Quills and Chills

THE DORIANS with Nick Cutter

In this episode of Quills & Chills, I’m joined once again by Nick Cutter to discuss his new novel, The Dorians, a disturbing story about aging, mortality, and the lengths people will go to outrun death. We talk about the fears and moral questions at the heart of the book, the influence of classic horror and science fiction, and why body horror and isolation remain such powerful storytelling tools. Nick also shares some of the real-world ideas that inspired the novel and the scenes he’s most excited for readers to experience. FIND NICK CUTTER (Craig Davidson) ONLINE: nickcutter.com craigdavidson.net IG: nickcutter2026 Follow Quills & Chills on social: IG: @quillsandchills Bluesky: @quillsandchills.bsky.social YOUTUBE: @quillsandchillspodcast

THE CARETAKER with Marcus Kliewer

Marcus Kliewer on The Caretaker | Horror Author Interview | Quills & Chills What happens when grief, money, and bad decisions collide? In this episode of Quills & Chills, I sit down with Marcus Kliewer to break down The Caretaker, a psychological horror story that starts grounded and keeps tightening the screws. Macy is a broke college grad, grieving her father and trying to care for her younger sister. When she takes a questionable Craigslist job, survival overrides instinct, and the story doesn’t let up. We get into: * Writing flawed characters whose choices still feel inevitable * The story’s “rights” system and its connection to OCD * Structuring a narrative as a one-way descent * Influence from Dark Souls II * Balancing reality vs perception * Why Oregon, specifically Salem, shapes the tone Marcus also previews what’s next, including another release this year and a darker, more expansive story in the same universe. FIND MARCUS KLIEWER ONLINE: IG: marcus_kliewer TikTok: marcus_kliewer Reddit: r/oldhousearchive Follow Quills & Chills on social: IG: @quillsandchills Bluesky: @quillsandchills.bsky.social YOUTUBE: @quillsandchillspodcast

NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD With Luke Dumas

In this episode of Quills & Chills, I’m joined by USA Today bestselling author Luke Dumas to talk about Nothing Tastes as Good, a body-horror thriller about a man over 300 pounds who joins a clinical trial for a miracle weight-loss drug and starts changing faster than he can understand. The results are extreme. So are the side effects, including missing time and urges he can’t explain. We get into the psychology behind it, the slippery pull of becoming someone new, and how the book builds tension through fragmented storytelling and strained relationships. If you like your horror a little uncomfortable, this one sticks with you. FIND LUKE DUMAS ONLINE: lukedumas.com IG: thenewdumas Threads: thenewdumas Follow Quills & Chills on social: IG: @quillsandchills Bluesky: @quillsandchills.bsky.social YOUTUBE: @quillsandchillspodcast

A SPELL FOR SAINTS & SINNERS With Emily Carpenter

n this episode of Quills & Chills, I’m joined by bestselling author Emily Carpenter to talk about her new Southern Gothic novel, A Spell for Saints & Sinners. We touch on the story setup, a young psychic in Savannah navigating inheritance, identity, and complicated loyalties, then dig into Emily’s approach to portraying magic in a grounded, family-rooted way. We also get into themes of isolation, belonging, and how setting shapes the tone.  If Southern Gothic, witches, and grounded magic are your thing, this one’s for you. FIND EMILY CARPENTER ONLINE: emilycarpenterauthor.com IG: emily.d.c FB: ecarpenterauthor Follow Quills & Chills on social: IG: @quillsandchills Bluesky: @quillsandchills.bsky.social YOUTUBE: @quillsandchillspodcast

DEAD FIRST with Johnny Compton

In this episode of Quills & Chills, I’m joined by author Johnny Compton to discuss his latest novel, Dead First. Private investigator Shyla Sinclair is hired by billionaire Saxton Bray, a man who claims, and proves, he cannot die. He offers her millions to uncover the truth behind his immortality and missing memories, while holding leverage over secrets from her own past. We talk about immortality as a burden, blending noir detective fiction with supernatural horror, and the shifting power dynamics between Shyla, Saxton, his assistant Remy, and Shyla’s partner Jen. Johnny also shares how Shyla and Jen’s complicated history, including Jen’s psychic abilities, reshaped the story from an early comedic draft into something darker and more grounded. We explore the Texas setting, including Galveston’s haunted history, and how themes of memory, mortality, legacy, curiosity, and self-destruction drive the novel. Johnny also teases what’s next: a sci-fi horror novella, Chimera Skin, arriving in 2026, and a future serial killer project. Follow Johnny Compton at: johnnycompton.com IG: @comptonwrites TikTok: @comptonwrites YouTube: JohnnyComptonAuthor Follow Quills & Chills on social: IG: @quillsandchills Bluesky: @quillsandchills.bsky.social YOUTUBE: @quillsandchillspodcast