Who The Hell am I?
In Brief:
Hi, I’m Linda Zukowski, an author who loves all things dark and twisted. I write dystopian realities, fantasy horror, and real-life horror, which delves into the trauma that is life. My mission as a writer is to guide you into the dark, through the horror, and back into the light once more. I have authored short stories and am working on my debut novel, River Run Trials, which focuses on the supernatural detective Frankie as she discovers that even a supernatural life is not without its challenges.
What Qualifies Me?
Credentials:
I hold an MFA in Creative Writing, and I believe that reading and writing dark fantasy stories helps to deal with the trauma of life in a safe and controlled environment – within the pages of books, or on the TV screen, where it can be turned off if need be. Some people like watching true crime stories on TV or listening to them in a podcast, and the psychology of reading and writing dark fantasy is the same.
Background:
I grew up with trauma from the age of five onward, finding ways to weave and work through it to the other side, many times by writing through it. Sometimes that writing was in the form of fictional stories, sometimes it was by embracing my own darker side (with professional help, of course), and sometimes I worked through it simply by gaining an understanding of myself and others. One thing is for sure, I thrive when walking into the dark and coming out the other side – not always unscathed, but always for the better. My stories seek to help readers experience that walk without having to live it themselves.
What Else do I Like to do?
I love TTRPG (tabletop role-playing games) like D&D, Mage: The Gathering, and Vampire: The Masquerade. I really enjoy reading fantasy fiction, specifically dark fiction of almost every type, and I enjoy cooking good meals.