The Night Crew Podcast

Elizabeth Devecchi on Horror, Haunted Inspiration, and the Monsters We Carry With Us | Ep 40

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with Elizabeth DeVecchi to talk about her journey into horror writing, the strange sparks that turn into terrifying stories, and how fear itself can become creative fuel. Elizabeth shares how a quirky rescue dog inspired her debut novel A Whisper in the Dark, how her dark imagination started young, and why horror became the perfect genre for turning real-life anxieties into unforgettable fiction. They also dive into her books A Twist of the Lens and The Shadow Beside Her, writing morally gray creatures, balancing family life with creativity, using history in horror, and why sometimes the best writing advice is to just get the words down before you try to make them pretty. This episode is perfect for fans of indie horror authors, author interviews, creature horror, historical horror, psychological suspense, and behind-the-scenes conversations about the writing life. Plus: Stephen King, krakens, creepy sewers, termites from hell, and the kind of inspiration only a horror writer could love. Website: https://www.elizabethdevecchi.com/ [https://www.elizabethdevecchi.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.devecchi/ [https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.devecchi/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoonthesunandlittleman/ [https://www.instagram.com/themoonthesunandlittleman/]   Keywords / Buzzwords: Elizabeth DeVecchi, Elizabeth DeVecchi interview, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, horror author interview, indie horror, creature horror, historical horror, psychological suspense, A Whisper in the Dark, A Twist of the Lens, The Shadow Beside Her, horror writing, women in horror, author podcast, Stephen King influence, monster fiction, dark fiction, thriller horror, writing process Hashtags: #ElizabethDeVecchi #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #HorrorPodcast #AuthorInterview #IndieHorror #HorrorAuthor #CreatureHorror #HistoricalHorror #PsychologicalSuspense #DarkFiction #AWhisperInTheDark #ATwistOfTheLens #TheShadowBesideHer #WomenInHorror #MonsterFiction #WritingLife #StephenKing #BookPodcast #HorrorBooks

The Succubus, Part 4: Sleep Paralysis, Modern Encounters, and the Demon That Never Left | Ep 39

In part four of this chilling Succubus series on The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks brings the legend into the modern world. This episode explores the terrifying connection between succubus folklore and sleep paralysis, breaking down what happens in the brain when you wake up frozen, feel a weight on your chest, and sense something evil in the room. Brad also digs into modern succubus encounter reports, the global history of the old hag phenomenon, and how the succubus transformed from an ancient night demon into a modern figure in horror fiction, anime, video games, and pop culture. If you love dark folklore, demon lore, sleep paralysis stories, supernatural horror, mythology, and creepy deep dives into the monsters that refuse to stay buried in the past, this episode is for you Keywords / Buzzwords: succubus, succubus lore, succubus mythology, sleep paralysis, sleep paralysis demon, old hag syndrome, succubus encounter, modern demon encounters, demon lore, night demons, supernatural folklore, dark folklore, horror mythology, paranormal experiences, occult horror, mythology podcast, horror podcast, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, sleep paralysis stories Hashtags: #Succubus #SleepParalysis #SleepParalysisDemon #SuccubusLore #NightDemons #OldHag #DemonLore #DarkFolklore #SupernaturalHorror #Paranormal #OccultHorror #Mythology #Folklore #HorrorPodcast #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #SleepParalysisStories #Demonology #ModernFolklore #CreepyLegends

Andrew Najberg on Writing Horror, Building Wicked House, and the Monsters That Stay With Us | Ep 38

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with Andrew Najberg for a deep dive into horror writing, indie publishing, and the passion it takes to keep dark stories alive. Andrew talks about his journey from poetry and fiction to publishing novels like The Mobius Door, Gollitok, Extinction Dream, The Neverborn Thief, and Eat the Light, while also helping shape the horror landscape as co-owner and co-editor-in-chief of Wicked House Publishing. They dig into what makes a manuscript stand out, what small presses actually do behind the scenes, how authors can build discipline, and why horror remains one of the most powerful genres for atmosphere, fear, and emotional truth. The conversation also covers Aliens, xenomorphs, post-apocalyptic horror, publishing advice, short story collections, and the long game of becoming a better writer. This is a must-listen for fans of indie horror, author interviews, small press publishing, science fiction horror, monster stories, and behind-the-scenes conversations about how horror books get made. Website: https://www.andrewnajberg.com [http://www.andrewnajberg.com] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.najberg/ [https://www.facebook.com/andrew.najberg/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewnajberg/ [https://www.instagram.com/andrewnajberg/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrew.najberg [https://www.tiktok.com/@andrew.najberg]   Keywords / Buzzwords: Andrew Najberg, Andrew Najberg interview, Wicked House Publishing, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, horror author interview, indie horror publishing, small press publishing, horror writing, sci-fi horror, post-apocalyptic horror, The Mobius Door, Gollitok, Extinction Dream, Eat the Light, The Neverborn Thief, horror books, xenomorph, Alien franchise, author podcast Hashtags: #AndrewNajberg #WickedHouse #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #HorrorPodcast #IndieHorror #SmallPressPublishing #HorrorWriting #AuthorInterview #SciFiHorror #PostApocalypticHorror #TheMobiusDoor #Galatok #ExtinctionDream #EatTheLight #TheNeverbornThief #Alien #Xenomorph #HorrorBooks #IndieAuthor

The Succubus, Part 3: Demonology, Witch Trials, and the Church’s Darkest Obsession | Ep 37

In part three of this chilling Succubus series on The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks explores the darkest turn in the legend’s history: the moment the succubus stopped being folklore and became part of the machinery of fear, theology, and execution. This episode dives into medieval demonology, the church’s obsession with incubi and succubi, the bizarre theology behind demon reproduction, and the horrifying role texts like the Malleus Maleficarum played in shaping the witch trials. Brad unpacks how beliefs about sleep paralysis, shame, sexuality, and demonic visitation were used to justify persecution, especially of women, and how the succubus became more than just a monster story. If you love dark history, occult horror, witch trial history, religious horror, demon lore, medieval folklore, and deep dives into the terrifying places where myth and real-world cruelty collide, this episode is for you. Brad Ricks's Book Crypt: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt]   Keywords / Buzzwords: succubus, succubus lore, succubus mythology, demonology, incubi and succubi, Malleus Maleficarum, witch trials, medieval witch trials, demon lore, occult history, dark history, religious horror, church and witchcraft, sleep paralysis folklore, medieval folklore, supernatural history, horror podcast, mythology podcast, Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks Hashtags: #Succubus #SuccubusLore #Demonology #WitchTrials #MalleusMaleficarum #OccultHistory #DarkHistory #DemonLore #ReligiousHorror #MedievalFolklore #SleepParalysis #Incubus #SupernaturalHistory #HorrorPodcast #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #WitchcraftHistory #OccultHorror #Folklore #Mythology

Dark Academia and Darker Stories: Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar on Horror Writing and Craft | Ep 36

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar to talk about teaching horror writing, building a life as an author and scholar, and why horror gives writers the freedom to explore both the grotesque and the deeply human. They discuss Cassandra’s work as an English professor, her popular horror writing class, her love of Edgar Allan Poe, and the inspiration behind books like Darkness There, But Something More, Close the Door, Lake of Secrets, and Keeper of Corpses and Other Dark Tales. The conversation dives into dark academia, psychological horror, paranormal mysteries, short story writing, body horror scholarship, Frankenstein’s monster, and the importance of writing community, revision, and pushing past fear to actually get the words on the page. This is a must-listen for fans of horror fiction, author interviews, gothic literature, creative writing, indie horror authors, and behind-the-scenes conversations about the craft of writing dark stories. LINKS:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassandra.sachar [https://www.facebook.com/cassandra.sachar] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosachar [https://www.instagram.com/cosachar] Brad's Book Crypt: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt]   SEO Keywords / Buzzwords: Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar, Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar interview, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, horror writing, horror professor, Edgar Allan Poe, dark academia, gothic horror, psychological horror, paranormal mystery, Frankenstein’s monster, indie horror author, horror short stories, creative writing, body horror, Stoker nominated, horror scholarship, author interview, horror podcast Hashtags: #CassandraOSullivanSachar #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #HorrorPodcast #AuthorInterview #HorrorWriting #EdgarAllanPoe #DarkAcademia #GothicHorror #PsychologicalHorror #ParanormalMystery #IndieHorror #HorrorAuthor #CreativeWriting #Frankenstein #BodyHorror #HorrorScholarship #KeeperOfCorpses #DarknessThereButSomethingMore #WomenInHorror