1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 On this episode, host Jed Doherty welcomes Connecticut author Timothy Koppe to discuss his debut horror novel, I Have Been Here. The conversation begins with the book’s scope: its story reaches from 15,000 years ago to the present, bringing together characters from different eras, including an ancient hunter, pirates, a scientist, and a president. Koppe explains that the idea first came to him while daydreaming in a French history class more than two decades ago. What began as a question about why people fear the dark grew into a writing project. He describes weaving together historical details and story fragments until he recognized they belonged to one narrative connected to Oak Island. At the heart of the novel is a chilling idea: knowledge doesn’t always make fear fade. In this story, learning more about the mysterious presence can make it more powerful. Koppe also reflects on why readers enjoy horror, describing fiction as a safe space to encounter unsettling feelings and make them feel more manageable. The interview explores Koppe’s writing approach: he sometimes outlines and researches, and sometimes follows an idea as it unfolds. He shares how he tracks revisions to preserve continuity, and how finishing the book has helped him feel more confident about writing in its world. Koppe has started a prequel exploring earlier parts of the story. He is also polishing a separate manuscript and hopes to begin querying it soon. It’s a thoughtful conversation about creativity, perseverance, family, and the appeal of looking into the dark. Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast https://sites.libsyn.com/558800 <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/43667554/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/208606739