The Suspense is Killing Me

Welcome to our first episode of 2026! And who better to spend the frigid new year with than the always amazing Jenny Kiefer. Come hang with us as we discuss her novel, Crafting for Sinners. Jenny shares her insights about writing, book touring (which I've never done!), and much more.

Let this be your motivator to pick up a copy of Crafting for Sinners and be sure to stop by her bookstore, Butcher Cabin Books, the next time you're in Louisville, KY!

Where? What?! A rotting room? Yes, that's right. Author Viggy Par Hampton takes us on a gothic, religious horror journey with the Sisters of Divine Innocence and the unfathomable yuck that is The Rotting Room. But don't be fooled, while this book is full of cringeworthy darkness, there is so much more to Sister Raphaela's story. It's probably best you hear it from Viggy...

Learn more about Viggy Par Hampton at https://viggyhampton.com/

And of course, we've got ebook and paperback copies of The Rotting Room in stock at https://www.spinelessreads.com/product-page/the-rotting-room

Please welcome Catherine McCarthy back to the show! In this episode, we reach outside the loose confines of the horror world to discuss Catherine's latest genre-bending story, Death of a Clown, published by Sobelo Books (shameless plug!). Catherine takes us into the magical realism of Chester's world and the impactful themes embedded throughout the beautiful prose of her novella. Part dark fantasy, part dark literary fiction, and a whole lot of creativity, this story really hits home for anyone who feels like their living a life in conflict with their true purpose. Enjoy!

Learn more about Catherine at: https://www.catherine-mccarthy-author.com/

Get your copy of Death of a Clown at https://sobelobooks.com/

Welcome Todd Keisling to the show! Todd takes us into the world of The Sundowner's Dance, his latest novel from Shortwave Publishing. This cosmic horror novel brings us to the Fairview Acres Community and it's unusual inhabitants and rituals. More than you expect? Absolutely.

You can learn more about Todd at https://www.toddkeisling.com/

Order your book at https://www.toddkeisling.com/works/sundowners-dance

Let's welcome Mike Allen back to the show! Mike's newest release is a reimagining of his dark fantasy/horror novel The Black Fire Concerto. The book hits shelves 22 April!

Learn more about Mike Allen at http://descentintolight.com/

Pick up your copy of The Black Fire Concerto from Ruadan Books at https://ruadanbooks.com/product/the-black-fire-concerto-pre-order/

Welcome to my interview with author Chris DiLeo about his latest release, Empty Devils, a grief-raddled contemporary horror story about a man, his dead daughter's ghost, and a seething need for vengeance. I'll let the book description speak for itself:

With his daughter in a casket and his wife in a cult, David Eden is on the brink of losing touch with reality. So when he begins conversing with his daughter’s ghost and then encounters a nightmare monster in the cemetery that can’t possibly be real but is most certainly deadly, he is convinced he’s lost it. But David is also out to get vengeance on the white supremacists he blames for his child’s death, and he’s about to learn that sometimes it takes a monster to defeat one.

Yeah...it's soooo good. I may be slightly biased (cups hand over mouth and admits to be the publisher) but trust me, it's everything you think it is and far more.

Pick up your copy of EMPTY DEVILS today at www.SobeloBooks.com

You can learn more about Chris DiLeo at https://www.instagram.com/authordileo/

or on Bluesky at: https://bsky.app/profile/authordileo.bsky.social

Welcome to my interview with Aimee Hardy about her southern gothic novel Pocket Full of Teeth. Found footage, creative narrative structure, footnotes, horror, crime, mystery...this book is a delectable concoction. We nerd out about the tastiness of a well-crafted slow burn gothic, the wilds of Southern US landscape and how the culture compliments gothic stories, and so much more.

Pick up your copy of Pocket Full of Teeth at https://www.spinelessreads.com/product-page/pocket-full-of-teeth

Learn more about Aimee Hardy at https://aimeehardy.com/

Welcome to Roseneath, a fantastical exploration of gothic rust belt bliss. Join author Dana McSwain and me for a conversation about the inspiration for her wonderful novel, Anne Rice, crossing genres in gothic fiction, and of course, the music that inspires it all.

Learn more about Dana and ROSENEATH at https://www.danamcswain.com/

Welcome to our very first interview with the one and only, Clay McLeod Chapman! Clay spends some time talking with me about a wide range of topics, including his recent post-apoc possession book Wake Up and Open Your Eyes. This book is wild. And it inspired a wild conversation about a wide assortment of topics including the unbridled power of nature, oily substances, motion smoothing televisions, grief horror, shocking horror scenes and their impact on readers/watchers, and elements of possession from Wake Up and Open Your Eyes.

Heads up, we unpack a sensitive scene from the book which may be disturbing to some readers/listeners/watchers so tread carefully if you prefer to avoid the subjects of crone horror and sexually charged possession. This episode has been rated 18+ to limit distribution to adult audiences.

Learn more about Clay McLeod Chapman at https://claymcleodchapman.com/

Welcome to Emma Murray's latest work, The Drowning Machine and Other Obsessions. This collection...what can I say? It's my favorite collection released this year. I am thrilled Emma was available to discuss the grief, the weird, the parenthood fears, and the many layers of theme and story.

Learn more about Emma and the collection at https://emmaemurray.com/the-drowning-machine-other-obsessions/