Interview: Nat Cassidy on Crafting a Travelogue of Fear in His Debut Anthology "I Know A Place"

It’s always a sight for sore, googly eyes to hear that more Nat Cassidy is on the way. After When the Wolf Comes Home ranked among our top reads of last year, we were particularly eager to get our eyeballs on his first short fiction collection, I Know A Place, to find out in what new ways he would use his sharp, meticulously crafted storytelling to turn everyday settings into sources of dread. This new anthology guides readers through a series of unsettling locations where darkness hides in plain sight — from a suspiciously empty gas station rest stop in the middle of the night, to a doctor’s office where a bottle of booze and a tear-stained folder sit waiting on the desk; from a tech millionaire’s haunted kitchen and a Bible-quoting ventriloquist’s dingy apartment, to a yoga retreat in the middle of the desert — serving up a “travelogue” of novellas and stories that explore fear, obsession, and the shadows lurking just beyond the light. After reading the collection, the one and only Stephen King had the following to say: “These stories are f*cking great. They rule. So read them.” He also provides an introduction to the book. There is also a Barnes & Noble exclusive edition featuring alternate cover art designed by Alan Lastufka — who also created the standard cover — alongside two additional bonus stories only available in that edition so you're spoilt for choice. Love them both, we do. To celebrate the book’s May 5th publication, CinemaChords sat down with Cassidy to discuss the anthology, including whether the novella “Rest Stop” was always intended as the collection’s central piece and scene-setter, as well as the hidden horrors of dating — explored through two sharply observed “Meet-Cute” stories (the kind that could easily spiral into a full-blown dating-from-hell anthology) and what draws him to reworking seemingly “comforting” pop culture touchstones to expose the envy, entitlement, and fate lurking beneath them. BUY YOUR COPY of "I KNOW A PLACE" HERE: https://amzn.to/4cXkx4d BUY THE EXCLUSIVE BARNES & NOBLE EDITION HERE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-kn... SUBSCRIBE so as not to miss out on any upcoming videos at Howard's Haunt HERE: https://bit.ly/2KUmvrp Check out all of Howards channels: SCREAM horror movie interviews/reviews/articles: https://bit.ly/3n63XCy Twitter:   / howardgorman   Instagram:   / howser75