You're Not Alone in the Dark

by Eugene Johnson, Eric J. Guignard, Poppy Z. Brite (Introduction)

The world can be an overwhelming and terrifying place. People often feel as if they are beaten, trapped, hunted—pursued by the very real monsters of mental illness, disabilities, abuse, loss, and countless other fears.

Featuring essays and interviews with some of the best writers in the horror genre, and compiled by the highly acclaimed Stoker Award winning editors Eugene Johnson and Eric J Guignard, this non-fiction anthology lets people know that no matter how dark it gets, they are not alone. Contributing authors range from NYT best sellers to indie publishers, each sharing their own personal experiences, their struggles, their coping mechanisms, and what the genre community has meant to them.

Authors include Billy Martin (at the time of writing known as Poppy Z. Brite), Vince A. Liaguno, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Douglas Gwilym, Lisa Morton, John Skipp, Linda D. Addison, Stephanie Ellis, Gary A. Braunbeck, Heather Graham, Xan van Rooyen, Cindy O'Quinn, Kevin J. Anderson, Paul Tremblay, Carina Bissett, Tim Waggoner, Jamal Hodge, Matthew R. Davis, Lucy Taylor, Joe R. Lansdale, Geneve Flynn, Dan Franklin, Ramsey Campbell, Eugen Bacon, Norman Prentiss, David Wellington, David Simms, Ai Jiang, Jason Sizemore, Morgan Sylvia, Ray Garton, Mark Matthews, Del Howison, and Joe Mynhardt. Additional interior artwork has been provided by famed artist Luke Spooner.

There are more people than ever willing to voice their stories, to offer support, acceptance, and unity for others facing similar adversity. Remember to never give up hope and to never stop fighting. You’re not alone in the dark.

A portion of the proceeds generated from this book will be donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

374 pages, Paperback

Published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[JayR · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!

“Books can light your mind on fire. Books can drive a thrill through your bones and soul and make you more than a shambling skeleton dressed in weary meat. Books are, to put it simply, magic. You read arcane scratches on a dead sliver of pulverized wood and it transports you anywhere. Magic.” - Dan Franklin

The vulnerability and honesty in these stories was absolutely amazing and inspiring. I enjoyed them all even when they were tough to read.. i applaud all these authors and thank them for wearing their hearts on their sleeves so people who relate can feel a little less alone. A must read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jim Donohue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going in, I didn’t realize this was a work of non-fiction, which is on me because it says as much right on the cover. That being said, this was a very interesting collection of essays by authors, discussing, among other things, Mental Health issues, coping techniques, and their creative processes. While I won’t say it was riveting because, you know…non-fiction, I will say that it was a very interesting and eye opening read. Kudos to the editors for gathering together such a vast array of Horror authors to open up about their own personal experiences.

[Alison Faichney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t normally read non fiction but this was a fairly interesting premise for a collection and I’m glad I checked it out. You’re Not Alone in the Dark features essays written by a multitude of different authors in a variety of subjects. Mental health and what drew each author to horror is discussed and it ended up being pretty fascinating. I do think this book is geared more for writers (which I am unequivocally not), but it was interesting to read all the various perspectives.

The authors featured are such a wide variety of people all with different traumas and reasons they gravitate to horror. It doesn’t feel appropriate to list which essays were my favorite like I would in an anthology, but I will say there was one account which discussed sibling abuse and I related to this author’s struggles significantly. Luckily the author was able to reconnect with her sister later in life after appropriate mental health treatment, and while that won’t apply to my situation (we’ve been NC for almost twenty years and I have no plans to remedy that) it was still nice seeing it mentioned.

This book can be recommended to really anyone. It discusses such a wide range of issues and I imagine anyone reading would find connection in some of the essays. I’ve come a long way with my own mental health and while I don’t choose horror to escape my life any longer, it’ll still always be my jam. This was a great collection with so many varied authors.

[Jonathan Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profound, non-fiction anthology of essays and interviews with some of the best writers in the horror genre, discussing trauma, addiction, abuse, and mental health struggle. Beyond its literary merit, the anthology also serves a noble cause, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the National Alliance on Mental Illness. This collection stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the supportive nature of the horror writing community. 5 out of 5 stars.