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/

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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.

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In this episode, Daniel sits down with the authorial powerhouse Michael David Wilson — founder of This Is Horror, host of the award-winning This Is Horror Podcast, and author of The Girl in the Video, They’re Watching (with Bob Pastorella), House of Bad Memories, and his latest wild release, Daddy’s Boy.

Michael opens up about the chaos and catharsis behind his newest book, blending dark comedy with horror and crime, and the very real experiences that shaped it. From divorces and new beginnings to cult followings, sausages, and Naked Attraction t-shirts, this is a conversation equal parts raw, funny, and inspiring.

💀 In this episode you’ll discover:

• How personal trauma can fuel fiction (and whether to write in the moment or after).
• Why Michael’s latest book is his most unhinged — and most fun — yet.
• The balance (and tension) between authenticity vs. commercial success.
• What’s next for Michael, including a new novella and long-awaited collaborations.

Links & Resources:

• Michael’s website: https://www.michaeldavidwilson.co.uk/
• Daddy’s Boy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Daddys-Boy-Michael-David-Wilson-ebook/dp/B0DX1LJV6P
• This Is Horror: https://thisishorror.co.uk/

Subscribe to The Writer’s Chair:

If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with the horror lovers in your life.

📺 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@devilsrockbooks

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

💬 Join the community: devilsrockbooks.com/podcast

📚 About the Guest

Michael David Wilson lives in Gifu, Japan, and is the founder of This Is Horror. His work has appeared in The NoSleep Podcast, Dim Shores, Dark Moon Digest, and The Other Stories. Find more at michaeldavidwilson.co.uk and support him on Patreon: patreon.com/michaeldavidwilson.

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

Welcome back, wordsmiths and story seekers! In this episode of The Writer’s Chair, I sit down with Birmingham-based author J.D. Parker to talk about his debut dark historical novel, Ignis Sacer.

Jonny (JD) shares his journey from writing screenplays to finally tackling long-form fiction, why he considers his first unpublished novel the “first pancake,” and how Ignis Sacer became the book he was ready to share with the world.

We explore everything from medieval medicine and plague research to the pull of “sirens” (new ideas), balancing horror and hope, and why sometimes the most terrifying things are buried in history.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why JD draws a sharp line between his first novel and his debut novel
• How ergotism (Holy Fire) inspired the central horror of Ignis Saecer
• The challenges of weaving research, history, and dark fantasy into one story
• Why “prestige horror” filmmakers like Robert Eggers and Ari Aster shaped his writing style
• The balance between outlining and discovery in building sprawling stories

Links & Resources:

• J.D.’s website: https://wakeandwinslow.carrd.co
• Ignis Sacer on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ignis-Sacer-Nightmare-J-D-Parker-ebook/dp/B0F5MT5ZLP
• Connect with JD on Instagram: @j.d.parker_author

Subscribe to The Writer’s Chair:

📺 Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@devilsrockbooks

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

💬 Join the community: devilsrockbooks.com/podcast

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