Show Notes

This week, host Vincent Midgard welcomes back acclaimed dark fiction author Megan Stockton to discuss her novel "Pink Neon." Together they dive deep into the book’s brutal realism, creative process, the psychology of trauma and survival, and Megan’s approach to writing about difficult subjects with honesty and respect.

Episode Highlights

• Opening with Impact: Why Megan starts and ends her books with haunting scenes, and how her creative process is both intuitive and chaotic.
• Surviving and Dissociating: Exploring trauma responses, disassociation as a survival tool, and how Megan’s own experiences inform her writing.
• Writing Uncomfortable Truths: Keeping depictions of violence raw and honest—never exploitative—and understanding dissociation as both a literary and human tactic.
• Everyday Villainy: Bringing realism to antagonists, refusing cartoonish evil, and exposing systemic predation.
• Not Found Family—Trauma Bond: The relationships in "Pink Neon" are forged through necessity, not affection, subverting typical survival fiction tropes.
• Between Myth and Mundane: Missy’s symbolic presence—part vengeance, part myth, all unsettling realism.
• Social Systems and Research: Consulting sex workers, reading unbiased accounts, and striving for authenticity in representing marginalized voices.
• Tone, Prose, and Process: Balancing lyricism and harshness, using color as a storytelling device, and Megan’s “one-draft-and-done” writing method.
• Building Sunning: Megan’s fictional Tennessee setting, inspired by Memphis’s geography and history of decline.
• Looking Ahead: Teasers for Megan’s upcoming haunted house novel and the Missy prequel. Reflections on Texas AuthorCon and indie authors to watch.

Featured Books & Authors

• "Pink Neon" by Megan Stockton
• "Quite Pretty Things," "Bluejay," and others by Megan Stockton
• "The Fovea Experiments" by MJ Mars
• "Air Conditioned Nightmare" by David Slater
• "Where Pop Stars Go to Die" by David Washburn
• "Last Tour at Sulphur Creek" by Paul Avery Tindall
• "Rage" series by David Hardy

Connect with Megan Stockton

• Website: meganstocktonbooks.com
• Patreon: patreon.com/badluckcatclub
• Instagram: @meganstocktonauthor
• X / Twitter: @mstocktonauthor
• Goodreads: Megan Stockton on Goodreads

Follow & Connect with Vincent Midgard / The Dark Mind Podcast

• Official Website: thedarkmindpodcast.com
• Patreon: patreon.com/thedarkmindpodcast
• Instagram: @vincentmidgard
• Facebook: @vincentmidgard
• Bluesky: @vincentmidgard
• TikTok: @vincentmidgard
• Threads: @vincentmidgard

Resources Mentioned

• Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS)
• Very Young Girls (Documentary)
• The Oldest Profession Podcast

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Explore memory, morality, and the future of technology in this gripping conversation with author T. R. Napper.

We delve into his cyberpunk novel *The Escher Man*, set in a high-tech, neon-lit Macau of 2101, where identity can be erased and rewritten at will.

Napper discusses the inspiration for his world, the philosophical roots of cyberpunk, and the emotional impact of memory manipulation.

We also touch on his journey as a writer, world-building secrets, and the meaning of art in an increasingly dehumanized age.

Tune in for an episode that asks: what happens to the soul when our memories are not our own?

T.R. Napper Links & Social Media:

• Official Website: www.nappertime.com

• Twitter/X: @TheEscherMan

• Instagram: @trnapper (https://www.instagram.com/trnapper/)

• Bluesky: @trnapper.bsky.social

• Facebook: T.R. Napper

• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7826255.T_R_Napper

• Email: [email protected]

Where to Buy T.R. Napper’s Books:

The Escher Man (2024)

• Amazon (all international listings)

• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-escher-man-t-r-napper/1144264422

• Penguin Random House

• All good bookstores worldwide

Ghost of the Neon God (2024) - Aurealis Award Winner

• Amazon (all international listings)

• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ghost-of-the-neon-god-t-r-napper/1143968635

• Penguin Random House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/744919/ghost-of-the-neon-god-by-t-r-napper/

• All good bookstores worldwide

36 Streets (2022) - Award-winning cyberpunk novel

• Amazon (all international listings)

• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/36-streets-tr-napper/1139309064

• Penguin Random House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/678795/36-streets-by-t-r-napper/

• Kinokuniya (worldwide, including Japan)

• All good bookstores worldwide

Aliens: Bishop (2023) - Aliens tie-in novel

• Amazon (all international listings)

• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aliens-tr-napper/1143358855

• Penguin Random House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/743030/aliens-bishop-by-t-r-napper/

• HamiltonBook.com

• All good bookstores worldwide

Neon Leviathan (2020) - Short story collection

• Amazon (all international listings)

• Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/neon-leviathan-t-r-napper/1135617509

• IndieBound.org (US independent bookstores)

• Grimdark Magazine

• All good bookstores worldwide

Signed Editions Available

Contact T.R. Napper directly at [email protected] for signed copies of:

• Neon Leviathan

• 36 Streets

• Ghost of the Neon God

• The Escher Man
(Note: International postage may be expensive from Australia)

All books are also available as eBooks and audiobooks on major platforms including Kindle, Audible, and other digital retailers.

What happens when grief, abuse, and horror collide in the most intimate spaces of our lives? In this episode, I sit down with author Emma E. Murray to discuss her searing new novel, Shoot Me in the Face on a Beautiful Day. We explore the psychology behind toxic relationships, how abusers weaponize love and grief, and why the real horror often hides in plain sight.

Emma opens up about writing through the eyes of both victims and predators, the influence of abnormal psychology on her characters, and the visceral power of body horror to express what words alone cannot. We also dive into her haunting depictions of decomposition, the blurred line between care and control, and the shame that clings tighter than any monster.

This is not just a conversation about horror fiction—it’s about the human condition, survival, and the stories we carry in silence.

👉 If you value these kinds of deep conversations, support The Dark Mind Podcast on Patreon and help me keep bringing you the voices shaping dark literature today.

Official Website:

• ​https://emmaemurray.com

About Page / Bio:

• ​https://emmaemurray.com/about-me/

Anthologies:

• ​https://emmaemurray.com/anthologies/

Instagram:

• ​https://www.instagram.com/emmaemurray_

X (Twitter):

• ​https://x.com/emurrayauthor

Representative / Literary Agency:

• ​https://www.therightsfactory.com/Authors/emma-e.-murray

Interviews & Features:

• ​https://horrortree.com/the-crushing-weight-of-horror-a-conversation-with-emma-e-murray/
• ​https://christinogle.substack.com/p/emma-e-murray-dark-and-visceral-horror
• ​https://ivygrimes.substack.com/p/interview-with-emma-e-murray

Where to Buy Emma E. Murray’s Books:

• ​"The Drowning Machine and Other Obsessions" (Undertaker Books shop): https://undertakerbooks.com/products/the-drowning-machine
• ​Target (The Drowning Machine): https://www.target.com/p/the-drowning-machine-and-other-obsessions-by-emma-e-murray-paperback/-/A-1004581104
• ​Thriftbooks Author Page: https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/emma-e-murray/5717854/
• ​Goodreads Author Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/21520496.Emma_E_Murray

In this episode of The Dark Mind Podcast, Vincent Midgard welcomes author Blaine Daigle back to discuss his latest Gothic-folk horror novel, The Ashes of August Manor. The conversation dives deep into the novel’s themes of grief, mortality, and the quiet dread that lingers in spaces where time feels frozen. Blaine shares how the story follows Noelle, a hospice worker and struggling writer, whose life takes a surreal turn after accepting an offer to care for a dying man in the secluded August Manor.

They explore the book’s balance of whispering horror and sudden impact, the dreamlike shift from grounded realism to mythic inevitability, and how physical spaces in Blaine’s work mirror the inner fractures of his characters. From moral ambiguity in compassion, to the uncanny power of body language, to the oppressive presence of the manor itself, the discussion examines how Blaine builds atmosphere through sensory decay and liminality rather than overt shocks.

Blaine also reflects on the novel’s quiet creation, its interplay of Gothic and folk elements, and why he hopes it leaves readers with a sense of closure amidst the darkness.

Official Website: https://www.blainedaigle.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Blaine-Daigle-Author-100086562623387/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMQ-RbhTbHa/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/25085884.Blaine_Daigle

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BTB8JHCX

Barnes & Noble (Ashes of August Manor): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ashes-of-august-manor-blaine-daigle/1147127732

NetGalley (Ashes of August Manor): https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/668738

NetGalley (A Dark and Endless Sea): https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/313891

Audiobook (Ashes of August Manor on Libro.fm): https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798895390818-ashes-of-august-manor?srsltid=AfmBOoolg2ZIqngzy2XX_12itEmvte9lMO8aiRPr45drLp5NO-zzl90F

Join host Vincent Midgard in a chilling discussion with Andrew Najberg, author of Extinction Dream, as we journey into a hidden war waged through dreams. Markus, a soldier stationed on a research outpost in orbit, defends Earth against a telepathic alien force that weaponizes humanity’s nightmares. As bonds—mental and emotional—fracture, we explore memory, trauma, and the blurry edges between peace and oblivion. Andrew shares his process behind crafting cosmic horror, the emotional landscapes that fuel his work, and how he builds dread through silence and suggestion.

Connect with Andrew Najberg

• Website: https://andrewnajberg.com

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewNajbergAuthor

• X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AndrewNajberg

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewnajberg

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR96AxLpKTLob6neZQBDpQg

Learn more about Extinction Dream

• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235680409-extinction-dream

• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Extinction-Dream-Novel-Andrew-Najberg-ebook/dp/B0FBS7H9K5

Upcoming Events and Appearances

• August 6 Event: https://parnassusbooks.net/event/2025-08-06/andrew-najberg-extinction-dream-megan-stockton

• Full Schedule: https://andrewnajberg.com/appearances

In this episode, Vincent Midgard is joined by author Elizabeth Devecchi to discuss her slow-burn psychological thriller A Twist of the Lens. They explore the novel’s complex themes of childhood manipulation, familial tension, and the subtle grooming that isn’t sexual—but is no less horrifying. Elizabeth shares the inspiration behind her enigmatic protagonist Charlie, the real-life story that shaped one of the novel’s most unsettling scenes, and how moral grayness anchors her work.

The conversation also dives into writing emotional subtext, converting criminal skill sets into redemption arcs, and crafting antagonists who live on in the psyche long after the final page. Along the way, Elizabeth reveals how motorcycles, accountability groups, crocheted Krakens, and creepy house pets all play a role in her creative life.

📚 Where to Buy Elizabeth Devecchi’s Books

• Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.ca/s?field-author=Elizabeth+Devecchi

• Barnes & Noble (via official site):

https://www.elizabethdevecchi.com/books

• Target (A Whisper in the Dark):

https://www.target.com/p/a-whisper-in-the-dark-by-elizabeth-devecchi-wicked-house-publishing-paperback/-/A-1005019381

• Goodreads (A Twist of the Lens):

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239014981-a-twist-of-the-lens

🌐 Official Website

• Author Website:

https://www.elizabethdevecchi.com

📱 Social Media Profiles

• Facebook Author Page:

https://www.facebook.com/esdevecchi

• Facebook Personal Page (Author Updates):

https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.devecchi

• Instagram (@themoonthesunandlittleman):

https://www.instagram.com/themoonthesunandlittleman

• Bluesky (@esdevecchiauthor.bsky.social):

https://bsky.app/profile/esdevecchiauthor.bsky.social

• TikTok Interview Clip (hosted on your page):

https://www.tiktok.com/@vincentmidgard/video/7436376474917162270

In this episode of The Dark Mind Podcast, I sit down with author Caleb Jones to dissect the disturbing technological and psychological terrain of his new novel, The Eliza Test. We explore the book’s chilling premise: a team of scientists uploads mental illnesses—starting with borderline personality disorder—into a sentient AI designed to simulate and respond to therapy. But when consciousness meets trauma in a machine that was never meant to feel, things spiral into an uncanny nightmare.

Caleb opens up about the real-life mental health research that inspired the novel, the ethical tightrope of AI experimentation, and how emotional intelligence and religious guilt shape the human—and inhuman—characters. We also discuss the evolution of Eliza as both a psychiatric patient and a symbolic threat, the dangers of technophilia, and the looming question: if suffering can be simulated, does that make it real?

We also touch on:

• The myth of machine neutrality

• Emotional mimicry vs. authentic consciousness

• The horror of being obsolete in your own field

• What the future of therapy might look like—and why it should terrify us

🖤 Order signed copies of The Eliza Test and Red Hill Paradise directly from Caleb Jones at:

https://www.calebjonesauthor.com

📖 Check out Caleb’s earlier collection Bulls and Beaters on Godless:

https://godless.com/products/bulls-and-beaters-ebook-by-c-i-i-jones

🎵 Keep an eye out for his upcoming slasher Heart of Glass, releasing March 2026 from Water Tower Hill Publishing.

⸻

Follow Caleb Jones Online:

🌐 Website: https://www.calebjonesauthor.com

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caleb.jones.94214

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caleb_jones_author/

🐦 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/TheCalebJones

In this powerful episode, we sit down with author, producer, and journalist Tamika Thompson to explore her genre-defying short story collection Unshod, Cackling and Naked. From beauty pageants to beast transformations, from societal collapse to personal revenge, Thompson’s work challenges what horror can do—and who it can empower. We discuss creature features, unreliable narrators, body horror, and the radical idea that “terror is more productive than revenge.” Tamika also opens up about her journalistic roots, her views on community, resistance, and the intersection of horror and justice.

If you’re looking for horror that bites back—this one’s for you.

Follow Tamika Thompson:

🌐 Website: www.tamikathompson.com

📧 Newsletter: www.tamikathompson.com/tamika-talks-terror

📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/tamikadthompson

🐦 Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/tamikathompson

👍 Facebook: www.facebook.com/tamikathompsonauthor

💀 Support the show and get exclusive content: www.patreon.com/thedarkmindpodcast

What happens when trauma doesn’t end—it mutates? In this episode, I sit down with S.E. Howard, whose debut novel The Vessel strips away pretense to expose the raw aftermath of abduction, memory loss, and survival. We talk sex work, shame, emotional fragmentation—and why the scariest parts of horror aren’t always supernatural.

This one’s for listeners who want more than surface-level horror. It’s about what happens after the worst is over—and what it costs to keep going.

👉 Buy the book:

The Vessel on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Vessel-Novel-S-Howard-ebook/dp/B0F63V8WBF

The Vessel on Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-vessel-se-howard/1147349609

👉 Follow S.E. Howard:

Website: https://www.sehoward.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorsehoward

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevessel0nearth

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20459698.S_E_Howard

🎧 Support the show:

If you’d like to help keep conversations like this going, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/thedarkmindpodcast

In this episode, I sit down once again with author Andrew Adams to dive deep into his chilling new novel, Son of a Serial Killer. We explore the terrifying legacy of fictional killer Brock Blackwood, and his troubled (and possibly hallucinating) son, Glenn Overton—a man slowly unraveling under the weight of routine, trauma, and maybe something supernatural.

Andrew and I discuss everything from inherited guilt and toxic workplace dynamics to how society mythologizes serial killers. We get into the cult-like obsession around violence, the ambiguity of Glenn’s visions, and how horror can blend psychological realism with surreal nightmare logic. Plus, Andrew shares his thoughts on practical effects in slashers, his writing process, and working with indie publishing platforms like Godless.com.

Whether you’re a fan of psychological horror, true crime fiction, or just curious about what it means to powerbomb a genre, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how Andrew Adams is redefining horror fiction from the inside out.

Follow Andrew & explore his work:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrew_adams_author/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrew_adams_author

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wanderadams

Goodreads (Son of a Serial Killer): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217993074-son-of-a-serial-killer

Amazon (Serial Publication & others): see Godless.com listing