In this episode, Daniel sits down with James Kennedy — author of the genre-bending horror novel Bride of the Tornado, which was selected by The Guardian as one of the best SFF/horror books of September 2023.

James shares how he created one of the most original and unsettling horror tales of recent years, blending Ray Bradbury nostalgia, Lynchian dread, and the visceral terror of the American Midwest. Together, they discuss genre expectations, experimental writing, and the dangers of commercial conformity. This is an episode for the bold, the curious, and the beautifully terrible people among us.

In this episode you’ll discover:

Why Bride of the Tornado defies genre — and how it nearly cost James his agent.

What David Lynch and Ray Bradbury taught him about mystery, horror, and dream logic.

The deep cultural horror of small towns, cult rituals, and being “nobody-ized.”

Why he never names his protagonists (and why it makes you complicit).

How embracing the strange can create unforgettable art — even if some people hate it.

Links & Resources:

James Kennedy’s website: https://www.jameskennedy.com

Bride of the Tornado on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bride-Tornado-James-Kennedy-ebook/dp/B0BWF5M7TD

90-Second Newbery Film Festival: https://www.90secondnewbery.com

The Secrets of Story Podcast: https://www.secretsofstory.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjameskennedy

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/iamjameskennedy

Subscribe to The Writer’s Chair:

If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your weirdest friends.

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@devilsrockbooks

🎧 Listen on your favourite app: https://pod.link/1829723468

💬 Join the community: https://www.devilsrockbooks.com/podcast

📚 About the Guest

James Kennedy is the author of Bride of the Tornado, Dare to Know, and The Order of Odd-Fish. His work has been praised for its unflinching weirdness, literary elegance, and unapologetic originality. He’s also the founder of the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival and co-host of the Secrets of Story podcast. He lives in Chicago and welcomes terrible readers everywhere.

Find him at https://www.jameskennedy.com or @iamjameskennedy on socials.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Daniel revisits a decade of storytelling with longtime friend and creative collaborator Luke Kondor — filmmaker, podcaster, comic creator, and co-founder of Hawk & Cleaver and The Other Stories podcast.

Together, Luke and Daniel reflect on 10 years in writing and publishing — the highs, the failures, the pivots — and share the biggest lessons they’ve learned about writing, collaboration, and building sustainable creative careers.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER

How The Other Stories podcast became a 14M+ download success — and the cost of keeping it going

The truth behind burnout, creative boredom, and finding joy in weirdness.

What Luke and Daniel would do differently if they had to start their author journeys again.

The danger of “commercial success” killing your passion — and how to protect your art.

How play, fun, and low-pressure projects can reignite your creative spark.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Luke’s website: https://www.lukekondor.com

My Dog Shits Cash (Books): https://www.lukekondor.com/books

The Other Stories Podcast: https://www.theotherstories.net

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/lukekondor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukekondor

SUBSCRIBE TO THE WRITERS CHAIR

If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your fellow creatives.

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@devilsrockbooks

🎧 Listen on your favourite app: https://pod.link/1829723468

💬 Join the community: https://www.devilsrockbooks.com/podcast

ABOUT THE GUEST

Luke Kondor is a UK-based writer, podcaster, and filmmaker who’s spent the past decade telling weird stories across books, comics, and audio fiction. He’s best known for co-founding The Other Stories podcast and for creating award-winning low-budget horror films, bizarre books like My Dog Shits Cash, and irreverent comics like El Marvo.

Find him at lukekondor.com or on social media @lukekondor.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Daniel sits down with the iconic Eric LaRocca — Bram Stoker Award-nominated and Splatterpunk Award-winning author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, We Can Never Leave This Place, Everything the Darkness Eats, and The Trees Grew Because I Bled There (Titan Books, 2024).

Eric opens up about the viral rise of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke, the challenges of overnight success, and the deeply personal themes that drive their work. From queer identity and lyrical horror to the raw humanity at the heart of their stories, this is a conversation about art, fear, and the courage to write from the soul.

💀 In this episode you’ll discover:

• How Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke became a viral sensation — and why that’s impossible to replicate.

• Why Eric believes the scariest monsters are human ones.

• The creative pressure that comes after success (and how to protect your art).

• How Clive Barker and queer horror shaped Eric’s storytelling voice.

• The philosophy behind their unforgettable titles — and what makes a story truly theirs.

Links & Resources:

Eric’s website: https://www.ericlarocca.com

Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Things-Gotten-Worse-Since-Misfortunes/dp/1803363762

Everything the Darkness Eats (Titan Books): https://www.amazon.com/Everything-Darkness-Eats-Eric-LaRocca-ebook/dp/B0BSSMC26H/

Deliciously TWISTED Halloween Book Sale: https://twistedtalesbooks.com/halloween/

Subscribe to The Writer’s Chair:

If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with your fellow horror fans.

📺 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@devilsrockbooks

🎧 Listen on your favourite app: pod.link/1829723468

💬 Join the community: devilsrockbooks.com/podcast

📚 About the Guest

Eric LaRocca is a Bram Stoker Award–nominated and Splatterpunk Award–winning author based in Boston, Massachusetts. Their work explores the darkness of humanity through poetic prose and unflinching honesty. Known for redefining modern horror with deeply personal, transgressive themes, Eric continues to be one of the most vital voices in contemporary dark fiction.

Find Eric online at ericlarocca.com or on social media @hystericteeth.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.