Dog-eared Nightmares: A Horror Fiction Podcast

Josh Rountree joins me to discuss his Creature From the Black Lagoon-weird Western-crime-witchy novel, The Legend of Charlie Fish. For a shorter novel, it covers a lot of territory and hops genres like a frog on a skillet. We also talk about the ultimate Texas road trip, interesting Galveston hurricane facts, and whether or not Buccee's is worth it. Josh's companion novel, The Unkillable Frank Lightning, comes out in July followed by Summer in the House of the Departed in August. Find Josh at his website: www.joshrountree.com

Apologies for the audio quality on my end. My default microphone swapped to the computer. On this episode of Dog-eared Nightmares, Michael David Wilson of This is Horror joins me to discuss his dark, comedy-action novel, Daddy's Boy. WE talk about utilizing dialogue to move a story forward, dick jokes, and the cultural significance of Naked Attraction.

Becky LeJeune, yes, the Becky LeJeune. Becky is an agent with the Bond Literary Agency. She's been around the industry for a couple decades and brings a world of knowledge to our conversation. We discuss the function of an agent, pitching an agent, doing social media well, and why I'm her favorite client.

Jon Bassoff joined me to discuss his excellent new novel, The Memory Ward. This was my first attempt at live recording at an event and, well, I got part of it. Jon was kind enough to come back onto the show to recreate the magic with me. We talk about how to write "things are not what they seem" fiction, and how The Sixth Sense ruined twist endings for everyone.https://www.jonbassoff.com

This week I am joined by Clay McLeod Chapman. Both in this interview and out of it, Clay has always been a genuine person. We discuss Wake Up and Open Your Eyes, our discomfort with the state of the world, taking big swings in writing, and how sometimes the stories we are proudest of create the smallest ripples in the proverbial pond.Catch up with everything Clay at his website: https://www.claymcleodchapman.com/

I welcome Chris DiLeo to the podcast this week, my second returning guest. We talk about the inspiration for his novella, Empty Devils, creating story from real tragedy, and the brilliance of Clay McLeod Chapman. You can order a copy of Empty Devils directly from the publisher at https://sobelobooks.com/shop/p/empty-devilsYou can also follow Chris at: authordileo.substack.com/ and as @authordileo on the social media platforms that matter.

R.A. Busby is the Shirley Jackson Award-winning author of short stories and two novellas releasing this year. We discuss both in this episode, Words Made of Flesh and You Will Speak for the Dead. The former is available from Cemetery Gates Media and the latter will release from Stelliform Press in October. These works are so distinct, the voice so strong and unique. R.A. is truly an author to learn from, and is also an all around great guest. https://rabusbybooks.weebly.com https://sobelobooks.com

On this episode I welcome my first ever returning guest, Laurel Hightower, to discuss her recent Ghoulish Books release, The Day of the Door. We discuss Laurel's passion for indie horror, generational trauma cycles, and ghosts getting kneed in the balls. She's a good person in horror, reliably, authentically, and she deserves your support and money. Today's episode is sponsored by MyLori, your personal Lori Booth. On what remains of Twitter: @HightowerLaurel

On this episode, I preview Whatever Happened to Jo Rose with author Chris DiLeo. We talk about his lifelong journey with horror, redefining word count success, and students as story inspiration. Chris was a fantastic guest and the novel sounds like a crazy, genre-crossing adventure! DiLeo loves to talk horror on social media @authordileo. Website: authordileo.com Substack: authordileo.substack.com/ 

On this week's episode of Dog-eared Nightmares, I welcome talented author and cheerful goth, Angela Sylvaine, to discuss her debut novel through Dark Matter Ink, Frost Bite. It's a YA horror, sci-fi, comedy story that punches like a full grown man. We also chat about 90s nostalgia, discovering your talent for writing later in life, and good reasons for visiting North Dakota. Thank you Angela, and please follow her at the links below: https://angelasylvaine.com/ https://linktr.ee/angelasylvaine

Emmett Nahil joins the podcast to discuss his debut novel From the Belly, releasing with Tenebrous Press May 2024. We chat about his journey into horror, his writing process, (attempting) to write 10K words in one day, and I confess I never finished his favorite video game of all time. You can find Emmett online at the links below. https://www.emmettnahil.com/ https://www.instagram.com/_emnays/

Mark Towse is a fellow NoSleep Podcast veteran. He is also a great guy with a supremely interesting story, coming to writing in his forties, finding it was a better escape than alcohol. He made up for lost time quickly, as mentioned in the show. Have fun with this...every time I say the word "prolific" take a shot. Mark's debut novel is titled Chasing the Dragon, and I hope you will be keen to pick it up after hearing him speak about it. You can pre-order or follow Mark at the links below: @towseywrites Amazon (Kindle only at the moment): https://books2read.com/Chasing-the-dragon Paperback/hardcover (+signed swag):https://www.eerieriverpublishing.com/category/all-products

On today's episode I am joined by Jessica McHugh. We preview her forthcoming book from Ghoulish Books, Witches in the Warren, the third in the Gardening Guidebooks trilogy. We also talk about her writing process, defining success as an indie author, blackout poetry, and tattoo regret. Be on the lookout for her next project, the Wuthering Heights inspired FEAST, which we discuss toward the end of the episode. Thank you to our sponsor Ghoulish Book Festival 2024! McHughniverse.com Ghoulish.RIP Apokrupha.com

Welcome to Dog-eared Nightmares, a podcast about horror books I have figuratively dog-eared because I love them so much. In actuality, I underline my books. Yes, even hardcover. My guest is V. Castro and we discuss The Haunting of Alejandra. V is someone I look up to in the horror writing world. She is a writer with a Spanish last name, like me, something that wasn't common even a decade ago. It's because of people like V you see more of us on the shelves, and that's a good thing. We talk about her beginning in horror, what being a pantser looks like for someone who is successful at it, and the power of perseverance. Follow V at Vlatinalondon everywhere.

You know Sadie Hartmann. You know this book. In this episode we talk about 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered, how many books were left on the cutting room floor, and Sadie's ambition in publishing it. We talk about the perils of social media, the importance of a good cover, and the next big thing in horror. You can find Sadie as mother.horror on Instagram, and if you aren't already subscribed to Night Worms, her monthly horror book subscription box with co-owner Ashley Sawyers, go sign up now.

Alexander James is a new-to-me author whose debut novel, The Woodkin, was released earlier this summer. He is also a chef hailing from the Pacific Northwest, the setting for this wilderness survival horror story, centered around Josh Mallory, a man whose dueling trauma threads begin to unravel as his get away from it all trek along the Pacific Coast Trail attracts unexpected guests. The Woodkin. It's a fun read with delicious writerly morsels, perfect for a night under the stars. He can be found at: www.drunkscribe.com

Kelsea Yu is the Shirley Jackson nominated author of My Dark Library's Bound Feet. In this episode we talk about the role of grief in fiction, discovering horror later in life, and the art of making meaning in shorter works. Bound Feet is a powerhouse of a novella. Kelsea juggles so much with so few pages. Truly deserving of its award nomination. Catch up with Kelsea via the links below: Website: https://www.kelseayu.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anovelescape/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/anovelescape Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/anovelescape.bsky.social Look for @anovelescape across the social media platforms!

For this episode I did something completely different. I put a call out on Twitter for authors to come onto my show and do an impromptu interview. Five authors are featured in the first version of Podcast Chaos. It will not be the last. First was Lauren Bolger promoting Kill Radio. Second was O.F. Cieri promoting Backmask and the forthcoming Hellarkey. Third was Ryan Bradley promoting Saint's Blood. Fourth was R.A. Busby promoting Corporate Body. Last was Zach Rosenberg promoting The Long Shalom. Lots of fun was had. Please support these authors by visiting the links they provided me: Lauren: www.laurenbolger.com O.F.: http://Malarkeybooks.com/backmask https://castaignepublishing.bigcartel.com/product/lockdown-laureate… http://Ofcieri.com https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5rtbFkDha8BeXp8UkWzwYO?si=j2tAytaHS7emZT9vPG6hRw… https://podchaser.com/podcasts/last-podcast-on-the-left-33097/episodes/episode-367-ed-savitz-joe-meek-40173571… Ryan: https://mybook.to/SaintsBlood https://ryancbradleyblog.wordpress.com/ R.A.: https://linktr.ee/rabusbyauthor https://amazon.com/Corporate-Body-R-Busby/dp/B0BW3HQXWS… Zach: https://amazon.com/Long-Shalom-Zachary-Rosenberg/dp/B0C451PKS1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10SJB69O8Q2YR&keywords=The+Long+Shalom&qid=1687277433&sprefix=the+long+shalom%2Caps%2C238&sr=8-1… https://amazon.com/dp/B0BWMG437D?th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=true… Instagram: @ZachRose32 Twitter: @ZachRoseWriter

Gemma Amor is the Bram Stoker nominated author of Dear Laura. Her first traditionally published novel, Full Immersion, was released last year. Gemma is a regular contributor to The NoSleep Podcast. She is also a voice actor and painter. In this episode we discuss her epistolary novel from Cemetery Gates Media, The Once Yellow House. We also talk about her introduction to horror, the freedom of writing it, and our longing for undiscovered places. From the interview, the book referenced is Surface Detail by Ian M. Banks. https://cemeterygatesmedia.com/2023/03/09/the-once-yellow-house/ You can find Gemma on Twitter at: @manylittlewords

Todd Keisling is a Bram Stoker nominated author of Devil's Creek. In this episode we discuss his 2020 novella, rereleased in 2021, Scanlines. We talk about writing as therapy and trauma as a haunting. Todd has a new collection of short stories coming out this September from Cemetery Dance. You can find more information about that release, Cold, Dark & Infinite, at his website in the show notes. Thank you to our sponsor, Keisling Hammers. Website: www.toddkeisling.com Twitter: @todd_keisling  Substack: toddkeisling.substack.com Patreon: patreon.com/toddkeisling

Jessica Leonard is a Kentucky-based author of Antioch. In this episode, we discuss her recent release through Ghoulish Books, Conjuring the Witch. As you'll hear, this was my first exposure to Jessica's writing, and I was very impressed. My copy of Conjuring the Witch is officially dog-eared. Jessica puts in work with her characters. For writers looking to learn how to make moments meaningful, take a look at what Jessica did with this book. After the episode I have a brief chat about the state of the podcast. https://perpetualpublishing.com/product/conjuring-the-witch/ https://perpetualpublishing.com/product/antioch/

Danger Slater is a bizzaro fiction and horror author. In this episode we discuss two of his books, Impossible James and Moonfellows. I recommend both and either if you're in a reading rut, if you want a story that will hit some horror notes but not pound you over the head with them. Impossible James is laugh out loud funny and delightfully gross. Moonfellows is fascinating and tragic, with surprise moments of humor to balance the sense of dread. Look for Danger's new book, House of Rot, released June 14. At the end of this episode I introduce a new segment, MJ's corner, where my daughter discusses one of her recent favorite reads. A special thank you to our sponsor for this episode, Clouds. On Twitter: @Danger_Slater https://tenebrous-press.square.site/product/house-of-rot-a-novella-by-danger-slater-softcover-includes-ebook-/79?cs=true&cst=custom https://perpetualpublishing.com/product/moonfellows/ https://www.amazon.com/Impossible-James-Danger-Slater-ebook/dp/B07Q269F47

Laurel Hightower is my guest and we had an enlightening discussion on the space we occupy in the world, driven by the stories in her first collection, Every Woman Knows This. We agree that plotting does not have to be extensive and that we would all be better off with a portable Max Booth III. For her Dog-eared selection, Laurel introduces me to a new author who's really going places. Preorder link for Silent Key: https://a.co/d/6dhOot3

C.B. Jones released his wonderful novel, The Rules of the Road, in 2021. It was on the preliminary ballot for the Stoker Award for best first novel, and, most importantly, has led to dozens of strangers sending him pictures of shoes on the side of the road. C.B. has stories on The NoSleep Podcast as well as several anthologies, including Howls from the Wreckage and, The World Belongs to Us. In our conversation we talk about his cosmic DJ creation, Buck Hensley, road trip food, and we get vulnerable about pantsing. You can find more about C.B. below. Stay tuned for a mini bonus episode with C.B., as our conversation continued after the interview ended and we decided it was compelling enough to record. www.therulesoftheroad.net https://www.amazon.com/Rules-Road-C-B-Jones-ebook/dp/B099Q3283V https://substack.com/@cbjones

Johnny Compton is a San Antonio-based horror author whose debut novel, The Spite House, was released through Tor Nightfire in February. The Spite House is a classic ghost story written against a backdrop of a desperate father doing all he can to keep his family together. You can find out more about Johnny and his podcast, Healthy Fears, at the websites listed below: www.johnnycompton.com www.healthyfears.com

In this episode I interview friend and fellow San Antonian, Celso Hurtado. We talk about The Ghost Tracks, his award-winning novel about a teenager whose paranormal experience at San Antonio's famed "ghost tracks" sends his life down an unexpected path. The sequel to Ghost Tracks, The Devil's Promise, will release in September of 2023.