Read ‘buffet of the damned’ for free at the Daily Dead!
Just had lunch? Want to lose it? Well, you can read my short story “buffet of the damned” online for free right now! The fine folks at the Daily Dead have posted a lovely sample of my new short story collection NOTHING UNTOWARD… so hop to it! You'll never look at cruise ships the same way again. Ever. Read “buffet” here.
May 19, 2017
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Restoration announced for Frontieres!
So… Can you keep a secret? I've been working on a script. I can't tell you what it's about. Yet. But it's title is “The Restoration at Grayson Manor” and it was just selected to take part in this year's Frontieres Market at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal. Ten feature film projects were chosen and we were one of two from the US. Woo-hoo! Keep checking back here for more info, but until then, here's some press:
“Frontieres@Fantasia: First Wave Announced. Includes Legends, Indie Faves, And More,” Screen Anarchy.
“George A. Romero Revving Up New Zombie Film,” Entertainment Weekly.
“New George Romero Zombie Film Among Horror Projects Coming to Fantasia Market This Summer,” Indiewire.
May 19, 2017
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Interview from the Buxton Inn!
I was interviewed from haunted hotel the Buxton Inn in Ohio by the fine folks over at The Film Coterie and got to read a spooooooooooooky story, to boot. You can listen to the podcast here. These guys were kind enough to do a little writeup on their website as well, which you can read here.
“Imagine a creepy character talking directly to you on your own phone and laying out a horrific tale and you'll start to get the idea. It felt personal that way. Sent a shiver down my spine…” Thanks, Film Coterie!
May 17, 2017
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Review roundup from the Overlook Film Festival
A surprising number of reviews popped up from our performance of the Pumpkin Pie Show at the Overlook Film Festival. Here are a few choice quotes from some pretty (dis)reputable publications:
“Chapman is doing something that feels new and present and his particular brand of alchemy both needs and deserves an audience.” Birth.Movies.Death., “When Clay McLeod Chapman Tells a Story, You Listen.” Read the full review here.
“A powerful and incredibly unnerving performance that I’ll never forget. Clay McLeod Chapman is an incredible actor and storyteller.” Daily Dead, “Immersive Experiences and Special Events.” Read the full review here.
“On the lighter side of things, performer Clay McLeod Chapman shared playfully spooky stories with festivalgoers in one-on-one sessions, sitting across from them and maintaining eye contact as he took on a series of storytelling identities.”—Indiewire, “Why Immersive Experiences Are the Future of Storytelling.” Read the full review here.
“Clay McLeod Chapman led people into the dark corners of the lodge for intimate retellings of his famous The Pumpkin Pie Show stories, which included silly voices, intense moments, and extremely animated movements.”—Haunting, “Curating the Best Horror Storytelling.” Read the full review here.
Special thanks again to Michael and Landon for bringing the Pumpkin Pie Show out to the Overlook. It was a total blast… And thanks to everyone who braved our one-on-one performances! Hope to see you next year!
May 6, 2017
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Birth.Movies.Death eats up the Pumpkin Pie Show!
The Pumpkin Pie Show was fortunate enough to have been invited to perform at the first annual Overlook Film Festival in Oregon this last weekend. The fine folks at Birth.Movies.Death just so happened to attend, and we were super surprised to find this lovely little write up about our show:
“Chapman is doing something that feels new and present and his particular brand of alchemy both needs and deserves an audience.”
Thanks so much, BMD! It's a total honor… Let's do it again soon!
To read the full review, click here.
May 2, 2017
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EW plugs the Pie at Overlook!
Today the Overlook Film Festival announce it amazing lineup, including The Pumpkin Pie Show… Entertainment Weekly took notice and wrote a little something-something about the fest and mentioned yours truly. You can read all about it here. See you at the Timberline! Things are gonna get spooooooooooooky…
April 11, 2017
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Richmond Magazine interview!
Richmond Magazine was kind enough to ask me a couple questions before next week's ransacking of my hometown. You can read the interview here. See you at Chop Suey Books and then at the Pumpkin Pie Show! Thanks to Harry Kolatz for the lovely chat.
February 16, 2017
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NOTHING UNTOWARD is on shelves now!
At long last, I am over the moon to announce my second collection of short stories, NOTHING UNTOWARD, is finally on the shelves. This book picks up where my first collection, REST AREA, left off… with 40 new tales for your reading (dis)pleasure! I'll be celebrating its arrival into this world with a few reading events in NYC and RVA, along with a couple Pumpkin Pie Shows around. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore. Available online at Amazon or Indiebound or beyond…
February 15, 2017
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New short story “the fireplace” at Hello Horror!
I wrote a heartwarming story titled “the fireplace” and it's popped up online at Hello Horror. I think you should read it before social services swoops in and takes my children away from me. You can read it for FREE here. But don't say I didn't warn you.
February 7, 2017
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The Evil One now available for pre-order!
The Evil One anthology is now available for pre-order! 36 stories, 432 pages, inspired by one awesome album. It's got my oogly-boogly story B-SIDE in it. Go to Makeout Creek Books to order your very own copy now!
December 30, 2016
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Blumhouse + Tribeca Shortlist essays
I was invited to write for both the Blumhouse Pictures and Tribeca Shortlist websites. If you've got a free minute, you can check them out here…
If the election hasn't terrified you enough check out this listicle I wrote for Blumhouse about horror in politics. Read it here. Plus I penned a probing exposé on Harvey Keitel's dingaling for Tribeca ShortList. Read it here.
What a reading list! Enjoy!
November 8, 2016
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Review Roundup: STUMP SPEECHES
As we close in on our closing weekend for this year's Pumpkin Pie Show: STUMP SPEECHES, I'd like to take this opportunity to look back at all the ink that has been spilled over our latest…
““The Pumpkin Pie Show: Stump Speeches,” the delightfully perverse, political-themed installment of the annual macabre merriment led by the writer and performer Clay McLeod Chapman, provides strong evidence that the bloody tools of Lovecraftian horror are effective this political season… What makes Mr. Chapman… such a skilled craftsman is he does not choose between subtle and heavy-handed or teasing suspense and gruesome shocks. He knows that in the best horror, the vulgar dances with the refined.”—The New York Times. CRITICS' PICK
Read the full review here.
“A dependable Halloween season source of unsettling images that worm their way into the brain with nothing more than sheer word power and impeccable acting, this 19th season of horror scribe Clay McLeod Chapman’s gutsy storytelling session finds its finest conduit yet in the debate stage… As fun to watch as the current race is hard to stomach, “Stump Speeches” is an evening of theater that draws back the curtain on human nature and delivers what the voting booth can’t: satisfaction that doesn’t require compromise, and a party line that’s beyond reproach.” The Villager.
Read the full review here.
A “diabolically entertaining and unsettlingly funny show… Reviving the Pumpkin Show tradition with tenacious energy, sharp wit and an appreciable recognition of the real horrors confronting Americans in this election cycle, Stump Speeches is a morbid delight – a caricature of American politics in the form of a science fiction feature or classic monster flick.”—My Entertainment World. Read the full review here.
“The most timely and relevant theater show of the season…” It is “...an extremely vulgar show… vulgar in the very best way possible.” It is “vicious.” It is “sadistic.” “Gruesome.” “Ludicrous.” And it is “incredible to watch such talent and raw emotion put into the storytelling of these outlandish characters.”—Washington Square News. Read the full review here.
“Indulges in politically-themed Lovecraftian horror” filled with “eerie pathos.” Kristen Vaughan is “complicated and delicious in her portrayal of a would-be First Woman President.”—Theatre Is Easy. Read the full review here.
“Chapman manages to use the real fear and suspense of this election season to mold a comedic, yet uncomfortable piece of theater that hits very close to home.”—Manhattan With A Twist. Read the full review here.
November 1, 2016
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October Interview Roundup
This Halloween, I was fortunate enough to get interviewed by some pretty great folks… If you've got some time to kill, you can read/listen to them here.
I did the 'Sinister Seven' interview at Rue Morgue Magazine and lived to tell the tale! You can read the interview here.
Richmond Magazine did an interview for my contribution to the American Vampire Anthology and its roots in my hometown. Read the interview here.
I got interviewed for a super spooky Halloween episode of Midtown Comics very own Midtown Comics Podcast. Listen here at your own peril!
October 31, 2016
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STUMP SPEECHES is a NY Times Critics’ Pick!
The New York Times came to check out this year's Pumpkin Pie Show: STUMP SPEECHES and had this to say:
“There is no shortage of comedians weighing in on the current election, but it often seems like the tools of satire are insufficient to comment on this absurd and exhausting campaign. Perhaps we need to look to a darker corner of the culture, where the punch lines end with bruises. The Pumpkin Pie Show: Stump Speeches,” the delightfully perverse, political-themed installment of the annual macabre merriment led by the writer and performer Clay McLeod Chapman, provides strong evidence that the bloody tools of Lovecraftian horror are effective this political season…
What makes Mr. Chapman — a screenwriter for the 2015 indie horror movie “The Boy” — such a skilled craftsman is he does not choose between subtle and heavy-handed or teasing suspense and gruesome shocks. He knows that in the best horror, the vulgar dances with the refined.”
We're a Critics Pick! Read the full review here. Happy Halloweeeeen!
October 31, 2016
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Sink your teeth into American Vampire!
I had the immense honor of collaborating with comics legend Richard Isanove (The Dark Tower, Wolverine: Origin) for our American Vampire story… Here's a little taste. On shelves October 12th!
September 12, 2016
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The time is nigh for Pumpkin Pie: STUMP SPEECHES
We're painting the White House red. Blood red. The Pumpkin Pie Show: STUMP SPEECHES opens Oct 20th. Only 9 shoooows! Featuring performances by Clay McLeod Chapman, Hanna Cheek, Susan Ferrara, Abe Goldfarb, Katie Hartman, Brian Silliman and Kristen Vaughan. For more info about the show click here. For tickets and info click here.
September 8, 2016
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Dear Book Nerd Podcast at Book Riot!
I had a wonderful time on the Dear Book Nerd podcast over at Book Riot. The always awesome Rita Meade and I got to answer a few questions and discuss all-things Dosteovsky… You can listen to the interview here:
Dear Book Nerd Episode #62: More Bookish Problems.
Thanks so much, Book Nerd!
May 25, 2016
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Four Skulls for Self Storage #4!
The amazingly generous and keenly critical folks at Fangoria Magazine have just given SELF STORAGE the thumbs up. Four out of four skulls to be exact, calling it “a cult classic comic.”
You should read the whole review here, but just know they said and we-quote: “Imagine if THE WALKING DEAD was directed by Stuart Gordon and you’d get an idea of what you might expect from SELF STORAGE…”
So get on it, kids! Issues #1-4 are now on the shelves and selling out their limited print-runs! Issues #5 and #6 are on their way!
March 30, 2016
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THE BOY on DVD!
Shout! Factory is releasing THE BOY on Blu Ray/DVD March 1st!
From Elijah Wood's SpectreVision and Chiller Films comes a disturbing new film exploring the birth of evil. In the summer of 1989, nine-year-old Ted Henley (Jared Breeze, Cooties) and his father John (David Morse, True Detective, World War Z) are the proprietors of the Mt. Vista Motel, a crumbling resort buried in the mountains of the American West. Since Ted's mother left, John has drifted into despondency – leaving Ted to fend for himself. In this isolation, unchecked by the bounds of parenting, Ted's darker impulses begin to manifest. The arrival of a mysterious drifter, William Colby (Rainn Wilson, Cooties, The Office), captivates young Ted and the two form a unique friendship – setting the stage for Ted's final, unnerving metamorphosis.
Bonus Features include Behind-The-Scenes Footage. For more info, click here: http://bit.ly/1XA7uX5
February 18, 2016
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THE BOY up for Best Horror Film!
THE BOY is nominated for BEST INDIE HORROR FILM at the 2016 iHorror Awards! Vote now!
January 19, 2016
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“A deeply eerie and evocative portrayal of what it's like to stare into the abyss and find something there waiting for you. A memorable, disquieting ghost story about stories, rendered inside a Möbius strip.”
— Kirkus
