In this episode, I sit down once again with author and poet Stephanie Parent to explore her haunting and deeply personal poetry collection, Cinder Girl Grows Wings. We discuss the visceral power of free verse, the symbolic structure of the collection—from Kindling to Phoenix—and how themes of girlhood, desire, BDSM, and body image are woven through her work with gothic sensitivity and raw emotional truth.

Stephanie opens up about her early fascination with fairy tales, the duality of submission and autonomy, the influence of pop culture on self-perception, and the emotional complexities of working in a BDSM dungeon. We also talk about the poetic form itself—how shape and space on the page enhance meaning—and how storytelling can reclaim and reframe painful memories.

This is a conversation about transformation, vulnerability, and what it means to create beauty from ashes. Stick around to hear Stephanie read her favorite poem from the collection, Wildfire.

📚 Buy Cinder Girl Grows Wings

Amazon (Paperback): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2X9V5G9

Amazon (Kindle): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D2X8XTZT

AbeBooks: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31529109296

eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/335350805064

Indigo (Canada): https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/cinder-girl-grows-wings/9781962687184-item.html

The Nile (Australia): https://www.thenile.com.au/books/stephanie-parent/cinder-girl-grows-wings/9781962687184/

🔗 Connect with Stephanie Parent

Website: https://www.stephanieparent.net/

Instagram: https://www.stephanieparent.net/ (linked via homepage)

Facebook (Curious Corvid Publishing): https://www.facebook.com/curiouscorvidpublishing

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209535765-cinder-girl-grows-wings

Today’s guest is Matthew R. Corr, author of the retro-inspired horror novel Camp 1985 and creator of the ever-expanding Slasherverse series.

What begins as a tongue-in-cheek sendup of influencer culture quickly descends into something far more sinister—and emotionally resonant.

We dive deep into how Corr blends analog horror tropes with modern anxieties, explores identity and mental health through characters like Ander and Liam, and examines the darker sides of internet fame.

From Ouija boards and condemned churches to OCD and body image, this episode pulls no punches.

Matthew also opens up about his personal connection to the story, his journey from musical theater to indie horror fiction, and what fans can expect from Blood in the Water and the upcoming Static Snow.

If you’re a fan of slashers, ‘80s nostalgia, and horror that hits both the heart and the jugular—this conversation is for you.

Website: https://www.matthewrcorr.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Matthew-R.-Corr/author/B08YQN9V8V?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=d02d7439-ed86-45cc-83fa-f033057d0fb0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewrcorr/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthewrcorr/

🎙️ If you want early access to full video episodes like this one, exclusive members-only reviews, and a shout-out right here on the podcast, head over to ⁠Patreon.com/TheDarkMindPodcast⁠ and become a member. Your support helps keep these conversations going.

In this episode, host Vincent Midgard is joined by author, podcaster, and epidemiologist Viggy Parr Hampton to discuss her haunting new novel The Rotting Room. Together, they explore the disturbing intersection of religious ritual, bodily decay, and psychological trauma in a cloistered convent where silence reigns and something sinister festers beneath the surface.

Viggy shares how her background in epidemiology shaped her fascination with disease and body horror, the challenges of writing a protagonist trapped in denial, and why silence can be the loudest form of tension. She also opens up about the surprising overlaps between science and storytelling, balancing creativity with parenting, and her multimedia projects like the Horror, Humor, Hunger podcast and Tag Team Tales of Terror on Dread Pop Magazine’s YouTube channel.

Whether you’re a horror fan, a writer, or just curious how someone can juggle motherhood, medicine, and monsters—this episode will leave you both disturbed and inspired.

Website: viggyhampton.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Viggy-Parr-Hampton/author/B082DC79CG?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viggyparrhampton/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Author-Viggy-Parr-Hampton/61555649969988/?_rdr

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@viggyparrhampton