The first installment of Tracing The Shape, my essay series on John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN, is live at the newsletter. I began at the beginning, with the jack-o'-lantern. matthewjacksonwrites.com/tracing-the-...

Evening listeners, don't miss our chat with Neil McRobert!

This was an absolute blast. And I just about got avoided having nightmares later.

NEW EPISODE: Neil McRobert of @talkscaredpod.bsky.social joins the show to talk about his new novella GOOD BOY, and we dive into Wes Craven's classic A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET! LISTEN NOW: redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...

NEXT WEEK: We celebrate our 50th episode (!!!) as the mighty @crobertcargill.bsky.social joins the show to talk about his new movie BLACK PHONE 2, and we dig into one specific chapter in Stephen King's THE STAND that shaped his writing world. Episode drops 10/8 at Noon Central!

Announcing my Big Horror Project for October: I'm writing a new essay on John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN every day next month! Sign up for my newsletter right now so you can read all of 'em! matthewjacksonwrites.com/tracing-the-...

We are very, very close to 1,000 followers, which would be a great milestone to hit this Halloween season. If you like the show, tell your friends! Let's hit 1K!

It's Neil McRobert Week on The Scares That Shaped Us! New episode Wednesday!

Last weekend I went to Book People with @claymcleod.bsky.social hoping for some of that Legendary Chapman Bookstore Mayhem. He did not let me down.

Weekend listeners, don't miss our chat with @raforall.bsky.social!

My podcast exists in no small part because Neil's was there first to be a guiding light, so it was a thrill and an honor to chat with him about his own (excellent) writing. Talking Wes Craven was the cherry on top.

Hey, y'all want a piece of horror short fiction written by yours truly? "Candy Exchange" is a 1,000-word story set in a dentist's office on the day after Halloween, about what happens when you ask the wrong kid to hand over their hard-earned candy. You can get it for just a buck right here:

NEXT WEEK: It's a horror lit podcast crossover as @talkscaredpod.bsky.social creator and host Neil McRobert joins the show to talk about his new novella GOOD BOY, and to dig into the trauma and influence of Wes Craven's A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET! Episode drops 10/1 at Noon Central!

NEW EPISODE Becky Spratford (@raforall.bsky.social) joins the show to talk about her new @sagapressbooks.bsky.social book of essays, WHY I LOVE HORROR, and we dive into the many horror elements of Shel Silverstein's WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS! LISTEN NOW: redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...

For the evening crowd, don't miss our chat with Becky Spratford!

NEW EPISODE Becky Spratford (@raforall.bsky.social) joins the show to talk about her new @sagapressbooks.bsky.social book of essays, WHY I LOVE HORROR, and we dive into the many horror elements of Shel Silverstein's WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS! LISTEN NOW: redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...

It's Becky Spratford Week on The Scares That Shaped Us! New episode Wednesday!

Your Host and Your Once, Future, and Final Guest!

NEXT WEEK: Becky Spratford (@raforall.bsky.social) joins the show to talk about her new essay collection WHY I LOVE HORROR (from @sagapressbooks.bsky.social), and we dig into the unexpected frights of Shel Silverstein's WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS! Coming 9/24 at Noon CT!

ICYMI yesterday, check out our chat with Keith Rosson!

NEW EPISODE @keithrosson.bsky.social joins the show to talk about his new novel, COFFIN MOON, and we dig into the wild ride that is Stephen King's THE TOMMYKNOCKERS! LISTEN NOW: redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...

So, y'all may have heard Neil McRobert has a book out next month... Get ready for the first-ever @scaresshapedus.bsky.social / @talkscaredpod.bsky.social crossover, dropping this October!

It's Keith Rosson Week on The Scares That Shaped Us! New episode Wednesday!

New on the newsletter: I wrote about A SERBIAN FILM. It's spoiler-free and does not contain any descriptions of the film's darkest moments. It's more my attempt to reorient the film's reputation beyond its graphic infamy. matthewjacksonwrites.com/for-the-sick...

Weekend listeners, don't miss our chat with @rachelharrison.bsky.social! redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...

This was so fun!

NEXT WEEK: @keithrosson.bsky.social joins the show to talk about his new novel, COFFIN MOON, and to dig into Stephen King's sci-fi horror novel THE TOMMYKNOCKERS! Episode drops 9/17 at Noon Central!

ICYMI yesterday, check out our chat with Rachel Harrison!

NEW EPISODE: @rachelharrison.bsky.social joins the show to talk about her new novel, PLAY NICE, and we dive into all things THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, ghosts, paranormal hoaxes, and much more! LISTEN NOW: redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...

Happy Pub Day to @claymcleod.bsky.social and ACQUIRED TASTE! You can hear Clay talk about the book and more on a recent episode of the show!

Excellent interview. @scaresshapedus.bsky.social has really created a wonderful podcast. @johnlangan.bsky.social is of course one of the all time greats. The Jack Cady story sounds great. I gotta read it. Also, who’s going to ask @sgj.bsky.social if Cady’s work influenced his?

It's Rachel Harrison Week on The Scares That Shaped Us! New episode drops Wednesday at Noon!

Weekend listeners, don't miss our chat with John Langan!

NEXT WEEK: The great @rachelharrison.bsky.social returns to the show to talk about her new novel, PLAY NICE, and we dive into the legend, possible hoax, and media franchise that is THE AMITYVILLE HORROR! Episode drops 9/10 at Noon Central!

Excellent episode! "The Night We Buried Road Dog" is one of my favorite stories. It has everything I love: lyrical writing, well-drawn characters, and an immersive world, seasoned with the supernatural and topped off with ambiguity. Makes total sense that @johnlangan.bsky.social chose it.

For the evening crowd, don't miss our chat with John Langan!

NEW EPISODE: The great @johnlangan.bsky.social joins the show this week to talk about his new collection LOST IN THE DARK AND OTHER EXCURSIONS, and we dig deep into Jack Cady's story "The Night We Buried Road Dog." LISTEN NOW: redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...

It's John Langan Week on The Scares That Shaped Us! New episode Wednesday!

It's Friday, it's a long weekend, and somehow 4,000 of you have decided you're interested in what I post. So, how about an AMA? Happy to ramble about any ol' thing. Hit me.

Long weekend listeners, don't miss our latest chat with Clay McLeod Chapman!

Fantastic episode! Congrats @scaresshapedus.bsky.social on one year of episodes! @claymcleod.bsky.social’s love for horror is so palpable it’s infectious. Ew. (Side note: I teach “Survivor Type” every year to my juniors, and I have so much fun acting out those last few pages…)

NEXT WEEK: The legendary @johnlangan.bsky.social joins the show to talk about his new collection, LOST IN THE DARK AND OTHER EXCURSIONS, and we go deep on Jack Cady's classic story "The Night We Buried Road Dog." Episode drops 9/3 at Noon Central!

ICYMI yesterday, the first essay at my newsletter is all about the most frightening scene I've ever watched in any film. Go check it out and maybe sign up? (Yes it's about NOSFERATU, good eye.)

Uhhh hey, y'all? We're damn close to our best single day of downloads ever *and* our best single day of downloads for one episode ever. I used to be happy when we did these numbers in a week. THANK YOU!

For the evening crowd, don't miss our latest chat with Clay McLeod Chapman!

NEW EPISODE: @claymcleod.bsky.social returns to talk about his new story collection ACQUIRED TASTE, and we dig deep into @stephenking.bsky.social's short fiction with SKELETON CREW. Plus, we celebrate our one-year anniversary! LISTEN NOW: redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...

NEW EPISODE: @claymcleod.bsky.social returns to talk about his new story collection ACQUIRED TASTE, and we dig deep into @stephenking.bsky.social's short fiction with SKELETON CREW. Plus, we celebrate our one-year anniversary! LISTEN NOW: redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...

ICYMI: I'm launching a newsletter! It's a hybrid thing with @scaresshapedus.bsky.social, where I'll be putting lots of writing about horror, bonus content from the show, and more in the future. There are paid tiers that will develop with time but right now I'd love free subs/subs at any level.

It's Clay McLeod Chapman Week (and The Scares That Shaped Us Birthday Week!) once again on the show! New episode drops Wednesday!

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