PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Recently, I had an opportunity to read and review the novel, Dance of the King in Yellow by Sean Casey. I absolutely have found a new author to read and I was super excited to chat and learn more about Sean Casey.
You may read my spoiler free review here.
Let’s see what Sean had to say!
PopHorror: Hi Sean! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. Let’s start out with this. How long have you been writing? Is it something you always did or wanted to do and what made you decide to pursue it more formally?
Sean Casey: I wrote my first novel in a spiral notebook in high school. I continued to write as a stress release as I got older, and eventually I decided to publish my work.
PopHorror: Writing is definitely a great stress relief, most of the time. What a great decision to publish your work. What was your first published piece?
Sean Casey: My first published piece was also my first novel, which is science fiction, Crow Lake Intergalactic Airport.
PopHorror: I’ll have to check that one out as well. Can you tell us about how the idea formed to write Dance of the King in Yellow? The time frame of concept to actual writing of the book?
Sean Casey: When I was in college, I was very drunk and hanging out with friends when the song, Devil Came Down to Georgia came on. We wondered what kinds of other challenges the devil would accept. Someone thought the devil would accept any challenge because he was arrogant by nature. I said I could probably cook a frozen pizza better than the devil.
Years later, in the 2024 Olympic Games, breakdancing became a controversial sport due to the subjective nature of the scoring. That was what sparked the idea of writing this book. It took me about six months to write and edit after I started writing.
PopHorror: That’s wild and….interesting! Are there characteristics of yourself in any of the characters in Dance of the King in Yellow?
Sean Casey: I was never very popular, and there are elements of myself in Bobby. There was a guy I knew at my high school. who was incredibly charismatic but constantly made crude and offensive jokes. For some reason, everyone was fine with it because they just enjoyed being around him. Harold has a lot of his personality, but is a demon.
PopHorror: I swear there is at least one of those guys in everyone’s school. We definitely had one of “those guys” as well.
What is your favorite part of the Dance of the King in Yellow? Or a part of the book you are most proud of how it turned out in the final product?
Sean Casey: As I went back through in editing, I realized all the scenes with Harold are my favorite parts.
PopHorror: I definitely agree with you on Harold. This isn’t your first book, correct? Can you tell us about your other books?
Sean Casey: You can see all my books on my website.
Under the Forest is about a mall in a rural Midwest town where the mannequins come alive at night due to a people-eating monster in the basement.
Slasher in the Desert is about a film crew who encounter an alien while shooting in the desert and then begin to die in strange accidents. It is strongly inspired by the Final Destination movies.
Ui Bhreasail is about a man who accidentally causes a zombie apocalypse, but is living in safety in Hawaii as the rest of the world collapses.
Naturally Artificial is a science-fiction noir murder mystery set in a world where people can undergo brain transplants to switch bodies.
Crow Lake Intergalactic Airport is about a small town where aliens vacation. The story follows a CIA agent who is on a mission to collect alien technology.
PopHorror: Wow! Those all sound good! Definitely adding to my TBR. I know this is a difficult question, but do you have an absolute favorite book you wrote?
Sean Casey: I think Under the Forest is my best novel. It’s the longest novel I’ve ever written, and the most experimental.
PopHorror: Who are some authors that inspired you the most to write?
Sean Casey: Stephen King, RL Stine, and Kurt Vonogut
PopHorror: Awesome choices! What are your top 3 books of all time?
Sean Casey: I had a hard time choosing three, so I chose four.
Slaughterhouse 5 – Kurt Vonogut – a semi-autobiographical novel where the protagonist survives the Battle of the Bulge and a Dresden prisoner of war camp, only to be abducted by aliens into a space zoo. A darkly comedic science fiction horror novel that breaks every genre convention. A very anti-war novel that questions the causes of conflict and suffering.
Ubik – Philip K Dick – PKD’s vision for the far future year of 1992. Humans have psychic powers, and coma victims can live in a virtual simulation with others. Joe Chip is in the hospital following a failed corporate espionage mission when a psychic with vampiric powers begins to kill people in the simulation to keep itself alive. I love Ubik because it is a crazy, fun, far-flung version of the future that asks deep questions and has scary monsters. It’s as weird as it is terrifying.
Catch 22 – Joseph Heller – A satirical war novel where antihero pilot John Yossarian tries to survive World War 2. I love how fast this novel switches back and forth between comedy and existential horror. Catch 22 is the theory that anyone who is sane enough to realize they are mentally ill isn’t insane enough to be dismissed from combat. The book is about the horror of being sane in an insane world.
The Stand – Stephen King – King is one of my favorite authors. The Stand is about a battle between good and evil in a post-apocalyptic America devastated by a pandemic. This book has a big cast of memorable characters, it’s fast-paced, and it’s unpredictable. King at his best. I also almost put The Shining on this list, but I decided I like The Stand a little better and didn’t want two King novels.
PopHorror: Those are diverse and wonderful choices. I haven’t read any Philip K. Dick or Joseph Heller. I’m going to work on correcting that. Stephen King is definitely one of my favorites. I have read The Shining, which is so good. The Stand. It’s sitting here in my bookshelf, waiting to be read. The length is intimidating, but it is a goal of mine.
Are you a plotter or panster? Do you have a favorite writing ritual, ie snacks, music?
Sean Casey: I plot my books out before I start writing. I usually drink carbonated water or iced tea as I write.
PopHorror: Do you write full time? Or do you have a “day job”?
Sean Casey: I work full-time at a factory that makes fiber optic cables.
PopHorror: And finally, I have to ask, top 3 horror films?
Sean Casey: The Shining, The Thing, and Alien. I love the classics.
PopHorror: Definitely me too! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me!
You may check out Sean Casey’s works on his website.
