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The Dark WordDark Word #024: Ramsey CampbellSeason Two of The Dark Word takes the ferry cross the Mersey to conclude in style.Ramsey Campbell was born in Liverpool in 1946 and still lives Merseyside. The Oxford Companion to English Literature describes him as “Britain’s most respected living horror writer”. He has been given more awards than any other writer in the field, including the Grand Master Award of the World Horror Convention, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Horror Writers Association, the Living Legend Award of the International Horror Guild and the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement Award.In 2015 he was made an Hon...2023-03-0648 minThe Dark WordDark Word #023: Polymath Josh RubenJosh Ruben is an award-winning actor, writer, and director whose feature film SCARE ME—which he wrote, directed and starred in alongside Aya Cash and Chris Redd—debuted at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. For television, Josh directed sketches for "The Late Late Show" with James Corden and episodes of TruTV's "Adam Ruins Everything." As one of the founding members of CollegeHumor's "Originals" department, Ruben has directed and/or starred in thousands of comedic shorts, amassing views well into the billions.He directed and cameos in all 10 episodes of Funny or Die & Spotify's narrative podcast, THE LAST DEGREE OF K...2023-02-2753 minThe Dark WordDark Word #022: Catriona WardCatriona Ward was born in Washington, DC and grew up in the United States, Kenya, Madagascar, Yemen, and Morocco. Her fourth novel, the gothic thriller Sundial was Observer Thriller of the Month and a USA Today, CNN and Apple Books selection for best new fiction. Stephen King called it ‘Authentically terrifying.’Ward’s third breakout novel The Last House on Needless Street won the August Derleth Prize, and Esquire magazine listed it as one of the 25 best horror novels of all time.Ward’s second novel Little Eve won the 2019 Shirley Jackson Award and the August D...2023-01-2749 minThe Dark WordDark Word #021: Brian KeeneWhat's changed? Everything. Brian Keene says the thing that’s changed the most in the years since he sold his first story in 1997 is the rise of the indie press. “The Big Five weren’t publishing horror novels in the mid 90s so you saw the indie press grow and blossom.”And now, maintains the wildly successful author of over fifty books, the gap between the Big Five and indie presses hasn't just narrowed, it's disappeared.Keene writes novels, comic books, short stories, and nonfiction, mostly in the horror, crime, and fantasy genres. They have been tra...2022-12-2049 minThe Dark WordDark Word #020: Chuck WendigChuck Wendig is the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers, The Book of Accidents, Star Wars: Aftermath (plus tons of other Star Wars stuff), and more than two dozen other books for adults and young adults. A finalist for the Astounding Award and an alum of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, he has also written comics and games, and for film and television. He’s known for his popular blog about writing, terribleminds, and books about writing such as Damn Fine Story.Here he talks the nuts and bolts of writing, including whether it’s smart -- or a...2022-12-0644 minThe Dark WordDark Word #019: Sadie Hartmann, Sadie HartmannAs the operator of her own small press, Dark Hart Books, Sadie Hartmann has developed deep expertise in the marketing of this genre. Here she chats with Philip Fracassi about building a "bookstagram" presence (her Mother Horror persona boasts over 21,000 followers), where Stephen King is an active follower, and also talks our agorophobic host through the phenomenon of BookTok.Hartmann also operates the Nightworms book club, which curates packages of horror related books and merch. She reviews horror for SCREAM magazine and Cemetery Dance Online and is a voting member of the Horror Writers Association. And yeah ... "...2022-11-1542 minThe Dark WordDark Word #019: Sadie HartmannHartmann also operates the Nightworms book club, which curates packages of horror related books and merch. She reviews horror for SCREAM magazine and Cemetery Dance Online and is a voting member of the Horror Writers Association. And yeah ... "whatever happened to old-school professionalism?" An insightful, practical guide to earning attention for your craft.2022-11-1442 minThe Dark WordDark Word #018: Jeremy Robert JohnsonIt's different with friends. Listen in as Jeremy Robert Johnson reveals to his host Philip Fracassi—his good friend—how it's done for anyone who aspires to write horror stories that thrill and chill.Book and Film Globe counted Johnson's novel The Loop as one of The Most Anticipated Horror Novels of 2020, describing it as "Alien meets World War Z" for its plot in which a "group of teenagers tries to survive the night after a biotech experiment goes haywire." Johnson's breakthrough novel was Skullcrack City'; other books include Entropy in Bloom. Johnson lives in Portland, Oregon. Reac...2022-11-0346 minThe Dark WordDark Word #017: Thomas Olde HeuveltIn the grandest tradition of "very special episodes," this week's edition of The Dark Word features an in-person interview before a live audience at The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles. Philip Fracassi speaks to Dutch phenom Thomas Olde Heuvelt, an international bestselling author who broke through with the novel HEX. Since then, Heuvelt's work has been sold in more than 25 countries. The critically acclaimed Echo was recently published in the US and rights for Orakel have also been sold worldwide. In 2015, he was the first Dutch author to win a Hugo Award.And not for nothing ... Philip...2022-10-2644 min
The Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #16: Eric LaRoccaEric LaRocca (he/they) is the author of several works of horror and dark fiction, including the viral sensation Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and the intriguingly titled You’ve Lost a Lot of Blood. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and currently resides in Boston with his partner. For more information, please follow @hystericteeth on Twitter/Instagram or visit ericlarocca.com.2022-10-1841 min
The Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #15: RACHEL HARRISONRachel Harrison is the author of SUCH SHARP TEETH, described as a “darkly comedic love story is a brilliantly layered portrait of trauma, rage, and vulnerability,” CACKLE and THE RETURN, which was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. Her short fiction has appeared in Guernica, Electric Literature’s Recommended Reading, as an Audible Original, and in her debut story collection BAD DOLLS. She lives in Western New York with her husband and their cat/overlord.2022-10-1141 minThe Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #14: Brian EvensonBrian Evenson is the author more than a dozen books of fiction, most recently the story collection The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell. His collection Song for the Unraveling of the World (2019) won the Shirley Jackson Award and the World Fantasy Award and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times’ Ray Bradbury Prize. His novel Last Days won the American Library Association’s RUSA award for Best Horror Novel of 2009. His novel The Open Curtain was a finalist for an Edgar Award and an International Horror Guild Award. His 2003 collection The Wavering Knife won the International Horror Guild Awar...2022-09-2840 min
The Dark WordThe Dark Word Returns! #13: Josh Malerman Josh Malerman is a New York Times bestselling author and one of two singer-songwriters for the rock band The High Strung. His debut novel, Bird Box, is the inspiration for the hit Netflix film of the same name. His other novels include Unbury Carol, Inspection, A House at the Bottom of a Lake, and Malorie, the sequel to Bird Box.Malerman’s new book, Daphne, comes out today, Sept. 20, 2022, and you can buy that book (and all books!) at the Book House, which is Book and Film Globe’s bookstore. Shop online or confound the authorities by actually visiting our...2022-09-2038 min
The Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #12: Victor LaValleFor the final episode of Season One of THE DARK WORD, Victor LaValle joins Philip Fracassi to discuss early story sales (and rejections), writing in bursts, tips on a great agent query letter, and much more. A season one finale you won’t want to miss.Victor is the author of the short story collection Slapboxing with Jesus, four novels, The Ecstatic, Big Machine, The Devil in Silver, and The Changeling and two novellas, Lucretia and the Kroons and The Ballad of Black Tom. He is also the creator and writer of two comic books Victor LaValle's DE...2022-07-0539 minThe Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #11: Joe LansdaleLegendary writer and winner of ten Bram Stoker Awards discusses his 50-year career.The legendary Joe R. Lansdale joined THE DARK WORD to talk about his 50-year career as a writer, sharing advice on writing, including working with the time you have, his editing process, and how he’s had success writing for himself.Joe has written novels and stories in many genres, including Western, horror, science fiction, mystery, and suspense. He has also written for comics as well as “Batman: The Animated Series.” As of 2020, he has written 50 novels and published more than 30 short-story collec...2022-06-2837 minThe Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #10: Ronald MalfiBestselling author Ronald Malfi joins Philip to discuss two decades in publishing.We hit double digits! For our 10th episode, bestselling author Ronald Malfi joins The Dark Word to discuss his twenty years of publishing experience, working with agents, and offer a behind-the-scenes look at how books are adapted for film and television.Ronald is the award-winning author of several horror novels, including the bestselling Come With Me, published by Titan Books in 2021. He earned two Independent Publisher Book Awards, the Beverly Hills Book Award, the Vincent Preis Horror Award, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and...2022-06-1537 min
The Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #09: Stephen Graham JonesAuthor of nearly 30 novels stops by to talk writing with Philip FracassiThis week, we were delighted to have bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones visit The Dark Word to discuss his early publishing career, the importance of reading, his unique approach to writing fiction, and some real-world advice on writing mechanics.Stephen is the New York Times bestselling author of nearly thirty novels and collections, and there’s some novellas and comic books in there as well. Most recent are The Only Good Indians and My Heart is a Chainsaw. Up next is Don’t Fear...2022-05-2638 minThe Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #08: Christopher GoldenBram Stoker Award-winning author chats with Philip Fracassi about Road of Bones, Ararat and other works.You won’t want to miss our Dark Word interview with Christopher Golden, in which we discuss his vast publishing experience, editing anthologies, writing for comics and his take on the most important book every writer must have.Golden is the New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of such novels as Road of Bones, Ararat, Snowblind, and Red Hands.With Mike Mignola, he is the co-creator of the Outerverse comic book universe, including such series as...2022-05-2039 min
The Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #07: Ellen DatlowLegendary editor hits Philip Fracassi with tips for aspiring horror writersWe had a great conversation with legendary editor Ellen Datlow in which we discuss anthologies, tips for new writers when submitting a story, the nuts and bolts of creating a killer table of contents, and much more.Ellen Datlow has been editing science fiction, fantasy, and horror short fiction for over thirty-five years as fiction editor of OMNI Magazine and editor of Event Horizon and SCIFICTION. She currently acquires short fiction for Tor.com. In addition, she has edited more than a hundred science...2022-05-1237 minThe Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #06: Alma KatsuAlaskan horror writer speaks to Philip Fracassi about her The Fervor.Alma Katsu joined us on The Dark Word today to share her publishing experiences, offer great advice on researching historical fiction, and ways to build suspense in your stories.Alma is the award-winning author of seven novels. Her latest is The Fervor, a reimagining of the Japanese internment that Booklist called “a stunning triumph” (starred) and Library Journal called “a must read for all, not just genre fans” (starred). Red Widow, her first espionage novel, is a nominee for the Thriller Writers Award for best nov...2022-05-0441 min
The Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #05: Paul TremblayHead Full of Ghosts author raps with Philip Fracassi about his writing career.It was great to speak with Paul Tremblay about his early writing career, early publishing disappointments, and his experiences working with big 5 publishers.Paul has won the Bram Stoker, British Fantasy, and Massachusetts Book awards and is the author of Survivor Song, The Cabin at the End of the World, Disappearance at Devil’s Rock, A Head Full of Ghosts, the crime novels The Little Sleep and No Sleep Till Wonderland, and the short story collection, Growing Things and Other Stories....2022-04-2741 minThe Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #04: S.A. CosbyAuthor of New York Times bestseller Razorblade Tears Speaks with Philip Fracassi.Batting clean-up for The Dark Word is episode #4 and it’s a great one. Bestselling writer S.A. Cosby talks to Philip Fracassi about writing a great thriller, the importance of beta readers, agents and luck, books on writing, and much more.Cosby is an Anthony Award-winning writer from Southeastern Virginia. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller RAZORBLADE TEARS and BLACKTOP WASTELAND, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, was a New York Times Notable Book, and was na...2022-04-2041 min
The Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #03: Lisa MortonFor Halloween Half-life, Host Philip Fracassi dishes with Award-Winning Author.Ready for your third session of chills? In episode 3, Lisa Morton joins The Dark Word to discuss non-fiction writing, screenwriting, editing for anthologies and much more.Lisa Morton is a screenwriter, author of non-fiction books, and a fiction writer. She is a six-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, the author of four novels and over 150 short stories, and a world-class expert on Halloween and the paranormal.Her recent releases include Night Terrors & Other Tales, Weird Women 2, and Calling the Spirits: A History...2022-04-1333 minThe Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #02: Tim WaggonerHost Philip Fracassi gets prolix with prolific author of Bram Stoker-award winning Writing in the DarkTim Waggoner has published over fifty novels and seven collections of short stories. He’s written tie-in fiction based on titles such as Supernatural, Grimm, The X-Files, Alien, Doctor Who, and others. He’s also written novelizations for films such as Halloween Kills, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, and Kingsman: The Golden Circle.His articles on writing have appeared in Writer’s Digest, The Writer, and The Writer’s Chronicle. He’s the author of the acclaimed horror-writing guide Writing in...2022-04-0634 minThe Dark WordThe Dark Word Podcast #01: Laird BarronHello and welcome to the Dark Word. This is Season 1, Episode 1 and I’m your host Philip Fracassi.The Dark Word is a podcast about writing, writers, and those who read those writers. The goal of this podcast is to focus on the profession of writing—the creative process, the business side of things, or simply offering advice on how to be a professional writer. We’ll be hearing from some of the best in the business.This week features my interview with Laird Barron. True to our name, the Dark Word focuses on writers who te...2022-03-3132 min
Reading the Globe: A weekly digest of the most important news, ideas and culture around the world.The D.B. Cooper Mystery at 50On November 24, 1971, the day before Thanksgiving, a man walks into the terminal at Portland International Airport. Giving his name as Dan Cooper, he pays with cash for a seat on a Northwest Orient Airlines Boeing 727 jet scheduled to make the quick flight from Portland up to Seattle.Thus begins one of the strangest and most fascinating crimes in American history, a crime that remains unsolved til this day.In this special edition of Reading the Globe, AudioHopper presents “The D.B. Cooper Mystery at 50.”Michael Washburn takes us deep into a true crime thriller in whic...2021-11-2228 minReading the Globe: A weekly digest of the most important news, ideas and culture around the world.Reading the Globe #002: Robinhood’s bad week, Woke Corporate America, Nauru poses PC dilemma, Quebec nationalistsWelcome to the second episode of Reading the Globe, a new original weekly podcast produced by AudioHopper. Host Michael Washburn summarizes, synthesizes and criticizes the week’s most important and fascinating stories. This week, Reading the Globe considers:CNN’s story by Matt Egan noting how Robinhood got hit with the largest fine ever levied by the Financial Industrial Regulatory Authority. FINRA accused the trading platform — which feels like a video game and thus has attracted and probably addicted tons of young people who don’t know what the hell they’re doing — of harming millions of customers. “...2021-07-0113 minReading the Globe: A weekly digest of the most important news, ideas and culture around the world.Reading the Globe #001: Hong Kong Crackdown, Spielberg on Netflix, Eric Adams on the verge in NYCIntroducing Reading the Globe, a new original weekly podcast produced by AudioHopper. Every Thursday, host Michael Washburn summarizes, synthesizes and criticizes the week’s most important and fascinating stories. This week, Reading the Globe considers:The crackdown on press freedom in Hong Kong. As reported in the Economist’s new issue of June 19, 2021, the so-called national security law that China forced on Hong Kong a year ago has led to one of the most aggressive crackdowns on press freedom in living memory. Police have arrested Ryan Law, editor of the Apple Daily newspaper, and conducted a massive raid...2021-06-2512 min