Dead Languages

Did you know that the government is breeding human-dog hybrids in the basement of an old Pizza Hut? Trust me, bro. This week, we discuss how conspiracy theories can be the seed from which your horror grows.

In today's special episode, goblin Carson Winter shares what went into the making of his latest release The Corpse Priest. From conception to logistics, marketing and celebrating. This behind the scenes look at the nitty gritty is a great guide if you're interesting in the booky process of writing, constructing, and releasing a book!https://www.saltheartpress.com/corpse-priest

Today the goblins are chatting about domestic horror. What happens when you can't trust your children, your parents, your spouse, your PET? When your safe space becomes the worst place?Don't forget the launch party to celebrate Carson Winter's newest release: THE CORPSE PRIEST is April 10th!Reserve your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1986689714416?aff=oddtdtcreator

This week, the Spooky Professors put up their feet and wheel out the TV for an easy class period. We answer questions from Reddit and talk about all the cool new shit happening in our writing lives. Which means... Carson's THE CORPSE PRIEST is out now! Grab a copy wherever you like to buy books, and if you're in the US get it signed from Carson at carsonwinter.com

Don't you hate it when one of your writer friends sells a story to a big mag? What about when they get a blurb from your hero? Or go viral? Or sell a lot of books? Or—There's many ways envy can be stoked amongst writers and this episode we talk all about those ugly feelings and how to cope with them.

Oh no, step bro—something with horns is standing behind you miming cunnilingus! This week, PLM and Carson are talking about Demon Horror and how it can be used in creatively.

What's that looming in the sky? Or rising from the grave? Or...This week we're embracing the end of the world and its place in horror fiction. Check out Ivy Grimes' upcoming event hosted by our own PL McMillan here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-cellar-below-the-cellar-a-fabled-book-launch-tickets-1983585230822

Horror can be found everywhere, even in your own back yard. This week, Carson and PLM explore diving into your home turf to fuel your ghastly yarns. Sign up for PLM's special event with Ivy Grimes celebrating the release of THE CELLAR BELOW THE CELLAR: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-cellar-below-the-cellar-a-fabled-book-launch-tickets-1983585230822

Professor CarCar puts on his tweed suit and lecherous grin as the spooky co-eds all ask what they can do for extra credit. Turns out, all he wants to do is rant about how and why popular stuff is bad.

Creepies! Crawlies! Bugs are scary, right? PLM and Carson dive into why bugs are so freaky and how horror writers can make them even freakier.

PLM and Carson both love the weird fiction of Ivy Grimes, so who better to come on the show and talk fairy tales?Learn more about Ivy here: https://ivyivyivyivy.com/Preorder her new novella THE CELLAR BELOW THE CELLAR here: https://www.apexbookcompany.com/products/the-cellar-below-the-cellar?srsltid=AfmBOoosrpN84EwmS1de-FU-NF4BpqRTuj7z943Y6XvdpRbwunAqtfEG

It's that time of year! We must reflect and realign with our goals! PLM and Carson gather to deliver their writing resolutions, and encourage you to do the same. Join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/xRrvUrtW

It's that time of year again... CUMTIME! We're announcing the winners of our bizarrely named horror fiction award as voted by YOU!

PLM and Carson are back in 2026 after our winter break, but we're not done with 2025 yet! We gather up our top five reads from the second half of last year as a cozy preamble to next weeks' Cummies announcement!

The goblins eat tinsel and get festive with Luciano Marano! What makes holidays such a popular topic to add horror to? Is it the visiting family? The sweet potato casserole? The commercialism? Join the goblins as they have a civilized discussion by the festivus log.Cummies: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdL6N4TwWdVICxiZw7y6I9jE7rC27fiuFGB9x9f7FWvi39DaA/viewform?usp=send_formLuciano Marano⁠: https://www.luciano-marano.com/contactHumbug: https://www.crystallakepub.com/product/humbug-by-luciano-marano/

This week on the Dead Languages Podcast, PLMbo and CarCar dive into the history of the final girl, and talk about whether its still relevant or just a tired cliche.

This week, the goblins are size queens as they gush about kaiju in horror. The history, the memes, the love, the tips, and tricks of getting those big girthy monsters in your fiction. Don't forget to nominate for the Cummies! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdL6N4TwWdVICxiZw7y6I9jE7rC27fiuFGB9x9f7FWvi39DaA/viewform

The adventure continues! PLM plays Dungeon Daddy as Carson, Erik McHatton, Nina Miller, and Kai Delmas join us for our Annual DnD Halloween episode.

PLM plays Dungeon Daddy as Carson, Erik McHatton, Nina Miller, and Kai Delmas join us for our Annual DnD Halloween episode. We storm the Red Tower... and talk a lot about poop.

This week, Carson talks about Situational and Speculative hooks to jumpstart your ideation phase!Also, We Will Speak Again of the Red Tower is out now! Get it here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/zum1k2dg9b

We asked for drabbles and you delivered! Carson and PLM name the three winners, along with the ten runner-ups!

This week, the goblins are role-reversed into being spooky co-eds! Drabble King Kai Delmas joins us on the latest episode to offer expertise on our short stories. Find out more about Kai's editing services and fiction here: https://www.kaidelmas.com/

Carson and PLM talk about editorial services—but not just any editorial services! Carson's new offering! Listen in to learn more about Professor CarCar's desperate move to earn income!For actual writing services, follow the link: https://wintergreen.my.canva.site/

Did reality just get all messed up or are you some sort of weird horror author?This week, the goblins are joined by D. Matthew Urban to discuss how to utilize the breakdown of reality to dazzling, disorienting effect!Find out more about D. Matthew Urban here: https://dmatthewurban.com/

The goblins put their thinking caps on and answer the ponderous question: does it take talent to write? Are you born with it? Or maybe it's May...never mind. Don't forget our drabble contest is live!

We answer writing questions from Reddit, and also get to do some housecleaning. Drabble contest. Cummies Awards. The Return of Reader Mail! All that and more!

In episode 109, PLM and Carson decided to write for a new submission call put out by Slugger magazine!They pledged to write their little hearts out, then have Arwyn Sherman and Sam Logan on the show to talk about how the submission call went, along with the fate of their stories! DUH DUH DUN!!!!!!Well, the day has come. Find out the myriad ways we screwed up. Learn more about Slugger here: https://sluggerfiction.com/

Today Goblin PLM interviews literary agent Becky LeJeune about literary agents. Where authors should start, what to expect, and staying positive in the face of rejection!Find Becky here: https://bondliteraryagency.com/about-us

This week, Carson and PLM talk a lot about pedophil—Wait! Okay, we also talk about things anyone can do to help their favorite author sell some books.

Oh no! Our minds are unraveling! Can you help us step-killer?This week, we talk about Psychological Horror—a genre with some incredible history that also sometimes ages like milk.

This week we're phoning it in with some scary stories to listen to on your way to work or the bathroom.

When Christopher O'Halloran asks to talk about love, you talk about love. This week, we're exploring the many different ways love can shape a horror story (and also going on way too many tangents). Chris is the author of PUSHING DAISY from Lethe Press. Learn more here: https://www.lethepressbooks.com/store/p716/Pushing_Daisy.html

This week, PLM is off the clock so Carson brought in his favorite goblin, author Erik McHatton! Erik and Carson discuss two short stories this week: "The Professor's Teddy Bear" by Theodore Sturgeon and "Flying to Byzantium" by Lisa Tuttle.

Okay, so you're a new writer and you have no idea where to start. Well, guess what Spooky Co-eds? Stop smushing your nose up against the glass on the outside, and start embracing the pain of professional fiction writing!

The goblins kickback, relax, and share their top 5 books of 2025 so far. Will their tastes align? Probs not. Discord: https://discord.gg/97EtArJQnPCarson's new collection: https://carsonwinter.com/pre-order-portraits-of-decay/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/DeadLanguagesPodcast

PLM couldn't stop talking to authors at this year's StokerCon! Listen to the second part of her adventune here!

PLM went to StokerCon and interviewed EVERYBODY!!!!!Listen in to dozens of authors who'd like to diminish their accomplishments by appearing on the Dead Languages Podcast!

The DL goblins are back at it, asking: does the dog die?This week we discuss animals in horror, as both plot fodder and the antagonist. Also, did you hear that Carson has a book out? Order PORTRAITS OF DECAY here: https://www.saltheartpress.com/portraits-of-decay

This week, the Dead Languages goblins discuss all the many ways authors behave poorly in public settings and on social media... and how to NOT do that. RSVP for Carson Winter's launch partyhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/remove-your-mask-portraits-of-decay-book-launch-tickets-1393362618099Preorder Portraits of Decayhttps://carsonwinter.com/pre-order-portraits-of-decay/Discordhttps://discord.gg/bej4Mrcb9gPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/DeadLanguagesPodcast

Does becoming a writer change how you read? Does it kill the fun or enhance the joy? The goblins discuss why they readand how they feel it's changed for them when they started to write. Submit questions for PLM to ask at Stokerconhttps://forms.gle/utFpoKnzcofzNjsE9RSVP for Carson Winter's launch partyhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/remove-your-mask-portraits-of-decay-book-launch-tickets-1393362618099Preorder Portraits of Decayhttps://carsonwinter.com/pre-order-portraits-of-decay/Discordhttps://discord.gg/bej4Mrcb9gPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/DeadLanguagesPodcast

It's that time of the year again. The pollen is thick, it's still sometimes gloomy, and the imposter syndrome is strong. Every writer feels like they flounder or hit a wall. Not the goblins though, they're perfect.jk.The goblins check in with each other's writing journey. What hurdles have they been feeling, how are they coping, what are they looking forward to? Preorder Carson's collection here: https://carsonwinter.com/pre-order-portraits-of-decay/

The goblins get sluggy with it as they brainstorm ideas for story subs to write for the new literary magazine: SLUGGER. Listen in to their feral ramblings as they plan their next devious piece of fiction. Or whatever. Wanna join in? Check out SLUGGER here: https://sluggerfiction.com/Preorder Carson's upcoming collection here: https://carsonwinter.com/pre-order-portraits-of-decay/

This week, we sit down with author Viktor Athelstan to talk about webnovels! What are they? How are they? Who reads them?Find out more about everything Viktor is working on right here: https://linktr.ee/ViktorAthelstan

This week, we delve into TRAUMA! How it shapes us as people, our perspectives, and how it always finds its way into our fiction—one way or another.

Writers have to wait. That's just a fact of life. Between submissions, queries, releases, cover art, edits, and more—it's likely you're going to find yourself waiting more often than not. This week we discuss how to practice patience and strategies to take the pain away from the process!

PLM is back from the Planet Alimnia and that means that the Dead Languages Podcast is back at full force!This week we're talking about single-author collections and how you can choose to name them.

PLM is still gone, but that doesn't mean Carson's going to shut up. This week, Timaeus Bloom joins the Dead Languages Podcast as co-pilot, to discuss the importance and process of mentorship in writing.

Carson's alone again while PLM is lost in space!This week, author Patrick Barb joins Dead Languages to talk about horror writing hot takes. Will our white-hot opinions finally cause us to be banished from the scene? Listen and find out!

PLM is off on terrible new adventures, so Carson is home alone. So, who does he invite over? Erik McHatton, of course!Carson and Erik catch up on their reading by checking out two stories lauded within the horror canon.

Author and goblin PL McMillan went to Ghoulish in San Antonio and did a bunch of live interviews with attendees! Listen in on the shenanigans.