I first met Josh Malerman in 2014, not long after the release of BIRD BOX. A friend, Nikki Guerlain, said “you gotta read this book, you’re going to love it.” Nikki was never wrong, so BIRD BOX got put on the roster for a review on my podcast, and through Nikki’s extensive connections, Josh agreed to join the podcast for an interview. I remember it was his Wife Allison’s birthday when the clock struck midnight and we were still on our call.

Twelve years, and more than a dozen books, multiple movies, albums, comic books, and who knows what else later and I still feel that same energy talking to Josh that was in the room, on the call, that first night.

It’s the same energy that is radiating off of his debut nonfiction book, Watching Evil Dead: Unearthing the Radiant Artist Within. It’s a reverence for creating, a joy of inspiration, a sense of accomplishment when your art is made. But fear not, much like the book, this conversation isn’t just a pile of toxic positivity. We talk about how hard making art can be. How challenging it is to find success. How doubt, fear, anxiety, hopelessness all haunt anyone who endeavors to tap ingenuity and result something new.

We keyed into an idea that I think is cool, worth thinking about. The feeling of being pulled forward by something. Almost as if we all hold in us some preternatural drive for craft.

I left this conversation feeling inspired. But more so than that, I left feeling proud of my accomplishments, and ready to tackle new things.

If you think you’re in the market for some of this feeling, I suggest you pick up your copy of Watching Evil Dead as quickly as possible. And if you’re into Audiobooks, Josh narrates this one.

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