Jo gets local—and real—with author Robert Howell in this surprising and heartfelt episode of What’s Kraken. From childhood storytelling to publishing paranormal thrillers, Robert shares how a single rejection letter helped shape his 50-year writing journey. They dive into the origin stories behind Blood Mansion and Blood Castle, the quirks of self-publishing, and the minefield of indie publishing contracts. Robert talks candidly about staying grounded through the highs and lows of book launches, the importance of research in fiction, and how his kids helped him re-enter the writing world. Plus, how a haunted-feeling property and a real-life “wind phone” inspired his creepiest books yet.

KEY MOMENTS:

• Opening riff – Jo’s playful intro: “Today… I could just touch your house if I want to, Robert!”
• Guest’s big insight – Robert on keeping his first rejection letter for 50 years to remember the next step will be better.
• Behind‑the‑scenes moment – How Robert’s idea for Blood Mansion came from visiting a creeped‑out empty property during his job in property‑management.
• Personal story – Transitioning from sci‑fi short stories as a teen to a young‑adult urban fantasy novel and then into self‑publishing.
• Why it matters – The broader takeaway: writing is a long game, publishing contracts matter, owning your rights counts—and dreams don’t expire.

👉 Books mentioned: Blood Mansion, Blood Castle, A Devil of a Time
👻 Themes: ghosts, witches, horror grounded in reality, self-doubt, perseverance, and writing as survival
🖊️ Find Robert at: storywriter.ca or @StoryWriter on all the socials
🌐 And don’t forget: https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell

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