2 Interviews by Crystal Lake Publishing
Author Spotlight on J.M. Heluk
NEW! April 2026
Author Spotlight on J.M. Heluk
Crystal Lake's House of Shadows & Ink
Tell us a bit more about you and where you're from.
Heluk: I'm from the East Coast of the United States where I have been writing since I was a kid.
My interests are varied, from collecting oddities and antiquing to lazy beach days.
I appear soft glam on the outside but when presented a choice in literature or movies, it's horror first, comedy or ultra-violence second. Think Sisu.
I'll leave the romance for someone else.
I was, and still am, enthralled by Famous Monsters of Filmland, the stop-motion magic of Ray Harryhausen, and Fangoria Magazine, which only deepened my love of monsters and practical SPFX.
As for writing, I am firmly planted in horror.
My roots run deep.
What inspired your winning story? Why did that particular theme resonate with you?
Heluk: Truth be told, I'm a what if girl.
This challenge piqued my curiosity regarding changes inside safe spaces.
We should feel comfort in a bedroom, or even a hotel room. But what if a past event, particularly a crime, was altered by the unseen? Coordinated by something hidden, occupying the space with you—a malevolence intent on causing suffering, horror and pain.
It says…you have no control here.
Blending paranoia with a publicized murder, a disgraced punk icon and a haunted hotel like The Chelsea, and there it was.
Out came Vicious.
What do you enjoy most about writing flash fiction, as opposed to longer stories?
Heluk: Flash fiction demands precision and a focus on getting every word right. Even now, as I type my way through this interview, I'm obsessing.
Healthy?
Probably not.
But if it serves the pursuit of becoming better at my craft, I'm okay with it.
For short-form fiction, a single sentence has the arduous task to either push the story forward or deepen its impact.
Where a novel gives you room, flash removes it.
It's claustrophobia…with words.
And being an 80's kid in the horror scene had a huge influence on me. I'm a sucker for a short tale with a diabolical twist. In my own writing, I try to merge that twist with emotional depth and cosmic or supernatural forces. Toss in some well-done body horror and it's a great recipe.
Horror is everywhere.
You just need to open your eyes to it.
Why did you start writing in the horror genre?
Heluk: Horror feels like home. It is the most genuine, interesting genre for me. I want my readers to explore dread, grief; human vulnerability. I want to push them in terrible ways; to play on complex emotions or fears then leave them feeling uneasy long after the book closes.
We joke about it, but the Heluk family has a horror gene.
What's the thing you enjoy most about being a writer?
Heluk: Creating something that has never existed. The challenge to successfully move people, places and situations from my head to paper. Knowing I wrote a story that resonated with a reader, connecting with them, unsettling them, or causing an unexpected feeling that lingered.
That's rewarding.
Have you added any new authors to your favorites list recently?
Heluk: I've recently read Ronald Malfi and Paul Tremblay, both solid talents. I've also been dabbling with some newer Indie authors at the smaller presses. There's a surprising amount of fresh talent. I prefer an author who isn't arbitrarily slinging shock, sex or gore, but one who writes with a level of complexity, intelligence and eloquence.
That's my crave.
Then again, I will also rent a 2.3-star CGI shark movie from Netflix, so there's that.
Anything special on your 'to read' list for this year?
Heluk: I've been struggling to keep up with reading, especially with THIG on the horizon. When I do, it must be atmospheric horror. Something that combines psychological tension with creeping dread.
I still mostly read stories by dead people. Early to mid-1900's era is my thing.
But there is also An Echo of Children by the master of slow burn, Ramsey Campbell, that I'm looking forward to.
He's been my favorite author since forever.
Do you have a set writing routine, a daily word count goal, or do you prefer a less structured writing process?
Heluk: I prefer a less rigid process. When an idea feels imperative, usually on weekend mornings or late at night, I go to my desk. Once I'm deep into a project, like I am with my upcoming novel, I try to keep the momentum going by devoting at least 10 hours a week. 20 if I'm lucky.
What advice would you give writers who want to try writing flash fiction?
Heluk: The strength of a great story lies in what's unsaid.
Innuendo is a power-tool.
As you write, ask yourself, does the story evoke emotion? If yes, you're likely tapping into the reader.
Edit. Even if you love it. There's only so much room. Choose well.
Don't give everything away.
Remember, the same rules apply to an all-you-can-eat buffet…just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Suggest more than you show. That's why I think movies like Jaws, Alien and The Thing worked so well.
Ambiguous…until it's not.
What can readers expect from you in the future? Any new projects on the horizon?
Heluk: Ernest Hemmingway once stated, "The hardest part of writing a novel is finishing it."
I've been working on THIG for six months but had the idea three decades ago. Despite my years in the field, I've never tackled a novel. THIG will be my first, and it's a world-bender.
To assist, I have enrolled in Crystal Lake Publishing's Author's Journey. Even though my novel is near complete, it is my first. I want to ensure everything is buttoned up. I could think of no better way how than with Joe.
This October, I was also invited to the Collingswood Book Festival for a meet and greet. Stay tuned for updates.
Where can folks find you online?
Heluk: Follow me through my socials. Visit me at www.jmheluk.com and on Instagram at @jmheluk or @authorjmheluk.
I'm always eager to connect with people who enjoy immersive horror.
Like me, follow me, and share if you care!
Interview One, 2025
Tell us a bit more about you and where you're from...
Heluk: New Jersey gets a bad rap. It's unwarranted. We grow the best tomatoes and have award-winning corn. The beach is only an hour drive away. There's plenty of nature and farmland, too. It isn't called The Garden State for no reason.
I hail from a mystical spot in the middle known as Central Jersey, which some say doesn't exist.
As for me, I'm 20 years in the horror writing game and I've been extremely fortunate.
What inspired your winning story? Why did that particular theme resonate with you?
Heluk: I grew up in the second golden age of horror; the 1980's. As a child, I was weaned on classics like Creature from the Black Lagoon (who I had a crush on) and Atomic-Age films, most notably Godzilla (who I also had a crush on). My heroes have always been monsters.
My teen years were filled with Tales from the Crypt and every amazing horror movie ever made. Entire weekends were lost watching VHS tapes from Blockbuster Video, selected solely by how campy the covers were. And then came my all-time favorite movie, John Carpenter's The Thing.
But one of my first movie memories was, THEM! -- the 1954 classic mutant ant film. That really imprinted on me.
For Prawn of the Dead, I thought, what would be the least of things that could do a huge amount of damage if left unchecked? Something undetected running amok with apocalyptic consequences? As I stood in my kitchen, I realized shrimp are pretty unassuming. And then the title came to me. Right there I knew I'd be writing a story about radioactive mutant shrimp.
I have a medical background, so I often lean into body horror. I find it effective, cruel, and unsympathetic. So, what would happen when these radioactive prawns were ingested? A genetic code would unlock, of course, melding both species into one horrific facsimile.
When, and why, did you start writing?
Heluk: There was always that spark, even as a child. All writers have it. The beginnings of "something" glowing in the back of your psyche. Could be a name, a place, an unlocked memory, or trauma. Even something as simple as a story title. But it always begins as the tiniest spark. Pretty soon, it consumes every waking moment.
For me, the story never stops. It runs constantly in the background until I get it down on paper.
Authors are haunted. All these people that you never knew, but somehow, know better than yourself. They're in your head, telling you their story. And if you write horror, they're going to languish in the most horrific situations. Worse, they want you to know exactly how they'll end.
Writing is being forever haunted by ghosts who have an awful lot to say.
What's your favourite aspect of writing horror?
Heluk: The surprise. It never fails to amaze me where a story goes. Short stories in particular are extremely gratifying for me to write.
What's the best thing about being a writer?
Heluk: You are the captain and crew. The ocean, vessel, storm and sails all at once. You know you've done a great job when you read it back and every scene plays perfectly in your head.
Writing is also powerfully therapeutic.
Who are some of your favourite authors?
Heluk: I am in love with the art of short story telling. My preference has always been an anthology or collection over a novel. Ramsey Campbell has been and remains one of my most admired contemporary authors. S. T. Joshi receives high marks, as does a writer from York named Ian Gordon. Ian also runs a terrific YouTube channel, Horrorbabble. I listen often.
When I read, I trend old-school gothic. Sit me down with some 1930's yarns and I'm in. Some favorites are Algernon Blackwood, Robert Bloch, Ambrose Bierce and Allison V. Harding. And then there's Lovecraft. I have a six-foot-tall custom oil painting of the man glaring down at me in my writing room. He's been a terrific influence on my writing.
Anything special on your 'to read' list for this year?
Heluk: I've been on a Ronald Malfi kick lately. I picked up his novel, Small Town Horror and was immediately dragged into the story. So, I'm playing catch up, reading through Malfi's catalog. Next up, Black Mouth.
I also love thrifting old books. I just found a weird one called Mutants, On Genetic Variety and the Human Body by Armand Marie Leroi from 2003. Since I am a body horror fan, I can't wait to dive in.
How do you make time to write, and how do you utilize that time.
Heluk: When I was younger with less responsibility, I could write all night long. These days I write in spurts. Weekend mornings and nights mostly. I form ideas throughout the day. I also have a very long work commute so I write in my head while driving, then hope to hell I can remember any of it later.
Anything about you most folks don't know? Perhaps a hidden talent or hobby.
Heluk: Slasher movies bore me to tears and...
I have an extensive dental and medical background. Naturally, I collect oddities relating to both. I also have a pension for horror memorabilia. In what little spare time I have, I help stray cats with TNR (trap, neuter and release). This summer we discovered a hoarding situation in my neighborhood. An elderly couple was in desperate need. We rehomed and medically assisted 57 cats and kittens. Not cheap, but worth every penny.
What can readers expect from you in the future? Where do you see your career heading in the next five years?
Heluk: Expect a lot.
Stitches & Other Stories is my collection. It will be available later this year from Nightmare Press. Nothing in Stitches is what it seems, leaving the reader to speculate of the origin of its horror—to root out those subtle connections and ultimately, stitch each tale together on their own. I designed Stitches to make the reader an active participant. In the end, you ultimately decide the genesis of the horror.
I am also working on my first novel, THIG.
Where can folks find you online?
www.jmheluk.com
JMHeluk @ Instagram
@JMHeluk on X