Author Interview with Dan Shrader
1. When did you start writing?
I started writing in the 4th Grade. I was obsessed with theatre and all that fun stuff, loved doing plays at school. I found an escape in putting my thoughts on paper. My mind was always at full speed all the time. It was around the time that I grew interest in writing my grandmother took notice and she bought me a heavy-duty typewriter from Goodwill or some store like that. It changed my life.
2. What was your journey towards becoming an author like?
It wasn’t what I imagined it to be, honestly. I am thankful that I met so many wonderful people in the community that were willing to help.
I started on Royal Road in April of 2023 under the pseudonym Sutter Cain. I was well received with my works on there for several months. Started just casting the net out and seeing if I could get advice.
Kristopher Triana replied to an email and was a lot of help with advice. Brian Keene was kind enough to get me on BlueSky and that’s where I met a lot of awesome people that helped me with my first book. Everything happened fast—I was signed in October of 2023 with PsychoToxin Press and then November 2023 with Unveiling Nightmares.
3. What can you tell me about your latest book? (Feel free to include an excerpt.)
THOSE WHO LIVE IN DARKNESS, VOL 1 (Release Feb 7th) This is a collection of short stories and a novella I have been working on since the Sutter Cain times. They take place in or around Towers Valley. Some connect with each other, while others will connect with easter eggs in other stories I have coming out this year.
Excerpt:
Whether it’s just a taste, or an entire bite you crave, Those Who Live in Darkness, Volume One, promises to nourish your wicked appetite.
These six bone-chilling stories delve into darkness, catering to macabre enthusiasts and those in search of pleasures not of this world. These tales will captivate and thrill while offering a glimpse into the eerie and mysterious.
Towers Valley, the darkest of towns, surrounded by the Robin Hood Hills, is home to some of the most chilling and perplexing horrors throughout history.
Prepare to unleash chaos in this nightmarish realm, a true embodiment of Hell on earth. This is a repository of dark secrets where the living endures endless torment and the dead flourish.
4. What sort of methods do you use for book promotion?
I am still learning from some amazing individuals. Engaging in interviews and being a part of anthologies has proven to be a great to get your name out. Networking with fellow authors and people in the community is also important to me. Social media, too. My publishers are incredibly supportive and take care of stuff that I would never have thought of. I didn’t know what an ARC was or BETA readers until recently. I’m always up for learning from my peers and not being afraid to tell them I don’t know shit!
5. Where do you get your ideas for stories?
Drawing inspiration from what I see on films, read in books, and listen to with music and podcasts. I find myself unsure of how it all begins. It typically starts with a simple idea, and then I let my imagination take over as the characters and plot unfold in my mind like a movie. I usually hit the ground running with writing by hand or typing like a madman.
6. What are you working on right now?
“SPLATOLOGY”, an anthology put together by Unveiling Nightmares. It’s going to be epic! The lineup for this book is one of a kind and I am grateful to be apart of this crazy crew: Stuart Bray, Stephen Cooper, DE McCluskey, Chisto Healy, Christy Aldridge, CA Baynam, Chuck Nasty, and Jason Nickey. And to top it off, it’s edited by the wonderful Sydney Shiv. I absolutely can’t wait for its release on March 20th!
For me, personally, another project that remains to be named and takes place around Towers Valley (with connections to other short stories I have written). It is currently undergoing its final touches from my end. Once I am finished, it will be edited by the marvelous Candace Nola once again! Working with her is truly invaluable. Her attention to detail and extensive knowledge are unmatched. In many ways, she is my mentor. This novella will have a captivating cover designed by Grimpoppy, also known as Christy Aldridge. It’s really killer!
Release: TBA
7. Any advice for other authors?
Never be afraid to ask for help or reach out to your favorite author’s. Someone will take a chance on you or be willing to see your potential. Not everyone is a bad person. Were a community, a family in a way, and not each other’s competition.
ABOUT DAN:
DAN SHRADER, hailing from Southern Indiana, is a mastermind of spine-chilling stories that will stay with you. His life took a turn the day he stumbled upon a large box of VHS tapes, filled with titles: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, BLACK CHRISTMAS, and NIGHT OF THE DEMONS. From that moment, an insatiable appetite for horror was awakened within his very soul.
He cut his teeth on the Royal Road website in early 2023 under the pseudonym Sutter_Cain, by unleashing dark tales to an unknown audience. Now, using his real name, he has published work on the Unveiling Nightmares website/magazine and PsychoToxin Press website.
He takes inspiration from renowned authors like Clive Barker, Edward Lee, and Brian Keene.
CONTACT: danshraderhorror@gmail.com
FOLLOW:
Instagram: danshraderhorror
Facebook: Dan Shrader Horror
TikTok: @danshraderhorror
