Author Interview: Darkness Calls by Joe Chianakas
- Fiction Fans
- Jun 3
- 9 min read
Thank you so much for joining us for this Q&A! We’ll start off with one of our standard podcast opening questions–tell us something great that’s happened recently.
I’m riding a full-on Beyoncé high right now! I just saw her Cowboy Carter tour—my second time experiencing her live, the first being Renaissance. There’s no describing what she gives her audience—it must be felt. And that feeling? It lights a fire in me. It makes me want to create boldly, to shatter genres, and to break the rules. I want my readers to close a book and say, “That wasn’t just a story—that was an experience I’ll never forget.” Art inspiring art—that’s my kind of magic.
What are you currently reading or what’s up next on your TBR? What made you pick up this book?
Right now, I’m bouncing between Sunrise of the Reaping—the latest Hunger Games prequel—and Cher’s memoir. Quite the duo, right? One pulls me into a world of brilliant storytelling and immersive worldbuilding; the other reminds me how powerful it is to draw inspiration from icons across all creative fields.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start writing?
I’m a queer professor, author, husband, dog-lover, LGBTQ+ advocate—and a lifelong dream-chaser, especially when it comes to the dream of being published.
Funny enough, I didn’t always love reading as a kid—at least not until I picked up my first horror novel. That changed everything. Horror kept me up at night in the best way. It scared me, thrilled me, and sparked my imagination. I even started writing my own back-of-the-book blurbs for the stories I dreamed up. I also devoured every horror movie I could find—a true child of the ’80s and ’90s—and it became a special bond I shared with my mom, who loved the genre just as much.
As an adult, I knew I wanted to give something back to the genre that gave me so much. I want to write the kind of story that makes horror fans say, “This is the one I’ve been waiting for.” And for those who don’t usually read horror, I hope to offer a glimpse into the magic the rest of us know so well.
That’s exactly what Darkness Calls is—my own fresh take on a monster-in-the-woods tale, and a story I’m proud to share with the world.
If you could collaborate with any one author, who would it be and why?
I know it sounds cliché, but of course Stephen King would be on the list—I mean, how could he not be? But honestly, the dream collaboration I’ve thought about for years is with Mitch Albom, the author of Tuesdays with Morrie. We actually share a unique connection—about 20 years ago, I convinced him to visit my classroom, and it’s stuck with me ever since.
I’ve always imagined a “Tuesday People”–style project, spotlighting those who give back to their communities. My twist? A celebration of LGBTQ+ leaders who are making the world brighter, braver, and better—one story at a time.
What is one thing that you love about the current state of horror and what is one thing that you wish you saw more of?
I love that horror is finally being recognized as art—because it absolutely is. Just look at Sinners! What a film. Could something like that have been made in the ’80s? Probably not. Horror has evolved. Sure, we can still have fun with slashers, exorcisms, and vampires—but we can also tell stories with real depth. We can create horror with heart.
That’s exactly what I set out to do with Darkness Calls. It’s more than a monster-in-the-woods story—it’s about the horrors we try to escape, and the ones we quietly carry every day. I want more of that in the genre. More scares, yes—but also more soul. Give us horror with heart!
What are your favorite types of stories? Of characters?
I’m a sucker for an underdog story. Give me anyone society has overlooked or underestimated—I’m all in. That’s exactly what drove me when I wrote my LGBTQ+ series, Singlets and Secrets and Pride and Persistence. I didn’t want a queer side character or someone who needs a straight savior to fit in. I wanted a queer hero. Period.
A hero who builds their own world—one that inspires, includes, and celebrates all of us. That’s the kind of story I live to tell.
What was your favorite part of writing Darkness Calls?
The spark for Darkness Calls came from a surprising place: the rediscovery of a long-buried childhood secret. As we grow older, our days become structured, and our routines more rigid. In the process, we quietly let go of things we once loved.
For me, one of those things was riding a bike. When I turned thirty, I told my husband I wanted to start biking again. I didn’t have a reason. I just missed it. I missed the wind on my face.
That year, for my birthday, he surprised me with a bike. My birthday’s in March, and March in Illinois is still pretty cold, but I rode anyway. I rode as much as I could. Soon, I found myself drawn back to a place from my childhood: one of the largest cemeteries in the state. I had grown up near it. As a kid, I used to wander through it, get lost in it, and make up stories in it.
Biking through those same winding paths years later felt like time travel. Every turn revealed something familiar—an old monument, the legendary witch’s circle, a statue I swore once moved when I wasn’t looking. Each ride through the cemetery was a rediscovery, a reunion with the strange, magical world I used to know.
And then came the moment—the one that truly inspired Darkness Calls.
There was a spot, a very specific place in that cemetery, tied to a childhood memory so vivid I could almost feel it. But no matter how many times I searched, I couldn’t find it. I rode that cemetery top to bottom, revisiting a thousand memories but not that one.
Until one day, I did.
And it was magic. Pure, inexplicable magic.
I can’t tell you exactly what I found—not here. That moment lives inside the pages of Darkness Calls. The Darkness guards a secret. And that secret? It’s part of the story.
You’ll have to decide for yourself if it really exists.
What comes first to you when you’re writing, the world, the characters, or the storyline?
For me, it’s always a unique blend of all three: character, world, and storyline. I can’t develop one without thinking about the others. A character doesn’t exist in a vacuum. I have to know the world they live in, what they want, and what’s standing in their way.
Take Singlets and Secrets, my queer Karate Kid–inspired novel (which, yes, even got an endorsement from the co-creator of Netflix’s Cobra Kai—a total dream moment!). I created Aiden, a queer teen, but I didn’t stop there. I wanted to put him in the toughest environment I could imagine.
Florida.
Okay, okay—there are worse places :) But I threw him into a “Don’t Say Gay” setting and gave him something powerful to fight for: love. The kind that gives you the strength to stand up, speak out, and throw a punch when you need to.
In Darkness Calls, I began with Christina—a young woman once manipulated by a literal monster as a child. Now, the monster’s back and wants her to kill for it again. But this time? Christina’s stronger. Smarter. And she’s not afraid to fight back in a world where evil has already convinced good people to do terrible things.
So yes, for me, it’s all about the intersection of character, world, and story. That’s where the magic happens.
Can you give us an elevator pitch for your book?
For Darkness Calls:
Darkness Calls is for fans of horror, thrillers, and dark fantasy. It’s one part monster story—where I let my inner child run wild on the page and unleashed the kind of creatures that would’ve kept him up at night. It’s one part mystery—the Darkness hides a powerful secret, and the characters’ first mission is to uncover a hidden, otherworldly truth. And it’s one part art—a meditation on death, grief, loss, and the nature of evil, all told through shifting perspectives.
For Singlets and Secrets:
It’s a queer karate kid story, a cranekick to homophobia, and a story of first love!
How different is the final version of this book from the first draft?
Oh wow... Darkness Calls is so different from where it started. One of my favorite characters—a half-human, half-monster—didn’t even exist in the first draft! Now, I can’t imagine the story without her.
Whether I pulled it off or not, my goal was to make Darkness Calls my horror story you’ll never forget. I poured everything I had into it and gave the story room to breathe, evolve, and transform into what it is today.
It’s a horror tale built for true horror fans—those who want to be scared, surprised, and swept away by something bold and fun.
If you could choose one worldbuilding detail (a place, ability, or creature, for example) from Darkness Calls to exist in the real world, what would it be and why?
THE SECRET! Yes, my monster guards a secret, and I can’t spoil it here. But it’s the entity I rediscovered in my adult cemetery adventures.
Trust me, when you discover what THE SECRET is in Darkness Calls, you will want it to be real, too.
Maybe it is :)
In your opinion, what kind of reader would like this book?
Darkness Calls isn’t just for horror fans, although if you love authors like Grady Hendrix or Riley Sager, you’ll definitely want to dive in. It also speaks to fans of dark fantasy. My best friend isn’t into horror at all—she’s more of a fantasy reader—yet this is her favorite book I’ve written.
Maybe you’re an adult who understands grief and loss. There’s something deeply personal in Darkness Calls for you, too. I wrote it after losing my mom to cancer. In many ways, the monster in the story—an unstoppable force that can strike anyone, anytime—represents that kind of invisible, devastating pain.
Or maybe you’re a teen who loves Stranger Things with its mystery, magic, and unforgettable characters. Darkness Calls has all of that, and then some. Whatever your path to the story, I hope it haunts you in the best possible way.
What would you like readers to take away from this book?
Never let the Darkness dim your shine.
We all will fight Darkness in our lives. Maybe you already have. This is a story for everyone who has faced the worst parts of life but are still trying to shine and live.
Do you have a favorite quote from your book that you can share with us? What about this quote in particular makes it your favorite?
Too many favorites!
But here’s one: “Evil isn’t just about doing bad things. It’s about getting good people to do bad things.”
It’s a metaphor for our world. I see good people stay silent while others are hurt—or worse, I see them get manipulated by narcissistic leaders driven by hate and revenge. And just like that, even good people can fall into darkness.
What I hope Darkness Calls reminds us is this: we all have a choice. We can build others up, or we can tear them down. Monsters and corrupt leaders choose the latter. I want to be someone who chooses the former and inspires others to do the same.
Is there anything you can tell us about any current projects you’re working on?
Yes! I’m thrilled to share that Fearless and Fabulous, book three in my Unveiling Aiden series, is on track to release in spring 2026! I’m so proud of this series. It’s my LGBTQ+ take on The Karate Kid, but there’s something in it for everyone, especially allies. And good news—we’ve got preorders available now for the audiobooks!
As for Darkness Calls, it’s the first of a two-part story. The sequel is already written and currently in edits, so you won’t have to wait long. I’m hoping we can release it by Halloween 2026. When you finish Darkness Calls, I hope you'll be itching for more.
Follow me on your favorite social media platforms—I’ll keep you posted!
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for us! Do you have any parting thoughts or comments you’d like to leave for our readers?
I want to be an author that surprises readers and makes non-readers fall in love with a book. Darkness Calls is my soul. Singlets and Secrets is my heart. I hope you’ll read both.
And finally, where can you be found on the internet if our readers want to hear more from you?
Subscribe to my author newsletter at https://joechianakas.weebly.com/#/
Follow me on your favorite socials.
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/chianakas
About the book:
The line between light and dark is thinner than you think.
In the woods surrounding a quiet Midwestern town, an ancient malevolence awakens. Unseen by most, the Darkness hungers for the radiant energy of children-a feast it craves with an insatiable thirst. A decade after a nightmarish onslaught shattered the community, this evil thought to be vanquished returns, more ferocious than ever.
Christina finds herself once again at the heart of the storm. The Darkness destroyed her family and twisted her childhood friend Fiara into something neither fully human nor wholly monster. But this time, Christina refuses to be a victim. Determined to fight back, she rallies an extraordinary group of gifted individuals, each with unique talents and untapped energy. Together, they form an unlikely alliance, bound by a shared goal: to rescue their abducted friends and unravel the sinister enigma that threatens their world.
As they venture deep into nightmarish realms, monstrous creatures and inner demons rise to confront them. Secrets become their weapons, trust their shield. The line between light and dark blurs, and the fate of their world hangs by a thread. In this battle against ancient malevolence, only the bravest hearts will endure.
Darkness Calls beckons you into a world where the line between light and dark blurs, where friendships forged in adversity become the armor against ancient malevolence. Will their combined strengths be enough to stem the tide of darkness? The battle for survival is about to ignite once more, and only the bravest hearts will endure.
