Horror Humor Hunger

Everybody and their mom knows Marcus Kliewer (I can personally attest to this, my mom is a huge fan!). His debut novel We Used to Live Here began life as a serialized short story on Reddit, where it won the Scariest Story of 2021 award on the NoSleep forum. Film rights were snapped up by Netflix, and it was acquired by Simon & Schuster for publication even before it had been extended into a fu...

Brandon Eldridge is the author of several novels and short stories, including The Establishment and Becoming Benjamin . He’s also the creator of ShiverCon, an indie horror convention in Indiana coming up in August that is sure to be absolutely incredible. Join us as we discuss Easter eggs in horror books, pen names, the amazing event that is ShiverCon, and the importance of always showing and prom...

Erika T. Wurth is the author of WHITE HORSE and THE HAUNTING OF ROOM 904, and she’s an urban Native of Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee descent. She’s a New York Times editors pick, a Good Morning America buzz pick, and an Indie Next, Target book of the Month, and Book of the Month Pick. She’s also a professor at Western Illinois University and a narrative artist for the Meow Wolf Denver Installation. Jo...

Emily Vale, author of She Feeds on Misery, writes books that blur the edge of reality with a supernatural twist, blending the horrifyingly fantastic with mundane life. Join us as we discuss sassy demons, the importance of female friendship, hauntings, cursed gumdrops (yes, you read that right) and more! Connect with Emily: https://www.emilyvalebooks.com/about Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampt...

Lee Upton has a large and diverse body of work--her first novel, Tabitha, Get Up , is a current semi-finalist for the 2026 Thurber Prize in American Humor. She’s also written the novels Wrongful , The Withers (forthcoming in June 2026), and Tabitha, Stay Up (forthcoming in September 2026). Her poetry has appeared in the New Yorker, Poetry, Agni, and many other magazines. Her awards include the Pus...

What would you do if you couldn’t make your art anymore? If you couldn’t write? If you couldn’t cook, or play music, or read? If your creative outlet and passion were taken away? Those are just a few of the horrifying questions I discuss with special guest J.R. Blanes, whose novel Portraits of Decay  will make you consider the meaning of art, dark magic, the tension between the Hollywood version o...

Who else loves The Twilight Zone ? Who else enjoys being plunged into a strange, surreal world? If this describes you, then join me and author Daniel Braum as we discuss strange tales, why we’re drawn to the macabre, and what we wish we saw more of in the horror world. Daniel Braum writes short stories that explore the tension between the psychological and the supernatural. His debut short story c...

This very special bonus encore episode featuring the horrors of modern dating celebrates the publication of my satirical novel-in-stories, The Tinder Chronicles ! First dates can be hell… or hilarious . Dating can be horrible, but the right attitude can turn even the worst date into something memorable. From wannabe rappers to semi-pro golfers, from naughty ventriloquists to unicycle-riding parrot...

T.J. Payne is the author of the smash hit INTERCEPTS, which has sold over 95,000 copies and has had over 25 million page reads on Kindle Unlimited since its publication in 2019. He’s also the author of THE VENUE and IN MY FATHER’S BASEMENT. Born and raised in Portland, OR, he moved to Hollywood with plans to write romantic comedies, but as he worked on his craft, he found his stories drifting towa...

In this episode, I’m joined by award-winning author and actor Joey Powell! His recent published work includes Squirming All the Way Up and Night Games , co-authored with his twin Josh Powell. He’s also an incredible illustrator and book designer, and he’s the owner and operator of indie press Mad Axe Media. Join us as we discuss horror as art, what it’s like to operate a small press, what we wish...

Nat Cassidy is an award-winning actor, playwright, director, and the author of the acclaimed novels When the Wolf Comes Home , Mary: An Awakening of Terror , Nestlings , and Rest Stop . Esquire has named him one of the "writers shaping horror’s next golden age.” His newest collection, I Know a Place , drops TODAY, May 5! Join us as we discuss the structure of writing horror, subversion, suspe...

Stephanie Rose is a bookseller, publisher, editor, and author--a true Renaissance woman of horror. Join us as we discuss the best background media for writing (horror movies on mute!), why horror matters, weekly writing goals, handling reviews, and her style: cinematic, comedic, and cozy (we love an alliteration over here!). Connect with Stephanie: https://stephanierosewriter.com Order from Death...

Who better to discuss medical and body horror than an emergency medicine physician with a flair for the macabre? N.J. Gallegos is an absolute powerhouse--her novella Just Desserts won an American Legacy Book Award in the Psychological Horror category in 2024, and in 2022 and 2025, she won first place in Alien Buddha Press' Horror Showdown. In 2025, she was nominated for two Pushcart Prizes. S...

Ever wondered what’s living in your walls? Or what lurks inside of that abandoned mall? Or what might happen to a terrorized neighborhood on Halloween? If so, you’ve got to check out horror author Ben Farthing. Join Ben and me as we discuss the horror of liminal spaces, full-time horror author-ing, what the horror book world needs more of, and more! Connect with Ben: https://thedreadfarthing.com C...

“Horror is the liver of the literary body. You need the liver to process all your toxins.” How gorgeous and insightful, am I right? And that’s only a tiny taste of what award-winning author Dawn Kurtagich has to offer in this fascinating, fun, and frightening interview. Join us as we discuss everything from the purpose of horror to the importance of writing rituals (I, too, wish I could cozy up on...

If you’re anything like me, then you’re not immune to the widespread recent interest in Mormon culture (anybody else love The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives?) . Enter Linda Hamilton, an ex-Mormon and the author of The Fourth Wife , a deliciously chilling, historical gothic horror with a feminist slant where a young Mormon woman is haunted by a malevolent presence in the decrepit Salt Lake City mansi...

In this episode, I have the great pleasure of speaking with A. Rae Dunlap, author of The Resurrectionist and The Dreadfuls (which is absolutely fantastic!). Join us as we discuss the fascinating nature of cemeteries, how to create the right atmosphere for historical narratives, Jack the Ripper, the history of our obsession with true crime, and more! Connect with A. Rae Dunlap: https://araedunlap.c...

What do you get when you combine an intelligence analyst, a technology futurist, and a horror novelist? You get the one and only Alma Katsu! In this episode, we discuss everything from the looming threat of generative AI to exploring history through a horror lens. Alma is a New York Times bestselling author, and her books have been nominated for and won multiple prestigious awards including the St...

I couldn’t let a Friday the 13th go uncelebrated, so here’s a super special bonus episode featuring my friend and fellow horror author, R. Jacob Honeybrook! In addition to being an author, R. Jacob Honeybrook is one of the hosts of the fabulous, award-winning Midnight Terrors podcast. A former journalist, he also pens the weekly horror column “ The Honeycut ” for TBM Horror. His newest collection,...

In this episode, I’m joined by the queen of Gothic suspense, Paulette Kennedy! She’s the bestselling author of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport , as well as many other fabulous novels. Join us as we discuss the power of historical settings, the Gothic genre, and her newest release, The Two Deaths of Lillian Carmichael ! Connect with Paulette: https://paulettekennedy.com Connect with Viggy: https://vig...

Today, I’m joined by Michael Harbron, bestselling horror author of the Interview with the Devil series. He’s also the author of the official Fright Night prequel novel, called Fright Night: Hellbound. Join us as we discuss reviving cult classics, building a horror universe, and our favorite horror novels! Connect with Michael: https://michaelharbron.com Find Michael on Instagram: https://www.insta...

Women in Horror Month is almost here!! Multiple award-winning author Gwendolyn Kiste joins me to discuss the importance of recognizing women in horror, the month’s theme of resilience, and her work. Come celebrate with us! Connect with Gwendolyn: https://www.gwendolynkiste.com Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampton.com Purchase A Veritable Household Pet along with Viggy’s other books: https://ww...

Prolific horror author Jack Finn is no stranger to research--his books are layered with historical facts that make the narrative that much more terrifying. Join us as we discuss what horror has to offer readers, why history is an excellent inspiration for horror, and what we wish we saw more of in the horror world. Connect with Jack: https://therealjackfinn.com Connect with Viggy: https://viggyham...

Pod favorite and seasoned clinical psychologist Dr. Camille Holiner joins me again for a fascinating discussion of the history of lobotomy, the evolution of the treatment of mental illness over the past few decades, toxic family dynamics, and more! Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampton.com Purchase A Veritable Household Pet along with Viggy’s other books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0...

Often, we don’t have to look further than our own history for horrifying inspiration. Maria Tureaud, author of the Great Hunger-inspired This House Will Feed , joins me for an illuminating discussion of how we can use horror fiction to explore and provide catharsis for historic tragedy. Maria Tureaud is the author of one of my new favorite novels, This House Will Feed , which is set at the height...