Today we’d like to introduce you to Ezekiel Kincaid

Hi Ezekiel , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

Most people expect a pastor or a minister’s life story to be one of pristine perfection with no failure or tragedy. That is not the case with me. When I say I am here only by the grace of God, that is not an understatement. So how did this pastor get into writing horror? Here’s the short version:
I started out in ministry when I was 18 years old. The first two churches I served in were wonderful. They were great experiences. The ones after that? Not so much. I’ll spare you the details but let’s just say the time came that I got fed up with the racism, egos, backstabbing, lying, and hatred from the churches in the denomination I served. After ten years of it, I was done. Disillusioned and heartbroken, I moved back home to Louisiana in 2014 to be with my father before he passed from a terminal illness in 2017. During that time not only had I lost my ministry and my father, I also lost my house to a flood and was then diagnosed with cancer in 2018. But it didn’t stop there. The relationship I was in became emotionally, physically, and psychologically abusive. It was all too much for me to handle. So, I ended up trying to escape my pain in alcohol.
Through the grace of God, I was able to get out of the relationship and get into rehab. And it was a good thing. The doctors in rehab said I was one of the worst cases they had ever seen. When I came in, my BAC was .42! .They didn’t know how I was alive. Between all the abuse and everything else on top of it, I had given up. I was drinking to die. But God had other plans for me. He helped me get sober, and slowly but surely, started showing me my worth again. I’m now over three years sober and work as a hospice chaplain.
It was during all of my hardship that I started to write horror. The connections were easy. Christianity has a lot to say about the supernatural, human condition, dealing with fear, overcoming obstacles, and facing the darkness. And boy, I had faced some darkness! It was out of all of my experiences with pain, sorrow, loss, fear, uncertainty, and intense darkness that my purpose of being a horror writer was born. I am able to use my writing in a cathartic way to process everything I have been through. Much of my writing deals with great sorrow and emotional pain, as well as characters having to face the darkness, whether in their own soul or from a supernatural foe. My goal is to use the backdrop of darkness that horror provides as a stage for the light to shine.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

The greatest struggles I have faced have been internal. The self doubt, feelings of unworthiness, and the pain that comes from losing close relationships. I’ve lost a lot of those after becoming a horror writer. It seems some people can’t get past their own religious idea of who God can use and how God can use them. In their mind a pastor should never write horror. Since that is the case, I must be doing the devil’s work. I’d being lying if I said I hadn’t gotten more than my share of hate mail over the years. Writing is hard enough, but throw on top of that losing relationships and having your name dragged through the mud because of it, and it takes on another level of difficulty. Thick skin is grown, not given. And I have had to grow it over the years. I have had to focus in on the voice of God, keep His word in my mind, and keep persevering in what I know He has called me to do. It hasn’t been easy, and there are still days where I feel greatly discouraged and battle negative thoughts. However, I dig my heels in, stand firm, and press on.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I think one of the things that sets my horror writing apart is that it comes from a place of experience. As I mentioned earlier in this interview, I’ve poured my pain and loss into my writing. Also, as a pastor and chaplain, I have helped others walk through these same things. You can also add to that my experience with the supernatural as a minister and paranormal investigator. And what am I most proud of? I guess it would have to be the fact that in spite of all I have faced, I haven’t quit writing. Perseverance in and of itself is success. Never forget that.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?

As a writer, that’s really hard to say. So much of it depends on sheer luck and timing. I do know I have plans for more novels and short stories. I also have plans to continue to improve my preaching and paranormal shows I do on YouTube. How well my writing does and where I end up is all in the hands of God. My job is just to write, serve Him, and seek His kingdom first. He will place me where He sees fit. I do plan on expanding my writing to include screenplays. I’d also love to be able to do comics at some point in the future as well. This is plenty to keep me busy for a long time!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ezekiel-Kincaid/author/B08GZQ55PQ?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezekielkincaid/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553602709402
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessionalParanormalResearch
• Other: https://godless.com/collections/vendors?q=Ezekiel%20Kincaid