A Chat with Dustin Hendrix

Published October 27, 2026

Happy Spooky Season, Dear Readers!

October is a crazy-busy month for me, but it’s also my absolute favorite! Gorgeous, multicolored foliage, outdoor movie nights, pumpkin patches, spooky books and movies, the smell of roasting marshmallows… Ah! As Anne Shirley said, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

Another favorite October tradition of mine is my annual spooky-writer interview for the blog! This year, I had the opportunity to chat with award-winning filmmaker and writer Dustin Hendrix. You may know him as the author of the Creeptales series (and if you don’t, you should check them out!), a Goosebumps-like series for young readers.

So grab your favorite fall beverage, settle into your coziest reading spot, and join me as we chat with Dustin about writing, spooky stories, and all things creepy!

Trista: What first sparked your love of horror?

Dustin: Love this as the first question! I was an actual scaredy-cat as a kid, so it wasn’t until Goosebumps came along that I really became a fan of the genre. It was so exciting to me to find something that was created to be scary, but also meant for someone my age.

Trista: Your stories blend scares with humor. How do you strike the right balance between making readers laugh and keeping them on the edge of their seats?

Dustin: For me, it’s about knowing when to use humor or horror, or use a mixture of the two. Humor can offer a breath of relief after a frightening moment; on the flipside, it can lower the reader’s guard before coming back with another fright. Personally, I view humor and horror as two sides of the same coin, as it’s essentially about finding ways to evoke a reaction from the reader.

Trista: Was there a particular story or moment that made you realize you wanted to write the Creeptales collection?

Dustin: I actually have to credit my wife Amanda for coming up with the idea that led to Creeptales. I’d just graduated from Oakland University with a degree in creative writing right before COVID hit, and like many others I was struck with the sudden “what do I do with my degree/life?” dilemma. I’d been a fan of Goosebumps since childhood and had recently gotten back into collecting the books and re-reading them. One day Amanda said something to the effect of, “You should write your own Goosebumps-style books”, and a lightbulb went off in my head. Right away, I came up with the title “Night of the Living Pizza”, and it lead me onto this journey that is still ongoing years later.

Trista: Many writers draw inspiration from childhood fears and experiences. Are there any real-life memories or local legends that have found their way into your work?

Dustin: Oh yes, very much so! Like I mentioned, I was a scaredy-cat as a kid, and have always had an overactive imagination (thanks neurodivergence!), so I had a lot of memories, nightmares, and random thoughts to draw from. For example, in the soon-to-be-published Creeptales #3: Beware, the Dentist’s Chair!, I was able to include a moment from childhood when I thought two adults were out to get me while staying at a hotel with my family. I had accidentally struck their son in the face with a toy football, and could have sworn I caught his parents twice spying on me in the hallway. The memory always stuck with me as strange and funny, and so when I found a way to work it into the story (surprise, the protagonist has an overactive imagination), it seemed like a perfect fit.

Trista: You’ve written short stories, books, and award-winning films. How does your writing process differ when you’re creating prose versus a screenplay?

Dustin: It’s a bit tricky to bounce between both, since writing fiction and writing screenplays are two completely different styles. For example, screenwriting is pretty much what do you see/what do you hear? And so you want to avoid being prosy. Writing short stories or novels allows me to ramble more, but also forces me to think about how things should be described. I’ll admit, I struggle a bit with descriptions because I’m so used to the meat and potatoes style of screenwriting. But I’ve found having experience with both has gone in my favor because my books tend to follow a movie structure which makes them enjoyable to write. It’s like being able to write a movie without having to worry about the budget.

Trista: As both a filmmaker and an author, do you tend to “see” scenes in your mind like a movie before you write them, or does the story unfold differently on the page?

Dustin: I’m a very story-minded person so for me, I’ll have the overarching story in my head and then I usually break it down with an outline to see where I’m going. When I’m writing the chapters or scenes, I try to visualize things as I’m writing and get the basic idea of what’s happening down on the page. Then I go back during the editing stages and trim it or expand on it until it sounds better on the page.

Trista: Horror has evolved significantly over the years. What elements do you think make a horror story timeless, regardless of the era?

Dustin: I think humans in general have a fascination with horror and the things that frighten us, whether we like to admit it or not. One person might be a fan of monsters but can’t handle true crime, and vice-versa. I personally think that having an appreciation for horror is healthy, because in a way it’s being able to accept death and the horrors of being human and being alive. Horror forces us to interact with the thoughts that would otherwise make us want to lock our doors and never leave the house. It creates a safe space and an outlet for horror-minded folks like myself to process this strange thing called existence.

Trista: Every writer faces creative roadblocks. What helps you push through writer’s block or moments when a story just isn’t working?

Dustin: Personally, I think you just gotta try things out and see what works and what doesn’t. For me, taking a break and going for a walk and thinking about the story can help me “break” the moment or chapter I’m stuck on. When I was writing Creeptales #2: Welcome to Camp Vampire, I felt that the first half was really good and the second half was not hitting the way I wanted it to. I typically write on a laptop and so I went to the store and bought colorful sticky notes and a posterboard. I then wrote down a little 1-2 sentence summary of each chapter and stuck in on the board. This allowed me to physically see and touch the story from beginning to end. If a chapter wasn’t working, I’d remove the sticky from the board and go outside and basically just walk around until I had a breakthrough. Soon I was able to finish re-plotting the second half of the book, and I personally think it improved the story and gave it a more satisfying second half and conclusion.

Trista: Which authors, filmmakers, or storytellers have had the greatest influence on your work, and what lessons have you learned from them?

Dustin: When I sit down to write, I’m drawing inspiration from all over the place and channeling it into my writing. R.L. Stine has definitely made a big impact on me and the way I write, since he strikes such a good balance of humor and scares. I think people forget he was a joke teller before writing horror. John Carpenter didn’t write all of his films, but his films have definitely inspired the way I try to create mood and tension by setting a scene. One of my writing influences came from source you may not be expecting: “Weird Al” Yankovic. “Weird Al” showed me how much fun it is to be weird and explore my unhinged side. I have to attribute his dark sense of humor for what led me on this journey into writing comedic horror. The last thing I will say, R. L. Stine taught me the importance of outlining a story and how it can actually make things easier and give me a stronger story in the long run.

Trista: You’ve had success in both publishing and filmmaking. Has working in one creative medium made you a stronger storyteller in the other? If so, how? What was the journey like from writing fiction to creating films based on your stories?

Dustin: It’s been a pretty interesting journey, having started out writing fiction, moving to screenwriting, then getting back into fiction-writing, then trying to juggle both at the same time. I think it’s actually important to try out at least two types of writing styles, because flexing between the two helps develop and strengthen creative muscles. For example, I got so used to screenwriting and trying not to put so much descriptions in the action lines, so when I started writing Creeptales #1 I struggled a bit with writing longer descriptions. Now that I’ve started Creeptales #4, I’ve gotten better at writing descriptions, but now it’s easier to go back and write screenplays than it was before.

Trista: Without giving away spoilers, is there a scene or story you’ve written that was especially fun—or especially challenging—to create?

Dustin: Since I started writing for kids, I’ve made it a challenge to myself to push the envelope a bit during certain some scenes. I truly believe that kids deserve to be scared just as much as adults. Growing up, I was exposed to all sorts of nightmare fuel which to me is a rite of passage during childhood. So for each Creeptales book, my goal is to write at least one or two scenes where I can really push things and put in scary moments or gruesome imagery without taking it too far. These scenes are always fun and challenging to write.

Trista: You have a new film premiering at a festival and more projects on the way. Can you tell us a little about what readers and viewers can look forward to next?

Dustin: I’m always in the middle of multiple projects, and now is no different! I’m in the process of finishing Creeptales #3: Beware, the Dentist’s Chair!, and just started writing Creeptales #4: Nightmare Granny. I have a short slasher film, Halfway to Halloween, which just finished its festival run and the plan is to share it online just in time for Halloween. I acted in a short film called Friendsgiving which premieres next spring I believe. I am also in the process of finishing a 4+ year passion project horror film which is called Camp Solstice, and I wrote another film called Living Spaces which I am aiming to shoot during the winter and hopefully release next year. I also have a handful of other tricks/projects up my sleeve planned for next year, so stay tuned!

Trista: Finally, if you could give one piece of advice to aspiring horror writers who dream of publishing books or writing films, what would it be?

Dustin: Make the stuff you would personally want to see/read and use the resources available to you and make it happen. Don’t use AI because you’re robbing yourself of a chance to be human and express yourself. And expressing yourself is sometimes messy and imperfect, but that’s the whole point.

Pick a project, big or small, and see it through to the end. When you have a finished piece, you’ll likely know what you like most about it or what you might have done differently. Then take what you learned and do it again. That’s how you grow as an artist, and if you keep at it, you’ll hone your craft, and you’ll start creating things you’re truly proud of.

Lastly, again: don’t use AI. Just don’t do it. The world needs your art and creativity now more than ever.

A huge thank-you to Dustin Hendrix for joining me for this spooky-season chat! If you haven’t checked out his Creeptales series yet, now’s the perfect time to add a little fright to your fall reading list. Be sure to check out his work and share your favorite spooky reads in the comments!

Until next time, y’all stay spooky! 🎃👻