{"id":25987,"date":"2019-05-14T14:58:47","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T18:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/?p=25987"},"modified":"2019-05-14T15:04:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-14T19:04:40","slug":"dare-to-eat-donuts-with-a-dozen-horrific-creators-during-the-stokercon-donut-spooktacular","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/2019\/05\/14\/dare-to-eat-donuts-with-a-dozen-horrific-creators-during-the-stokercon-donut-spooktacular\/","title":{"rendered":"Dare to eat donuts with a dozen horrific creators during the StokerCon Donut Spooktacular"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Regular listeners to Eating the Fantastic know that once a year, instead of serving up the usual well-researched one-on-one conversations which make up most of this podcast&#8217;s ear candy, I opt for total anarchy, plopping myself down in a heavily trafficked area of a con with a dozen donuts and chatting with anybody who&#8217;s game to trade talk for sugar and grease. It&#8217;s totally spontaneous, as I never know to whom I&#8217;ll speak until they pass by and their eyes light up at the sight of a free donut.<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, you were invited to eavesdrop on the  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/2016\/07\/11\/celebrate-readercon-with-15-guests-eating-12-donuts-in-a-lightning-round-episode-of-eating-the-fantastic\/\">Readercon Donut Spectacular<\/a>, in 2017 the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/2017\/05\/29\/reminisce-about-51-years-of-balticon-as-13-guests-devour-12-donuts-in-a-lightning-round-episode-of-eating-the-fantastic\/\">Balticon Donut Extravaganza<\/a>, and last year the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/2018\/05\/21\/relive-nebula-awards-weekends-past-and-present-in-the-third-lightning-round-episode-of-eating-the-fantastic\/\">Nebula Awards Donut Jamboree<\/a>. Now it&#8217;s time for the StokerCon Donut Spooktacular!<\/p>\n<p>Late Saturday night, I sat down with an assorted dozen from  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thedonutconspiracy\/\">The Donut Conspiracy<\/a> in Grand Rapids accompanied by the usual sign explaining the setup, and found no shortage of willing guests.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutSpooktacularParticipants2.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutSpooktacularParticipants2-300x225.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26019\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutSpooktacularParticipants2-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutSpooktacularParticipants2-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutSpooktacularParticipants2-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutSpooktacularParticipants2.jpeg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Join us as Michael Bailey describes his novel inspired by a fire which turned his home to ashes in seven minutes, Geoffrey A. Landis shares about the Sherlock Holmes\/Jack the Ripper horror story he published in the science fiction magazine <em>Analog<\/em>, Brian Keene explains why he chose last weekend to finally reappear at an HWA event, Wile E. Young tells why he thinks of the Road Runner whenever a story gets rejected, Anton Cancre reveals which guest that weekend earned most of his squee, and Wesley Southard offers his schtick for selling books when stuck behind a dealers table at a con.<\/p>\n<p>Plus Erik T. Johnson gives an unexpected (but perfectly logical) answer when asked about one of the perks of StokerCon, Patrick Freivald looks back on how his horror career began via a collaboration with his twin brother, Josh Malerman recounts how he replaced readings with full blown <em>Bird Box<\/em> interactive performances and how an audience of 85-year-olds reacted, Asher Ellis shares how the Stonecoast MFA program made him a better writer, Kennikki Jones-Jones discusses her Final Frame award-winning short film <em>Knock Knock<\/em>, Eugene Johnson celebrates his Bram Stoker Award win that night for <em>It\u2019s Alive: Bringing Your Nightmares to Life<\/em>, and much, much more!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/eatingthefantastic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/PatreonWidget2-300x59.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"59\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-23795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/PatreonWidget2-300x59.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/PatreonWidget2.jpg 522w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how you can dig into those donuts with us&#8212;<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutsTheDonutConspiracy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutsTheDonutConspiracy-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutsTheDonutConspiracy-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutsTheDonutConspiracy-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/StokerConDonutsTheDonutConspiracy-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>1) Subscribe at  <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/eating-the-fantastic\/id1083737796\">the iTunes store<\/a>,  where I hope you might also be moved to check out some of the 94 other available episodes.<\/p>\n<p>2) Use the RSS feed of <a href=\"http:\/\/eatingthefantastic.libsyn.com\/rss\">http:\/\/eatingthefantastic.libsyn.com\/rss<\/a> to listen to the episode on the device of your choice.<\/p>\n<p>3) Or check it out right here via the below embed.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/9779357\/height\/240\/theme\/legacy\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/backward\/\" height=\"240\" width=\"100%\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s who ate what late Saturday night and into Sunday morning at StokerCon &#8212;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Michael Bailey<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>blue man group<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/MichaelBaileyStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/MichaelBaileyStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-25994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/MichaelBaileyStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/MichaelBaileyStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/MichaelBaileyStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/MichaelBaileyStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Geoffrey A. Landis<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>caramel orchard<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/GeoffreyALandisStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/GeoffreyALandisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-25996\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/GeoffreyALandisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/GeoffreyALandisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/GeoffreyALandisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/GeoffreyALandisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Brian Keene<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>cookie monster<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/BrianKeeneStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/BrianKeeneStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-25997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/BrianKeeneStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/BrianKeeneStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/BrianKeeneStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/BrianKeeneStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Wile E. Young<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>simply susan<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WileEYoungStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WileEYoungStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-25999\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WileEYoungStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WileEYoungStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WileEYoungStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WileEYoungStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Anton Cancre<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>anger management<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AntonCancreStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AntonCancreStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26000\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AntonCancreStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AntonCancreStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AntonCancreStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AntonCancreStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AntonCancreStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg 1908w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Wesley Southard<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>mr. sprinkles<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WesleySouthardStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WesleySouthardStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26001\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WesleySouthardStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WesleySouthardStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WesleySouthardStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/WesleySouthardStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Erik T. Johnson<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>peanut butter in my chocolate<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ErikTJohnsonStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ErikTJohnsonStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26002\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ErikTJohnsonStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ErikTJohnsonStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ErikTJohnsonStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/ErikTJohnsonStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Patrick Freivald<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>peanut butter in my chocolate<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/PatrickFreivaldStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/PatrickFreivaldStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/PatrickFreivaldStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/PatrickFreivaldStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/PatrickFreivaldStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/PatrickFreivaldStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Josh Malerman<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>midnight snack<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JoshMalermanStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JoshMalermanStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26004\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JoshMalermanStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JoshMalermanStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JoshMalermanStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/JoshMalermanStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Asher Ellis<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>mudder<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AsherEllisStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AsherEllisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26006\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AsherEllisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AsherEllisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AsherEllisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/AsherEllisStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Kennikki Jones-Jones<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>E.T. Phone Home<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/KennikkiJonesJonesStokerConDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/KennikkiJonesJonesStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26010\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/KennikkiJonesJonesStokerConDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/KennikkiJonesJonesStokerConDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/KennikkiJonesJonesStokerConDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/KennikkiJonesJonesStokerConDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Eugene Johnson<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>Cuddly as a Cactus<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/EugeneJohnsonStokerconDonutSpooktacular.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/EugeneJohnsonStokerconDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-26008\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/EugeneJohnsonStokerconDonutSpooktacular-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/EugeneJohnsonStokerconDonutSpooktacular-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/EugeneJohnsonStokerconDonutSpooktacular-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/EugeneJohnsonStokerconDonutSpooktacular-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you enjoyed this episode and want to support my mission of breaking bread with creators of the fantastic while letting you listen in, there are several ways you can help bring this podcast to the attention of potential new listeners looking for science fiction, fantasy, horror, and comics ear candy &#8212;<\/p>\n<p>One is to <a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/eating-the-fantastic\/id1083737796\">rate Eating the Fantastic on iTunes<\/a>  and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/eatingthefantastic\/?fref=ts\">like it on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Also &#8212; you could tell your friends about the show  by sending them a link to your favorite episode and letting them know what I\u2019m doing here.<\/p>\n<p>Finally  &#8212; because of Eating the Fantastic\u2019s unique niche \u2014 that is, on-the-road restaurant interviews \u2014 there are expenses beyond the usual ones for  studio-based podcasts.  I sometimes use ride-sharing services to carry me and my guests from convention centers to restaurants and back, or I gas up to drive them myself \u2014 and then there\u2019s that food I used to entice those guests to wander off and share of themselves with you, food which loosens their tongues, relaxes them, and \u2014 counterintuitively, because we are after all out in public surrounded by other diners \u2014 results a much more intimate environment than if we were alone together in a sterile studio.<\/p>\n<p>So I hope you\u2019ll consider becoming a supporter of the show, and help fund this mission of mine.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\nYou could make a small recurring monthly donation over at  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/eatingthefantastic\">Patreon<\/a>, where there are various perks involved depending on your level of support, such as access to a patrons-only blog, getting a shout-out on the show, stickers, postcards, and more.<\/p>\n<p>Or if an ongoing level of commitment\u2019s not for you, or if Patreon\u2019s just not your thing, then consider tossing a couple of bucks in the tip jar instead and making a one-time donation of any size via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.me\/eatingthefantastic\">Paypal.me<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Or you could head on over to <a href=\"https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/eatingthefantastic\">https:\/\/ko-fi.com\/eatingthefantastic<\/a> and send me the funds to cover the cost of a cup of coffee.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I hope you&#8217;ll join me next episode when my guest will be the previously announced but postponed Kaaron Warren, whose most recent novel, <em>Tide of Stone<\/em>, is currently a finalist for the Ditmar Award, but who was bumped back an episode so I could bring you the StokerCon Donut Spooktacular while the con was still fresh in everybody\u2019s minds &#8212; though not quite as fresh as the donuts.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks for listening!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Regular listeners to Eating the Fantastic know that once a year, instead of serving up the usual well-researched one-on-one conversations which make up most of this podcast&#8217;s ear candy, I opt for total anarchy, plopping myself down in a heavily trafficked area of a con with a dozen donuts and chatting with anybody who&#8217;s game [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[871,876,667,841,732,873,878,49,113,67,875,877,748,874,744,872,870],"class_list":["post-25987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-anton-cancre","tag-asher-ellis","tag-brian-keene","tag-donuts","tag-eating-the-fantastic","tag-erik-t-johnson","tag-eugene-johnson","tag-food","tag-geoffrey-landis","tag-horror","tag-josh-malerman","tag-kennikki-jones-jones","tag-michael-bailey","tag-patrick-freivald","tag-stokercon","tag-wesley-southard","tag-wile-e-young"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25987"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25987\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26034,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25987\/revisions\/26034"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.scottedelman.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}