Amy Leanne Johnston (she/they) is the force behind What Lies Buried Below, a surreal, gutting tale of survival and silence that aches with mythic resonance. Based in Minnesota, Amy is a writer, visual artist, and Dungeon Master with a flair for genre-bending narratives and gorgeously drawn characters—both literal and literary. Her sci-fi series HARK! is in development, and her lyric essay “Dark Energy” appeared in CIRQUE Literary Journal (pg 44).
recently sat down with Amy to talk shop—about drawing expressions, indie RPGs, the long magic of Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, Southern horror, and the geology of storytelling (yes, literally). They spoke on the power of secrets, the joy of improvisation, and why rebellion isn’t always loud, but always matters.🎲 Amy’s favorite indie RPG of the moment? In Stars and Time.
🎧 Song she’s memorized from top to bottom? Too many to count.
📚 Horror rec for newbies? A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher.
You’ll find notes of vulnerability, craft, and creative mischief, the kind that only happens when a worldbuilder speaks not just about the worlds they build, but why they build them.
Don’t forget!: Forbidden Fruit arrives September 30th. You will be able to preorder your copy soon or join the upcoming Kickstarter for the special edition release this July, featuring sprayed edges, hidden sigils, and a whole lot of eerie.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Amy Leanne Johnston
01:30 - Exploring HARK!: A Sci-Fi Adventure
05:02 - Dungeons & Dragons: Crafting Worlds and Characters
08:59 - The Art of Improv and Storytelling
11:00 - Music and Themes in Storytelling
12:59 - Indie RPGs and Time Travel Shenanigans
15:48 - The Creative Hive: Connecting Through Art
17:04 - Exploring Southern Horror: A House with Good Bones
19:02 - Character Development: Ghostly Inspirations
19:58 - Alternate Lives: Voice Acting and Geology
22:58 - Moments of Realization: Discovering Writing Talent
25:00 - Themes of Rebellion: Writing Against the System
26:57 - The Power of Secrets: Energy in Storytelling
Find Amy Leanne Johnston in the labyrinth:
Amy’s Tumblr
Amy’s Bluesky
Amy’s Wordpress
Check out our other author interviews! We’ll be releasing a new author interview each Wednesday.
If you’d like for your work to be considered for the next volume of The Curious Post, please read the information about the upcoming submission window, open June 1st! Share with your writerly friends.
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