Cursed Morsels

Corey Farrenkopf and I talk with Laird Barron about the planned trajectory of his writing career, the influence of mythology on his stories, and the different literary universes he's built over the past 20+ years.

In the second half of the episode, we have a spoiler-filled discussion about "Tiptoe," his story in Ellen Datlow's When Things Get Dark Shirley Jackson tribute anthology.

Kurt and I discuss cults, experimental storytelling, and balancing the grim with the playful. This episode is spoiler free.

Purchase Kurt's new collection We Are Happy, We Are Doomed here: https://bookshop.org/books/we-are-happy-we-are-doomed-9781087994758/9780578991290

I speak with Alex Ebenstein, Alex Woodroe, Sara Tantlinger, Nikki R. Leigh, and Alexis DuBon about their reasons for reading and writing eco-horror, their most beautiful and terrifying experiences out in nature, and the inspirations behind their stories in Field Notes from a Nightmare: An Anthology of Ecological Horror.

Order your copy of Field Notes here: https://dreadstonepress.com/shop/

Madeleine Swann returns to talk about absurdist fiction, the role dreams play in her artistic process, and the notion of "passing for normal."

Pick up a copy of her new collection The Sharp End of the Rainbow here (published through Heads Dance Press): https://godless.com/collections/dropping-soon/products/the-sharp-end-of-the-rainbow-by-madeleine-swann

Amazon preorder: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PW6G9F9/ref=sr_1_2?crid=EJILVAGDWSZU&keywords=the+sharp+end+of+the+rainbow&qid=1641860040&sprefix=the+sharp+end+of+the+rainbow%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-2

Elford and I talk about his family ghost stories, his definitive ranking of the best cryptids, and his true crime story "I Will Not Be Forgotten." Note that there are spoilers for this story in the second half of the episode, but I give a warning in advance.

Buy Elford's new horror collection here: https://www.amazon.com/Will-Find-Place-You-Collection-ebook/dp/B09GQ1V5B9

John and I talk about the boundary-pushing nature of extreme horror and splatterpunk, the influence of Judaism on John's work, and the power of metaphor in kaiju stories. The episode is largely spoiler free, though we touch on a couple small plot points from John's novella Abhorrent Siren.

Check out John's website: https://kaijupoet.com/

Thanks to Brigids Gate Press for sponsoring this episode!

Eric and I talk about writing mentally ill characters with dignity and complexity, adapting Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke to film, and leaning in to uncomfortable stories. In the second half, we have a spoiler-filled discussion about their story "Please Leave or I'm Going to Hurt You" from The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales. I provide a warning in advance and the rest of the episode is spoiler free.

Buy Eric's new collection here: https://bookshop.org/books/the-strange-thing-we-become-and-other-dark-tales/9781737463313

Thanks to Brigids Gate Press for sponsoring this episode!

L.C. and I talk about morbid medical history, extreme music, and Lovecraftian fiction. In the second half, we have a spoiler-filled discussion of their story "The Medium and The Message." I provide a warning in advance.

Buy L.C.'s collection Spiritus Ex Machina: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09C493924/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1

Thanks to Brigids Gate Press for sponsoring this episode! Buy their new anthology Were Tales: A Shapeshifter Anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Were-Tales-Shapeshifter-Jonathan-Maberry-ebook/dp/B09CQFGW43

Farah and I talk about representations of disability in horror, experimental writing techniques, and the influence of decadent literature on her work.

Buy Farah's new collection here: https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Will-Farah-Rose-Smith/dp/1685100015/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IOLTNQZOG2TG&dchild=1&keywords=of+one+pure+will+farah+rose+smith&qid=1632180755&sprefix=of+one+pure+will%2Caps%2C193&sr=8-1

Max and I talk about his experience running a small press, his real-life encounters with uniquely Texan horrors, and his process for adapting the novella We Need to Do Something for film. Note that the second half of the episode has spoilers for both the film and novella, but I provide a warning in advance.

Check out Max's press, Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing: https://perpetualpublishing.com/