ALTOONA, Pa. — Penn State Altoona faculty members Brian Onishi, associate professor of philosophy, and Jeff Stoyanoff, associate professor of English and of women's, gender and sexuality studies, have released a new episode of their "Horror Joy" podcast. In the latest episode, Stoyanoff is joined by author Michael Boulerice, who discusses his novella “Inhalation.”
Boulerice shares his background — writing nonfiction essays online before shifting to horror four or five years ago with help from developmental editor Alex Woodrow — leading to short-story sales and publishing with Dead Sky, including “Feeding the Wheel.” Stoyanoff and his guest discuss why haunted house stories endure as fears of a corrupted safe space, then talk spoiler-light about “Inhalation’s” decaying home, Catholic family dynamics, weaponized belief and “Alice in Wonderland’s” Caterpillar as cosmic-horror inspiration tied to Boulerice’s late father-in-law, whom the book tributes. Boulerice previews a themed collection, “Ether’s Wood Elementary Primer” (summer 2027), plus novels in progress, and cites recent joys like “Widow’s Bay,” “Beyond the Walls,” “The Backrooms,” and the film “Human Lanterns.”
The full episodes of "Horror Joy" can be accessed on podcast providers or on Red Circle.