About this episode
Hey Mostly Horror fans! In this episode, Steve and Sean sit down with the legendary Jonathan Rand, the mastermind behind the "Michigan Chillers" and "American Chillers" series. We dig into Jonathan's journey from aspiring writer to beloved children's horror author. Hear about his early inspirations, the creative process behind his chilling tales, and how he self-publishes and markets his books. Jonathan also shares some behind-the-scenes stories, insights on balancing creativity with business, and advice for aspiring writers. Plus, we reveal our top five favorite covers from his series. Get ready for a deep dive into the spooky world of Jonathan Rand! Breakdown: [00:23] Steve talks about meeting Jonathan Rand [00:54] A trailer breakdown for "Cruella" with Emma Stone [03:15] Announcement of Netflix's "Wednesday" series directed by Tim Burton [05:45] Tim Burton's recent controversies and lack of diversity in his films [11:01] Casting predictions for the "Wednesday" series [11:45] Possible actors for the role of Wednesday Addams [12:29] New segment ideas for the podcast: "Horror Stories" [17:10] Interview with Jonathan Rand [17:30] Jonathan's start with writing and early inspirations [21:20] Inspirations for horror-themed children's books [23:30] Influence of old-time radio and ghost stories on Jonathan's writing [25:02] The alliteration in book titles and its appeal to kids [26:35] Jonathan's approach to self-publishing and marketing his books [29:00] Distributing books in non-traditional places [32:26] Balancing creativity and business [34:46] Jonathan's daily routine and creative process [35:48] Explanation of "Chiller Mania" and its significance [41:00] Discussion on changes in book covers and working with artists [44:55] Behind-the-scenes stories from Jonathan's career [47:00] Advice for aspiring writers and maintaining passion [52:00] Future projects and the evolution of digital art [56:00] Our top five "Michigan Chillers" and "American Chillers" covers Follow Us on Social Media: Instagram & Threads: @mostlyhorrorpod TikTok & Twitter/X: @mostlyhorror Steve: @stevenisaverage on all socials Sean: @hypocrite.ink on IG/TikTok, @hypocriteink on Twitter/X Loved the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Follow Us on Social Media: Instagram & Threads: @mostlyhorrorpod TikTok & Twitter/X: @mostlyhorror Steve: @stevenisaverage (all socials) Sean: @hypocrite.ink (IG/TikTok), @hypocriteink (Twitter/X) Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe , rate , and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform to help us reach more horror fans like you! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.