In this episode, I sit down once again with author and poet Stephanie Parent to explore her haunting and deeply personal poetry collection, Cinder Girl Grows Wings. We discuss the visceral power of free verse, the symbolic structure of the collection—from Kindling to Phoenix—and how themes of girlhood, desire, BDSM, and body image are woven through her work with gothic sensitivity and raw emotional truth.

Stephanie opens up about her early fascination with fairy tales, the duality of submission and autonomy, the influence of pop culture on self-perception, and the emotional complexities of working in a BDSM dungeon. We also talk about the poetic form itself—how shape and space on the page enhance meaning—and how storytelling can reclaim and reframe painful memories.

This is a conversation about transformation, vulnerability, and what it means to create beauty from ashes. Stick around to hear Stephanie read her favorite poem from the collection, Wildfire.

📚 Buy Cinder Girl Grows Wings

Amazon (Paperback): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2X9V5G9

Amazon (Kindle): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2X8XTZT

AbeBooks: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31529109296

eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/335350805064

Indigo (Canada): https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/cinder-girl-grows-wings/9781962687184-item.html

The Nile (Australia): https://www.thenile.com.au/books/stephanie-parent/cinder-girl-grows-wings/9781962687184/

🔗 Connect with Stephanie Parent

Website: https://www.stephanieparent.net/

Instagram: https://www.stephanieparent.net/ (linked via homepage)

Facebook (Curious Corvid Publishing): https://www.facebook.com/curiouscorvidpublishing

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209535765-cinder-girl-grows-wings

Today’s guest is Matthew R. Corr, author of the retro-inspired horror novel Camp 1985 and creator of the ever-expanding Slasherverse series.

What begins as a tongue-in-cheek sendup of influencer culture quickly descends into something far more sinister—and emotionally resonant.

We dive deep into how Corr blends analog horror tropes with modern anxieties, explores identity and mental health through characters like Ander and Liam, and examines the darker sides of internet fame.

From Ouija boards and condemned churches to OCD and body image, this episode pulls no punches.

Matthew also opens up about his personal connection to the story, his journey from musical theater to indie horror fiction, and what fans can expect from Blood in the Water and the upcoming Static Snow.

If you’re a fan of slashers, ‘80s nostalgia, and horror that hits both the heart and the jugular—this conversation is for you.

Website: https://www.matthewrcorr.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Matthew-R.-Corr/author/B08YQN9V8V?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=d02d7439-ed86-45cc-83fa-f033057d0fb0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewrcorr/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthewrcorr/

🎙️ If you want early access to full video episodes like this one, exclusive members-only reviews, and a shout-out right here on the podcast, head over to ⁠Patreon.com/TheDarkMindPodcast⁠ and become a member. Your support helps keep these conversations going.

In this episode, host Vincent Midgard is joined by author, podcaster, and epidemiologist Viggy Parr Hampton to discuss her haunting new novel The Rotting Room. Together, they explore the disturbing intersection of religious ritual, bodily decay, and psychological trauma in a cloistered convent where silence reigns and something sinister festers beneath the surface.

Viggy shares how her background in epidemiology shaped her fascination with disease and body horror, the challenges of writing a protagonist trapped in denial, and why silence can be the loudest form of tension. She also opens up about the surprising overlaps between science and storytelling, balancing creativity with parenting, and her multimedia projects like the Horror, Humor, Hunger podcast and Tag Team Tales of Terror on Dread Pop Magazine’s YouTube channel.

Whether you’re a horror fan, a writer, or just curious how someone can juggle motherhood, medicine, and monsters—this episode will leave you both disturbed and inspired.

Website: viggyhampton.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Viggy-Parr-Hampton/author/B082DC79CG?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viggyparrhampton/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Author-Viggy-Parr-Hampton/61555649969988/?_rdr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@viggyparrhampton

In this episode, we sit down with Tiffany Koplin—curator, community builder, and indie horror champion—to explore the thriving world of self-published horror fiction.

From her roots at Half Price Books to her leadership of the 63,000-member Books of Horror community, Tiffany shares how a passion for the genre turned into a full-blown movement.

We dive into her creation of the Indie Author Book Brawl, her vision for anonymous chapbook competitions, and her work organizing Books & Brews Author Con, one of the most anticipated indie horror events of the year.

Tiffany opens up about the power of community over self-promotion, why cannibals and cults never get old, and how a single Facebook group became a launchpad for emerging horror voices. If you love horror fiction, indie publishing, or just rooting for passionate people doing big things—you’ll love this episode.

Indie Book Boxes: https://www.etsy.com/shop/indiebookboxes/?etsrc=sdt&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacZUDEVS9ZgpG_nUCWtBO7ol5i4Nt7eVdumU2NYF95D_tCBX-7juuqiJRxRCg_aem_m5WZAVGDTtb6rseCPxn0yw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metalburningcookies/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffanysuchobrus.koplin

Books of Horror Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/526308964218819

In this unsettling and unforgettable episode, acclaimed author Eric LaRocca joins host Vincent Midgard to delve into his haunting new novel At Dark I Become Loathsome—a disturbing tale of grief, ritual rebirth, and self-destruction. LaRocca discusses the real-life burial therapy practices that inspired the story, the claustrophobic horror of confronting mortality, and his fascination with the grotesque, both physical and emotional.

They explore themes of nihilism, body modification, queer identity, and the allure of writing about what terrifies us most. LaRocca also opens up about his creative process, the challenge of writing extreme material responsibly, and how transgressive fiction can be both cathartic and dangerous. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to write horror that lingers, this conversation digs deep—sometimes literally.

Website: https://ericlarocca.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01GU8Q9W8?ccs_id=0f22c7d3-e714-4835-b86e-44599d09a02a

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric_larocca/?hl=en

X: https://x.com/eric_larocca?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericlarocca/

In this visceral and thought-provoking episode, extreme horror author Lesley Camphouse joins Vincent Midgard to dive deep into her latest novel, Eternal Wives. They unpack the brutal cult at the heart of the story, discuss how real-world influences like Sister Wives and reformed communities helped shape its terrifying world, and explore how horror can push boundaries without losing narrative integrity.

Lesley shares her writing process (hint: pure instinct and no outlines), her fascination with villainy, the unexpected reader reactions to her work, and how her professional background in content moderation and internet safety colors her dark imagination. From the psychology of cults to the weaponization of femininity, this conversation is as unflinching as the novel itself.

Also covered: the power of ambiguity in horror, the importance of language in manipulation, and why Lesley avoids horror movies despite writing some of the genre’s most disturbing fiction.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lesley-Camphouse/author/B0DSV3HTWX?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=ea9a52c0-a45c-4457-84be-e10c5f669e74

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlacamphouse/

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@authorlacamphouse

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/authorlacamphouse.bsky.social

Nick Roberts joins Vincent on The Dark Mind Podcast to discuss his blistering short story collection Nocturnal by Nature.

They explore the fine line between intensity and excess in horror, how addiction and recovery fuel Nick’s storytelling, and why he believes horror should hit hard—or not at all.

From body horror and psychological claustrophobia to giallo influences and moral collapse, this episode dives into the craft and chaos behind the darkness.

Website: https://www.nickrobertsauthor.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B084QG2HB4?ccs_id=77f18c56-2ed4-4a6c-8aa6-06dad07fd8da

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spookywv/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpookyWV/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spookywv

In this episode, Vincent sits down with author and artist Chris Panatier to discuss his haunting novel, The Redemption of Morgan Bright — a psychological horror story that explores identity, grief, institutional abuse, and the terrifying blur between reality and delusion. Recorded just after their meeting at the Ghoulish Book Festival, the conversation dives deep into the novel’s inspirations, including the Victorian-era treatment of women, mind control theories like MK-Ultra, and the disturbing real-life history of psychiatric care.

Chris reveals how Roe v. Wade’s overturning reshaped the book’s trajectory, how legal experience informs his worldview, and what it’s like to write horror in a world where reality keeps outpacing fiction. They also discuss the use of epistolary storytelling, the symbolic significance of butterflies, and how psychological horror offers a unique — and terrifyingly intimate — reading experience.

If you’re a fan of horror that doesn’t flinch from social critique, or you just want to hear from a writer who can balance dread with depth, this one’s for you.

Website: https://chrispanatier.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrispanatier/?hl=en

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mr.-Chris-J.-Panatier/author/B01F4R6XWW?ref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@ChrisPanatier/