Over the past twelve years, I wrote these various stories inspired by moments, whether from a scenario I was experiencing, something I observed, or simply a good old-fashioned burst of creative energy in front of the computer.

Chris Kauzlarich – 26 August 2025

The Back Flap

Life often appears darkest just before the dawn of a new day.

In Menagerie in the Dark, Chris Kauzlarich immerses us in a speculative journey that explores the darker aspects of the human condition before bringing us back to the surface with the light of a new day. Through fourteen stories, this menagerie of characters faces trials of sorrow, death, loneliness, regret, deception, murder, delight, wonderment, and bliss, revealing what will either strengthen them enough to survive or plunge them to their demise. A boy’s home burns down, forcing him to confront a terrifying new world. A man enters a door where he witnesses his wife’s death, leaving him devastated; yet, he cannot stop returning to the scene, convinced he can save her. A nurse’s patients continue to perish under her care, but she harbors a dark secret—an administered cocktail for nefarious purposes.

These and other stories will stretch the limits of your emotions, from heartbreak to horror, leaving you yearning for more.

About the book

What is the book about?

Menagerie in the Dark is a collection of fourteen short stories best defined as speculative fiction. The collection follows a thematic arc starting with “Dusk,” where the stories grow darker through the depths of the night at its center before reaching the third part titled “Dawn,” where the stories conclude on a brighter, more hopeful tone. As can be imagined, the stories in Part 2, “Night,” align more closely with horror fiction, while the beginning and end incorporate more literary narratives. Ultimately, I curated my collection to convey that even when we plunge into the darkness of night, the light of a hopeful tomorrow will eventually come.

When did you start writing the book?

I didn’t originally write these individual stories with the goal of creating a collection. Over the past twelve years, I wrote these various stories inspired by moments, whether from a scenario I was experiencing, something I observed, or simply a good old-fashioned burst of creative energy in front of the computer.

How long did it take you to write it?

The collection itself took me about a year to turn into a finished product. These stories were collecting digital dust on my computer, and the thought struck me as I looked back on them, “what if I make these into a collection?” I can’t remember the exact moment when I devised the thematic arc, but I eventually realized that would be my way to connect them. I am fully aware of how different my writing can be depending on my mood, which ultimately required that same mindset when revising the stories.

Where did you get the idea from?

I am a big fan of short story collections—just as much as novels—and I wanted to do something with my favorite stories that I had written. However, as I’ve mentioned before, they were quite different. A supernatural horror tale in the same collection as a hopeful flash fiction piece written during the COVID lockdown? How are those going to fit together? It took some time, but once I selected my favorite stories, I gathered them into little groupings without realizing it. It was one of those moments when I sat back and assessed what I’d done, “wait a minute, I think I have something here.” The dusk, night, dawn theme was born.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Absolutely! Revising fourteen different stories was a huge undertaking. When I write a story, I immerse myself in the mindset of my characters, allowing them to guide me on where they want to go and how they want to live. However, doing this fourteen times in a condensed fashion was challenging. Additionally, while I included my favorite stories in this collection, they had only ever been written for me, meaning they were rough first drafts, with some needing significant alteration and/or expansion. The story “The Grave Spotter,” for instance, was essentially a 4,000-word scene I loved but had written ten years ago. It needed more to become a satisfying story. It is now about 24,000 words, and while time has given me new perspectives, I had to learn how to transport myself back to the original mindset of those characters from a decade ago. But hey, time traveling is cool!

What came easily?

This is a tougher question than what I struggled with. I suppose once I worked through the difficulty of recalibrating my thoughts to each story when it came time to revise that particular one, the words flowed quite easily. I was excited to get those words down and to immerse myself in the world of each of those characters again.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

Some are fictitious, but I have definitely borrowed from real-world people that I know for a few of the stories. “Phantom in the Void” and “Totality” in particular borrow not only characters but whole scenarios from my life, with some creative liberties added in.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

The most influential writer on my writing is Stephen King. I know a lot of people probably say that, but something about his particular genre and style really resonates with me (I tell everyone he is my writing spirit animal). Like Mr. King, I tend to gravitate toward stories that include horror, suspense, and fantastical elements; I’m just wired that way. I also feel influenced by writers like Chuck Palahniuk and Robert Jordan, although I haven’t really matched the depth of description of the latter. I do hope to write a massive fantasy series one day, so we’ll see, I may achieve that yet!

Do you have a target reader?

I don’t have a particular reader in mind when I write, but I imagine a more mature audience is appropriate for my writing. My stories are darker and grittier, like life, and may not be ideal for children of a certain age; however, my twelve-year-old daughter reads all of my work. The way I see it, if she felt it was inappropriate for her, she would just opt out of that story, as she needs to develop agency over her own boundaries.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

My process has historically been chaotic, but over the past year, it has finally settled into a regular routine. I set aside non-negotiable time early in the morning and for an hour after work to write and work on my various projects. I also stick to a daily word count of 200 words. I’ve heard of many people who set theirs at 1,000 a day and other variations, but that approach set me up for failure. Often, I felt I couldn’t meet that goal due to mental fatigue or time constraints, and instead of writing what I could, I frequently avoided writing altogether rather than confronting the stress of falling short on my word count tracker. With my new word goal, I don’t feel intimidated, and once I start writing, I often end up writing between 700-1000 words anyway. It’s silly, I know, but I had to trick myself into writing consistently. But hey, whatever works!

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Historically, I have not outlined my work. However, for my current novel, I did outline it, and it is working out quite nicely. I broke each chapter into themed headings and wrote a couple of sentences to provide a general framework. But for this collection, Menagerie in the Dark, I did not outline and instead embraced my full-blown pantser era.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Oh, the eternal struggle. I fight myself daily not to edit as I go, and sometimes I slip up and do some minor editing. For the most part, though, I wait until I’ve finished because I have to keep in mind that the whole point of drafts is to revise and edit once they are complete. Early on in my writing endeavors, I would write a few chapters and then enter the death loop of trying to perfect those instead of finishing the story. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I think it finally stuck.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, I work with a particular professional editor who has transformed my writing life. I would recommend that any writer find one who understands their voice and style. It was a game changer.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I do, but it depends on the mood of my story whether the music is mellow, emotional, or intense. There is always one constant for me, though: it must be instrumental, such as guitar, piano, or classical. I can’t handle music with words; it clouds any creative narrative in my head, and I end up focusing on the lyrics—and likely singing along—rather than writing. I’ve tried it, and it has been an epic fail every time.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

I submitted this collection to agents, but they all passed. I knew it was a long shot from the beginning, considering that short story collections are harder to sell unless you are an established big-name author. Therefore, I’m considering trying again with my suspense novel next year.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I really wanted to share my collection with the world, but going indie was a gradual process. I queried agents for six months before deciding to go it alone. I knew that publishing a collection was more of an uphill battle than publishing a novel, but there was so much I didn’t know and still don’t know about marketing a book. Now that I’m learning and doing it, we’ll see how it turns out and whether I continue publishing under my own imprint or if I lean hard into querying again to try to snag that traditional publishing deal with an agent.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I have a go-to artist on Fiverr who creates my covers, and she’s awesome! I’ve attempted to design my own covers in Canva in the past, and while I do a decent job, I don’t feel I have the skills to give them the professional polish I desire.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I put together a do-it-myself marketing plan with a PR firm that was kind enough to do a one-hour consultation with me since I can’t afford their services. I am in the process of trying to execute all of those strategies, but even with that in place, there is still a lot of winging it involved. Hopefully, many of my efforts will pan out and provide the exposure necessary to get my book in front of readers.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

I know that it’s scary and there’s a lot to learn, but you can do it! The hardest part for me was tearing off the “band-aid” and just sitting down in front of my computer to do the work. I feel my efforts are best spent writing, and I honestly don’t know how to market, but I’m learning. There are many resources online to provide you with the help you need. Look up the Facebook groups, reach out to other authors, and utilize Google searches. Lastly, don’t be too hard on yourself. I know this is easier said than done (I’m beating myself up daily), but we only learn through trial and error. Take a book launch, for example: was it subpar? Next time, try a different strategy and remember your book has plenty of time to gain traction. The internet is full of best practices, so try the ones that work best for you and your budget, and adapt them. It’s hard work, but being able to pursue your dream is worth it.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago.

Where do you live now?

I still live in the Chicago burbs for part of the year, though a different one than I grew up in, and spend the other part in Naples, FL, or traveling with my husband and daughter in our RV.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on a suspense novel. The first draft is complete, and the structural edits with my editor will be finished by the end of July 2025. I hope to have my various drafts and revisions completed by late spring 2026. We will see where we go from there, whether it’s indie publishing or querying agents. I have also outlined two other novels that I plan to start drafting later this year.

End of Interview:

For more from Chris Kauzlarich visit his website and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Tiktok.

Get your copy of Menagerie in the Dark from Amazon US or Amazon UK.