Every writer eventually gets asked the same question:
“Why do you write such dark stories?”
It’s a fair question. After all, there are plenty of bright, uplifting stories in the world. Sunshine. Happy endings. Characters who make good decisions and live peaceful lives.
And then there are the stories I write.
The darkness hidden all around.
The darkness within.
The darkness in plain sight.
I could give a thoughtful answer about the psychology of suspense or the literary value of exploring darker themes.
But honestly?
I mostly blame my zodiac sign.
I’m a Scorpio.
And if you know anything about Scorpios, you already know where this is going.
Scorpios are famously drawn to mystery, secrets, and the parts of life that most people prefer not to think about too closely. Transformation, obsession, the shadow side of human nature—those themes tend to show up in Scorpio territory again and again.
So perhaps it’s not surprising that I’ve always been fascinated by darker stories.
Even as a kid, I was the one who found cemeteries interesting rather than frightening. While other people saw rows of old headstones and felt uneasy, I found myself wondering about the stories behind them.
Who were these people?
What kind of lives did they live?
What secrets disappeared with them?
Cemeteries are full of unanswered questions, and writers love unanswered questions.
That curiosity eventually turned into a lifelong fascination with horror and psychological drama. I’ve always loved stories that explore the strange corners of human behavior—the moments when a mind begins to unravel, or when the truth hiding beneath the surface is darker than anyone imagined.
Psychological thrillers are perfect for that kind of exploration. They allow writers to ask unsettling questions and follow them wherever they lead.
What if memory can’t be trusted?
What if the narrator is hiding something?
What if the most dangerous person in the story is the one telling it?
Those kinds of questions have always fascinated me.
Dark stories don’t just scare us. They reveal something about human nature. They explore the uncomfortable truths people often avoid in everyday life.
And sometimes, the darker the story, the more compelling it becomes.
So if you ever find yourself reading one of my books and wondering why things have taken such a twisted turn…
Just remember.
It might not be my fault.
It might simply be the Scorpio in me.
Case closed…until the next Kross examination.