Cherry Kills wants to be left alone.
Unfortunately, her Alternates: an overprotective lug, a happy-go-lucky child, and a mute rabbit the size of a man, have other plans.
The doctor calls them hallucinations, symptoms of trauma.
But when her Alternates start interacting with the world around her, Cherry realizes it might not be all in her head.
Sean McDonnell is a horror and noir mystery author from California. In February 2026 he released his debut novella, Cherry Kills. This novella is as unique as his characters. Written in a quick, punk style this paperback merges a 90s ethos of music and fantasy as it unravels the mystery of Cherry’s imaginary friends.
“A potent mix of fantasy, noir mystery, cosmic horror”
It was great to catch up with Sean and talk about this book as well as his other titles and the inspiration behind his writing.
Your debut novella Cherry Kills has just been released. What was the most amazing part of this book’s launch for you?
Collaborating with Shane [Bzdok] and J [Curtis] has been amazing. Both of these gents are as meticulous as they are creative, which is super helpful for a flighty bird like me.
What was the most interesting thing you picked up when researching for this story?
I didn’t do a lot of research because I kept it fairly loose, but during the beta read I was turned onto Rosicrucianism, and now I’m a member of that ancient order. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m a man prone to manias.
What inspired you to write this novella?
It’s not always easy to pinpoint the origins of an idea. I find the best ones introduce themselves on the page. But I had written with Cherry as character in a Macabre Monday writing event a few years ago, so that was my start. Her crew, The Alternates, they just showed up one day and wouldn’t stop talking to me. I’ve always loved stories where reality and imagination collide; one of my favorite movies growing up was the 1984 film Cloak and Dagger.
What’s next in the pipeline for you?
I’m working on a psychological horror novel called Into me, Demon, about a woman who wants to write a novel but just can’t seem to get her first sentence down. It’s going…um…it’s going. Let’s just say I can relate to my MC’s struggle.
Did you always want to be a horror author?
I’ve always wanted to create something that makes people feel things. I find that horror gives me freedom to explore various genres. If I want to add some fantasy, I can. If I want to add literary vibes, let’s go. It’s a good genre to play in.
What books do you think shaped you as an author?
Too many books to mention, so I’ll stick with authors: Roald Dahl, Kurt Vonnegut, Donna Tartt, Balzac, Gogol, Stephen King, Cormac McCarthy, Philip Pullman. Then there are the poets: Keats, Yeats, Blake, Elliot, Frost, Wilde, Rimbaud, Baudelaire.
The above were the seeds, but what’s really shaped me, and made me what I am, whatever that might be, are the writers I’ve worked with and alongside for the past few years.
What’s your favourite piece of reader feedback you’ve ever received?
Hmm, we talking about constructive feedback? My favorite feedback I’ve ever received was from Sandy Stuart Shaller. I emailed Sandy in 2023, a year or so before I joined Substack, and asked if he’d consider me for the Walnut Creek Writers Guild. I sent him a story. It was the first time I’d had anyone outside of my family read any of my fiction. It was excellent feedback handled with such compassion and care. I learned many foundational skills in that one critique.
What’s a story you wish more people had read?
Sentences will always be one of my favorite stories.
Also, The Good Egg is one of my best, I think. I’ve thought about expanding it into something longer, maybe a novella.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
I mostly pull stories from the ether. Sometimes it’s walking the trails in my town. Sometimes it’s drinking a shower beer. A good book or show could kick off an idea.
Do you think music has a big influence on your writing? If so, how?
I grew up singing in bands, so my writing focus was on lyrics. I’d like to think that some of that rhythm and flow can be found in my stories.
What’s an underrated film that you think is a great story?
Well, it’s not underrated by film buffs, but watching Tarkovsky’s Andrei Rublev for the first time was a big deal for me. I was Boriska. My close friends and I have a saying, whenever one of us is doing something audacious, we say we’re casting bells. We’re full of shit, but maybe with a little faith and desperation…maybe we can cast a bell.
If you’d like to know more about Sean, his Substack newsletter and storefront are available below.
I started writing fiction on Substack in 2024. Sean was one of the first authors I met there. Over the last two years, his horror has gone from strength to strength, sometimes branching out into science fiction and fantasy. Sean is one of my favourite horror authors and I am lucky to call him a friend. I do hope you check out some of his work.
Sean and I were one of 29 collaborators for The Midnight Vault, a short story anthology featuring 29 tales that span horror, sci fi and the unknown.
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