get a sneak preview of The Stradivarius, talk about her nonfiction piece in Nightmare Magazine, and more accurate definitions of the word "gaslighting." Also be sure to submit for the Scissor Sisters: Sapphic Villains Anthology - open through May 31. Rae Knowles (she/her) is a queer woman with multiple works forthcoming from Brigids Gate Press. Her debut novel, The Stradivarius, debuted May '23, her sapphic horror novella, Merciless Waters, is due out November '23, and her collaboration with April Yates, Lies That Bind, in early '24. A number of her short stories have been published or are forthcoming from publications like Dark Matter Ink, Nightmare, Seize the Press, Taco Bell Quarterly, and Nosetouch Press. Recent updates on her work can be found on her website and you can follow her on Twitter. Want to submit your writing? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the wonderful James D.F. Hannah who regales us with tales of Mississippi tornado warnings, southern noir writers, if Falkner is a crime novelist, and his latest release Somewhere Outside Salvation (A Grifter's Song Book 32). We also get a sneak peek at the story and hear about the process of writing a piece in the Grifter's Song series (as well as a few other music references). James D.F. Hannah is the Shamus Award-winning author of the Henry Malone series, including the novels Behind the Wall of Sleep and She Talks to Angels. His story "No Man's Land" was selected for Best American Mystery and Suspense 2022, edited by Steph Cha and Jess Walter. His short fiction has appeared in Playing Games, edited by Lawrence Block; Under the Thumb: Stories of Police Oppression, edited by S.A. Cosby; Trouble No More; Rock and a Hard Place; Shotgun Honey; Crossing Genres; and The Anthology of Appalachian Writers. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky, where all the bourbon is. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We're back to kick off a new season with the delightful Robert P. Ottone to discuss his new book, The Vile Thing We Created, friendships as they evolve over time, twisty or not-so-twisty endings, and supporting the indie writing community. We also get a sample of his new book and talk a lot about the decision to have children vs. being child-free. Robert P. Ottone is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of THE TRIANGLE. His other works include HER INFERNAL NAME & OTHER NIGHTMARES (an honorable mention in THE BEST HORROR OF THE YEAR VOLUME 13) as well as the suburban folk horror novel, THE VILE THING WE CREATED. His short stories have appeared in various anthologies as well as online. He's also the publisher and owner of Spooky House Press. He can be found online at SpookyHousePress.com or on Twitter/IG: @RobertOttone He delights in the creepy and views bagels solely as a cream cheese delivery device. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.comIntro/Outro music: www.bensound.comDisclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/darkwaters/support

We are joined by Scott Blackburn to discuss his novel It Dies With You, the dichotomy of characters from different backgrounds, the line of preaching vs. storytelling, and proper baby shower etiquette. We also get a snippet of It Dies With You, talk about the boundaries of adolescent characters in adult fiction, and staying true to personal experience. Scott Blackburn is an English instructor and a 2017 graduate of the Mountainview MFA program. He lives in High Point, North Carolina with his wife and two children. When he is not writing and teaching, Scott enjoys training in combat sports such as boxing, Muay Thai, and Ju-jitsu, in which he holds a black belt. His debut novel, It Dies With You, was released on June 7, 2022. Scott has also contributed to publications such as Crime Reads, Mystery Tribune, and Shotgun Honey. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

Our last book club episode of the season, Hide by Kiersten White. In which, we discuss turning books into drinking games, how much character development is enough character development, reinterpretations of Greek myths, trauma bonding, and class struggle. Also repetitions of ideas and repetitions of ideas and repetitions of ideas and..... Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We're joined by Hoosier and horror writer Mike DeFrench to discuss the lasting impacts of certain literature, different methods of editing and practicing writing, TikTok as a marketing tool, and the joys of discovering new genres. We also get a preview of his story "Lucy in the Sky with Demons" from his collection Amphetamine Daydreams Vol. 1. Mike DeFrench is a horror writer from Indiana who occasionally dips his toe into science fiction and fantasy. A husband and dad to two kids, he enjoys reading, writing, and all things nerdy. All profits from his novels and short stories go towards purchasing craft beer. You can subscribe to his Substack, and follow him on Instagram and TikTok. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

In which we discuss that the reasons why Nate loves this story are the same reasons why Kirstyn does not. Also nuance in dissecting interpersonal relationships, decaying haunted houses as allegories, and screaming at characters to please, please, just leave the dangerous place. Also, proof that two people can read the same story and have completely different experiences. TL;DR we really wanted this to be a full novel and have more of the story, but for contrasting reasons. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the fantastic Coy Hall to discuss his writing, historical magic, medicinal cannibalism, and whether or not all characters need an animal sidekick. We also get a peek at his book Grimoire of the Four Imposters and talk about his latest novel The Hangman Feeds the Jackal. Coy Hall lives in West Virginia with his wife, Olivia, and they share a home with a clumsy Great Pyrenees named Duncan. Coy splits time as an author of mysteries and horror and as a professor of history. The two pursuits fit together well. As a historian, he teaches courses about medieval and early modern Europe. History has influenced his writing, with many of his stories set in the distant past--sometimes the real past, sometimes an imagined one, but most often a mix of the two. His short stories have appeared in a variety of magazines and anthologies like The Fiends in the Furrows (2018). He's published in a wide range of genres, including western, science-fiction, adventure, crime, fantasy, horror, and mystery. His first collection, Grimoire of the Four Impostors, releases in 2021 from Nosetouch Press. His first novel, The Hangman Feeds the Jackal: A Gothic Western, was released in June 2022 from Nosetouch Press. Other influences include authors Philip K. Dick, Raymond Chandler, Fritz Leiber, M.R. James, Chester Himes, David Goodis, and Shirley Jackson. Radio drama series like Inner Sanctum Mysteries and CBS Radio Mystery Theater, and films such as Nosferatu (1922) and The Black Cat (1934), have also shaped his storytelling. You can find him on his website and on Twitter. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We get the chance to talk with the great human being that is Jack Moody about his body of work, simultaneously writing and editing, whether being compared to Bukowski is a compliment, and sea-born killing machines. We also get a preview of his new novella The Monotony of Everlasting. Jack Moody is a novelist and short story writer from wherever he happens to be at the time. He is the author of the novel Crooked Smile, the short story collection Dancing to Broken Records, and the forthcoming novella The Monotony of Everlasting, out October 1st, 2022 with Anxiety Press. He is a former staff writer for the literary magazine and podcast Brick Moon Fiction, and his work has appeared in multiple publications including Expat Press, Misery Tourism, Maudlin House, Punk Noir Magazine, Scatter of Ashes, Paper and Ink Magazine, Horror Sleaze Trash, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, Bear Creek Gazette, and The Saturday Evening Post. He didn't go to college. Follow him on Twitter and find his work here Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

Editor, writer, and all-around fantastic person Paul J Garth joins us to discuss hoarding books from college, the character spectrum of dick behavior, family-appropriate DC trips, and spoiling book endings. We also get a preview of/talk about his storyThe Low White Plain. Paul J. Garth is a Best American Mystery and Suspense distinguished story author who has been published in Thuglit, Tough, Needle: A Magazine of Noir, Plots with Guns, Crime Factory, Rock and a Hard Place, and several other magazines. He lives and writes in Nebraska with his family, where he eats too many tacos, listens to too much heavy metal, and enjoys just the right amount of bourbon. An editor at Rock and a Hard Place and Shotgun Honey, he is at work on his first novel, and can be found online by following @pauljgarth. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

The incredibly talented S.A. Cosby joins us to discuss his body of work, strong main character names, the condescension of rural characters and stories, and Southern appreciation vs fetishism. We also listen to a sneak peek of his current project, All The Sinners Bleed. S. A. Cosby is an Anthony Award-winning writer from Southeastern Virginia. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the Anthony, ITW, Barry, and Macavity awards for best novel. It was also a New York Times Notable Book, and was named a best book of the year by NPR, The Guardian, and Library Journal, among others. When not writing, he is an avid hiker and chess player. Find him on Twitter. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

Derek Farrell joins us to discuss the latest in the Danny Bird Mystery series, balancing narrative intent and integrity when presented with publishing opportunities, and overprotective family members. Derek Farrell is the author of 6 Danny Bird Mysteries including Death at Dukes Halt. The books have been described as “Twisty, gripping,” “Tight, intricately plotted, full of razor-sharp one-liners and evocative prose,” and have earned him the nickname “Agatha Twisty.” He's married and lives in West Sussex with his husband and what some people describe as “way too many books.” Find him on Twitter, and Instagram, his books are available at Fahrenheit Press, and check out his website. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We talk about The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones, the differences in what we find nightmare-worthy, Nate's appreciation of nuance, and the importance of having many authors on your bookshelf. Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

Amy Grech joins us to discuss the pervasiveness of New York, paranormal experiences, and the joys of horror poetry. We also get a sneak preview of her story “Bruised and Battered Nevermore” from the newly released anthology Even in the Grave. Amy Grech has sold over 100 stories to various anthologies and magazines including: A New York State of Fright, Apex Magazine, Flashes of Hope, Gorefest, Hell's Heart, Hell's Highway, Hell's Mall, Microverses, Needle Magazine, Punk Noir Magazine, Tales from the Canyons of the Damned, The One That Got Away, and many others. Amy is an Active Member of the Horror Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers who lives in New York. You can connect with her on Twitter, or by visiting her website. Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. Want to submit? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

The amazing Nikki Dolson joins us to talk about her latest works, the best way to exorcise dating frustrations, and "the hard truths of children and writing." We also get a sneak peek at one of her newest stories and discuss the importance of creating three-dimensional characters. Nikki Dolson is the author of the novel All Things Violent and the story collection Love and Other Criminal Behavior. Her stories have appeared in Vautrin, TriQuarterly, Tough, ThugLit and other publications. Her fiction has been nominated for a Derringer award and her story "Neighbors" was selected for Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021. She lives in Las Vegas, NV with her children. Find her at NikkiDolson.com and as @NikkiDolson on Instagram and Twitter. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

The incomparable Ashley Erwin joins us to discuss the art and importance of oral storytelling, Kentucky politics of the 1930s-1990s, many tangents, and hatred of red pens. Ashley Erwin writes Southern Pulp. Sometimes, she does it well. Mostly, she peddles bourbon until the day comes that she doesn't. Living in sunny Los Angeles with the Man and her cat, who started out with a name and ended up Motherfucking BooBoo. All other things undecided. She has a Forthcoming novel about a bunch of Bad'ns from Kentucky coming from Shotgun Honey November 2022! Be on the lookout and follow Ashley on Twitter. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

The ever-wonderful C.W. Blackwell joins us to discuss using fiction to cultivate empathy for societal issues, the crisis of homelessness in America, and various forms of writing self-care. We also discuss his new and upcoming works River Street Rhapsody and Song of the Red Squire. C.W. Blackwell is an American author from the Central Coast of California. His recent work has appeared with Down and Out Books, Shotgun Honey, Tough Magazine, and Fahrenheit Press. He has been a gas station pump jockey, a rock musician, and a crime analyst. He is a 2021 Derringer award winner. His debut poetry collection, River Street Rhapsody is currently available from Dead Fern Press. His fiction novellas Song of the Red Squire and Hard Mountain Clay are also forthcoming. Preorder Song of the Red Squire here, and check out his other work here. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

In which we chat with Bobby Matthews about the hidden singular southern small town, analyzing the complexities of relationships against different socioeconomic backdrops, and what can only be described as brilliant speed writing. We also discuss his new release Living the Gimmick. Bobby Mathews is a writer and journalist based in Birmingham, Alabama. Over the past two years, 22 of his short stories have been published in magazines, websites and anthologies of various stripes, and he was a finalist for a 2021 Derringer Award for flash fiction. A native Southerner, his work often deals with people learning to (hopefully) survive in a slowly changing South. His novel, Living the Gimmick, was released in May 2022 from Shotgun Honey, while Magic City Blues is slated for publication in Spring 2023. When he's not writing fiction, he's covering sports in suburban Birmingham and being a parent to two amazing sons. His recently published work is 'The Swahili Word for Hope,' a literary crime story, was also recently published in The Dillydoun Review. Find him on Twitter and his Website. Buy Living the Gimmick here. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We kick off season 4 by chatting with Jesse Hilson about trying to ignore that family members will read your bloodiest scenes, adhering to genre rules, and using other creative outlets to help push through writing. We also discuss his novel Blood Trip. Jesse Hilson is a writer and comics artist living in the Catskills in New York State. His writing has appeared, or will appear, in AZURE, Maudlin House, Pink Plastic House, Pulp Modern, Punk Noir, Misery Tourism, ExPat Press, Murderous Ink Press, Orchid's Lantern, Zin Daily, and elsewhere. His comics have been published or will be published in Misery Tourism, Bear Creek Gazette, and Excuse Me Mag. Two books of his will be published in 2022: BLOOD TRIP, a novel, from Close to the Bone, and HANDCUFFING THE VENUS DE MILO, a poetry chapbook, from The Sparrow's Trombone. Find him on Twitter and his Website. Buy Blood Trip here. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

So, we really loved The Silent Patient. We talk about Alex Michaelides 2021 release The Maidens, the trappings of having too many ideas in a piece, unsatisfying endings, universe tie-ins, mental health, and Facebook statuses. Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We're joined by Max Thrax to discuss religious indoctrination, originality in writing, classic noir characterization, and proper terms for apocalyptic death cults. We also discuss his upcoming release God Is A Killer. Max Thrax is a poet and novelist, living in Boston. His work has been published in Bristol Noir, Punk Noir, Expat, Apocalypse Confidential. His novella God Is A Killer (Close To The Bone) will be published in May 2022. Find him on Twitter. Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We're joined by Joshua Chaplinky to discuss the fallacy of human memory, incorporating scientific theories into fiction, and the happy medium between finding inspiration from and trying to copy our favorite authors. We also discuss his novel The Paradox Twins. Joshua Chaplinsky is the Managing Editor of LitReactor.com. He is the author of The Paradox Twins (CLASH Books), the story collection Whispers in the Ear of A Dreaming Ape, and the parody Kanye West--Reanimator. His short fiction has been published by Vice, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Thuglit, Severed Press, Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing, Pantheon Magazine and Broken River Books. Follow him on Twitter. More info at joshuachaplinsky.com and unravelingtheparadox.com. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We're joined by the immensely talented J.B. Stevens, and talk about balancing humor in dark fiction, getting through the slush pile, edits worth listening to, and certain types of infinity loops. We also talk about his new release A Therapeutic Death: Violent Short Stories. You can him on his website and on Twitter. J.B. Stevens lives in the Southeastern United States with his wife, daughter, and Yorkshire terrier. His work in crime fiction is widely lauded. He's published with dozens of websites, magazines, and anthologies. He was a finalist for the Claymore Award and won Mystery Tribune's inaugural micro-fiction contest. In addition to fiction, J.B. is a poet. His verse focuses on returning from war and pop culture. His war poetry was a finalist for the Colonel Darron L. Wright Award. His comedy poetry was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His war poetry led him to be LitReactor's featured National Poetry Month writer. The Best of America Cannot Be Seen, his pop-comedy collection, was a summer 2021 release with Alien Buddha Press. As a reviewer and interviewer, he works for St. Martin's/Criminal Element. His critiques are widely cited, and he is a “must contact” for numerous literary publicists. Before his writing career, J.B. was a United States Army Infantry Officer. He was honorably discharged as a Captain. He is a veteran of the Iraq war and earned numerous awards, including a Bronze Star. Prior to the war, he was an undefeated Mixed Martial Arts Fighter. He earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu and was the longtime manager of Alliance, the world champion Jiujitsu team. J.B. graduated with a bachelor's degree in Psychology from The Citadel and a master's degree in Management from Troy State University. He is currently a Chief Deputy United States Marshal. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We are joined by the wonderful and wonderfully cynical Allison Sutton to discuss Nathan's WIP, Enemy of the Enemies, the need for emotional support Diet Coke, making crude scenes cruder, and the intricacies of Catholic funerals. Allison Sutton is a former gifted kid turned art student turned corporate drone. She is the mother of fourteen house plants, one cat, and unknowable unfinished drafts. She is currently working on both short historical horror and historical romance because she contains multitudes. Her motto is “actually” and she has strong opinions on the great lakes. She is also awake, but at what cost? You can find her on Twitter. Special thanks to Chase Potter for helping with the audio editing of this episode. You can find him on his website and on Instagram. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support

We are joined by the wonderful Scott Cumming to discuss his whirlwind year of writing, his new book A Chapbook About Nothing, finding seconds in the day to jot down poems, and how it all started with a single review. We also go through his story Beach Body, and mental health in the time of Corona. Scott Cumming unsuspectingly went to see Garden State wearing his Shins tee. He has been published at The Daily Drunk, Punk Noir Magazine, Versification, and Shotgun Honey. His poem, “Blood on Snow”, was voted the best of Outcast Press Poetry Things We Carry issue and nominated for a Pushcart. His collection, A Chapbook About Nothing, was released on December 31. You can find him on Twitter or on his website. Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which they are affiliated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/darkwaters/support