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Bullying and Mental Health
Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters follows a determined teen girl going into her senior of high school who has to navigate the labyrinth of unwritten rules and the glaring scrutiny of her peers as she ascends into the elite clique at school.What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This story had a long and winding road going back to my first book, Fragmentation Vol I: The Three of Clubs. A bridezilla enters a former criminal turned event planner’s life and wants a themed wedding. At first, it was going to be based on Mean Girls. Not sure if I could secure the rights that were needed. I went about creating my own knockoff of Mean Girls.
The goal was to release Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters as a short story along with Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of. Something kept eating away at me, though. I had the chance to tell a more complex story with emotional themes. The decision was made to pull the short story and rewrite it from the ground up.
How could I pull it off? What I hoped to do mirrored the front book cover. The first half is a biting satire/comedy of cliques and high school comedies. This is where some of the over-exaggeration of clique promotions comes from. The second half had more thriller elements that led to its harrowing conclusion. When the two genres clashed, who would win out?
In a way, the story is like Mean Girls with Carrie elements, but with an original story and unconventional narrative techniques.
In a lot of contemporary coming-of-age fiction novels, authors often add their own life experiences to the story. Are there any bits of you in this story?
Yes. I was bullied in my first few years of high school because I was one of the shortest boys in school. A substantial growth spurt did not come until my junior year. At its core, this is a story of bullying and mental health. What ramifications can occur in the short term and long term? Many say, well, bullying is just a stage in high school for many. For some, mental health has such a hold that by the time high school ends, anxiety and other mental health-related issues are now so pronounced that they directly reflect the rest of their lives.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to write my own Mean Girls story with this biting edge and social commentary attached to it. It was paramount to show the leading clique, the Empresses, and once the veil is revealed, it becomes a house of cards. Self-esteem issues occur in all types of cliques.
Returning to the last question, the two significant themes were bullying and mental health. Can a few members of the two most popular cliques have events where they must deal with what it is like for those in the lower cliques?
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My nest book is Harsh Winters due out on 12/05/2025. (A comedic novella may also be released in 2025).
What happens when one combines the suspense of a serial killer mystery with the intellectual curiosity of a whodunit, the philosophical depth of exploring evil’s origins, and the psychology of trauma from losing a best friend growing up to a serial killer. Which is the essence of Harsh Winters.
This is not just a book. The reader will experience Harsh Winters. Why? The reader will go from a passive participant to an active one in having to figure out who the killer is.
“Diane Campbell has loved true crime since her early twenties. The genesis as a child was the murder of her best friend by a serial killer. The justice system’s failure of the victim’s families still haunts her. Years later, along with her band of closely knit internet sleuths, they take up the challenge of finding a new serial killer—one who only seems to strike during the harsh winter months of the Midwest.
Her world is turned upside down when she falsely accuses an innocent man. Diane will soon learn life lessons of getting it wrong for the benefit of likes and clicks. For now, with her marriage crumbling because of this obsession, evil sets its sights on her.”
A prequel to Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters is expected in late 2026.
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As the winter semester turns to spring, the old wounds of Evergreen High of what is known as “The Reckoning” cast a disturbing shadow leading up to Prom. Will Andrea’s ever-increasing need for popularity and social media success be her undoing? Meanwhile, bullying has consequences!
Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters
Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters dives deep into the microcosm of high school cliques, turning the social strata of Evergreen High into a battlefield of power, identity, and survival. The book revolves around Andrea Cox, who aspires to ascend to the Empresses’ elite clique while navigating the labyrinth of unwritten rules and the glaring scrutiny of her peers. At its core, this story is a mix of biting satire and an honest portrayal of teenage struggles.
Randall’s writing style stood out for its sharp wit and unabashed rawness. The opening scene introducing Gerard Rush and rookie teacher Christopher Jansen was a riot, blending humor and tension to set the stage for the high school’s toxic dynamics. Rush’s world-weary perspective added a refreshing layer of adult cynicism to the teen-dominated narrative. Some passages, such as the teacher’s colorful wrestling metaphors, occasionally lingered, slightly diminishing their impact.
What hooked me was Randall’s ability to capture the unrelenting pressure of teenage social structures. The coronation ceremony of the Empresses was particularly gripping. Andrea’s internal conflict, her simmering frustration at being merely a pawn in Charlotte’s chess game, felt very real. Randall’s depiction of cliques, such as the Goths and Heartbreakers, felt exaggerated yet painfully relatable, evoking a mix of laughter and cringy nostalgia. At times, the narrative leans into exaggeration, which can make characters like Charlotte Davis feel more archetypal than fully fleshed out.
The book’s emotional moments carried surprising weight. Randall doesn’t shy away from the darker side of high school life—bullying, mental health struggles, and the yearning for acceptance are all woven into the story. Mr. Rush’s speech about bullying’s long-term effects struck a nerve, highlighting the consequences of a system that perpetuates exclusion. The book doesn’t provide clear solutions, instead embracing the chaos, which might leave readers yearning for a more hopeful resolution.
Emos, Posers, Goths, & Haters is a rollercoaster of high school drama that keeps you guessing which cliques will rise or fall. It’s perfect for fans of Mean Girls or Heathers but with a darker, more reflective edge. This book captures the teen experience with all its awkwardness, cruelty, and fleeting triumphs. If you enjoy stories that walk the line between satire and emotional depth, this one’s worth picking up.
Pages: 320 | ASIN: B0D3JCBTNM
First Sign of Ambiguity
Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of follows a man who attempts to return to a normal life in a chaotic world after finding himself in the desert unable to remember what brought him there. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The setup goes back to the opening of Fragmentation Vol I: The Three of Clubs, which was greatly inspired by Breaking Bad. A former criminal from Miami decides to break good and become a wedding planner. Then, he meets his first bridezilla. This premise allowed the fusion of comedy and thriller. In the first desert chapter of Vol II, the decision was made not to show the reader what happened, from how Vol I ends to Rodrigo waking up in the desert. This mystery casts a shadow through the rest of the book and is the first sign of ambiguity.
The theme of a guilty conscience was inspired by Crime and Punishment. On one level, it is my own interpretation of a fractured psyche that needs to be asked: Can it be fixed?
The science inserted in the fiction, I felt, was well-balanced. How did you manage to keep it grounded while still providing the fantastic edge science fiction stories usually provide?
I always knew sci-fi would be more prominent at some point in this series. In Vol II, there is a long chapter that dives into what I refer to as realistic sci-fi elements. It laid the foundation for what may happen in the future. Much research went into that chapter to ensure it came across as authentic. The payoff for some aspects of Vol II will not come until the next volume.
What was your favorite character to write for and why? Was there a scene you felt captured the character’s essence?
While I loved writing the Jaimie-Lynn character, I would have to return to Rodrigo Santos. It allowed me to show Rodrigo at his most narcissistic with few redeeming qualities in the first book. For many readers, there is a certain relatability of his plight and how deep that guilt is eating away. Does one deserve
redemption for crimes committed in the past?
One of my favorite scenes for Vol II comes from the chapter called Soul. It begins with narration of the state of the music industry and what could have been for Rodrigo. Slowly, there is a shift to more introspection. The song he sings is a double-edged sword. Is it about the soul of the music industry or his own? Rodrigo carries this excessive guilt, and by the time the last act comes, it is an unbearable burden.
Can fans look forward to a third volume in the Fragmentation series? If so, where will it take readers?
Yes. Fragmentation is a long series. Based on the final chapter from Vol II, I cannot give too much away about Vol III. Backstories will be told as the story comes closer to revealing what is going on with Rodrigo. One of the characters from this latest volume is fleshed out in detail. The first ACT in Vol III is written in epistolary format. Look for a 2026 release.
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Rodrigo Santos climbs from his desert grave surrounded by blood and destruction with no recollection of how he got there. Hitching a ride back home, Rodrigo goes back to his life as a wedding planner and club owner in Austin, Texas, convinced it was all a dream.
But Austin is nothing like he remembers. Murders occur everywhere he goes. Bridezillas with wild requests fill his days, while nightmares of a little girl and her teddy bear terrorize his dreams at night. She reminds Rodrigo of the evil of his past, which triggers his OCD in full force.
Suspicions rise as the lines between truth and hallucinations blur, and Rodrigo tailspins into depression. Whether it is mental illness, purgatory, or another dimension, Rodrigo must wallow through his past to find a tether to his reality before he is sent to hell.
Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of
Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of dives headfirst into a turbulent storm of self-reflection, psychological tension, and a persistent search for meaning. Author John Randall’s sequel picks up the scattered pieces of its predecessor, threading them into a narrative that explores guilt, redemption, and the chaos of the human mind. From the gritty streets of Austin to surreal encounters in foam clubs, the protagonist’s journey is an odyssey of raw emotion and existential questioning.
One standout moment for me was his interaction with Honzo, a fellow lost soul. Honzo’s monologue about his strained relationship with his father was raw and heartbreaking. It’s in these quieter, introspective moments that the book truly shines. However, the rapid tonal shifts between gritty realism and surreal elements sometimes felt jarring to me.
Randall’s use of symbolism is another highlight. The titular “fragmentation” manifests not only in the protagonist’s fractured mental state but also in the fragmented storytelling style. Disjointed timelines and erratic chapter transitions echo Rodrigo’s turmoil. While some might find this challenging to follow, I found it an effective way to mirror the character’s psyche. The recurring appearances of eerie figures, such as the veiled woman in the foam club, lend an almost dreamlike quality that keeps the reader guessing. Is it reality, hallucination, or something else entirely?
Fragmentation Vol II: In Search Of is an ambitious and gritty exploration of a fractured soul. It’s intense, chaotic, and at times overwhelming, much like its protagonist. But for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with a side of the surreal, this book delivers. It’s a great fit for readers who like their stories dark and introspective, akin to works by Dostoevsky or Palahniuk. If you’re willing to embrace the chaos and let the story pull you into its fragmented depths, it’s a journey worth taking.
Pages: 424 | ASIN : B0CW37WRRR
LITERARY TITAN 