More From This
Author
Other Works
A Home in the Darkness
The World He Once Knew
Reconstructing a Relationship
Novel: The Women Without Eyes
Release Date: January 6th, 2025
Available for Preorder, or add it to your wishlist!
About the Author:Micah Castle is a weird fiction and horror writer. His stories have appeared in various magazines, websites, and anthologies, and he’s the author of The Women Without Eyes, The World He Once Knew, A Home in the Darkness, and Reconstructing a Relationship.
While away from the keyboard, he enjoys spending time with his wife, playing with his animals, spending hours in the woods, and can typically be found reading a book or writing somewhere in his Pennsylvania home.
For his full work, visit his bibliography.
Welcome to an exclusive interview with the talented Micah Castle, the mind behind The Women Without Eyes. Today, we’re diving into the creative process that brought this gripping novel to life, from its earliest spark of inspiration to the challenges of balancing multiple perspectives and breathing new life into a story thought to be trunked forever. Micah shares his journey, the lessons learned along the way, and the moments he’s most proud of crafting in this chilling and thought-provoking narrative. Get ready to uncover the fascinating story behind the storyteller!
What was the first spark of inspiration that ignited the idea for The Women Without Eyes?
I don’t remember exactly the initial idea, but originally Detective Wolfe was written in The Sound of Color, a novella that’ll never see the light of day. Since it didn’t go anywhere, I moved him to The Women Without Eyes. I felt just a plain detective story would be boring, but thought it would be cool to have William’s (the killer) POV as well. Feel like it worked out in the end.
How did your approach to writing this novel differ from your previous works?
This is the first and last novel I hand-wrote before writing it on a computer. I never hand-wrote any fiction before and thought it’d make me feel more like a “writer” (whatever that means), since so many authors swear by it… But, it really only showed me how much I despise my handwriting and that my fingers ache way quicker than they used to.
Is there a piece of advice or insight you wish you had known before writing The Women Without Eyes?
Sometimes things are better with less detail than more.
Which aspects of this particular narrative challenged you to grow most as a writer?
The first is that multiple narratives happening concurrently is a lot more challenging than anticipated. Second is that sometimes no matter how much you love and put months of time into a book, it just doesn’t work and it’s better to trunk it for a while and come back to it, if you still want.
I wrote Women Without Eyes in 2018, started submitting in ‘19-’20, and trunked it in ‘21. I had accepted that it probably wouldn’t ever be published, even though early readers enjoyed it. That happens a lot with authors, their first novel just doesn’t go anywhere and they move on.
But, then in ‘23 I randomly had a couple ideas on how to improve it, and although I didn’t really want to go back through the book for what felt like the 100th time, I did, thankfully. And, bless the writer gods, it found a home.
When you think back on crafting this book, what scene or moment are you most proud of having created?
Without spoiling anything, but the ending. One book inspired it because it gobsmacked me when I read it, so I wanted to do something like that with this.
Thank you for joining us as we explored the chilling world of *The Women Without Eyes* and the creative mind of Micah Castle. From revisiting and reimagining a shelved story to crafting an unforgettable ending inspired by a jaw-dropping twist, Micah’s journey is a reminder of the resilience and passion that drive every great storyteller. If you haven’t yet, grab a copy of *The Women Without Eyes*—it’s a haunting tale that will linger in your mind long after the final page. And as Micah reminds us, sometimes the best stories take time to unfold. Happy reading—and maybe double-check the locks tonight!
