When Clay McLeod Chapman flips the script on reality, terror and humor are never far behind — and his new collection, Acquired Taste (out September 9 via Titan Books), is no exception.
You might know Chapman from his chilling novels (Ghost Eaters, Wake Up and Open Your Eyes), his comic book work (Venom and Scream runs for Marvel, no less), or the hair-raising Jordan Peele/Monkeypaw Productions horror podcast Quiet Part Loud which he co-wrote with Mac Rogers. But Acquired Taste might just be his most distilled dose of dread yet.
Acquired Taste is a macabre smorgasbord of 25 stories that take familiar fears and twist them into something uniquely unsettling — often with a healthy dose of razor-sharp wit. From ghostly exes who just won’t let go to nuns who worship salamanders, Chapman’s tales span the surreal and the absurd, all while probing deeply into themes like trauma, addiction, and the fractured state of our society.
Channeling the atmospheric tension of genre legends like Richard Matheson, he offers stories that are both incisive and deeply relatable. Each one balances visceral unease with clever, often uncomfortable humor, making readers laugh even as they squirm.
To mark the book’s release, CinemaChords’ Howard Gorman sat down with Chapman for a sprawling chat that covers everything from the sanctity of cinema, to why books still matter in a world increasingly on fire. But that’s not all! Chapman is currently involved in not one but two film projects. The first, The Restoration at Grayson Manor — co-written with Glenn McQuaid and helmed by Glenn McQuaid (V/H/S, I Sell The Dead) — will debut at this year’s Fantastic Fest. Then, there’s the much-anticipated film adaptation of Ghost Eaters, directed by Maggie Levin (My Valentine) and produced by Scott Derrickson (The Black Phone, Doctor Strange). Suffice it to say, we’re eager to see what Chapman does next.
Acquired Taste hits shelves September 9 and is available for pre-order HERE.
Enjoy the interview below, and if you like what you see, be sure to subscribe to CinemaChords’ Howard’s Haunt on YouTube for more exclusive interviews, deep dives, and upcoming videos you won’t want to miss. Subscribe HERE.
