“I was like, I should start writing on there [Reddit]. Like I have all this free time now… Sort of my goal was to write on there enough to make even a part-time level income increment. Like it was always about the more money I could make writing, that would mean the more time I could spend doing writing and the better I could get at my craft.
And and then in the back of my mind, I was like, maybe these Hollywood guys will reach out to me. And sure enough, I think it was like three months into getting back into it, I got messaged by somebody…”
This October, we fully embraced the eerie, unsettling vibes of spooky season with author Marcus Kliewer and his latest supernatural horror releases, The Caretaker and Please Remain Seated, an audio collection of horror short stories. Even before our conversation on the podcast, we “horror-curious” gals were completely captivated by Kliewer’s style, while simultaneously straight-up scared. Thankfully, he let us tap into his creativity, craft, and personal journey thus far for deeper insight into these terrifying, unforgettable stories.
The narrative: about The Caretaker
Follow the rites… That’s all Macy Mullins has to do when she accepts a housesitting job found on Craigslist. It’s just three days of watching over the property, with some odd instructions but for incredible pay—no problem. That is, until it becomes a real, horrifying nightmare she can’t escape.
The nightcap
When you listen/watch this episode with Marcus Kliewer, you’ll hear his recommended setup for reading The Caretaker includes the Prisoners soundtrack playing in the background, a single source of light, a crackling fireplace (even a TV version will do), and ideally, on a rainy evening. Of course, that is if you want to embrace the eeriness and tone of his supernatural horror novel. He does offer one source of comfort though, for balance, and that’s with the nightcap—a cup of hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and mint sprinkles. Feel free to add a dash of something stronger in there. Maybe it’ll ease the unsettling moments, or perhaps, the contrast between something so sweet with this waking nightmare will mirror the juxtaposition of this PNW setting and one of the moment’s that inspired the story.
In this Narratives and Nightcaps podcast episode
Get to know Marcus in this episode of Narratives & Nightcaps. We chat about:
The lamppost ad he saw years ago that sparked this idea, the jarring juxtaposition he couldn’t stop thinking about, and how the concept evolved into The Caretaker.
Writing and sharing scary stories on Reddit over a decade ago, returning to it to focus on his craft, and the message that was the catalyst for his two published books, an audio collection, and more. We couldn’t stop thinking about Marcus saying, “ Whereas if things had gone even a slightly different way, I wouldn't have started writing on Reddit again because I was always looking for excuses not to. And it would be like, well, I need to get better or… if I post it's gotta be like ten out of ten. And I think getting over that fear of don't let perfect be the enemy of good enough, you know?”
The power of uncategorizable horror—Marcus tells us about how he makes ordinary situations feel frightening and taps into fears or anxieties that are recognizable and personal (at least to us).
Much like The Caretaker and Please Remain Seated, this conversation with Kliewer will no doubt linger with us, in the best way. He’s pushed us outside of our regular reading comfort zones, and we can confidently say, we can’t wait to see where his writing takes us next. We’re eager and equally terrified for the next haunting story.
Listen to the full author interview on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Purchase your copy of The Caretaker here, and listen to Please Remain Seated here.