02/14/2026: BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Candace Nola

Candace Nola
1 day ago
3 min read

As we do every year in the month of February, Uncomfortably Dark takes time out to honor Black authors and Black history from every era, past and present. If you already read widely and diversely or want to get started; please add these authors to your Must - Read lists and to those TBR piles!

A massive thank you to fellow author Eliza Broadbent for this huge undertaking for this month, enabling Uncomfortably Dark to honor at least one author a day, or more!

Candace Nola is a multiple award-winning author, editor, and publisher. She writes poetry, horror, dark fantasy, and extreme horror content. Her books include Breach, Beyond the Breach, Hank Flynn, Bishop, Unmasked, The Vet, Desperate Wishes, Transformation, Shadow Manor, and many more. Her short stories can be found in more than two dozen anthologies within the horror industry.

She is the creator of Uncomfortably Dark Horror, a publishing and reviewing platform that focuses on publishing horror stories written by marginalized voices from all aspects of life.

Uncomfortably Dark Horror stands behind its mission to “bring you the best in horror, one uncomfortably dark page at a time.”

Today, we honor Candace Nola

1. What kind of horror do you write/publish, and what brought you to the horror genre in particular?

I write and publish all forms of horror and its subgenres, including dark poetry and other forms of dark fiction that include horror elements, such as sci-fi or fantasy-based storylines.

2. Who would you consider your influences and inspiration?

My earliest inspirations were Poe and Stephen King, Clive Barker and Peter Straub, but also James Herbert and Octavia Butler. For my poetry, which was where I started, Phyllis Wheatley and Langston Hughes were my early influences, followed by Maya Angelou later on in life. More recent inspirations in the broader horror space would include S.A. Cosby, Johnny Compton, Tanarive Due, Tamika Thompson, Linda D. Addison, and Jamal Hodge.

3. What piece of writing has meant the most to you, and why? This can be both your own and/or another author’s.

My first novel Breach and its sequel, Beyond the Breach, probably carry the most meaning for me personally as they were the first novels I had written and published and also carry quite a bit of myself within them. I learned a lot about writing those books and I also learned a lot about myself and what I was capable of.

4. What’s your writing/editing journey been like? What challenges have you faced?

Learning, growing, improving, and learning more. It’s a never-ending cycle of learning and growth. Learning the business side of publishing, marketing and promoting, learning how to be consistent, how to best manage my time to get things done, how to keep my head down and work when social media seems to be nothing but rage bait and cruelty.

5. Who do you think everyone should be reading right now?

This may sound generic, but read everyone, from all walks of life. Read as widely as possible, stretch your comfort zones, learn about the world and the people around you. Reading all types of books from authors of all cultures and nations is the best way to learn more about the craft, to learn more about people from other backgrounds, and to broaden your own imagination and skill.

6. What’s it like being a Black horror writer/editor at this particular moment?

It’s hard. It’s triple the work, triple the effort, triple the expense, for a fraction of the recognition, notice, or sales. It’s knowing that going into this and still wanting to do it anyway. It’s committing to the knowledge that you must strive to do it better, longer, and more passionately than many other authors just to be given a fair shot.

7. Do you do any writing or editing that’s not fiction? If so, how did you come to that space, and where can we find it?

Sometimes I write personal essays that can be found on my personal website blog at the link below. HOME | Candace Nola Author

You can also find her on Substack Candace Nola.

8. What advice do you have for Black horror writers who are just getting started in the genre?

Write the stories you want to tell. Invest in learning your craft. Reach beyond your comfort zones to broaden your skill level and range. Be prepared to work harder and longer than most others around you.