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Spotlight: When You Leave I Disappear
Travis Earl
December 11, 2024
Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Horrors of Our Times Newsletter!
Our spotlight this week is David Niall Wilson’s When You Leave I Disappear .
Wilson is a writer of horror, science fiction, and fantasy; as well as a founder of Crossroad Press, a digital, print and audio publishers with over 3,000 titles, including works from such horror luminaries as Clive Barker and Jack Ketchum.
When You Leave I Disappear is a blend of horror and suspense with a heady dose of Stranger Than Fiction. Like a Russia nesting doll, Wilson’s novella contains stories within stories. Anyone that has struggled to put pen to page will relate to Wilson’s protagonist, Andrea Simons, and her struggle with imposter syndrome. Seeking to prove to herself that she can write more than just romance novels, Andrea decides to use an online writing prompt to help her write what she truly wants. While Andrea’s quest for artistic fulfillment seems to be a framing device for Andrea’s story, the narrative quickly becomes more complex as Andrea finds herself drawn deeper into the fictional worlds she creates. The breadcrumbs Wilson leaves throughout the early parts of the book pay dividends as the fictional narratives begin to entwine.
Wilson keeps the pace up with new narrative wrinkles and twists making this short read a blast. Fans of horror and suspense will both be served by Niall’s genre-bending narrative.