Cursed Morsels

Discussions, interviews, and comedy sketches about horror short stories - those delicious "cursed morsels."

Tim McGregor, Author of Lure 08/01/2022

Tim McGregor, Author of Lure Tim and I talk about the resurgent interest in terrifying mermaids, the appeal of coming of age stories, and his new novella Lure, out now through Tenebrous Press. This episode is spoiler-free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/23906799

Joe Koch, Author of Convulsive 06/01/2022

Joe Koch, Author of Convulsive Joe and I talk about the influence of religion on his work, surrealist approaches to creativity, and bodily autonomy. In the second half of the episode, we have a spoiler-filled discussion of his story "The Object of Your Desire Comes Closer" from Convulsive. I provide a warning in advance, and the rest of the episode is spoiler free. Buy Convulsive: /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/23280653

Slash-Her panel 05/18/2022

Slash-Her panel Janine Pipe, R.J. Joseph, Christine Morgan, Kenzie Jennings, and I talk about what we'd like to see more of in the slasher genre, the importance of slasher stories by and about women, and the inspirations behind the stories in Slash-Her. This episode is largely spoiler-free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/23145275

Paula D. Ashe, Author of We Are Here to Hurt Each Other 05/11/2022

Paula D. Ashe, Author of We Are Here to Hurt Each Other Paula and I talk about fiction that wounds, cosmic horror, and the connection between cults and capitalism. This episode is spoiler free. Buy Paula's collection: /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/23070590

Jamie Stewart, Author of I Hear the Clattering of the Keys (And Other Fever Dreams) 04/25/2022

Jamie Stewart, Author of I Hear the Clattering of the Keys (And Other Fever Dreams) Jamie and I talk about religious horror, nonlinear storytelling, and the process of indie book promotion. We also have a spoiler-free discussion of his collection I Hear the Clattering of the Keys (and Other Fever Dreams). /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/22891787

A.C. Wise, Author of The Ghost Sequences 04/18/2022

A.C. Wise, Author of The Ghost Sequences A.C. Wise, Corey Farrenkopf and I talk about metafiction, fragmentary storytelling, and the spectrum between "cozy horror" and bleak horror. We also discuss A.C.'s newest collection The Ghost Sequences. This episode is spoiler free. Buy The Ghost Sequences: /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/22815584

The Dead Inside 03/17/2022

The Dead Inside Laurel Hightower, Sandra Ruttan, Ali Seay, R.J. Joseph, Daniel Barnett, Patrick Tumblety, Marcus Woodman, and I talk about identity horror and The Dead Inside. This episode is spoiler-free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/22453475

The Book of Queer Saints 03/14/2022

The Book of Queer Saints Hailey Piper, Joe Koch, Mae Murray, Sam Richard, and I talk about our favorite messy queer characters, ways to reduce the puritan policing of queer art, and the inspirations behind our stories for The Book of Queer Saints. This episode is spoiler free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/22423199

Jonathan Louis Duckworth 03/07/2022

Jonathan Louis Duckworth Jonathan and I talk about speculative poetry, crafting authentic historical fiction, and found footage horror. This episode is spoiler free. Find Jonathan on Twitter @Joduckwo /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/22348295

Rebecca J. Allred and Gordon B. White 02/16/2022

Rebecca J. Allred and Gordon B. White I talk with Rebecca and Gordon about the appeal of cults, the joys of collaborative writing, and their new novella And in Her Smile, the World. This episode is spoiler free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/22145972

Laird Barron 02/08/2022

Laird Barron Corey Farrenkopf and I talk with Laird Barron about the planned trajectory of his writing career, the influence of mythology on his stories, and the different literary universes he's built over the past 20+ years. In the second half of the episode, we have a spoiler-filled discussion about "Tiptoe," his story in Ellen Datlow's When Things Get Dark Shirley Jackson tribute anthology. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/22033715

Kurt Fawver, Author of We Are Happy, We Are Doomed 01/27/2022

Kurt Fawver, Author of We Are Happy, We Are Doomed Kurt and I discuss cults, experimental storytelling, and balancing the grim with the playful. This episode is spoiler free. Purchase Kurt's new collection We Are Happy, We Are Doomed here: /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/21927326

Eco-Horror Panel (Field Notes from a Nightmare) 01/17/2022

Eco-Horror Panel (Field Notes from a Nightmare) I speak with Alex Ebenstein, Alex Woodroe, Sara Tantlinger, Nikki R. Leigh, and Alexis DuBon about their reasons for reading and writing eco-horror, their most beautiful and terrifying experiences out in nature, and the inspirations behind their stories in Field Notes from a Nightmare: An Anthology of Ecological Horror. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/21793817

Madeleine Swann, Author of The Sharp End of the Rainbow 01/11/2022

Madeleine Swann, Author of The Sharp End of the Rainbow Madeleine Swann returns to talk about absurdist fiction, the role dreams play in her artistic process, and the notion of "passing for normal." /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/21736091

Elford Alley, Author of We Will Find a Place for You 10/26/2021

Elford Alley, Author of We Will Find a Place for You Elford and I talk about his family ghost stories, his definitive ranking of the best cryptids, and his true crime story "I Will Not Be Forgotten." Note that there are spoilers for this story in the second half of the episode, but I give a warning in advance. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20937389

John Baltisberger, Author of Abhorrent Siren 10/19/2021

John Baltisberger, Author of Abhorrent Siren John and I talk about the boundary-pushing nature of extreme horror and splatterpunk, the influence of Judaism on John's work, and the power of metaphor in kaiju stories. The episode is largely spoiler free, though we touch on a couple small plot points from John's novella Abhorrent Siren. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20865929

Eric LaRocca, Author of The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales 10/11/2021

Eric LaRocca, Author of The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales Eric and I talk about writing mentally ill characters with dignity and complexity, adapting Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke to film, and leaning in to uncomfortable stories. In the second half, we have a spoiler-filled discussion about their story "Please Leave or I'm Going to Hurt You" from The Strange Thing We Become and Other Dark Tales. I provide a warning in advance and the rest of the episode is spoiler free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20762684

L.C. von Hessen, Author of Spiritus Ex Machina 09/28/2021

L.C. von Hessen, Author of Spiritus Ex Machina L.C. and I talk about morbid medical history, extreme music, and Lovecraftian fiction. In the second half, we have a spoiler-filled discussion of their story "The Medium and The Message." I provide a warning in advance. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20622323

Farah Rose Smith, Author of Of One Pure Will 09/21/2021

Farah Rose Smith, Author of Of One Pure Will Farah and I talk about representations of disability in horror, experimental writing techniques, and the influence of decadent literature on her work. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20541650

Max Booth, Author of We Need to Do Something 09/13/2021

Max Booth, Author of We Need to Do Something Max and I talk about his experience running a small press, his real-life encounters with uniquely Texan horrors, and his process for adapting the novella We Need to Do Something for film. Note that the second half of the episode has spoilers for both the film and novella, but I provide a warning in advance. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20444690

Eric Raglin, Author of Nightmare Yearnings 09/04/2021

Eric Raglin, Author of Nightmare Yearnings Tyler Jones, author of Criterium and The Dark Side of the Room, has claimed the Cursed Morsels throne to interview me, Eric Raglin (normally host, now guest), about my new weird horror collection Nightmare Yearnings. We discuss Nebraskan horror, what it's like to work in education, and how to use prose to transport readers to new settings. This episode is entirely spoiler free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20367392

J.A.W. McCarthy, Author of Sometimes We're Cruel and Other Stories 08/30/2021

J.A.W. McCarthy, Author of Sometimes We're Cruel and Other Stories Jen and I talk about body horror, doppelgangers, and the psychology of stalking. In the second half of the episode, we have a spoiler-filled conversation about her story "You Do What You're Told" from her debut collection Sometimes We're Cruel and Other Stories. I give a spoiler warning in advance, and you can read this story here: https://apparitionlit.com/you-do-what-youre-told/ /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20295305

Brennan LaFaro, Author of Slattery Falls 08/23/2021

Brennan LaFaro, Author of Slattery Falls Brennan and I talk about urban legends, the spookiness of New England, and writing neurodivergent characters. In the second half of the episode, we have a spoiler-filled conversation about his debut novella Slattery Falls. I provide a warning in advance. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20219729

Brian Evenson, Author of The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell 08/09/2021

Brian Evenson, Author of The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell Brian Evenson, Corey Farrenkopf, and I talk about climate horror, nightmare architecture, and blending genres to allow for multiple modes of interpretation. We also have a spoiler-filled discussion of his short story "Justle" from his new collection The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell in the second half of the episode. I provide a warning in advance. You can read the story for free here: https://alienocene.com/2019/06/19/justle/ /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/20068853

Paul Tremblay, Author of Survivor Song 07/30/2021

Paul Tremblay, Author of Survivor Song Paul and I talk about engaging in metafiction, keeping ambiguity fresh in storytelling, and approaching the paranormal with both openness and skepticism. In the second half of the episode, we have a spoiler-filled discussion of his story "Ice Cold Lemonade 25¢ Haunted House Tour: 1 Per Person." I provide a warning in advance, and the rest of the episode is spoiler free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/19980734

Eve Harms, Author of Transmuted 07/19/2021

Eve Harms, Author of Transmuted Eve and I talk about the limits of what science can teach us, do a competitive bracket to determine the best body horror movie of all time, and discuss the complexity and joy of gender identity exploration. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/19858766

Mike Thorn, Author of Darkest Hours 07/06/2021

Mike Thorn, Author of Darkest Hours Mike and I talk about the horrors of academia, formative metalhead experiences, and addiction in horror fiction. In the second half of the episode, we have a spoiler-filled discussion of "A New Kind of Drug" from his collection Darkest Hours. I provide a warning in advance, and the rest of the episode is spoiler-free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/19719875

Red Lagoe, Author of Dismal Dreams 06/28/2021

Red Lagoe, Author of Dismal Dreams Red and I talk about UFOs, feminist horror, the best and worst of '80s horror, and her new collection Dismal Dreams. Note that the second half of the episode has a spoiler-filled discussion of the story "Burden's Beast" from this collection. It also contains discussion of violence against women. I give a heads up in advance. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/19619369

Kyle Winkler, Author of The Nothing That Is 06/21/2021

Kyle Winkler, Author of The Nothing That Is Kyle and I talk about finding horror in unexpected places (e.g., different genres, classic literature), crafting a sense of inescapable confusion in fiction, and working alongside sinister people in the food service industry. In the second half of the episode, we have a spoiler-filled discussion of Kyle's novella The Nothing That Is. I provide a warning in advance, and the first half of the episode is spoiler free. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/19544828

Michael Cisco, Author of Antisocieties 06/14/2021

Michael Cisco, Author of Antisocieties Michael and I talk about reading Weird fiction with productive confusion, the theme of isolation in his work, and writing dreamlike fiction. We also have a spoiler-filled discussion of his story "Oneiropaths" from his new collection Antisocieties. The first half of the episode is spoiler free, and I give a warning once the spoilers begin. /episode/index/show/cursedmorsels/id/19455797

Cursed Morsels

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