The Myth of the Happy Ending: What Happens After You Get an Agent? - Ally Russell

We Write in the Dark: Horror, Hauntings, and the Self with Channel Harry

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2096029/fan_mail/new] In this hauntingly beautiful episode of Writing and Killing Unicorns, we welcome writer Channel Harry to explore the deeply intertwined worlds of horror and healing. Titled We Write in the Dark, this conversation dives into the ways horror allows us to confront trauma, navigate ancestral memory, and survive the shadows of the self. Channel shares insight on the intersection of ancestry and mental health, unearthing how generational hauntings and personal struggles manifest in both life and story. Together, we discuss how horror, often dismissed as escapism or sensationalism, becomes a transformative space—a genre that doesn’t just terrify, but tends to wounds and makes space for reckoning. From ghosts of the past to inner monsters, this episode is a meditation on writing as ritual, horror as resistance, and storytelling as a path to wholeness. Topics Covered: * Why horror is a powerful tool for healing * Mental illness, stigma, and the self as a haunted house * Writing through ancestral trauma and inherited memory * The personal as supernatural: locating fear in lived experience * How horror provides a language for the unspeakable * Crafting stories that confront and transform pain Lintr.ee: Chanel Harry: The Mistress of Horror [https://linktr.ee/chanelharry?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=02ca7899-8cc7-4b68-8c91-44cdbb07624d&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaf9PVyzG3ZMK4TJh74rsVT6ALBZYuqGqFb6gzhsJfwa6_6VaxIabTgOHciyWw_aem_whdi6cVMm8op17J2o27yAg]  Instagram: authorbae [https://www.instagram.com/authorbaeee/] Remember: There are no shortcuts to writing. Only the craft.

Wait, Am I Writing a Self-Help Book?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2096029/fan_mail/new] Writing a self-help book is not what I expected—and honestly, it scares me. I never saw myself as the kind of person who’d write one, let alone admit out loud that I might have something to say that could help someone else. But here I am. Doing the thing that feels too big, too vulnerable, and too real. So, Season Two? It’s about unmasking—and then making something out of what’s revealed. This season isn’t about perfection or performance. It’s about honesty. It’s about the sacred work of facing yourself, pulling back the layers, and asking: Now that I see myself clearly, what can I build from here? How can I help others? I'll be bringing you with me as I write this self-help book in real time—sharing the truth behind the pages. I’ll also be in conversation with other authors about their own creative journeys, the people that were an influence on them, the stories they’ve dared to tell, and how they take care of themselves while doing this work. We’ll talk about fear, grief, healing, creation, and the quiet power of choosing to keep going. So if you’re still with me—thank you.  Let’s keep going. Together. Connect with Me: * Email: writingandkillingunicorns@gmail.com * Instagram: @the_krnelson [https://www.instagram.com/the_krnelson] * Author Website: thekrnelsonwriter.com [https://www.thekrnelsonwriter.com/] Remember: There are no shortcuts to writing. Only the craft.

Between Life and Labels: Writing Humanity in Horror - Jack Callaghan

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2096029/fan_mail/new] There are two things you need to know before listening to this episode: 1. The zombie apocalypse is over, and it has been for some time. 2. The world doesn’t need a hero. What it needs—what this episode explores—is something much more human: awkward friendships, fierce loyalty, and flawed people trying to make sense of a broken world. This week, we talk with author Jack Callaghan about writing horror that isn't just scary—but also deeply honest. Jack’s stories mix undead mayhem with biting humor and real heart, confronting themes of identity, belonging, and survival through characters who feel anything but destined for greatness. Together, we dig into: * Whether monsters are stand-ins for society—or just for us * How the undead offer a mirror to the human condition * Why weird, fun books can still carry emotional and political weight * The dance between subtlety and clarity when you’re writing fast and fierce * How to make meaning without preaching—and how to write with purpose anyway Plus: zombies, outsider kids, and the moments when symbolism sneaks in through the back door. We believe good stories don’t have to be tidy, and truth doesn’t always wear a cape. Join us for interviews with genre-defiers, rule-breakers, and writers who kill off more than just their darlings. Follow Jack Callaghan Facebook: Jack Callaghan [https://www.facebook.com/JackCallaghanAuthor/] Instagram: @jackcallaghanauthor [https://www.instagram.com/jackcallaghanauthor] YouTube: @jackcallaghan6104 [https://www.youtube.com/@jackcallaghan6104] Like what you hear? Rate and review the show wherever you listen. It helps strange little podcasts like ours survive the apocalypse. Remember: There are no shortcuts to writing. Only the craft.

Bloodlines and Broken Minds: Horror as a Path to Healing - Nadira Jamerson

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2096029/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Writing and Killing Unicorns, I had the absolute honor of speaking with horror writer and cultural storyteller Nadira Jamerson. This conversation left me breathless, grounded, and strangely healed. Nadira opens up about how she uses horror not just to scare—but to unearth, confront, and ultimately mend what’s been broken. We talk about what it means to be a Black woman writing horror, how trauma and mental health show up in her stories, and the power of ancestral memory and folklore in crafting narratives that hold both shadow and light. She also shares how she protects her spirit while writing deeply emotional and often painful material—and offers guidance for the next generation of Black girls who feel called to the dark. Some highlights we dig into: * Horror as a tool for processing pain * The deep relationship between fear, healing, and identity * How Nadira's characters act as vessels for shadow work * Creating boundaries when writing from personal wounds * The rise of a Black horror aesthetic—and what liberation looks like through that lens This isn’t just a conversation. It’s a reclamation. Tap in. 🔗 Mentions: * Follow Nadira: IG [https://www.instagram.com/nadiraxrene/]  * Why Black Women are Embracing Horror [https://wordinblack.com/2022/05/tananarive-due-knows-why-black-women-are-embracing-horror/] * Follow Nadira on her website! [https://linktr.ee/nadiraxrene?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafRtPdWT5C2TcLxS2Zd9mpiHHlA2rPlCS1Wcpimjo8lpTquCYH-sPx6Rxu6_Q_aem_Q3zA07t1tlKNJfrWrRSswQ] Remember: There are no shortcuts to writing. Only the craft.

The Myth of the Happy Ending: What Happens After You Get an Agent? - Ally Russell

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2096029/fan_mail/new] You got an agent—now what? In this candid and insightful episode, host Nelly sits down with author Ally Russell to talk about the gritty realities of traditional publishing after you land representation. From querying to editor submission hell, editorial rejection, and maintaining mental health through the highs and lows, Ally gives us a transparent look behind the curtain. This is not a fairy tale ending — it's the start of a new adventure full of monsters, uncertainty, and growth. Sort of like a Witcher quest… but with fewer swords and more emails. Whether you're in the trenches of querying, on submission, or just trying to figure out what’s next, this episode will give you wisdom, laughs, and the honest truth the writing streets don’t always tell you. In This Episode: * Ally’s early brushes with rejection and resilience * The emotional rollercoaster of querying and signing with an agent * What really changes — and what doesn’t — after you get “the call” * The harsh truths of going on submission to editors * How community, mindset, and dark humor keep us going * What Ally wishes she’d known from the start Links & Mentions: * Follow Ally Russell: @onedarkally [https://www.instagram.com/onedarkally/] * Get your copy of It Came from the Trees  [https://allyrussellbooks.com/]wherever books are sold * Follow @the_krnelson [https://www.instagram.com/the_krnelson/] for updates and behind-the-scenes * Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite platform Remember: There are no shortcuts to writing. Only the craft.