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 sequel to “Desperate Measures” 📖 Look inside → [https://www.book2look.com/book/MsgNiBkaRz 🛒 Buy the book → https://rattlinggoodyarns.com/product/desperate-measures/ #QueerHorror #DesperateMeasuresBook #AuthorInterview #MichaelReedAuthor #HorrorThriller #LGBTQLit #BookPodcast #Folklore #AppalachianFolklore #WestVirginiaWriters