Author | Critic
“As with much of the author’s haunting poetry, this book reaches into the territory of fairy tales and the Gothic, but it simultaneously (and predominantly) grounds itself in contemporary realism. Advice for Taxidermists and Amateur Beekeepers demonstrates this kind of dual function in tonal terms, too: while it strays into morbid territory, it is punctuated throughout by surprising levity and humour.”
On September 27, Demain Publishing will release an e-book including two new Mike Thorn stories, “Dreams of Lake Drukka” and “Exhumation,” as part of their Short Sharp Shocks series. The e-book is now available for pre-order. Please reach out if you’re interested in a digital copy for review!
The stories are companion pieces: both depict unfulfilled pacts with supernatural undercurrents, both include journeys to uncover unresolved familial trauma, and both pivot around the revelation of repressed memories. I wanted to explore the relationship between setting and atmosphere in these pieces, and to depict horror within internal and physical ‘sites of trauma.’ The characters are grappling with painful memories / experiences that have held them back, consciously or unconsciously. One story focuses on a character who is the agent of her own revelations, whereas the other story sees someone whose agency is quickly and brutally taken away.
Join Niall Howell (author of Only Pretty Damned) and Mike Thorn at New Level Brewing Co. on August 21 from 7-9 pm. New Level is offering a special Damned-theme Clown Alley Porter for this event.
Stephanie of That’s What She Read includes Darkest Hours in her list of horror book recommendations on Kindle Unlimited (also included: books by Claire C. Holland, Christa Carmen, CV Hunt and many others).
Hey Little Thrifter reviews Darkest Hours in her June reading wrap-up. Also included: reviews of books by Adam Neville, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Jack Ketchum and others.
Today on Night Worms, Mike Thorn shares his 100 favorite horror films.
Niall and I first met as undergrads at Mount Royal University. From what I remember, we first connected through our mutual love of film, either through a course or a club of some kind. It wasn’t long before I learned that Niall was also a fiction writer, and we started exchanging excerpts from our works-in-progress. Niall’s rare, formidable talent was immediately evident to me—I saw in all his work a unique sense of humour and a mastery of pacing, plot and voice. After reading his phenomenal debut novel Only Pretty Damned (available now through NeWest Press), I reached out asking if he’d like to do a Q&A. He kindly agreed, and the dialogue below is the result of our email exchanges.
Read the full interview on Kendall Reviews.
Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann reached out and asked if I’d like to share my list of 100 favorite books on Night Worms, and I was happy to do so.
I initially connected with Sophy Romvari through Twitter about two years ago, after seeing her lyrical short film It’s Him. Since then, I have watched almost all of her films and have been consistently fascinated by the ways that she hybridizes cinematic modes and genres. Her filmography exhibits strong visual aptitude and raises complex questions about the divisions between filmic truth and representation. Sophy and I have chatted sporadically, touching on everything from M. Night Shyamalan to documentaries to the connections between genre and trauma, and I am always curious to hear her ideas about cinema and the creative process. After recently watching In Dog Years, a moving reflection on death and the powerful connections between human and nonhuman animal friends, I reached out to Sophy asking if she would be interested in doing an interview about her work. The conversation below is transcribed from our e-mail exchanges.
“Every now and then, […] you find a horror author who can disarm and unsettle you while telling these incredibly meaningful, important stories, and those are the ones that tend to stick with me. Mike Thorn? He’s one of those authors.”
Mike Thorn 