Indie Publishing, Intentional Ambiguity, & the Tyranny of Structure w/ Daniel Braum

In this interview, we chat with Daniel Braum about exploring the ecology of the supernatural, finding inspiration in liminal spaces, cultivating a sense of awe, and so much more.  

Daniel Braum writes short stories that explore the tension between the psychological and the supernatural. He intentionally adopts the term “strange tales” for his “Twilight Zone-like stories in homage to author Robert Aickman and the intentional ambiguities of his work. His latest collection is Phantom Constellations: Strange Tales and Ghost Stories from Cemetery Dance Publications (2025). His stories appear in places ranging from The Best Horror of the Year Volume 12, edited by Ellen Datlow, and Shivers 8, edited by Richard Chizmar.

Books and stories mentioned in this episode:  

• Cold Hand in Mine — Robert Aickman  
• The Artist's Way — Julia Cameron 
• Ancient Images; The Hungry Moon  — Ramsey Campbell 
• "Plunged in the Years" — Jeffrey Ford 
• "Children of the Corn" — Stephen King 
• The Ceremonies — T. E. D. Klein 
• Beginnings, Middles & Ends — Nancy Kress 
• Dreams of Dark and Light — Tanith Lee 
• Rosemary's Baby; The Stepford Wives — Ira Levin 
• Story — Robert McKee 
• Conjunctions 83: The Ghost Issue — Joyce Carol Oates and Bradford Morrow, eds.
• The Jaguar Hunter — Lucius Shepard 
• Shadowland — Peter Straub 
• Conjunctions 39: The New Wave Fabulists — Peter Straub, ed.
• Harvest Home — Thomas Tryon 
• The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers — Chris Vogler