Joining me on this episode of Writers at Work is Dennis Mahoney, an author and artist with a particular interest in and flair for horror and the occult. His latest novel, OUR WINTER MONSTER, is available now. Dennis’ reputation has been growing since his debut novel, FELLOW MORTALS, was published in 2013.

His third novel, 2020's GHOST LOVE, received rave reviews. Publishers Weekly called it a grave yet hilarious meditation on insanity, depression, companionship, and leaving everything behind. Which tells us how Dennis finds horror within his characters. Without giving too much away, I'll say that his new one put a knot in the pit of my stomach within the first few pages, not because of the monster, but because of the crisis faced by the main characters. Let me tell you a bit about OUR WINTER MONSTER to expedite my conversation with Dennis.

Holly and Brian are unhappy in their relationship. They've decided to take a brief vacation to a ski village to rekindle, if possible, their passion. What appears to be a blizzard threatens their trip even before they reach their destination. And here comes a monster on a Godzilla-like rampage through the village. Sheriff Kendra Book has to save Holly, Brian, and the village, which is encumbered by problems of its own. It's all there, right in the wrong hands.

The setup might have been cliched, but Dennis is a storyteller of the first degree, regardless of genre. Even if you're not a horror fan, and I confess, I'm not, OUR WINTER MONSTER will reward you for exploring his tale. Dennis is also the founder of the Equinox Society, a multimedia project I'm eager to learn more about.