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Podcast: Authors on the Air Global Radio Network
Episode: Michael Reed “Desperate Measures”: Queer Folklore and the Making of a Thriller - Ep 19
Description: A mother–son bond, Appalachian folklore, and the monsters we carry inside. Author Michael Reed joins host Ian Henzel to unpack his debut horror-suspense novel, “Desperate Measures.” We get into Joey’s character (rooted in Michael’s own childhood), queer identity in horror, West Virginia as a living presence, and a visual, scene-first writing process—plus a peek at the sequel.
In this episode
• Building Joey: trauma, empathy, survival
• Folklore threads that tighten the suspense
• Writing what haunts you (seeing scenes “like a movie”)
• Queer identity and representation in horror
• Environment as a character: West Virginia’s imprint
• Abuse, escape, and the ethics of fear
• The s...