John Stadelman (he/him) is a writer from North Carolina now based in Chicago. He holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Columbia College Chicago, and a B.F.A. from U.N.C. Wilmington.
His writing incorporates elements of multiple genres, primarily horror, science fiction, dark fiction and literary fiction, with an emphasis on social commentary horror through a leftist lens, survival horror, sci-fi horror and literary horror. His thematic focus is often on the struggles for survival and fulfillment by desperate people in dangerous worlds. His work explores the dark, to bring his characters into the light.
His short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies including Diabolical Plots, Full Metal Horror, Schlock! and Hair Trigger. His short story, “Putting Down Charley” won the David Friedman Memorial award, and was adapted into a short film by students in the Cinema and Television Arts program at Columbia College Chicago.
He has taught undergraduate English and Composition, covered music and culture for the LGBTQ+ newspaper Windy City Times, interviewed indie musicians and reviewed their work, served as an associate editor for a literary journal, babysat drunks as a deckhand on a charter yacht, and tried to look tough as a doorman at a brewery taproom.
At any given time he’s working on a novel or collection of short fiction, reading too many books, watching a scary movie, pondering something and/or wandering the city in a state of confusion and awe. If you see him around then he’s probably lost, so just point him in the right direction.
He is also available for hire as an editor, providing manuscript consultation services for horror, science fiction, dark fiction, literary fiction and thrillers of all lengths, as detailed here.
He is actively seeking representation from a literary agent for full-length novel and collection manuscripts of upmarket horror, science fiction and literary fiction, particularly for his eco-horror crime-thriller novel.
Stalk him at:
John Stadelman 