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Diablo Canyon follows a burnt-out writer searching for inspiration in Diablo Canyon, who instead uncovers a dark history and an evil, ancient entity that is out for blood. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The spark actually came from a dream—kind of a wild one. I go into the full story in the afterword of the book, but that dream stuck with me. I used to live in Elizabeth Lake, and it’s just one of those places that feels… different. Beautiful, but mysterious. Over time, I started hearing these strange, fascinating stories from locals. Then I found out the lake’s original name was La Laguna del Diablo, which translates to The Devil’s Lake. That was it—I started researching, and everything started clicking into place. With that foundation, the story practically wrote itself. Honestly, about 60% of it is rooted in real events and local legends.
All your characters felt real, giving the story an emotional pull that connects readers to them. What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
It was honestly a blast to write them all, but it was also a balancing act. I really wanted a diverse set of characters, each with their own voice and purpose. Writing for the Tataviam Tribe members meant doing a lot of thoughtful rewrites—I wanted to treat their story and culture with the respect it deserves, so that took time and care. As for the hardest character? Probably Jack. Capturing his inner conflict—the grief, the guilt, the tension with his daughter—that was tough, but also really fulfilling. He’s the emotional anchor of the book in a lot of ways.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
A few things really drove this story. First, I wanted to shine a light on the beauty and history of the Elizabeth Lake area—especially the stories that often go untold. Through Tibu’s storyline, I was able to explore Indigenous history and voices that history tends to erase. I wanted to honor that.
There’s also a strong theme of grief and how it shapes us. Jack’s journey is wrapped in loss, and that grief fuels a lot of his choices—some good, some not so good. Trauma, if we don’t face it, can lead us down dangerous paths.
And of course, the danger of unchecked curiosity plays a big role. Whether it’s digging into the past or awakening something ancient, Diablo Canyon reminds us that some doors are closed for a reason. Once you open them, there’s no going back.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
Right now, I’ve got a few irons in the fire. I’m working on a four-book series called The Elementals, which dives into a supernatural mythology that I’m really excited about. I’m also building a paranormal detective series centered on a character named Smoke Ravenstein—the first book’s called The Demon on the Hill, and it’s halfway done.
And then there’s The Body Farm, which is a dark horror comedy we’re actually filming this summer. That one’s a wild ride with a twisted sense of humor. I’m not sure exactly when the next book will hit the shelves, but hopefully soon. Stay tuned! Stay Spooky!
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More than a century later, Jack Morrison, a burned-out novelist, arrives in the canyon looking for inspiration—but what he finds is far worse than writer’s block. As he digs into the dark history of the land, he uncovers chilling stories of vanished settlers, vengeful spirits, and men who disappeared only to return… changed. The deeper Jack goes, the more the lines blur between past and present, until the horrors that haunted Tibu’s time come clawing their way into his own.
This is not just a story about outlaws and gold—this is a story about the things that lurk beneath the earth, waiting. The kind of nightmares that do not just haunt the past, but infect the present, whispering promises of power in exchange for blood. Diablo Canyon is a tale of monstrous men, vengeful spirits, and the unrelenting grip of an ancient evil that does not forgive… and never forgets.
If you think evil stays buried, you’ve never been to Diablo Canyon.
Diablo Canyon
Diablo Canyon is a tale that hurtles through time and landscape with raw force. Set initially in 19th-century California, it follows José and Tibu, two men bound by loyalty and betrayal, against the backdrop of outlaws, vengeance, and survival. The story crackles with tension as it unfolds across dusty deserts, haunted hills, and bleeding battlegrounds, eventually connecting to the modern day with a sharp, emotional twist involving a struggling writer trying to hold his life together. Flemish crafts a saga that feels larger than life but roots it in personal pain, revenge, and a hunger for redemption that refuses to be silenced.
I loved the writing style. Flemish doesn’t waste words. The scenes are vivid—almost painfully real—and the emotions are front and center, bleeding right out of the page. The way the author handled the pacing was excellent too. Chapters punched hard and fast, never lingering long enough to lose momentum. Dialogue felt gritty and believable. I found myself really caring about these characters—flawed, broken, brutal as they were. Tibu’s evolution from a boy to a nightmare was brutal but so believable it hurt. And Jack’s story in the present day, fraying under the weight of fame and failure, resonated with me.
There were moments that almost tipped into melodrama. Some of the violence was so intense it made me put the book down for a breather, but it fits the world Flemish built. And even though the jump from historical Western outlaw life to modern Los Angeles worked in the end, the transition felt jarring at first. Still, when I let myself just ride with it, the story’s gut-punch emotional honesty pulled me right back in.
Diablo Canyon is for anyone who loves a good, messy, bloody, heartbreaking story about broken people doing the best (and sometimes the worst) they can. If you like your Westerns rough and your thrillers dark, this one’s for you.
Pages: 326 | ASIN : B0F3VBWDVS
LITERARY TITAN 