Taming Monsters with Dirty Rotten Bill

Taming Monsters with Dirty Rotten Bill

by William J. Donahue

Season 2

Vaughn A. Jackson Raids Again

Vaughn A. Jackson styles himself as a writer of novels about kaiju, creatures, and cosmic horror, yet his stories defy easy categorization. His most recent novel, Southern Cross, introduces characters from the Civil War era, some of whom are from the ranks of the undead. In this episode, Vaughn opens up about his fear of jellyfish, how his love of fantasy evolved into a love of horror, and the enduring inspiration of the one and only Godzilla.

Nicole M. Wolverton and the Philosophy of Horror

Take a seat at the table with Nicole M. Wolverton, horror scholar and author of the YA horror novel A Misfortune of Lake Monsters and the forthcoming Meat Sweats (2027). Nicole talks about why horror consumers tend to be better prepared to face the terrors of real life, how her childhood “doomed” her to a life as a writer of dark fiction, and the inspiration behind her novel about a character who becomes, in her words, “an accidental cannibal.”

Novelist Michael Pogach: Grief, Vengeance, and Vikings

In his forthcoming historical fantasy novel Valhalla Burning, Michael Pogach explores the lives, landscapes, and lore of Northmen in 9th century Scandinavia. We discuss his talent for writing about vengeance and brutality, his interest in mythology, and why his fiction tends to focus on unhappy people. He also shares the pluses and minuses of life as a college professor, including the role of generative AI.

The Ballad of Thomas G. Waites

Thomas G. Waites has cultivated a long and varied acting career on both stage and screen, probably best known for his roles in some of Hollywood’s best-known films, including The Thing, The Warriors, and The Clan of the Cave Bear. He has since honed his talents as a screenwriter, a director, and an acting instructor, as well as a musician; he’s the front man for the band Heartbreak Waites, which released its debut album earlier this year. In this episode, Waites discusses the things he learned from John Carpenter, his struggles and successes, and what he considers “the most powerful force in the world.”

Season 1

Candace Nola: Uncomfortably Dark, Unceasingly Kind

“If you want something done, give it to a busy person.” The saying certainly applies to Candace Nola, an award-winning horror writer, editor, and publisher, among other designations. She’s also exceptionally goodhearted, as proven by the time and energy she devotes to building community and otherwise helping her writerly peers through her platform, Uncomfortably Dark Horror. She leaves few stones unturned in this wide-ranging conversation, including the thread that connects all her stories, the pain and power of grief, and how she finds balance amid the chaos of daily life.

The Many Lives of Daemon Manx

Horror author, publisher, musician, influencer, someone who eagerly shares his personal story about his years-long saga of addiction, recovery, and reinvention—the man known as Daemon Manx wears a lot of hats. In this episode, Manx discusses the incident that upended his life—saved his life, he would say—and put him not only on the path to recovery but also toward becoming one of the most prominent voices in indie horror. He also talks about his work, including The Ojanox series and the recently released Abigail: The Terrible Twos, a sequel to his 2021 novel, and why his platform of positivity has resonated with so many people.

Whispers in the Dark With Steve Capone, Jr.

As far as writers go, Steve Capone, Jr. defies easy description. His 2024 novel Max in the Capital of Spies is a YA Cold War thriller, with a side of time travel, though he’s perhaps best known for his work in horror. As the founder of Whisper House Press, he has published anthologies such as Dread Mondays and Costs of Living. In this episode, he details the lessons he learned by running his own press, the benefits of writing across genre lines, and why he doesn’t like to be scared. He also opens up about the perils of being a teacher in 2025, and the importance of doing his part to “repair the world.”

Breaking Bread (and Bones) With Richard Shifman

Bucks County, Pennsylvania-based writer Richard Shifman made quite an impression with his story “Mayo Monday,” an insanely compelling piece of weird fiction published by Cosmic Horror Monthly in 2023. He added to his wide-ranging body of work earlier this year with Paper Airplane, Broken Bones, a coming-of-age novel published under the name R.B. Shifman. In this episode, Shifman talks about the early experiences that shaped his life and influenced his work, why corporate environments and horror go hand in hand, and quite a bit more.

Lisa Hodorovych Lives the Dream of a Writer’s Life

Lisa Hodorovych is living her dream as a writer of horror and horror romance. She opens up about the things that scare her, the publishing empire she’s building to help others breathe life into their writing, and the details of her own work—namely, the novels The Disappearance, He’s Here, and Vampire From Hell, Vol. 1. Other points addressed in our discussion: facing and overcoming rejection, lingering scars from the movies of her childhood, the never-ending joys of kaiju, and much more.

Gary Frank: Storyteller, Dungeon Master, Monster Maker

Take a seat with Gary Frank, whose published works include the novels Institutional Memory, The Thing in the Woods, and Forever You Will Suffer. In this episode he talks about Godzilla, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and some of the other things that have ignited his imagination as a storyteller. Other points discussed in our hour-long discussion: his love of Dungeons & Dragons, how he copes when the world around him gets too heavy, and the inspiration he gets from being part of a community of writers at industry conventions.

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