The Dark Mind Podcast

Candace Nola is an acclaimed author, editor, and publisher who has earned multiple awards for her contributions to horror, dark fantasy, and splatterpunk.

Candace joins Vince on the show to discuss her new short story collection "Demons in My Bloodstream" and the inspiration behind the stories.

The collection covers a range of dark and disturbing themes, from a young man's struggle with color blindness to a couple's desperate attempt to bring their dead baby back to life.

Nola explores the emotions of sadness, desperation, and evil in her stories, creating a compelling and horrifying reading experience.

She draws inspiration from her own experiences, her children, and her fascination with true crime.

The settings of the stories, such as traveling carnivals, add to the neo-noir atmosphere.

The conversation covers various themes, including power dynamics, suburban sociopaths, the influence of childhood on behavior, the role of empathy in storytelling, the importance of libraries, and the evolution of the indie press "Uncomfortably Dark."

Candace Nola discusses her journey as an indie horror author and publisher, as well as her editing service for indie authors.

She shares her experiences with building a supportive indie horror community and the challenges of finding affordable editing services.

Candace also talks about her writing process and how she avoids outside influences to maintain her creativity.

She emphasizes the importance of staying focused on her passion for writing and not getting caught up in online drama.

The conversation concludes with a phone call from one of Candace's daughters, who praises her mother's work and shares her favorite book.

Website: https://www.candacenolaauthor.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnola.author/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Candace-Nola/author/B07YYW4T7N?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Uncomfortably Dark Website: https://www.uncomfortablydark.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candace.nola.10/

X: https://x.com/candace_nola

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=12231330

#candacenola #uncomfortablydark #demonsinmybloodstream #indiehorror #indiepress #splatterpunk

Rowland Bercy Jr. is an award-winning author, best known for Unbortion, which earned the 2020 American Fiction Award and was a finalist in the 2019 International Fiction Awards. His other works include Payback is a Witch and Pre-Thanksgiving Stress Disorder (The Distended Table Anthology), along with notable short stories like Homegrown Comeuppance and The Devil Baby of Bourbon Street.

In this interview, Bercy discusses his latest novel, Dr. Parasite, with Vincent Midgard. They explore the book’s themes of obsession, host-parasite dynamics, graphic violence, LGBTQ+ representation, and bug-chasing fetishes. Bercy also shares insights into his writing process, influences like Rath James White and Edward Lee, his love for travel, and his goal of seeing one of his books adapted into a movie. He reflects on his experiences at author conventions and the strong support from his family and fans.

Website: https://rowlandbercyjr.com

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

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0B3SQSGLH

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Rowland-Bercy-Jr-100066446058126/?_rdr

#rolandbercyjr #drparasite #unbortion #splatterpunk #horror #indiehorror

Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar is a Pennsylvania-based writer specializing in horror and suspense. She holds a Doctorate in Education with a focus on Literacy from the University of Delaware, alongside an MFA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. In addition to her work as an associate professor of English, her creative writing has appeared in over forty literary publications, including journals, magazines, and anthologies.

On this episode, Cassandra joins Vince to discuss her latest short story collection, Keeper of Corpses. The collection is divided into four sections based on the seasons, with each story exploring different themes and emotions tied to the changing times of year. During the conversation, she reveals the influence of Greek mythology on both her name and a character in one of the stories, as well as her use of body horror throughout the collection. The discussion also touches on her creative process and how real-life experiences have inspired several of her works.

Cassandra shares her journey as a horror writer, discussing how she revisited and updated the haunted doll trope in her story “A Gift for Avery.” She also mentions her novel Darkness There Is Something More and her upcoming horror novella. In addition to her writing, Cassandra reflects on her experience as a tenured professor, emphasizing the importance of teaching, helping students see their progress, and applying their skills in the real world. She addresses the mental health challenges faced in academia and recounts her experiences with extreme events, such as participating in zombie 5Ks and enduring blizzards, alongside her methods for handling problem students.

Overall, the conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the inspirations behind Cassandra’s horror stories and the rewards and challenges of being both a writer and an educator.

Website: https://cassandraosullivansachar.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Cassandra-OSullivan-Sachar/author/B0BNJNZZ3Y?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

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

#cassandraosullivansachar #keeperofcorpses #darknesstherebutsomethingmore

Catlyn Ladd is a tenured professor whose academic background in philosophy and theology informs her complex writing. 

She joins Vince on the show to discuss her new novel, "As Those Above Fall." 

They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the characters and their names, and the themes of grief and transformation. 

They also explore the power of the mind, the nature of knowledge, and the intersection of religion and violence. 

Catlyn shares how her academic background influences her writing, as well as her interests outside of writing and teaching. 

She also mentions her upcoming book release and invites readers to check out her website for free short fiction.

Website: https://www.catlynladd.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatlynLadd/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Catlyn-Ladd/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ACatlyn+Ladd

Substack: https://catlynladd.substack.com/about

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

#catlynladd #asthoseabovefall #indiehorror #vampirefiction

Samuel Hurley is a poet who transforms the written word into immersive soundscapes through the medium of video. He has become an Instagram sensation, and he joins Vince on the show to discuss his debut poetry collection, "An Anthem for the Dreaming Lost."

They explore his belief in romanticism and the inspiration behind his poetry, the importance of maintaining a connection with nature and art, and the emotional and imaginative connection with the world. They also delve into the concept of romanticism and its different interpretations by philosophers like Colin Wilson and the German romantics who have influenced his work, as well as the impact of technology on human experience and the importance of embracing the complexities of life.

Hurley emphasizes the value of human emotions and the need to embrace suffering and challenges in order to fully appreciate joy and hope.

Website: https://samuelhhurley.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samuel.hurley/?hl=en

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samuel.hurley

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Samuel-Hurley/author/B0DCJNYY5Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1725286628&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Mike Thorn is a writer of dark fiction that deals with themes of addiction, obsession, dysfunctional families, and the blurred lines between the supernatural and psychological.

#mikethorn #shelterforthedamned

Johnny Compton is a writer whose name is synonymous with spine-chilling tales and haunting narratives.

Megan Stockton is an indie author known for her ability to craft dystopian, horror, thriller, and science fiction/fantasy novels that are as raw and brutal as they are thought-provoking and cinematic.

She joins Vince on the show to discuss her recent novel, "Lovely, Dark, and Deep."

They talk about her experiences making movies with her husband, writing screenplays, small-town life, and some very interesting interactions with readers.

Website:

https://www.meganstocktonbooks.com

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Megan-Stockton/author/B07T1M138Y?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/meganstocktonauthor/

X:

https://x.com/mstocktonauthor

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/meganstocktonauthor/

#meganstockton #indieauthor #lovelydarkanddeep #indiehorror

Brad Ricks is an author who began reading Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe while writing short stories as a young man that grossed his friends out.

Despite the responsibilities of adulthood, his creative spirit never wavered.

From learning to play guitar to writing a musical, Brad has now taken on the art of the full-length novel.

He joins Vince on the show to discuss his debut novel, "Fear Not The Dead."

They discuss the mechanics of grief horror, classic horror character archetypes, the short story as an outline, as well as his upcoming novel, "The Night Crew."

Website:

https://www.bradricks.com/about

Audible:

https://www.audible.com/author/Brad-Ricks/B0CRPYPF1Q

X:

https://mobile.x.com/BradleyRicks

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Fear-Not-Dead-Brad-Ricks-ebook/dp/B0CYS3DLL9

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/bradricksauthor/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/BradRicksAuthor

#bradricks #fearnotthedead #thenightcrew #griefhorror #indiewriter #indiehorror

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Heather Levy is an acclaimed author and Oklahoma native.

Her work has been featured in numerous prestigious journals and publications, including CrimeReads and NAILED Magazine and her work has garnered praise from major outlets like The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times for its spellbinding narrative at the intersection of power, desire, and trauma.

She joins Vince on the show to discuss her recent novel "Hurt For Me."

They discuss BDSM and the kink community, play spaces, the frame of mind known as subspace, as well as her writing process, her previous and upcoming work, and the very real problem of sex trafficking, both foreign and domestic.

Website:

https://www.heatherlevywriter.com/

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B004O444AK

X:

https://x.com/heatherllevy

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/heatherllevy/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/tingalingmother/

Dark Mind Radio:

https://darkmindradio.mixlr.com/

#heatherylevy #kink #hurtforme

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.