Dark Side of the Word

In this episode of Dark Side of the Word, hosts Kait and CJ welcome award-winning author Cynthia Pelayo, who discusses her journey in horror literature, the emergence of grief horror, and her unique writing techniques. They delve into the complexities of writing about grief, the dual perspectives in her latest novel Vanishing Daughters, and the challenges of navigating the publishing world. Cynthia shares her insights on manifestat...

In this episode of Dark Side of the Word, hosts Kait and CJ discuss their latest book club read, I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. They share personal updates on their creative journeys, health struggles, and the chaos of life that has impacted their writing. The conversation delves into the themes of the book, the unique writing style, and the characters, leading to diverging opinions on the effectiveness of the nar...

In this episode of Dark Side of the Word, hosts Kait and CJ dive into their latest book club read, Grady Hendrix's Witchcraft for Wayward Girls They discuss the podcast's themes, the impact of social media on creatives, and their personal updates before transitioning into a detailed analysis of the book's characters, themes, and Hendrix's writing style. The conversation highlights the importance of female perspectives in literature...

In this episode of Dark Side of the Word, Kait and CJ interview author Allison Scott about her transformative book, 'Decoding the Stars.' They explore the intersection of astrology and creativity, discussing how understanding one's astrological chart can lead to greater self-awareness and fulfillment in creative pursuits. Allison shares her journey into astrology, the challenges of writing her book, and the serendipitou...

In this episode, CJ and Kait Armada delve into their thoughts on a sci-fi horror novel, discussing character development, horror and suspense themes, and the plot’s effectiveness. They critique the romantic subplots and explore the writing styles that have influenced their reading experiences. The discussion also highlights the importance of setting in sci-fi horror and concludes with recommendations for better reads in the genre....

In this episode, we dive into a detailed review of the book Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling. We explore themes of friendship, identity, and the complexities of doppelgangers while sharing our mixed feelings about the book's pacing and character development. The conversation flows from light-hearted banter to critical analysis, culminating in a reflection on the season's journey and what lies ahead.

We’ll be returning on...

In this month’s industry topic, Kait and CJ delve into the intricacies of receiving and processing feedback from beta readers and critique partners. They discuss the subjective nature of feedback, the importance of self-confidence, and the necessity of organizing comments for effective analysis. Through personal anecdotes, they illustrate the challenges of handling criticism and the emotional toll it can take on writers. The conver...

Wondering what to watch and/or read next? In this episode, we sit down to discuss the content we’ve consumed over the past month. We’ll weed out the bad from the good so you don’t have to. 

We’ll recap our favorite horror reads from October, discuss graphic novels, and share our thoughts on various TV shows and movies. We’re reviewing This Wretched Valley, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, No One Will Save You, The Birds, We Used t...

It’s time to catch everyone up on what we’ve been doing for the past month. 

In this episode, we fill you all in on our little writing retreat in the Hudson Valley. We share what worked and what didn’t and how to make your own. We also delve into various themes, including personal experiences, creativity, feelings of guilt regarding productivity, and future aspirations. We talk about the challenges we face with burnout and why we’...

In this episode, we dive into a detailed review of the book Vampires El Norte by Isabel Cañas. We discuss our expectations, character dynamics, and the story’s historical context while debating the book’s classification as horror or romance. The conversation also touches on the cultural representation and language used within the narrative, leading to a critical analysis of the writing style and overall execution of the book. The e...

In this month’s industry topic, Kait and CJ delve into the world of beta readers, discussing their importance in the writing process, how to choose the right ones, and the best practices for gathering and organizing feedback. They share personal experiences from their recent writing retreat and emphasize the necessity of sending out a polished manuscript. The conversation also touches on the emotional aspects of receiving feedback ...

Wondering what to watch and/or read next? In this episode, we sit down to discuss the content we’ve consumed over the past month. We’ll weed out the bad from the good so you don’t have to. 

We discuss our recent reads, including How Can I Help You? We also explore various movies, including Alien Romulus, Shin Godzilla, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and Constantine, sharing our thoughts and reactions. The conversation wraps up with revi...

It’s time to catch everyone up on what we’ve been doing for the past month. 

Kait and CJ share their creative updates, discussing the impact of recent weather events on their lives and creativity. They explore their writing progress, blogging successes, and the journey towards self-publishing. The conversation delves into the importance of manifesting success, the emotional depth of their writing, and the excitement of new creativ...

Join us to discuss this month’s book club, Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman.

In this episode, we dive into a detailed discussion about the narrative style, character development, and emotional connection to the story, while also sharing our ratings and reactions to the book’s themes of innocence and family dynamics. Our conversation highlights the effectiveness of the supernatural elements and the impact of the stor...

In this month’s industry topic, Kait and CJ delve into the intricacies of being a critique partner in the writing community. They share their personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of honesty, trust, and support in the critique process. The conversation covers the qualities of a good critique partner, effective techniques for providing feedback, and the emotional journey that comes with critiquing each other's work. L...

Wondering what to watch and/or read next? In this episode, we sit down to discuss the content we’ve consumed over the past month. We’ll weed out the bad from the good so you don’t have to. 

CJ talks about two books she read, The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan and Briefly Perfectly Human by Alua Arthur. She found The Cliffs to be disappointing, as it didn't deliver on the promised spooky elements and had too many subplots. ...

It’s time to catch everyone up on what we’ve been doing for the past month. Kait and CJ provide updates on their creative projects. CJ shares that she has completed her novel’s first round of revisions and plans to send it to Kait for feedback. Kait talks about attending a class on selling art without selling out and feeling reinvigorated to pursue self-publishing. They also discuss the importance of self-care for creatives and the...

In this episode, Kait and CJ discuss the second book of the Sworn Soldiers series, 'What Feasts at Night' by T. Kingfisher. They both enjoyed the book, with Kait giving it four stars and CJ giving it 3.5 stars. They appreciated the humor in the book and the banter between the characters. They also liked the atmospheric and spooky elements of the story. They discussed the representation of PTSD in the book and praised the au...

Join us in discussing this month’s book club pick What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher.

In this conversation, CJ and Kait discuss their thoughts and feelings about the book. They explore the themes of possession, symbiosis, and the morality of survival. They also appreciate the inclusion of non-binary characters and the rich world-building in the story. While CJ enjoyed the gothic horror elements, Kait felt that the book lacke...