Quills and Chills

In this episode of Quills & Chills , I'm joined by bestselling author Cherie Priest to discuss her novel, It Was Her House First , completely spoiler-free. Cherie shares how a notoriously haunted house in West Seattle inspired the story and why she wanted to put a fresh spin on the classic haunted house novel, where ghosts can be terrifying without necessarily being evil. We talk about Ron...

As part of the Quills & Chills Pride Series , I'm thrilled to welcome back returning guest Jill Baguchinsky to discuss her haunting new novel, May the Dead Keep You. We dive into the story of Catie East, who has spent years living in a secluded historic home deep within Northern California's redwood forests. When a botanist and his son, Hunter, move into the property's guest cottag...

As part of this year's Pride Series, I'm revisiting my conversation with author Michael Reed about his novel Desperate Measures. Michael joins me to discuss the inspiration behind the book, his move from Alaska to West Virginia, and how the landscapes, folklore, and culture of Appalachia shaped the story. We talk about the creation of Joey and Rhonda, the complicated relationships at the h...

What if your sister disappeared... and came back claiming to be someone else? For this Pride Series episode of Quills & Chills, I'm joined by Dana Mele to discuss The Beast You Let In , a chilling story of twins, secrets, obsession, and the dark side of belonging. A great conversation about character, community, and the monsters we create. 🎧 Listen now! https://youtu.be/LUWb8iVqwgE #BookS...

In this episode of Quills & Chills , I’m joined by author Gabrielle Sher to talk about her novel Odessa , a Jewish folklore Gothic set during the pogroms of 1905 in the Russian Empire. Gabrielle discusses the novel’s shifting family perspectives, how grief and trauma shape the story long before the supernatural arrives, and the terrifying consequences of trying to hold onto the people we love....

In this episode of Quills & Chills , I’m joined once again by Nick Cutter to discuss his new novel, The Dorians, a disturbing story about aging, mortality, and the lengths people will go to outrun death. We talk about the fears and moral questions at the heart of the book, the influence of classic horror and science fiction, and why body horror and isolation remain such powerful storytelling t...

Marcus Kliewer on The Caretaker | Horror Author Interview | Quills & Chills What happens when grief, money, and bad decisions collide? In this episode of Quills & Chills , I sit down with Marcus Kliewer to break down The Caretaker , a psychological horror story that starts grounded and keeps tightening the screws. Macy is a broke college grad, grieving her father and trying to care for her...

In this episode of Quills & Chills , I’m joined by USA Today bestselling author Luke Dumas to talk about Nothing Tastes as Good , a body-horror thriller about a man over 300 pounds who joins a clinical trial for a miracle weight-loss drug and starts changing faster than he can understand. The results are extreme. So are the side effects, including missing time and urges he can’t explain. We ge...

n this episode of Quills & Chills , I’m joined by bestselling author Emily Carpenter to talk about her new Southern Gothic novel, A Spell for Saints & Sinners. We touch on the story setup, a young psychic in Savannah navigating inheritance, identity, and complicated loyalties, then dig into Emily’s approach to portraying magic in a grounded, family-rooted way. We also get into themes of is...

In this episode of Quills & Chills , I’m joined by author Johnny Compton to discuss his latest novel, Dead First . Private investigator Shyla Sinclair is hired by billionaire Saxton Bray, a man who claims, and proves, he cannot die. He offers her millions to uncover the truth behind his immortality and missing memories, while holding leverage over secrets from her own past. We talk about immor...

In this episode of Quills & Chills, I sit down with acclaimed author Gemma Amor to discuss her latest horror novel, 'Itch.' Gemma sheds light on her fascination with misunderstood monsters, feminist horror, and the blending of folklore, supernatural, and body horror elements in her storytelling. We dive deep into the protagonist Josie's journey and transformation, the unsettling th...

In this episode of Quills & Chills, I sit down with writer Will Shindler to discuss his novel 'The Bone Queen.' Will talks about his transition from writing police procedurals to horror, crafting the story of a mother's desperate search for her missing daughter, and creating the chilling setting of Athelsea Island. We explore the emotional core of the story, the complexities of Jen...

In this episode of Quills & Chills , I’m joined by novelist Elena Taylor to talk about her latest suspense novel, The Haunting of Emily Grace . We dive into the emotional and psychological layers of the story, exploring grief, isolation, and the relationships that shape the haunting. Elena shares how personal loss informed the book’s emotional core, how the setting influences the characters, a...

In this end-of-year special episode of Quills & Chills , returning guest David Berger joins me for a fan-to-fan conversation about Wonder Woman. We talk through her origins in comics, her evolution across TV and film, and why the Amazonian Princess continues to resonate after 84 years. From classic interpretations to modern re-imaginings, this episode celebrates the enduring power, compassion,...

In this episode of Quills & Chills, I talk with writer and filmmaker Mark Steensland about his new book, The Black Magic Murders . We cover his approach to fictional true crime, how he balances paranormal elements with a grounded narrative, and why he set the story in 1970 San Francisco. Mark walks through character choices, structure, and research, along with what he learned while writing thi...

In this episode of Conversations With Creators, I talk with comic book creator Bijhan Agha about the latest installment of the Legendary X Nights series. Bijhan walks through the creative process, the influence of mid-20th-century illustrators, and the themes shaping the story. We discuss the series’ broad representation and how each character adds to the narrative. We also cover the new issue’s p...

In this episode of Quills & Chills, I talk with writer and filmmaker Mark Steensland. Mark shares his journey across various storytelling mediums, from novels to short fiction and filmmaking. We discuss his inspiration stemming from childhood experiences, his early attempts at journalism, and the numerous independent films he has created. Mark also reveals the trials of navigating the industry...

Welcome back to Conversations With Creators. Today, you hear from Bonvida, the director of the new horror film The Night Boyz, and Leslie A. Jones, an executive producer and leading actor. We talk about the film’s take on vampire lore, the realities of independent production, and how themes of oppression and uprising shape the story. They walk through their creative approach, the challenges they m...

In this episode of Quills & Chills, you’ll hear from author Jeff Vande Zande about his newest book, Blood of the Witness Tree . We talk about the sequel’s direction, Isaac’s ongoing story, and the personal and geographic influences shaping the world he builds. We cover family dynamics, emotional realism, and how he balances everyday life with the supernatural. Jeff also shares an early look at...

In this episode of Quills & Chills, bestselling horror author Cullen Bunn joins us to talk about his latest novel, Bones of Our Stars, Blood of Our World . Discover how a small North Carolina town faces an ancient terror, get behind-the-scenes insights into his chilling plot and characters, and hear about his transition from graphic novels to adult horror. Fans of Cullen won’t want to miss thi...

Reposting one of my favorite Quills & Chills episodes, also the very first one. I loved talking with Carissa Orlando about her debut horror novel, The September House. Carissa, a clinical community psychologist by day, shares how her early experiences with anxiety shaped her love of horror. We discuss her writing process, inspirations, and how she approaches dark themes with empathy and precis...

In this episode of Quills & Chills , I sit down with poet, essayist, and artist Zefyr Lisowski to talk about her haunting new book, Uncanny Valley Girls . We explore how horror, intimacy, and film criticism collide in her deeply personal collection of essays. Zefyr opens up about her time in a psych ward and how horror films became both a refuge and a creative spark. From The Wolfman to The Ri...

n this episode of Quills & Chills , I sit down with acclaimed horror author Keith Rosson for an in-depth interview about his chilling new vampire novel, Coffin Moon . Set in 1970s Portland, Coffin Moon blends horror, trauma, grief, and addiction recovery into a dark and emotionally charged story. We talk about Keith’s roots in punk music and fan zines, how he weaves raw human struggles into ho...

In this episode of Quills and Chills, I sit down with returning guest Bijhan Agha to discuss their exciting new comic series, 'Zero and One'. Bijhan shares the inspirations behind the series, drawing from Japanese media and unique personal experiences, and teases the gripping storyline set in a future world of self-replicating robots.  We delve into the creative process, the collaboration...

In this episode of Quills & Chills, I’m excited to welcome bestselling author Dean Lappi to discuss his latest novel, 'DEEPSTONE.’ We delve into Dean's journey to becoming a writer, his inspiration from classic horror films, and the fascinating research that went into crafting this dark and thrilling tale set 4,000 feet underground. We also explore the unique characters, the breathtaki...