Horror Author Joe Scipione Talks Mr. Nightmare, Writing Horror & Aliens | Ep 3

What this episode covers

📄 Episode Description: In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, host Brad Ricks sits down with horror author Joe Scipione—creator of the Mr. Nightmare series—for a deep dive into the creative chaos of writing monsters, aliens, and haunted middle-school trauma. From his long road to publication, to accidentally getting punched in the face on Bourbon Street, Joe shares the inspiration behind his stories, what scares him, and how a fly helped inspire him. You’ll hear all about his upcoming projects (including Until Sunrise and Project Vega), his love of aliens, why the Alien movie franchise still slaps, and what it’s like juggling horror with history, harmonicas, and parenting. Whether you're a fellow writer, a fan of cosmic horror, or just want to know why Joe refuses to watch Nightmare on Elm Street, this episode is equal parts funny, inspiring, and full of the creepy-crawly stuff we love. 📝 Show Notes: 🖋️ About Joe Scipione Author of Mr. Nightmare, Never Dead, The Gods Among Them, and more Represented by Wicked House Publishing and also self-publishes select works Website: JoeScipione.com Available on Amazon (signed copies available on his site!) 📚 Books Discussed in the Episode: Perhaps She Will Die (re-releasing soon) Mr. Nightmare (and its upcoming third installment) Never Dead – Frankenstein meets noir The Gods Among Them – Joe’s personal favorite Until Sunrise (alien invasion horror – coming 2026) Project Vega (intelligent alien first contact – coming 2027) 🧠 Writing Tips & Insights: Balancing writing with parenting Pantsing vs plotting (Joe’s a “tentpole plotter”) Why the middle of the book always sucks Finding inspiration in everyday life (and houseflies) 🛸 Joe's Favorite Monster: AliensFrom Alien to A Quiet Place, Joe explains why extraterrestrials are his go-to horror creature—and why he believes we're not alone out there. 🔗 Where to Find Joe Scipione: Website: https://www.joescipione.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/joe-scipione-Author-100087319013756 Threads: https://www.threads.net/@joescipione0 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joescipione0 🧛 Don’t Forget: If you enjoyed this interview, leave a 5-star review, follow the show, and share it with a fellow horror nerd. For more author interviews and deep dives into vampire legends and other creepy creatures, tune in every Monday. 🎤 Bonus Quote: "I wrote Mr. Nightmare 20 minutes at a time while my daughter was on school breaks. It was the fastest book I’ve ever written—and the one people won’t stop talking about." 📚 Related Links: 🧛‍♂️ Order The Night Crew Book 1➡️ BradRicks.com for signed copies➡️ Also available wherever books are sold 🧠 Follow Brad RicksTikTok / Facebook: @BradRicksAuthorNewsletter sign-up at BradRicks.com Keywords horror, writing, Joe Scipione, Mr. Nightmare, podcast, author interview, inspiration, literary influences, alien movies, horror genre #joescipione #TheNightCrewPodcast #HorrorPodcast #AuthorInterview