Indiana Urban Legends and Ghost Stories

This indie writer is bringing eclectic style to suspenseful horror

“Of course I hear it right away, just like every morning. But, just like most mornings, I don’t even realize that I hear it at first. It’s there (of course) as it has been so many mornings already.”

I didn’t write that. But I dig it.

Meet Mike DeFrench, who writes the @DeFrenchWriter newsletter on Substack. And yes, those are DeFrench’s words from his creative piece, “The Only One That Hears It Is You.” DeFrench has a deeply personal, eerie, and eclectic way of writing, which is what drew me to ask him for an interview here on Rogue Writer.

Over the next months, I’ll introduce you to other indie writers with whom I jive, whether because we write in similar genres, on similar topics, or share similar cool factors. ;) Don’t worry, I’ll still publish my work during this time, but if you enjoy my writing style, then I encourage you to check out and subscribe to these other writers’ newsletters, too. Because us small-time writers gotta support each other, right?!

Today, I’m introducing you to DeFrench (pictured above). I was lucky enough to connect with him for an interview, so check out what he has to say below (especially if you enjoyed ghoulish ghost stories around the campfire as a kid). Plus, if you subscribe to his newsletter now, DeFrench is running a special: the first 100 people who sign up for a paid subscription will receive a free, SIGNED copy of one of his books (U.S. residents only)!

Interview with Mike DeFrench

SHARI: How would you describe your writing, including style and genre?

MIKE: Mostly horror and suspense with some forays into science fiction and fantasy. The style is somewhere between Stephen King and Philip K. Dick.

SHARI: Why do you write and what are your favorite topics to explore?

MIKE: I’ve been writing for forever. To me it’s just as much fun as reading is. It’s just stories from your own mind and your own perspectives (and you have to write them to be able to read them). And I like taking a character, finding out who they are and how they see the world and making them feel real to me, and then putting them into weird, horrifying, or suspenseful situations and seeing how they try to come out.

SHARI: Where do you currently live and how does that influence your writing?

MIKE: I live in Indianapolis and it influences what I write a ton. Most of my horror/spooky stories take place in northern Indianapolis and I’ve even created fictional versions of some of the places I’ve lived. I have several books of Indiana urban legends and ghost stories that are endless wells of story ideas.

SHARI: What do you hope readers will take away from reading your stories?

MIKE: A sense of excitement. Much like riding a roller coaster. That exciting kind of unease you used to feel after hearing a ghostly story around a campfire when you were a kid. (Maybe a nightmare or two 😈)

SHARI: What is one weird fact about you that not many people outside your friends and family know?

MIKE: One of my biggest hobbies outside of reading and writing is collecting, building, and painting miniatures. I have a huge collection of Warhammer and D&D miniatures that I have painted myself. Some of them I’ve even 3D printed myself!

I don’t know about you, but I loved ghost stories as a kid, which is why I already signed up for DeFrench’s newsletter. Wanna join me?