This Is Horror is a podcast that interviews creatives and writers weekly including Chuck Palahniuk, Dean Koontz, Josh Malerman, Jennifer Lynch, Tananarive Due, Charlaine Harris, and Joe R. Lansdale. Michael David Wilson is the author of books such as The Girl in the Video and House of Bad Memories and the host of This Is Horror Podcast. Every week we bring you horror fiction news and writing tips.
Checking in after one month of writing almost 50,000 words | I have a new film manager | Dean Koontz on This Is Horror Podcast
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Hello, friends. It’s been just over a month since I last sent a This Is Horror newsletter—the main reason being, I dedicated the month of August to finishing the first draft of my novel with John Crinan. Aside from recording podcasts and pre-arranged family commitments, I did very little other than write during August, and I do not regret it at all. Actually, it’s given me a real thirst to write and podcast full-time, something that if you’re a listener of the This Is Horror Podcast, you’ll know I’m hoping I can do from December this year (cheeky plug asking you to support the show over on This Is Horror Podcast Patreon and help me make this a reality). So, what do I have to show for a month of working on my novel? The story has grown by over 46,000 words from this time last month, so there’s that. Though that doesn’t represent all the words we cut, rejigged, and fine-tuned. At the time of writing, we have just fallen short of ‘completing the novel by September’, but I’d estimate we have a week to go, so in the next newsletter I’ll hopefully be telling you I’ve finished the first draft of the collaboration and am onto the planning of the next book. That’s how I’m doing things right now—first drafting a number of projects and then revisiting them at a later date. See, I have a big life event coming up in December (if you listen to the podcast, you know—if you don’t, I’ll write about it soon) and that’s why everything is leading towards then. So, in December I hope I’ll have both the Crinan collaboration and most of the next novel first drafted which means an intense period of editing and podcasting amongst other things. Speaking of other things, since we last spoke, I have a new film manager. My former film manager, Ryan Lewis, is an absolute saint who might just be my favourite professional I’ve ever worked with. The film industry is often shrouded in secrecy and there are all sorts of NDAs that make talking about things openly a little difficult, but Ryan might well have saved my life and definitely saved my bank balance at the time I needed it most. His story development feedback was sharper and better than most editors I’ve worked with and he helped me make excellent business decisions and opened new doors. He believed in me and was always encouraging and passionate. A real ‘yes’ guy in the best way and a whole heap of positive energy that the world needs more of. But, right now, his career is going in a different direction and he needs to follow his passion, which is why professionally, we’ve parted ways, but our friendship remains. So, this is all to say that the creative life is one of ups and downs. Before this one-two punch of writing a good chunk of the collaborative novel in one month and landing Alec Frankl as a film manager, 2025 had been a creatively turbulent one for me with moments of doubt and despair, but right now I am at a high point and giddy with excitement and possibility for what the future will hold. I am re-energised, folks! Of course, that’s not to say there won’t be doubt and despair in the future. Doubt is part of the creative life. But so is perseverance and grit. So, if you’re in a moment of doubt and despair, keep going in spite of it because the brighter times ARE coming—when and how, I can’t tell you, but as long as you believe in the potential for there to be light and you keep putting those words down, eventually the light will come into focus. So, many things have happened since we last spoke. I’ll give you a quick list of This Is Horror Podcast episodes that have aired below, but until next time, keep believing in yourself, keep championing yourself, and have a beautiful day, my friends. Michael David Wilson This Is Horror Podcast Episodes Recently Aired TIH 629: C. J. Dotson on The Cut, Lake Erie Folklore, and Hotel Horror TIH 628: Daddy’s Boy by Michael David Wilson, Chapter One, Narrated by Josh Curran Listen here. TIH 627: Dean Koontz on Going Home in the Dark, Breaking The Fourth Wall, and Theodore Sturgeon Listen here. TIH 626: Ross Jeffery on How to Write and Plan a Novel, Being Made Homeless, and Marketing TIH 625: Ross Jeffery on Early Life Lessons, Becoming a Writer, and Writing a New Book Every Three Months TIH 624: Paul Goblirsch on Thunderstorm Books and Limited Hardcover Books Listen here. P.S. If you like this newsletter and want to support my work and This Is Horror, please become a This Is Horror Podcast patron. It would make me happy but only do it if it will make you happy, too. P.P.S. If you’re ready to take your writing to the next level with some professional editing or a writing consultation, you can find out about my rates here and reply to this email. P.P.P.S. There are a limited amount of This Is Horror Podcast advertising slots available for September and October. Please reply to query. Look Out For … Body of Water by Adam Godfrey“With his debut novel, Godfrey presents a grieving father and daughter trapped in a roadside diner among panicked townspeople and a blood-thirsty body of water determined to swallow everyone in its path.” Six years ago, Glen Masters’ wife died in a tragic accident. Hoping to reconnect with his teenage daughter Lauren, Glen takes her on …
TIH 629: C. J. Dotson on The Cut, Lake Erie Folklore, and Hotel HorrorIn this podcast, C. J. Dotson talks about The Cut, Lake Erie folklore, hotel horror, and much more. About C. J. Dotson C. J. Dotson is a Northeast Ohio native who now lives with her family upstate New York. She studied English with a creative writing focus at Cleveland State University and now daydreams about …
5 Must Read Horror Articles 25 August 2025Welcome to Must Read Horror, where we search the internet for the best horror articles of the week so you don’t have to. Without further ado: Lit Hub feature an excerpt from Ashley Cullins’ book on the Scream series Your Favorite Scary Movie The Lineup recommend six forthcoming horror fiction releases which will make you keep …
TIH 628: Daddy’s Boy by Michael David Wilson, Chapter One, Narrated by Josh CurranIn this podcast, we present chapter one of Daddy’s Boy by Michael David Wilson, narrated by Josh Curran. About Michael David Wilson Michael David Wilson is the founder of the popular UK horror website, podcast, and publisher, This Is Horror. He is the author of The Girl in the Video, They’re Watching (with Bob Pastorella), House of Bad Memories, and Daddy’s …
News Round-up Week Ending 22 August 2025Here’s a small selection of the horror and genre news that caught our eye during the last week … Available now from author Samuel Brower and Gypsy Head Publications, Holler Greg Gallogly swore he’d never go back. Leaving Kentucky meant leaving behind the dead-end roads, the violence, and the ghosts of his past. But when his …
Look Out For … If You Knew Me by S.P. Miskowski“With her latest, Miskowski dives into psychological horror with a desperate journalist hunting down a lead that might get her killed … if it doesn’t drive her to madness first.” Parker Dillon can’t seem to catch a break. Just as her journalism career is taking off, her aunt sells the website where she works. To …
5 Must Read Horror Articles 18 August 2025Welcome to Must Read Horror, where we search the internet for the best horror articles of the week so you don’t have to. Without further ado: The Horror Tree provide ethnographic horror inspiration via Turkmenistan’s The Door to Hell Bloody Disgusting pick out seven forthcoming horror novel TV and film adaptations to get excited about …
TIH 627: Dean Koontz on Going Home in the Dark, Breaking The Fourth Wall, and Theodore SturgeonIn this podcast, Dean Koontz talks about his new book, Going Home in the Dark, breaking the fourth wall, Theodore Sturgeon, and much more. About Dean Koontz Acknowledged as “America’s most popular suspense novelist” (Rolling Stone) and as one of today’s most celebrated and successful writers, Dean Ray Koontz has earned the devotion of millions …
News Round-up Week Ending 15 August 2025Here’s a small selection of the horror and genre news that caught our eye during the last week … Out now from author Hester Steel and Page Street Horror, The Faceless Thing We Adore Lemon, poppy seed, sun-warmed sand. These visions convince Aoife to quit her job, leave her manipulative boyfriend, and escape to the isolated …
Look Out For … Let Not Your Sorrow Die by Bracken MacLeod“With his latest, MacLeod plumbs the depths of depravity with tales driven by raw brutality and nightmarish horror.” An elderly woman’s last encounter with a lost loved one is held in an antique collection’s grim acquisition. After a child confesses to a horrifying secret, a priest begins to lose faith in humanity. A biker enforcer …
5 Must Read Horror Articles 11 August 2025Welcome to Must Read Horror, where we search the internet for the best horror articles of the week so you don’t have to. Without further ado: The Ginger Nuts of Horror find out why Yadav B V doesn’t watch horror movies Horror DNA provide a list of horror movies to keep you cool during the …
News Round-up Week Ending 8 August 2025Here’s a small selection of the horror and genre news that caught our eye during the last week … New from author John Langan and Word Horde, Lost in the Dark and Other Excursions A garishly painted figurine contains a terrible curse; the ten-year anniversary of a sensational horror film shot in an abandoned mine reveals …
Look Out For … The Unseen by Ania Ahlborn“With Ahlborn’s latest, reality becomes unstable when a strange orphaned child nightmarishly upends a family home.” Still reeling from a terrible loss, Isla Hansen finds a mysterious child on the outskirts of her secluded property. While strange and very puzzling, the child actually breathes a newfound life into Isla. As the child settles in her …
TIH 626: Ross Jeffery on How to Write and Plan a Novel, Being Made Homeless, and Marketing In this podcast, Ross Jeffery talks about how to write and plan a novel, being made homeless, marketing, and much more. About Ross Jeffery Ross Jeffery is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated and 3x Splatterpunk Award-nominated author of Metamorphosis, The Devil’s Pocketbook, I Died Too, But They Haven’t Buried Me Yet, Tome, Juniper, Scorched, Only …
5 Must Read Horror Articles 4 August 2025Welcome to Must Read Horror, where we search the internet for the best horror articles of the week so you don’t have to. Without further ado: The Lineup recommend eight religious horror movies to restore your faith in the sub-genre Bloody Disgusting look back at the never released NES game of Hellraiser Book Riot list some …
News Round-up Week Ending 1 August 2025Here’s a small selection of the horror and genre news that caught our eye during the last week … Up now on Kickstarter, Ghostland, the board game from Crystal Lake Publishing and Red-23 The gates to Ghostland are about to open in your home! The ghosts and gore are jumping from the page to your tabletop in …
Look Out For … A Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper“With her latest, Piper twists a cosmic horror classic into the modern age with a tale of kinky obsession and madness.” Carmen and Blanca are always on the lookout for a new kink, but lately nothing has been able to get them out of the rut they’re in. When Blanca finds the enigmatic Smoke down …
TIH 625: Ross Jeffery on Early Life Lessons, Becoming a Writer, and Writing a New Book Every Three MonthsIn this podcast, Ross Jeffery talks about early life lessons, becoming a writer, writing a new book every three months, and much more. About Ross Jeffery Ross Jeffery is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated and 3x Splatterpunk Award-nominated author of Metamorphosis, The Devil’s Pocketbook, I Died Too, But They Haven’t Buried Me Yet, Tome, Juniper, Scorched, …
5 Must Read Horror Articles 28 July 2025Welcome to Must Read Horror, where we search the internet for the best horror articles of the week so you don’t have to. Without further ado: Lit Hub recommend seven books with differing incarnations of the mythological character of the siren The Ginger Nuts of Horror present the horror of writer River Eno’s life The …
News Round-up Week Ending 25 July 2025Here’s a small selection of the horror and genre news that caught our eye during the last week … Out now from author S J Townend and Sley House Publishing, Your Final Sunset This newest collection of short horror stories, Your Final Sunset, from SJ Townend, is a petrifying deep-dive into the obscurity which lurks beneath everyday …
Look Out For … The Faceless Thing We Adore by Hester Steel“Early word on the street says Steel’s queer, cosmic debut novel is one you don’t want to miss.” Aoife quits her job, ditches her abusive boyfriend, and heads out to the sun-warmed sands of the Farmstead commune. Among the fascinating and hedonistic residents, Aoife some how finds everything she’s been missing, and now among people …
5 Must Read Horror Articles 21 July 2025Welcome to Must Read Horror, where we search the internet for the best horror articles of the week so you don’t have to. Without further ado: NightTide Magazine find Latinx filmmakers creating horrors tackling the legacy of colonialism at LALLIF The Lineup select seven spine tingling horror collections for your reading pleasure Nightmare Magazine attempt …
News Round-up Week Ending 18 July 2025Here’s a small selection of the horror and genre news that caught our eye during the last week … Out now from author S. H. Cooper and Raw Dog Screaming Press, Bottling His Ghosts After a tragic accident leaves her widowed, Netta flees home to Daunderhead hoping for the space to process her grief. Instead, she …
TIH 624: Paul Goblirsch on Thunderstorm Books and Limited Hardcover BooksIn this podcast, Paul Goblirsch talks about Thunderstorm Books, limited hardcover books, and much more. About Paul Goblirsch Paul Goblirsch established Thunderstorm Books in 2008. Specializing in collectible signed limited edition hardcover books, our goal is to showcase authors’ works in beautiful limited editions. From both new, up-and-coming authors to veterans of the genre, we …
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This Is Horror
This Is Horror is a podcast that interviews creatives and writers weekly including Chuck Palahniuk, Dean Koontz, Josh Malerman, Jennifer Lynch, Tananarive Due, Charlaine Harris, and Joe R. Lansdale. Michael David Wilson is the author of books such as The Girl in the Video and House of Bad Memories and the host of This Is Horror Podcast. Every week we bring you horror fiction news and writing tips.
Hello, friends. It’s been just under a month since we last spoke, and in that time, I have finished the first draft of my collaborative novel, tentatively titled Inemuri with John Crinan. Folks, this one is an absolute whopper, weighing in at over 167,000 words. Given my last two books were under 80,000 words and the two before that considerably less, this is new and uncharted territory for me. I spoke to Josh Malerman last week about his excellent creative nonfiction book, WATCHING EVIL...
Hello, friends. It has been a while since the last This Is Horror newsletter and there have been a number of podcasts, Patreon posts, and YouTube videos since then. Highlights include but are not limited to: Jon Bassoff Talking About The Memory Ward TIH 620: Jon Bassoff on The Memory Ward, The Drive-Thru Crematorium, and Becoming a Writer (Audio) Jon Bassoff on The Memory Ward and The Drive-Thru Crematorium (Video) Josh Curran Talking About Narrating Daddy's Boy TIH 621: Josh Curran on...
I often like to take stock of what I’m doing with my life and career to make sure I’m utilising my time effectively and achieving what I want with my life. As a number of you know, there are four big areas of focus right now: This Is Horror Podcast Writing Fiction Studying Japanese Teaching/My Day Job At different times in my life, different areas have taken centre stage. There’s a fire in me right now that desperately wants to take This Is Horror Podcast to the next level. The dream would be...