House of Mystery Radio Sessions: Sci-Fi / Fantasy Author Seth Voorhees
- Jun 7
- 3 min read
By House of Mystery Radio: Alan R Warren and Michael Hawley
Seth Voorhees is a Black Hills Author. Living in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He enjoys drawing from his experiences as a social worker, particularly in adolescent development and mental health, to shape his characters and their journeys through human morality and challenges. He identifies himself as a dark fiction author because his writing spans several genres. He resides in Rapid City with his partner and stepdaughter. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in sociology and psychology from Black Hills State University.
November 20, 2025
Q: When did you start writing, and where did it all begin?
A: I first started writing in middle school, inspired by Goosebumps. My first official story was a short novel in my senior year of high school. I didn’t start taking writing seriously as a career until around 2017, when I was 30.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge when you write?
A: Finding the right amount of time. I have full-time jobs and responsibilities, so some days I can write five hours, other days maybe only 500–1,000 words.
Q: Do you have to be in a certain mood to write?
A: Somewhat. I always write in the morning after prayer, meditation, and coffee. My imagination usually fades after around 3 PM, so I stop then.
Q: Can you tell us about your book and its publishing history?
A: It was initially published in 2019, right before COVID, which was terrible timing. I later regained the rights and self-published through Sparks Publishing, which distributes books nationwide.
Q: What’s the premise of the story?
A: It’s about a pandemic virus. The main character, Wyatt, discovers that people with A-positive blood are immune. There’s also a short zombie phase, and later, the infected form a group called the Inflicted, leading to a conflict over dominance.
Q: Is it a dark story or lighter?
A: It alternates. Wyatt is very spiritual, and there’s a moral struggle throughout. A secondary character, Helen, hides her immune partner, Tamera, while rising to a powerful position, showing human elements and ethical dilemmas.
Q: Did any subtext emerge while writing?
A: Yes, mainly about what people are willing to do for those they love during hard times, and the resilience of the human spirit. There’s a touch of humor and even some drinking.
Q: How do you relate to Wyatt?
A: Wyatt reflects aspects of myself, particularly in working with adolescents, and his spiritual outlook. He’s a bit rougher and has a bigger family than I do, but I connected personally with him.
Q: Do you draw traits from other people for your characters?
A: Yes, sometimes from people I know, sometimes from documentaries, stories, or movies. For instance, Mitch in the book was inspired by CIA history and the co-workers I observed.
Q: Do you ever write violent scenes or “kill” characters?
A: Not in this book. I’ve written unpublished novellas with violent content, primarily for journaling.
Q: Do you think about your audience when writing?
A: Yes, especially with this new version. I made adjustments, hoping readers enjoy it, but know I can’t control everyone’s response.
Q: How graphic is the book?
A: I try to keep it appropriate, especially since I’ve worked with adolescents. There’s action, zombies, and some violence, but nothing overly graphic.
Q: Did writing this book change your perspective?
A: Yes, I grew a lot as an author between the first publication and the revision. It showed me how I’ve developed skills in storytelling and editing.
Q: How do you handle public feedback and social media?
A: It makes me a bit vulnerable. Social media can be helpful, but also harsh. I balance wanting people to love the book with understanding I can’t please everyone.
Q: Will there be a sequel?
A: Possibly. I left it open for Helen’s story. Other books I’ve written are one-offs.
Q: What do you want readers to take away?
A: Mainly a break from reality, some reflection on perspective, and seeing beauty or hope even within darkness and tragedy.
Q: Who’s the point of view for the story?
A: It’s written in third person, but I hope it reflects a spiritual lens on events, showing how perspective can shift even in tragic situations.
Q: What’s next for your writing?
A: I have one book in editing and another in progress. I usually edit three times myself before sending it to a professional editor.
Full Interview: Seth Voorhees - Immune: Rise of the Inflicted - House of Mystery Radio on NBC | Acast
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