Dark Waters

In which we chat with Bobby Matthews about the hidden singular southern small town, analyzing the complexities of relationships against different socioeconomic backdrops, and what can only be described as brilliant speed writing. We also discuss his new release Living the Gimmick . Bobby Mathews is a writer and journalist based in Birmingham, Alabama. Over the past two years, 22 of his short stori...

We kick off season 4 by chatting with Jesse Hilson about trying to ignore that family members will read your bloodiest scenes, adhering to genre rules, and using other creative outlets to help push through writing. We also discuss his novel Blood Trip .  Jesse Hilson is a writer and comics artist living in the Catskills in New York State. His writing has appeared, or will appear, in AZURE, Ma...

So, we really loved The Silent Patient. We talk about Alex Michaelides 2021 release The Maidens, the trappings of having too many ideas in a piece, unsatisfying endings, universe tie-ins, mental health, and Facebook statuses. Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com Disclaimer: Any and all opinions expressed are the opinions of the participants and not of the organizations or institutions with which th...

We're joined by Max Thrax to discuss religious indoctrination, originality in writing, classic noir characterization, and proper terms for apocalyptic death cults. We also discuss his upcoming release God Is A Killer. Max Thrax is a poet and novelist, living in Boston. His work has been published in Bristol Noir, Punk Noir , Expat , Apocalypse Confidential .  His novella God Is A Killer ( Clo...

We're joined by Joshua Chaplinsky to discuss the fallacy of human memory, incorporating scientific theories into fiction, and the happy medium between finding inspiration from and trying to copy our favorite authors. We also discuss his novel The Paradox Twins. Joshua Chaplinsky is the Managing Editor of LitReactor.com. He is the author of The Paradox Twins (CLASH Books), the story collection...

We're joined by the immensely talented J.B. Stevens, and talk about balancing humor in dark fiction, getting through the slush pile, edits worth listening to, and certain types of infinity loops. We also talk about his new release A Therapeutic Death: Violent Short Stories . You can him on his website and on Twitter . J.B. Stevens lives in the Southeastern United States with his wife, daughter, an...

We are joined by the wonderful and wonderfully cynical Allison Sutton to discuss Nathan's WIP, Enemy of the Enemies, the need for emotional support Diet Coke, making crude scenes cruder, and the intricacies of Catholic funerals. Allison Sutton is a former gifted kid turned art student turned corporate drone. She is the mother of fourteen house plants, one cat, and unknowable unfinished drafts. She...

We are joined by the wonderful Scott Cumming to discuss his whirlwind year of writing, his new book A Chapbook About Nothing , finding seconds in the day to jot down poems, and how it all started with a single review. We also go through his story Beach Body, and mental health in the time of Corona.  Scott Cumming unsuspectingly went to see Garden State wearing his Shins tee. He has been publi...

We get the chance to chat with the wonderful Tori Eldridge about the Lily Wong mystery thriller series, and her upcoming book Dance Among the Flames , as well as previous lives in other artistic fields, what even is a schedule, genre-bending, the importance of diverse voices in literature, and the destroying monolithic views of culture.  Tori Eldridge is the national bestselling author of the...

We hosted a crowdcast with authors from the anthology Trouble No More - crime fiction inspired by the Allman Brothers. We speak with Mark Westmoreland about the process of putting the anthology together, and see we're all really just a bunch of music nerds, then hear readings from Mark, James D.F. Hannah , Michel Lee Garrett , Brodie Lowe , Rob Pierce, and N.B. Turner. We suggest following them al...

A brief episode in which Nate and Kirstyn catch up on new projects, preview S3 guests, announce the S3 book club books ( The Maidens and The Only Good Indians ), and make no promises about derailing any and all future conversations. To preorder Trouble No More (Allman Brothers anthology) click here Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro musi...

Nate and Kirstyn discuss the book Picnic in the Ruins by Todd Robert Petersen, and within it, the erasure of culture, representation in media, and the minor inaccuracies in movies and books that cause us much frustration.  Want to submit your writing or be a guest editor? Email darkwaterspodcast@gmail.com Intro/Outro music: www.bensound.com

Rob Parker joins us to discuss his book Blackstoke , endless multitasking, transparency in publishing, and getting younger generations invested in writing. Also a conversation about great names for new indie publications (the team claims dibs on Trash Panda). Rob Parker is an author and podcaster from the UK. He’s responsible for the Ben Bracken series of thrillers as well as Crook’s Hollow and th...

The lovely Amy King joins us to discuss her research on linguistic violence, fourteen-year-old poetry, and obsessions with Greek mythology. We also go through some of Kirstyn's new novel, disappearing plot maps, and the best-backhanded compliment Nathan has ever received.   Amy is a PhD researcher exploring the nature of linguistic violence on social media, and digital communications professi...

We see each other for the first time since the start of quarantine and promise we will never record an episode outside again. We discuss one of Kirstyn's favorite books, Cosmopolis by Don DeLillo, butcher pronunciations and names, discuss human separation from emotion, and the downfall of capitalism. Also, there are cigars and whiskey and a preview for the book club we definitely should have poste...

We are joined by recently New York Times cited author Cynthia Pelayo about her book, Children of Chicago, as well as her short story writing, genre-bending, and the human elements of horror. We admit, much gushing did occur. Cynthia is a poet and author from Chicago who has been twice nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for “superior achievement” in dark fantasy and horror writing. She is the auth...

We are joined by the lovely Izzy once more to discuss the varying aesthetics of academia, casual roasting of the Midwest, and whether Janet from the PTA is an adequate counter to Dad jokes. Nate reads a short story involving biting, repression, and religion, we are all definitely convinced that Dracula had purely feelings of friendship for Mina Harker. Isabelle Hourihane is a UK-based copy editor...

Curtis Ippolito joins us for a special episode/preview of season 2 to celebrate the release of his new novel Burying the Newspaper Man . We discuss character empathy and the delicacies of vulnerability, coming back to writing after time away, and the difficulty of not spoiling everything in this bone-chilling and wonderful book.  Curtis is an author based in California whose new novel Burying...

For our season one finale, we’re joined by the lovely Izzy Hourihane. We discuss surviving 2020 with memes, booze, and books, the importance of killing darlings, and why 2025-2035 will be the years of revealed cults. Nate reads a short story that may or may not include maggots and we all get really excited about the myth of Bluebeard. Isabelle Hourihane is a UK-based copy editor and advocate for i...

Matthew Simmons joins the show to answer the question we know you’ve all been wondering: what actually counts as torture porn? Also, the evisceration of a catfish, bible stories they don't teach you in Sunday school, and Kirstyn reads some of her first novel. Matt is a videographer, lighting designer, gaffer, photographer, scriptwriter, and all-around dark theme aficionado. Follow him on Instagram...

Jacob Close joins us from the UK to discuss his recent book, Tinfoils , and starting a career as a full-time writer. We touch on what it’s like to balance multiple professional projects, the importance of finding the correct editor, the fallacy of universal popularity, and Isaac Newton’s second career taking down a dildo salesman. Jacob is a writer whose novel, Tinfoils, was released in September...

Steve Luber rejoins the podcast to edit a story from Nate. Nate is gently coerced into talking about his college days. Toxic concepts of masculinity fight with another. Steve Luber: a writer and IT expert out in the San Fernando Valley. Writing reads like a “mix between H.P. Lovecraft and C.S. Lewis.” Other works of his include “ An Occurrence on the Witch’s Hill”, published at Misery Tourism. Fol...

Stephen J. Golds, author of Say Goodbye When I’m Gone , joins us from Japan to discuss his newly released book, Always the Dead . Golds is originally from the UK, but has lived in Japan for most of his adult life. His second novel, Always the Dead , was released on January 29. His first novel, Say Goodbye When I’m Gone , is available from Red Dog Press, and his poetry chapbook Poems For Ghosts in...

Steve Luber joins the podcast to discuss a section of his novel in progress. It’s a creepy story written by a pleasant guy. Other works of his include “ An Occurrence on the Witch’s Hill”, published at Misery Tourism. Steve Luber is a writer and IT expert out in the San Fernando Valley. Writing reads like a “mix between H.P. Lovecraft and C.S. Lewis.” Other works of his include “ An Occurrence on...

Nichole Currier joins the podcast to review and edit one of Kirstyn’s short stories. Also, first date stories, and what makes a mystery novel the worst. Nichole Currier is a recent English graduate who just finished an internship with Penguin Random House and is creating a literary lifestyle vlog via her YouTube Channel (Nichole Currier) and her Instagram @cocobratz Disclaimer: Any and all opinion...