In this episode, Daniel Willcocks sits down with the legendary Paul Tremblay — Bram Stoker Award–winning and internationally acclaimed author of A Head Full of Ghosts, The Cabin at the End of the World, Survivor Song, The Pallbearers Club, and his latest novel, Horror Movie (Titan Books, 2024).
Paul opens up about the origins of his horror obsession, the long road to “overnight” success, and what it means to balance integrity, art, and audience in a genre that’s constantly evolving. From Texas Chainsaw Massacre and literary horror to Hollywood’s obsession with “happy endings,” this conversation is equal parts reflective, funny, and fiercely insightful.
💀 In this episode you’ll discover:
• How A Head Full of Ghosts became a breakout hit — and what it was like when Stephen King tweeted about it
• Why Texas Chainsaw Massacre helped inspire Horror Movie
• How Paul approaches structure and storytelling in mixed-media fiction
• What today’s horror landscape gets right — and where it’s in danger of going wrong
• The authors redefining modern horror (Mariana Enriquez, John Langan, Stephen Graham Jones, and more)
• Why persistence, not perfection, is the real secret to a lasting writing career
🔗 Links & Resources
Paul’s website: https://www.paultremblay.net
Horror Movie (Titan Books): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Horror-Movie-Paul-Tremblay/dp/1803367776
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez (recommended): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Share-Night-Mariana-Enriquez/dp/1787303466
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📚 About the Guest
Paul Tremblay is an award-winning American author whose work bridges horror, suspense, and literary fiction. His novels — including A Head Full of Ghosts, The Cabin at the End of the World (adapted for film by M. Night Shyamalan), Survivor Song, and Horror Movie — have been translated worldwide and praised for their psychological depth and genre-defying storytelling.
He has won the Bram Stoker, British Fantasy, and Massachusetts Book Awards, and his short fiction has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly Online, and numerous Year’s Best anthologies. Paul lives just outside Boston, where he teaches mathematics, writes fiction, and continues to push the boundaries of modern horror.
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