Mike Thorn's Blog, page 30
September 16, 2019
Book Review: Niall Howell's Only Pretty Damned
I reviewed Niall Howell's awesome debut novel Only Pretty Damned (NeWest Press) for the latest issue of FreeFall Magazine (edited by Micheline Maylor-Kovitz and Ryan Stromquist).
September 11, 2019
Book Review: Erin Emily Ann Vance’s Advice for Taxidermists and Amateur Beekeepers
"As with much of the author’s haunting poetry, this book reaches into the territory of fairy tales and the Gothic, but it simultaneously (and predominantly) grounds itself in contemporary realism. Advice for Taxidermists and Amateur Beekeepers demonstrates this kind of dual function in tonal terms, too: while it strays into morbid territory, it is punctuated throughout by surprising levity and humour."
Read the full review in Vague Visages.
Read the full review in Vague Visages.
September 9, 2019
September 27: Dreams of Lake Drukka & Exhumation
On September 27, Demain Publishing will release an e-book including two new Mike Thorn stories, “Dreams of Lake Drukka” and “Exhumation,” as part of their Short Sharp Shocks series. The e-book is now available for pre-order. Please reach out if you’re interested in a digital copy for review!
The stories are companion pieces: both depict unfulfilled pacts with supernatural undercurrents, both include journeys to uncover unresolved familial trauma, and both pivot around the revelation of repressed memories. I wanted to explore the relationship between setting and atmosphere in these pieces, and to depict horror within internal and physical ‘sites of trauma.’ The characters are grappling with painful memories / experiences that have held them back, consciously or unconsciously. One story focuses on a character who is the agent of her own revelations, whereas the other story sees someone whose agency is quickly and brutally taken away.
The stories are companion pieces: both depict unfulfilled pacts with supernatural undercurrents, both include journeys to uncover unresolved familial trauma, and both pivot around the revelation of repressed memories. I wanted to explore the relationship between setting and atmosphere in these pieces, and to depict horror within internal and physical ‘sites of trauma.’ The characters are grappling with painful memories / experiences that have held them back, consciously or unconsciously. One story focuses on a character who is the agent of her own revelations, whereas the other story sees someone whose agency is quickly and brutally taken away.
August 8, 2019
That’s What She Read: Horror Book Recommendations on Kindle Unlimited
Stephanie of That’s What She Read includes Darkest Hours in her list of horror book recommendations on Kindle Unlimited (also included: books by Claire C. Holland, Christa Carmen, CV Hunt and many others).
Watch the full video.
Watch the full video.
July 15, 2019
Hey Little Thrifter Reviews Darkest Hours
Hey Little Thrifter reviews Darkest Hours in her June reading wrap-up. Also included: reviews of books by Adam Neville, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Jack Ketchum and others.
Watch the full video.
Watch the full video.
June 4, 2019
May 22, 2019
Mike Thorn interviews Niall Howell, author of Only Pretty Damned
Niall and I first met as undergrads at Mount Royal University. From what I remember, we first connected through our mutual love of film, either through a course or a club of some kind. It wasn’t long before I learned that Niall was also a fiction writer, and we started exchanging excerpts from our works-in-progress. Niall’s rare, formidable talent was immediately evident to me—I saw in all his work a unique sense of humour and a mastery of pacing, plot and voice. After reading his phenomenal debut novel Only Pretty Damned (available now through NeWest Press), I reached out asking if he’d like to do a Q&A. He kindly agreed, and the dialogue below is the result of our email exchanges.
Read the full interview on Kendall Reviews.
Read the full interview on Kendall Reviews.
May 21, 2019
Mike Thorn shares his 100 favorite books on Night Worms
Sadie "Mother Horror" Hartmann reached out and asked if I'd like to share my list of 100 favorite books on Night Worms, and I was happy to do so.
Read the full list.
Read the full list.
May 11, 2019
Some Kind of Connection: Loss and Technology in the Films of Sophy Romvari
I initially connected with Sophy Romvari through Twitter about two years ago, after seeing her lyrical short film It’s Him. Since then, I have watched almost all of her films and have been consistently fascinated by the ways that she hybridizes cinematic modes and genres. Her filmography exhibits strong visual aptitude and raises complex questions about the divisions between filmic truth and representation. Sophy and I have chatted sporadically, touching on everything from M. Night Shyamalan to documentaries to the connections between genre and trauma, and I am always curious to hear her ideas about cinema and the creative process. After recently watching In Dog Years, a moving reflection on death and the powerful connections between human and nonhuman animal friends, I reached out to Sophy asking if she would be interested in doing an interview about her work. The conversation below is transcribed from our e-mail exchanges.
Read the full interview in Vague Visages.
Read the full interview in Vague Visages.
April 22, 2019
Review of Darkest Hours in Howling Libraries
Destiny published an amazing review of Darkest Hours on Howling Libraries in January, and somehow the blog post slipped under my radar until now.
Excerpt: “Every now and then, […] you find a horror author who can disarm and unsettle you while telling these incredibly meaningful, important stories, and those are the ones that tend to stick with me. Mike Thorn? He’s one of those authors.”
Read the full review.
Excerpt: “Every now and then, […] you find a horror author who can disarm and unsettle you while telling these incredibly meaningful, important stories, and those are the ones that tend to stick with me. Mike Thorn? He’s one of those authors.”
Read the full review.
