Brady Allen 1970-2025
One of the best things about being an author is hanging out with other authors. It’s a rare thing to get to talk to a group of people, talking about essentially the same subject matter in the same language. If you talk to your significant other, who may not be a writer, the chances are they may not understand it as much as one of your pals.
A million years ago in 2013, I went on a writer’s retreat organized by the publisher of my first novel. There were a lot of authors, the publisher, and three authors who were all multiple Stoker award winners. They were there to talk to us and share some experiences and insight. (They did, and man, it was awesome.)
On the second day, a writer named Brady Allen arrived to join in on the fun. He was an English professor and a horror writer and probably the coolest guy I’d ever seen who was in fact, a writer. We all got on like a house on fire and at one point, I was having a video call with my kids, and they asked who the ‘guy with the beard was’ and I introduced him. He was super cool, and my kids were in awe that someone could be my height too.
He hung out with all of us as we lit fires and chewed the fat till the wee hours of the morning.
One of the free books I walked away with that weekend was the last copy of his collection Back Roads and Frontal Lobes. (If you have the desire to get, I suggest that you do so-with all speed. It was recently re-released by Cemetery Dance, and you can get the book here.)
I had the privilege of recording some of Brady’s work on a podcast from 2014. The story I read was “Mama’s Boy Blues.” I have not been part of that podcast in an exceptionally long time, but that episode remains a favorite and not just for me. Brady really liked what I did with it and that alone was worth it. I am including it here for those who would like to listen.
Sadly, Brady passed away on March 8th, 2025.
His daughters (whom he affectionately nicknamed “Skyebird and Little Biggun”) have a GOFUNDME page for assistance in the funeral costs and I am putting it here if you feel compelled. I surely hope you do. Please consider this and thank you.
