Some of the loveliest authors I know write horror and Michaelbrent Collings is one of them! Today we discuss the boundaries of the horror genre, writing to heal, screenwriting and multiple streams of income. Super fun :)

In the introduction, I talk about the change to the podcast - it will now go out every Monday so you can expect a regular show! After 6 years of sporadic audio, hopefully this will be a welcome change :) I also talk about the empowerment of the author and the pros and cons of indie (http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2015/05/22/pros-and-cons-indie-author/), I give an update on my own books and audiobooks and also give a shout out to those who tweeted with what they're doing when they listen to the show.

This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life (http://kobowritinglife.com/), which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets (http://www.thecreativepenn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/WritingLife_Kobo.jpg)through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast (http://kobowritinglife.com/category/kwl-podcast/) for interviews with successful indie authors.

Kobo’s financial support pays for the hosting and transcription, and if you enjoy the show, you can now support my time on Patreon (http://www.patreon.com/thecreativepenn). Thank you for your support!

(http://www.thecreativepenn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Screen-Shot-2015-05-19-at-3.14.46-pm-237x300.jpg)Michaelbrent Collings (http://michaelbrentcollings.com) is an award-winning and internationally bestselling horror novelist, a #1 bestseller in the U.S. and also a screenwriter and martial artist.

You can listen above or on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-creative-penn/id309426367) or Stitcher (http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-creative-penn-podcast), watch the video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX_C9QCH31o) or read the notes and links below.

* How Michaelbrent's upbringing brought horror into his life at an early age, how he started writing stories

* On the definition of horror and how the edges of the genre pan out. Why people presume things about horror books which are usually wrong. The best horror is more about exploring the outer reaches of what humans can go through – and rise above. There's also an aspect of supernatural that can be taken more seriously than other genres. It's not about chainsaws, nudity and torture porn! The line between Supernatural Thriller and Horror. I mention James Herbert's Sepulchre (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050AM544/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0050AM544&linkCode=as2&tag=hotoenyojo-20&linkId=646KZW23HB2BC5DS), a book I keep going back to.

* On self-censorship, fear of judgment and writing our dark truth. Michaelbrent has 3 rules for writing (http://michaelbrentcollings.com/2014.01.29.ThreeRules.html) as relates to readers: Confuse me and lose me. Bore me and die. Leave the world a better place. You can do this with horror. Michaelbrent is a man of faith and brings this into his writing, not in a preachy way but in stories where good vs evil battle each other. We talk about The Stand (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307947300/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307947300&linkCode=as2&tag=hotoenyojo-20&linkId=QEJAC33QLO3AR2T3) as an example of this in a fantastic way when good might win one battle but the war goes on.

* How writing helps with dark moments in our lives. Michaelbrent has written about his depression (http://michaelbrentcollings.com/2015.03.26.Suicide.html)and talks about how writing helps him to find something to get up for some days. The books have dark moments but there are aspects of hope. I also mention the interview I did with J Thorn (http://www.jfpenn.com/dark-fiction-j-thorn/) about a similar topic.

* On screenwriting and darker films. I talk about my treatment for Desecration