What if your deepest trauma gave birth to the monster that saved you? In this revealing and powerful episode, we sink our teeth into a transformative conversation with a horror author and former teacher who quite literally wrote his way through pain—by creating werewolves.
After surviving a devastating car accident that left him with a broken back and a new reality filled with PTSD, nightmares, and cognitive setbacks, our guest found traditional therapy wasn't enough. What helped him claw his way out? Horror. Writing. Monsters. And a full moon’s worth of metaphor.
We explore how horror stories—particularly werewolves—became a vessel for healing, expression, and identity. From early literary love affairs with The Hobbit and Tales from the Crypt, to sneaking horror flicks as a kid, to launching a publishing press for authors seeking catharsis through darkness, this episode shows how horror isn’t just scary—it’s sacred.
A Werewolf Saved My Life
What We Talk About in This Episode:
- How a real-life trauma led to the creation of therapeutic monster fiction
- Why werewolves are the perfect metaphor for mental health and transformation
- The evolution from fantasy reader to horror writer
- Growing up on Poe, Price, and Friday the 13th
- The damaging effects of book banning—and why horror should be in the classroom
- Why horror helps kids process anxiety
- How creative outlets can be more effective than traditional therapy for some
- Launching a new horror anthology series, Dead Avenue, to showcase healing through fear
Links & Resources:
🐺 Visit Reader2Writer.com to explore books and the new Dead Avenue anthology
📚 Interested in writing horror as healing? Keep an eye on Reader to Writer Press for future submissions
🎧 Follow Horror Heals for more stories where the shadows offer shelter