Michael Coulombe Writes

New Horror Short Story on Substack!

I’m excited to share the first rough draft of my newest horror short story, Del Obispo Road.

This is one of the stories I’m considering for my upcoming anthology, Dreadtime Stories.

After a date night, Nico and Rachel take the long way home along the dark, winding stretch of Del Obispo Road. Beneath the glow of the moon and the dim streetlights, something begins to feel… wrong. The silence grows heavier with every mile, and before long, they realize they may not be alone.

This is an early draft, and I’d love to hear your thoughts as the story continues to evolve.

Read it now on my Substack and let me know what you think in the comments!

July 2026 Writing Prompt – The Encouragement Enclave

A new month is here, and with it comes a brand-new writing challenge!

This month’s prompt is:

“The summer heat hung heavy in the air as we gathered beneath a sky waiting to explode with color.”

Begin with that line and build your story from there.

Will it be a celebration, a romance, a mystery, a thriller, or something completely unexpected? Let your imagination lead the way.

When you’re finished, head over to my Substack page and share your short story in the COMMENTS section. Read what others have written, leave some encouragement, and become part of this month’s creative community.

Every story begins with a single sentence. I can’t wait to see where yours goes.

Happy writing! 🎇

New Author Interview on Substack!

Today I’m delighted to introduce Colleen Anderson, an award-winning Canadian author and poet whose work has been published internationally in publications including Weird Tales, Cemetery Dance, Amazing, and Shadow Atlas.

A Rhysling Award winner for Machine (r)Evolution and a two-time winner of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association’s Dwarf Poetry Contest, Colleen has also been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Elgin Award, Rhysling Award, and Dwarf Stars Award. She is a recipient of grants from the Canada Council, the BC Arts Council, and Ladies of Horror Fiction.

Her books include the poetry collections The Lore of Inscrutable Dreams, I Dreamed a World, Weird Worlds, and Vellum Leaves and Lettered Skins, along with the fiction collections A Body of Work and Embers Amongst the Fallen.

Colleen also works as a freelance editor, has served on the executive of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association, on the British Fantasy Award and Bram Stoker Award juries, and will serve as the Horror Writers Association Poetry Showcase Editor for 2026.

She lives in Vancouver, where she’s always searching for mermaids.

Read our full conversation about poetry, horror, speculative fiction, and the creative life ⬇️

A while back, I wrote a horror short film called Mommy Uncanny for my friend’s YouTube channel. Since its release, the film has grown to more than 223,000 views, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has watched and shared it.

What makes this even more exciting is that YouTube creator Empeds Casul recently created a remake of the film using the same audio, putting a fresh spin on the story and introducing it to a whole new audience.

As a writer, there’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing a story take on a life of its own. Thank you to everyone who continues to support my work—it truly means the world.

If you haven’t seen Mommy Uncanny yet, now’s the perfect time to check it out!

Find out more on my Substack

oday I’m pleased to introduce Angela Harrington, a writer I met through the Horror Writers Association.

Angela lives in Fredericton, and her first published work, Shattering Glass: A Story of Loss, Love, and Survival, explores resilience, healing, and finding strength through life’s most difficult moments.

In our conversation, Angela shares how an incredibly challenging year shaped both her life and her writing. After experiencing profound personal losses and heartbreak, she turned to storytelling as a way to process grief, honor memory, and move forward.

This is an honest and heartfelt discussion about loss, perseverance, creativity, and the power of writing to help us make sense of life’s darkest chapters.

Read the full interview now ⬇️

New Author Interview on Substack!

Today I’m excited to introduce Kathe Koja, a Detroit, Michigan native who was introduced to me through Meerkat Press.

Kathe is an acclaimed writer and event producer whose work continues to push the boundaries of storytelling. She is the author of the immersive Dark Factory Trilogy, a unique literary experience that blends fiction, atmosphere, and audience participation into something truly unforgettable.

In our conversation, we discuss creativity, immersive storytelling, the evolution of horror and speculative fiction, and the importance of building experiences that connect with readers on a deeper level.

If you’re interested in innovative fiction and the creative process behind it, this is an interview you won’t want to miss.

Read the full interview now ⬇️

New Book Review on Substack!

I just posted a quick review of Strange Cruel Fate by Martin Dandeau.

One year after his wife’s murder shattered his life, Hayden Pellaut travels to Alaska to document the legendary Iditarod. But another story begins to consume him—a chilling local legend involving a vanished documentary filmmaking couple, a slaughtered wolf pack, and a blood-soaked warning carved into the frozen earth:

NEVER SHOUT MY NAME

Read my full review now ⬇️

New Writer Interview on Substack!

Today’s interview is especially meaningful because I’m introducing one of my oldest and dearest friends, Regan Talley.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Regan is currently working on a powerful new play titled SHEPHARD/TILL. Written in verse, the piece examines the intersection of race and sexuality through the lens of two of the most significant hate crimes in American history. It seeks to explore understanding, prejudice, and the bridges that can be built between communities often divided by fear and misunderstanding.

Read the full interview now ⬇️

New Book Review on Substack!

I just posted a review of The Doll’s House by Lisa Unger, part of the Amazon Original Stories collection.

Dark, suspenseful, and unsettling, this story pulls readers into a world where appearances can be deceiving and secrets are never truly buried. Lisa Unger once again demonstrates her talent for creating tension and keeping readers turning pages.

Read my full review now ⬇️

New Book Review on Substack!

As I continue working on my own children’s books, I often find inspiration and motivation in the stories created by other authors.

Recently, I read Crosby the Crab by Laura Yirak.

The story follows Crosby, an ordinary crab living on a tropical beach, whose life changes when a mysterious object washes ashore and sends him on an unforgettable adventure.

It’s a charming tale filled with curiosity, discovery, and the excitement of exploring the unknown—qualities that make children’s literature so magical.

If you enjoy heartwarming adventures and stories that encourage imagination, check out my full review on Substack.

Read it now ⬇️

New Book Review on Substack

Today I’m highlighting Party of a Lifetime by Henry Corrigan.

For Becca Longford, prom was supposed to be the best night of her life—and in a way, it was. Despite parental meltdowns, mean-girl drama, and even a fire, she and her friends forged a bond that seemed unbreakable.

Now, one year later, Becca is determined to recreate the night that could have been.

Unfortunately, someone else has plans of their own…

Blending nostalgia, friendship, suspense, and horror, Party of a Lifetime takes a familiar rite of passage and twists it into something much darker.

Check out my thoughts and learn more about the book on my Substack page ⬇️

☀️🌈 June 2026 Writing Prompt – The Encouragement Enclave

A new month has arrived, bringing with it the warmth of summer, new possibilities, and the opportunity to embrace who we truly are.

This month’s prompt is:

“The first sunrise of June felt different, as if the world was inviting me to become who I was meant to be.”

Begin with that line and build your story from there.

📖 Once you’ve written your story, head over to my Substack page and share it in the COMMENTS section. Read what others have created and let your voice become part of this month’s creative community.

June marks the beginning of summer and Pride Month—a time to celebrate authenticity, growth, and the many ways we express ourselves.

Happy writing, and may this month’s prompt inspire you to show the world your grace.

New Author Interview on Substack!

Today I’m excited to introduce Kent Priore, an author I met through Instagram.

Kent is the winner of the Firebird Book Award and an Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite. A graduate of Bard College with a BA in Written Arts, he writes dark literature and genre-blending fiction where dark romanticism meets modern psychology.

His work explores themes of inner struggle, resilience, mental health, and the human capacity to endure even the darkest moments. Kent is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and greater acceptance of neurodivergence, themes that are deeply woven into his writing.

His debut novel, The Monsters Among Us, examines both the devastating and hopeful aspects of the human condition, offering readers a message that even in darkness, all is not lost.

Read the full interview now ⬇️

Today I’m excited to introduce Jessica M. Coronado — an author and philosopher based in Portland, Oregon.

Living with multiple chronic illnesses, Jessica channels her love of stories, philosophy, and imagination into fiction that explores identity, consciousness, memory, and cosmic wonder.

She writes across speculative fiction, science fiction, and literary genres, creating stories that are both thought-provoking and deeply human.

Her upcoming speculative fiction novel, Permutations, is expected soon.

Read the full interview now ⬇️

New Author Interview on Substack!

Today I’m honored to feature Christa Carman, a writer I met through the Horror Writers Association.

Christa lives in Rhode Island and is a Bram Stoker Award-winning author as well as a two-time Shirley Jackson Award nominee.

Her acclaimed works include How to Fake a Haunting, Beneath the Poet’s House, and The Daughters of Block Island — which won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel and was a Shirley Jackson Award finalist.

She is also the author of the Indie Horror Book Award-winning Something Borrowed, Something Blood-Soaked and the Bram Stoker Award-nominated story Through the Looking Glass and Straight into Hell from Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror.

Christa holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Boston College, and the University of Southern Maine.

Read the full interview now ⬇️

New Writer Interview on Substack!

Today I’m excited to introduce Domenic Migliore.

Diagnosed with autism at the age of 8, Domenic has turned his creativity and storytelling into a powerful artistic journey.

His screenplay Ashley was adapted into the 2013 feature film Ashley starring Nicole Fox and Michael Madsen.

Most recently, he released a collection of short stories titled Frame Story.

Read the full interview now 

New Author Interview on Substack!

Today’s interview is a special one — featuring my cousin, Daryl Hook. And fittingly, today is also his birthday. 🎉

Growing up, Daryl and I spent our time making homemade horror films together, and honestly, those experiences played a huge role in why I became a filmmaker myself.

Daryl went on to write and direct his first B-style slasher horror film, Sssstoner Snake — and I even had a small role in it, voicing the character Bones the Skeleton.

Read the full interview now ⬇️