Game Talk - Candace Nola
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
'Tireless' is one way to describe Candace Nola. Author, reviewer, editor - a sample of what she is and what she brings to the genre. And in a genre where output and frequency are key, she continues to maintain her game.
1. For those who don't know, who are you?
My name is Candace Nola. I am a multi-award-winning author, editor, and publisher from Pittsburgh, PA. I am the creator of Uncomfortably Dark, an indie horror review and community support platform, as well as a small publishing house. We focus on marginalized voices from all walks of life that have a story to tell, within any and all horror and horror subgenres.
2. Game talk – how do you organise and manage your game? How has it evolved?
A lot of post-it notes, whiteboards at first, then a shared calendar with my manager/daughter that we still use and my team of titans that help run my website as my personal work and my platform grew.
3. Talk us through one of your biggest achievements in your game – give us the story behind it. How did it play out?
So far, I would just say that my Uncomfortably Dark platform is my biggest achievement to date, not to discount my books or other accomplishments but the website is an indie review and community support platform as well as in indie publishing house. What was once a small way for me to become relevant while I worked on writing more books, reviewing books for other authors, morphed into a widely recognized horror website.
How did it play out? Hard work, a great group of die-hard fans that became friends, that became members of my review team that help me keep it all together and functioning. We host cover reveals, and launch parties, we interview far and wide, we review across all types of horror, and we seek to publish a unique variety of voices.
4. How does the first launch party compare to the latest one?
Sadly, I don't ever have a launch party. I didn't know that was a thing when I wrote my first book and no one in my family was too invested yet to make it a thing. I don't really think I had told many people that I had written a book to start with. Now, more than 30 books in, I still don't really have special launch events or parties but I try to make sure that each of my author's releases are celebrated in ways that suit them or that they request. Some do want big live launch events like a live interview the day of, or a podcast show to discuss the book, my more introverted authors prefer a quieter approach with more online build-up, email blasts, newsletter promotions.
Maybe one day I'll learn to celebrate myself more, but for now, I spend my time celebrating others and bringing their voices into the world as loudly as possible while I launch my own work in a more subdued manner. That's always been one of my more peculiar traits, I'm uncomfortable showing joy or expressing happiness or being in the spotlight. I just prefer to remain in the shadows.
5. It's great if things go according to plan. Tell us about when it didn't; how did you handle it? What were/are those challenges?
I think all plans tend to fall apart at some point. We need to give ourselves grace, recognize that we are human, communicate with those that need to know and carry on the best we can, when we can. I’ve missed a few personal deadlines, and I’ve needed extensions on some other deadlines due to my chronic health issues. I’ve had books delayed for months on end due to import issues and other bizarre things that I cannot control. We can only do what we can, maintain communication and respect and fulfil obligations as soon as we can.
6. Give a pep-talk to someone on game in your field.
Don’t worry about the haters. Don’t worry about social media. Don’t let every clown online tell you what to write, how to write, why to write, or how political to be or not to be. Write for you. Write the stories you want to read, write the ones you want to tell. The rest will fall into place. Recognize that you are both the artist and the manager. You need to learn the business side as well as the craft side. Prepare to work harder than you ever have and to learn more daily than you ever thought possible. Do that, and you’ll be okay.
7. Promo for latest work / links:
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