Dark Fiction. American Gothic. Surreal Horror.
Where addiction meets prophecy, and demons walk Texas roads.
About the Author
Dennett Beam writes dark fiction that intertwines American Gothic elements with surreal horror. His debut novel, Mr. Navel and the Talking Orange, follows a man haunted by a demon named Władziu through a landscape filled with addiction, prophecy, and roads that only lead one way. This novel is the first in a planned trilogy that delves into the malanishi mythology and its impact on working-class America.
Beam's work is influenced by Peter Green's blues, Liberace's theatricality, and the grotesque undercurrents of American mythology. His short story "The Green Malanishi"—submitted to the SNHU Fall Fiction Contest—introduces the malanishi curse that serves as a driving force within the trilogy's dark fiction narrative.
Before dedicating himself to fiction, Beam composed avant-garde chamber music and created experimental visual art. This background seeps into his writing, where rhythm, dissonance, and the spaces between notes shape every sentence. His experimental music can be found at [soundcloud.com/dennettbeam], where avant-garde chamber compositions blend with narrative soundscapes.
Currently, he is completing his degree in English and Creative Writing while finalizing Mr. Navel and the Talking Orange. When he's not writing, Beam explores the intersection of sound and narrative, crafting mythologies from the wreckage of American life and demonstrating that demons are as real as the people who flee from them.
About "The Green Malanishi"
In accordance with contest rules, "The Green Malanishi" will not be published until after the contest concludes (December 2025).
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