Noir, Vampires, and the Punk Spirit: Keith Rosson on "Coffin Moon"

Guest: Keith RossonHost: Vincent MidgardEpisode Recorded: August 22, 2025About This EpisodeIn this episode, Vincent welcomes renowned author and artist Keith Rosson to talk about his new dark literary novel Coffin Moon. The conversation covers the gritty heart of noir fiction, the reimagining of the vampire archetype, the lasting impact of war and trauma on storytelling, the struggle and beauty of DIY punk and zine culture, and the organic chaos of the writing process. Keith opens up about how blindness shapes his art, why family trauma is an unavoidable theme, and why ambiguous endings matter.Key Topics DiscussedThe challenge and richness of setting a vampire story in 1970s PortlandBreaking the mold: Writing messy, morally gray charactersPunk, zines, and the creative energy of relentless DIY artHow blindness shapes Keith’s visual and narrative sensibilityThe importance of landscape in fiction (Oregon, North Dakota, LA)Writing trauma, revenge, and the uncertain hope of healingLiterary fiction vs. genre and why Keith refuses to choose just oneTaking and leaving vampire tropes: Curses, curses, and fatherhoodInspirations: From Richard Lange’s Rovers to Andy Davidson’s In the Valley of the SunConnect with Keith RossonWebsite: keithrosson.comInstagram: @rossonkeithGoodreads: Keith Rosson on GoodreadsBuy Keith Rosson’s BooksBookshop.org (support indie): Bookshop - Keith RossonAmazon: Keith Rosson on AmazonPublisher: Meerkat Press - Keith RossonSupport the ShowIf you enjoyed this episode, rate and review the show and consider supporting Keith Rosson by picking up his latest book, Coffin Moon, and leaving a (non-spoiler) review. Share with a friend!Support this podcast:patreon.com/thedarkmindpodcast