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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Welcome to a brand-new feature on The Writer’s Chair — the Twisted Tales Diaries!

In this first diary entry, I’m joined by my co-conspirator R.P. Howley (aka Rob) as we pull back the curtain on our new horror series, Twisted Tales. Think Goosebumps… but bloodier. We talk through the origins of the idea, what it’s like co-writing fast, punchy horror together, and the long-term vision behind the series.

Expect honest, unpolished chat about the wins, the headaches, and everything in between as we build this universe one creepy book at a time.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How Twisted Tales went from a forest walk in 2020 to #1 Hot New Release in 2025
• Why Goosebumps nostalgia meets adult horror in a bite-sized format
• What it’s really like to co-write and cut each other’s drafts to the bone
• Our strategy for building not just books, but a brand horror readers will want to collect
• Sneak peeks of what’s coming next (werewolves, Christmas horror, and more…)

Links & Resources:

• Visit the Twisted Tales hub: https://twistedtalesbooks.com/
• Free short story Thaw: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/72410/155104481435977576/share

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.

📺 YouTube: youtube.com/@devilsrockbooks

🎧 Podcast apps: pod.link/1829723468

💬 Community: devilsrockbooks.com/podcast

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In this roundtable episode of The Writer’s Chair, Daniel welcomes three phenomenal authors from Eerie River Publishing’s dark new anthology, The Earth Bleeds at Night.

Joining the discussion:

• Christopher O’Halloran (Water Drops on the Stone Hearts)
• Em Starr (Dolly Rocks)
• Richard Thomas (Supplication)

Whether you’re a reader, writer, or horror fan hungry for behind-the-scenes insight, this episode delivers on both craft and heart.

• How parenting, personal experience, and grief inspired some of the most emotionally raw stories in the anthology
• What makes horror the perfect genre for exploring nature, decay, and transformation
• The joy (and madness) of being a short story maximalist
• Real talk about rejections, impostor syndrome, and breaking into pro markets
• Where short stories fit into a writer’s creative and commercial journey
• A vital call for more active inclusion of BIPOC voices in horror publishing
• Resources and advice for writers trying to break into magazines like The Dark, Nightmare, and Lightspeed

Published by Erie River Publishing

Explore what terrors make the very earth bleed in this chilling collection of dark, literary, and cosmic horror from award-winning and rising authors.

👉 https://books2read.com/u/bPOjjR

🔗 Christopher O’Halloran https://www.coauthor.ca

📚 Debut novel Pushing Daisy https://www.amazon.com/Pushing-Daisy-Christopher-OHalloran-ebook/dp/B0F8SKYD95

🧠 Also recommends reading: https://www.thingsthatkeepmeupatnight.com/new-page

🔗 Em Starr https://emstarr.com.au

📱 BlueSky | Facebook

🔗 Richard Thomas whatdoesnotkillme.com

📲 Listen now on your favorite podcast platform: https://pod.link/1829723468

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

🌐 Learn more and join our dark fiction community: devilsrockbooks.com/podcast

📣 Jump into the Devil’s Rock Discord to chat about this episode and meet other dark fiction writers.

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In this special episode of The Writer’s Chair, host Daniel Willcocks sits down with internationally acclaimed horror author Craig Davidson, best known under his dark fiction pseudonym Nick Cutter. Craig is the author of The Troop, The Deep, The Handyman Method, and now The Queen — his latest terrifying tale of teenage friendships, grief, and grotesque creatures.

Together, Daniel and Craig dive into:

• Craig’s journey from literary fiction to horror heavyweight
• The deep influence of Stephen King on his work (and whether they’ve ever met)
• Why The Queen is one of his most personal novels yet
• The evolution of horror: from slashers to psychological depth
• Gross-out scenes, sensory horror, and writing from lived emotion

This conversation is a beautiful blend of nostalgia, insight, and raw honesty from one of modern horror’s most respected voices.

• How Craig (aka Cutter) channels both emotional truth and body horror into his fiction
• The challenges of writing teen characters in a modern world as a Gen-X author
• Why “elevated horror” isn’t a genre — and why it doesn’t need to be
• The five most disgusting sensory experiences Craig’s ever had (you’ll squirm)
• His top horror reads of the last few years

• The Queen by Nick Cutter (Gallery/Arcadia, 2024)
• The Troop, The Deep, Little Heaven, The Handyman Method
• Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Robert McCammon, Clive Barker
• Dead Space 2, Hellraiser, Cujo, Skeleton Crew
• Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
• The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
• Devil by Name by Keith Rosson
• Maeve Fly by CJ Leede

• 🌐 Craig’s official website:
• 👉 www.craigdavidson.net
• 👑 The Queen fan site:
• (Accessible via Craig’s main site)
• 📖 Buy The Queen:
• 👉 Gallery (North America)
• 👉 Arcadia/Pushkin Press (UK – imprint TBC)
• 💀 Join the Devil’s Rock writing community:
• 👉 devilsrockbooks.com/podcast

If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with the horror lovers in your life. Each episode of The Writer’s Chair brings you deeper into the minds of today’s most exciting authors — from indie newcomers to genre icons.

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