Living into the Dark (Even When Promoting a Book)
Two recent podcast interviews on ‘Writing at the Wellspring’
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Dear Living Dark readers,
Here are two recent podcast interviews that I’ve given in connection with the publication of Writing at the Wellspring. The conversations did not, however, remain exclusively centered on that topic, as reflected in the episode description for the first interview below. My interactions with the hosts—and, in the case of the Lovecraft eZine episode, with the other guests—simply sprawled wherever they wanted to go, encompassing a wide range of topics and themes. These included the deep nature of weird fiction, the uncanny insights of nonduality, my personal history with organized religion, and my adolescent obsession with role-playing games.
In the wake of such conversations, the voice of my rational, editorial mind always speaks up to say, “You really need to stay more focused. Approach these conversations as marketing opportunities. Have your talking points pre-planned. Make sure you get the message out about the book.” But this is invariably trumped by another voice that replies, “Nah. Just keep following your natural interest and energy wherever it wants to go.” The latter, of course, represents the living into the dark outlook and ethos, here applied to the notional business of book promotion and media appearances. Which I’m more than happy to embrace.
In all such conversations and interactions—of which there are more to come, including one already completed that I’ll share with you next week—I’ve sincerely appreciated the skillful guidance of the hosts and interviewers.
If anything in the conversations below ignites a spark of interest in Writing at the Wellspring, and if you haven’t already picked up a copy, you’ll find ordering information at the bottom of this post.
In a recently published reader review, novelist and English professor Brian Hauser characterizes Writing at the Wellspring as being centered on “the examined writing life,” stating: “It easily earns its place on my shelf of texts that have challenged and changed how I think about writing and the creative life. . . . For many readers, it may be an introduction to an entirely different way of thinking about their lives.”
Interview for The Gospel of Direct Experience
Living into the Dark: Matt Cardin on Creativity, Horror, and the Daemonic
The Gospel of Direct Experience, February 5, 2026 (1 hour, 7 minutes)
In this episode of The Gospel of Direct Experience, we’re joined by Matt Cardin, acclaimed writer of cosmic horror and author of the new book Writing at the Wellspring. What unfolds isn’t just a discussion of creativity; it’s also an initiation into darkness—darkness as terror and generative source and spiritual/cultural necessity.
Matt reframes the “demon muse” or “genius” not as a benevolent guide from beyond but as an abducting, inner organizing force that destabilizes our egoic certainty and is the true wellspring of art, vocation, and transformation. Our conversation ranges from the chapel perilous and cosmic horror, to non-dual philosophy and role-playing games to Frankenstein and the collapse of modern culture.
Get ready to descend into the living dark—not to transcend it, but to be transformed by it.
Interview for Lovecraft eZine
Matt Cardin: Writing at the Wellspring
Lovecraft eZine, December 7, 2025 (1 hour, 48 minutes; my portion is about 1 hour, 17 minutes of the total episode)
(Note that I don’t actually arrive on the scene until the 8:30 mark; I somehow had the time wrong.)
Writers, artists, and creatives won’t want to miss today’s episode! Matt Cardin will talk about his new book Writing at the Wellspring: Tapping the Source of Your Inner Genius.
Later, Doug Murano of Bad Hand Books will join the conversation. Plus: John Taff!
Warm regards,
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Published in December:
“[An] intimate journey into the mystery of creativity and spirit… Cardin weaves practical methods, personal stories, literary references, and mystical insights into a lyrical meditation on what it means to create from the depths of the soul… both deeply personal and universally resonant.”
— BookLife review (Publishers Weekly)“A guide for writers who welcome the dark and hunger for meaning.
— Joanna Penn, author of Writing the Shadow“I can’t think of any [other books] that link the creative act so uniquely or persuasively with spirituality.”
— Victoria Nelson, author of On Writer’s Block and The Secret Life of Puppets“A meditation on the silence and darkness out of which all creative acts emerge....A guide for writers unlike any other.”
— J. F. Martel, author of Reclaiming Art in the Age of Artifice and co-host of Weird Studies“Important to any writer ready to see through the self illusion and realize the freedom this brings to any creative work.”
— Katrijn van Oudheusden, author of Seeing No Self
Beautiful interview on the The Gospel of Direct Experience, Matt. Ne discoveries. And...loved this quote from the podcasters themselves: “an incomprehensible darkness that may very well want to devour me, but in doing so just might liberate me from spiritualities oversaturated with light and scientism drunk with understanding and the need for control.”