Ink Blots: Author Interviews

Fear, Shadows, and the Supernatural with Brad Ricks

In this spine-tingling episode of Ink Blots: Author Interviews, we dive deep into the haunted mind of supernatural horror and thriller author Brad Ricks. With a writing style inspired by literary giants like Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, Brad blends paranormal elements with psychological tension, crafting chilling narratives that linger long after the last page.

His debut novel, Fear Not the Dead, blurred the lines between ghost story and mental descent. In his latest release, The Night Crew, Brad takes readers even deeper into the shadows—where nothing is as it seems and the terror is relentless.

If you love atmospheric horror filled with dread, ghosts, and complex inner demons, this is the episode for you.

📚 Find Brad Ricks' Work on Amazon: 👉 amzn.to/44XT3aA

🔗 Connect with Brad Ricks:

📚 Amazon Author Page: Brad Ricks on Amazon 📘 Facebook: Brad Ricks – Author 📸 Instagram: @bradricksauthor 🐦 X (Twitter): @bradleyricks 🎵 TikTok: @bradricksauthor

🔑 Keywords:

Brad Ricks, supernatural horror, psychological thriller, ghost stories, Fear Not the Dead, The Night Crew, horror fiction, paranormal suspense, Texas horror author, indie horror writer

🔥 Hashtags:

#BradRicks #FearNotTheDead #TheNightCrew #SupernaturalHorror #PsychologicalThriller #GhostStory #IndieHorrorAuthor #HorrorFiction #InkBlotsPodcast #ParanormalSuspense

Horror, Scholarship, and Black Magic with R.J. Joseph

In this episode of Ink Blots: Author Interviews, we sit down with R.J. Joseph—a powerhouse voice in both horror fiction and academic criticism. An English professor and author with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, Rhonda's work explores the intersections of race, gender, and monstrosity in ways that challenge, inform, and terrify.

Her fiction has been featured in groundbreaking anthologies such as Sycorax's Daughters, Black Magic Women, and Campfire Macabre, while her essays have appeared in multiple Stoker Award™-nominated academic collections like Uncovering Stranger Things and The Streaming of Hill House. Her powerful essay, The Beloved Haunting of Hill House: An Examination of Monstrous Motherhood, was itself a Stoker Award™ finalist in 2020.

From terrifying tales to cultural commentary, R.J. Joseph is one of the genre's essential voices.

📚 Explore R. J. Joseph's Books on Amazon: 👉 amzn.to/4o5qLm1

🔗 Connect with R. J. Joseph: 🌐 Website: www.rhondajacksonjoseph.com 📱 Social: @rjacksonjoseph

📸 Author Photo Credit: Sam Allen, SDA Media

📌 Keywords:

Horror fiction, R. J. Joseph, Black horror author, Shirley Jackson Award, Bram Stoker Award, women in horror, Black women in horror, speculative fiction, horror podcast, author interview, horror academia, race in horror, gender in horror, social commentary horror, Texas horror writer

📢 Hashtags:

#RJJoseph #WomenInHorror #BlackHorror #BramStokerAwards #ShirleyJacksonAward #HorrorAuthor #AuthorInterview #InkBlotsPodcast #SpeculativeFiction #DiverseVoicesInHorror #HorrorCommunity #HorrorLit #BlackSpecFic

Gleeful Gruesomeness with Sean McDonough

In this episode of Ink Blots: Author Interviews, we welcome Sean McDonough, a rising voice in horror whose work blends dark humor, outrageous imagination, and a generous helping of gore. Raised on a steady diet of Goosebumps, the horror aisle at Blockbuster, and movies he probably shouldn't have watched at age eight, Sean writes stories that are equal parts nostalgic, gruesome, and gleefully unhinged.

Sean's fiction keeps the Halloween spirit alive all year long with twisted tales that make you laugh and squirm—sometimes at the same time. If you love campy horror with teeth and a wink, this is an author you need to know.

📚 Find Sean's Work on Amazon: 👉 amzn.to/3IMx91k

Grab a flashlight and prepare to giggle through the gore with Sean McDonough.

🔗 Connect with Sean McDonough:

📘 Facebook: Sean McDonough – Author 📸 Instagram: @seanmcdonoughhorror 🐦 Twitter/X: @SeanDMcDonough 🌐 Website: www.seanmcdonough.com

🔑 Keywords:

Sean McDonough, horror comedy, dark humor horror, Goosebumps nostalgia, indie horror, horror fiction, gleeful gore, horror humor, Halloween horror, new horror author

🔥 Hashtags:

#SeanMcDonough #IndieHorror #HorrorComedy #DarkHumor #GoosebumpsGrownUp #GleefulGore #HalloweenAllYear #HorrorAuthor #InkBlotsPodcast #HorrorWithHumor

Dystopia, Redemption, and the Human Spirit – A Conversation with Author Jon Cohn

📚 About Jon Cohn

Jon is the award winning horror and thriller novelist behind books like Slashtag, Everything is Temporary, and the Publisher's Weekly's Book Life prize winner, The Island Mother. In addition to books, he also has over a decade experience working as a designer in the board game industry, having made over 20 games including Ghostbusters: Blackout, Horror Taboo, MonsDRAWsity, Basket Case, and Thanksgiving, co-designed with Eli Roth. Keep an eye out for his upcoming Ghostland game, based on the novels by Duncan Ralston, and the official Ice Nine Kills card game. Jon Lives in San Diego with his wife Delaney, and dog Miss Cordelia Chase.

👉 View John's books on Amazon

🧠 Featured Themes

• Dystopia & society collapse

• Character-driven storytelling

• Truth in fiction

• Technology and humanity

• Authorial voice & purpose

🧭 Who Should Listen

• Fans of dystopian fiction and speculative futures

• Writers looking to explore political or societal themes

• Readers of Margaret Atwood, George Orwell, or Cormac McCarthy

• Anyone interested in how fiction reflects (and warns) real life

🗝️ Keywords

Jon Cohn, The Thaws, dystopian fiction, speculative fiction, Ink Blots podcast, future fiction, AI and society, author interview, writing process, human resilience, societal collapse

📲 Hashtags

#InkBlotsPodcast #JonCohnAuthor #TheThaws #DystopianFiction #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #SpeculativeFiction #FutureLit #BooksThatMatter #BookPodcast

Episode Title: Vampires, Visions, and Dark Vibes with Danielle DeVor

In this episode of Ink Blots: Author Interviews, we welcome Danielle DeVor, a chilling voice in horror fiction and one of Examiner's 2014 Women in Horror: 93 Horror Authors You Need to Read Right Now. Known for her dark imagination, vampire obsession, and love for the eerie, Danielle crafts horror stories that are rich with atmosphere and laced with supernatural dread.

From watching Salem's Lot on repeat as a kid to writing some of today's must-read horror fiction, Danielle shares her journey through the genre, how coffee shops fuel her creativity, and what it means to be a woman creating fear in a male-dominated space.

Grab a mocha frappuccino and join us for this unforgettable conversation with a modern horror visionary.

📚 Find Danielle DeVor's Work on Amazon: 👉 amzn.to/4kWwo2T

🔗 Connect with Danielle DeVor:

📸 Instagram: @danielledevor76 🐦 Twitter/X: @sammyig 📘 Facebook: Danielle DeVor – Author

🔑 Keywords:

Danielle DeVor, women in horror, vampire fiction, supernatural horror, horror author, Salem's Lot, indie horror writer, dark fiction, gothic horror, horror interviews

🔥 Hashtags:

#DanielleDeVor #WomenInHorror #VampireFiction #SupernaturalHorror #HorrorAuthor #SalemsLotVibes #DarkFiction #IndieHorror #InkBlotsPodcast #GothicHorror

From Splatterpunk to Storybooks with D.E. McCluskey

This week on Ink Blots: Author Interviews, we're joined by Liverpool-based horror powerhouse D.E. McCluskey—a writer who proves it's never too late to dive into the dark. Starting his author journey in his 30s, D.E. has since published over 40 works spanning horror, thrillers, graphic novels, and even children's comedy.

Whether it's extreme splatterpunk or spine-tingling horror for younger readers, D.E.'s range is unmatched. His books break genre boundaries and embrace every corner of the horror spectrum—from psychological terror to gore-filled grotesqueries.

IThis episode is a must-listen for horror fans, indie creators, and anyone chasing a prolific, genre-crossing writing life.

📚 Find DE McCluskey's Work on Amazon: 👉 https://amzn.to/452vD2r

🔗 Connect with D.E. McCluskey:

📘 Facebook: @demccluskey 📸 Instagram: @demccluskey_author 🎵 TikTok: @demccluskey

🔑 Keywords:

D.E. McCluskey, UK horror author, splatterpunk, indie horror, horror comics, graphic novels, children's horror, extreme horror, thriller novels, Liverpool author

🔥 Hashtags:

#DEMcCluskey #Splatterpunk #ExtremeHorror #IndieHorror #HorrorAuthor #GraphicNovels #HorrorComics #LiverpoolWriter #InkBlotsPodcast #GenreBendingAuthor

Splatter, Shadows, and Storytelling – A Deep Dive with Horror Author Robert Essig

👻 Episode Summary

In this chilling and candid episode of Ink Blots: The Author Podcast, host Rob Southgate is joined by horror master Robert Essig, whose prolific career spans over 30 books and 120+ short stories.

From his unsettling novel Disco Rice to the haunted corridors of This Damned House, Essig shares what it takes to terrify readers with nuance, depth, and disturbing imagination. The two discuss the evolution of splatterpunk, the literary value of horror, and how parenting and real life intersect with monsters on the page.

If you're a horror writer, reader, or just fascinated by the art of fear, this episode is for you.

📚 Explore Robert Essig's Work:

🧠 Find Robert's books on Amazon: 👉 Robert's Author Page

🪓 Find Robert's books on Bookshop.org: 👉 Robert's Books can be purchased at Bookshop.org

🧟 What You'll Hear

• Why splatterpunk is more than gore—it's emotional and political

• What inspired the bizarre brilliance of Baby Fights

• The horror writer's responsibility to the genre and audience

• How horror functions as both catharsis and commentary

• Behind-the-scenes of writing, editing anthologies, and surviving the publishing world

🧠 Notable Quotes

"I don't write to shock—I write to reveal something awful that's already lurking underneath." "Sometimes the most terrifying thing is what people do to each other without a single monster in sight."

🩸 About Robert Essig

• Author of 30+ books, including Disco Rice, This Damned House, Baby Fights

• Published in 120+ short stories

• 2-time Splatterpunk Award nominee

• Editor of 3 anthologies

• Based in East Tennessee

• Known for visceral, boundary-pushing horror with depth and voice

📚 Explore Robert's work on Amazon

📱 Connect on Socials:

• Instagram/Facebook: @robertessig

• TikTok: @robertessig_author

• Substack: @Robert Essig

🗝️ Keywords

Robert Essig, Splatterpunk, horror fiction, indie horror, Disco Rice, Baby Fights, horror author interview, This Damned House, horror podcast, writing horror, visceral fiction, dark fiction, editing anthologies, Substack authors

📲 Hashtags

#InkBlotsPodcast #RobertEssig #Splatterpunk #HorrorFiction #DiscoRice #ThisDamnedHouse #BabyFights #HorrorAuthors #WritingHorror #IndieHorror

Entering the Mobius Mind with Andrew Najberg

In this episode of Ink Blots: Author Interviews, we step across dimensions with Andrew Najberg, the author behind cerebral and chilling works like The Mobius Door, Gollitok, and The Neverborn Thief. A master of psychological and cosmic horror, Andrew's storytelling pulls readers into strange realms where reality unravels and fear takes hold.

We dive into:

• The inspiration behind The Mobius Door and Gollitok

• His upcoming releases from Wicked House, Crystal Lake, and Vincere Press

• The craft of balancing slow-burn horror with cosmic dread

• The themes that run through his multi-publisher portfolio

• How teaching creative writing fuels his own work

• Advice for authors navigating horror, sci-fi, and literary crossover

Whether you're a fan of genre-bending horror or a writer looking to challenge traditional form, this conversation will keep you intrigued—and unsettled.

📚 Books by Andrew Najberg include:

• The Mobius Door (2023)

• Gollitok (2023)

• In Those Fading Stars (2024)

• Try Not to Die In the Shadowlands (2024)

• The Neverborn Thief (2025)

• Extinction Dream (2025)

• Paradise Falls (co-authored, 2025)

• Dead Hearts Eat the Light (2026)

📖 Short fiction published in: Fusion Fragment, Khoreo, Translunar Travelers Lounge, Utopia Science Fiction, Psychopomp Review, and more.

📚 Explore Andrew Najberg's Work:

🧠 Find Andrew's books on Amazon: 👉 Andrew's Author Page

🪓 Find Andrew's books on Bookshop.org: 👉 Andrew's Books can be purchased at Bookshop.org

🔗 Connect with Andrew Najberg:

📘 Facebook: @andrewnajbergauthor 📸 Instagram: @anajberg 🐦 Twitter/X: @anajberg

🔑 Keywords:

Andrew Najberg, The Mobius Door, Gollitok, cosmic horror, speculative fiction, horror novels, psychological horror, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Try Not to Die, literary horror

🔥 Hashtags:

#AndrewNajberg #TheMobiusDoor #CosmicHorror #PsychologicalHorror #SpeculativeFiction #TryNotToDie #WickedHousePublishing #LiteraryHorror #InkBlotsPodcast #Gollitok

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Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Ink Blots: Author Interviews to help more readers and writers discover these amazing conversations.

Haunting the Bayou with Blaine Daigle

This week on Ink Blots: Author Interviews, we step into the eerie world of Southern Gothic horror with Blaine Daigle, a Louisiana-based author whose terrifying tales are inspired by haunted plantations, cursed woodlands, and the folklore of the Deep South. A high school English teacher by day and horror writer by night, Blaine blends literary craft with chilling storytelling rooted in the bayou's shadows.

From cursed woods to haunted minds, Blaine's work captures the psychological and paranormal terror unique to Southern horror fiction.

📚 About Blaine Daigle

Having lived his entire life deep in the gut of Louisiana, Blaine Daigle grew up surrounded by ghost stories of haunted plantations and cursed woodlands. He still lives in Louisiana with his wife and two children and can't wait to pass on the nightmares to his kids..when they are old enough. During the day he teaches high school English. At night, he enjoys diving deep into the fears that shape and mold the world around him.

📚 Follow Blaine Daigle: 📘 Facebook: Blaine Daigle 📸 Instagram: @blainedaigleauthor 🐦 X (Twitter): @bdaigle_author

📚 Explore Blaine Daigle's Work:

🧠 Find Blaine's books on Amazon: 👉 Blaine's Author Page

🪓 Find Blaine's books on Bookshop.org: 👉 Blaine's Books can be purchased at Bookshop.org

🔑 Keywords:

Blaine Daigle, Southern Gothic, horror fiction, Louisiana author, haunted stories, high school teacher author, ghost stories, cursed forests, paranormal fiction, bayou horror

🔥 Hashtags:

#BlaineDaigle #SouthernGothic #BayouHorror #HauntedLouisiana #HorrorFiction #GhostStories #IndieHorrorAuthor #InkBlotsPodcast #CursedWoods #HorrorTeacher

📲 Follow and Share

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review Ink Blots: Author Interviews to help more readers and writers discover these amazing conversations.

Shadows & Seasons with Kristal Shanahan

On this episode of Ink Blots: Author Interviews, we welcome Kansas-based horror author Kristal Shanahan, a high school British literature teacher by day and spine-tingling storyteller by night.

Kristal's debut collection, Four Seasons of Horror, dropped on March 27 and showcases her ability to weave chilling tales that explore the eerie edges of everyday life. Her debut novella, A Mortician's Shadow, is set to release next month, and she has even more short stories haunting the pages of upcoming anthologies.

Whether you're a horror reader, teacher, or aspiring author, Kristal's story will inspire—and unnerve—you in the best way.

📚 About Kristal Shanahan Based in Kansas, Kristal teaches high school British literature and writes creepy stories late at night. Her debut collection, Four Seasons of Horror was released March 27 and her debut novella, A Mortician's Shadow will be released next month. She has a few short stories in anthologies and some coming up in the near future as well.

📚 Find Kristal's Work on Amazon: 👉 amazon.com/author/ladyinhorror

🔗 Follow Kristal Shanahan: 📸 Instagram: @ladyinhorror_author 🎵 TikTok: @ladyinhorrorwriting 📘 Facebook: Kristal Shanahan – Author

🔑 Keywords:

Kristal Shanahan, Four Seasons of Horror, A Mortician's Shadow, women in horror, Kansas horror author, horror fiction, debut horror writer, horror short stories, British literature, horror podcast

🔥 Hashtags:

#KristalShanahan #FourSeasonsOfHorror #AMorticiansShadow #WomenInHorror #HorrorFiction #DebutAuthor #LadyInHorror #HorrorTeacher #IndieHorror #InkBlotsPodcast