We recently connected with Christopher Neal and have shared our conversation below.

Christopher, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is my first book, The Son of Cthulhu. Writing and reading have been a core part of who I am since I was a kid. I stayed buried in stories about demigods, supernatural creatures, and heroes with destinies bigger than themselves. But when I got older, especially once I made it to college and started studying literature more critically and surrounding myself with other Black writers/readers, I realized something that unknowingly bothered me my whole life: all the characters I grew up loving were white and male.

Then, it hit me. I never got to see myself, Black kids, Black families, Black boys, centered in those same epic, world-shaking narratives. And that was something I couldn’t stand to see anymore. Black boys deserve to be more than society has told them to be. They can go to Camp Half-Blood. They can be the chosen one. They can be anything and everything they imagine themselves to be, and that is why I wrote The Son of Cthulhu.

The Son of Cthulhu became meaningful because it wasn’t just me writing a story; it was me reclaiming a genre that rarely left room for Blackness. It’s an opportunity for me to give the next generation the representation I didn’t get growing up. And honestly, it’s me walking in my purpose: blending faith, folklore, horror, and Black imagination into something powerful.

Christopher, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hey, my name is Christopher Neal, and I’m a writer, a divinity student, a husband, and somebody who believes deeply in the power of story, especially Black stories. I’ve always been obsessed with mythology, folklore, anime, horror, and the spiritual world, but as I got older, I realized the genres I loved rarely made space for people who look like me. That gap pushed me into my craft. Instead of just consuming stories, I wanted to create them and ensure that they reflect the beauty, the struggles, the faith, and the power of Black people. I went to UNC-Wilmington and graduated in ’22 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and a minor in Africana Studies.

My main creative project right now is my book The Son of Cthulhu, which has not been published yet, and I am looking for a literary agent. I also curate a TikTok page called LitByUs. I highlight stories made by Black people and create content about said literature for Black people. Everything I do sits at the intersection of creativity, culture, and theology. I take mythology and horror and remix them with Black identity, mental health, spirituality, and the kind of depth you only get from growing up in the church and then studying theology in adulthood.

I think what sets me apart isn’t just the stories I write; it’s the lens. I approach fantasy and horror the way a theologian approaches scripture: looking for meaning, symbolism, and places where the sacred and the supernatural overlap with real life. I’m a nerd who sees how anime and comics align with scripture and take inspiration from it all. I make sure that my characters are real, flawed, powerful, curious, and deeply human.

The problem that I solve for my readers? Representation. But also a chance to be known and seen. A lot of Black folks are searching for stories that they can see themselves in, that honor their culture instead of erasing it, and that take their spiritual beliefs seriously without being preachy. My work gives people, specifically Black boys, the space to imagine themselves as the hero, the chosen one, the descendant of something ancient and sacred.

What I most want people to know about me and my brand is this: everything I create is intentional. It’s rooted in faith, in community, and in storytelling that challenges the idea that fantasy, horror, and the supernatural belong to one type of person or race. I want readers and followers to know that my writing is for that one Black boy who never saw themselves in the stories they loved and for the grown versions of them who are still healing from that absence.

If you’re engaging with my work, you’re stepping into a world where Blackness isn’t the side plot, the side character, or the comedic relief; it’s the entire universe.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Honestly, I’ve been pivoting nonstop since the day I graduated college. I came out of school in 2022 thinking I had a pretty clear sense of the field I’d end up in… and then life said, “Nah, try again.” None of the jobs I’ve held since graduating have had anything to do with my degree. I had the skills, the work ethic, the drive, but the path I imagined just didn’t open up the way I expected it to.

What surprised me most was where I ended up: the nonprofit sector. That was never on my radar. I didn’t grow up dreaming about working in that world, and it wasn’t the lane I thought my education would lead me toward. But every pivot kept pushing me closer to it, whether I realized it or not.

And the wild part? I ended up finding a job I genuinely love (shoutout to Victory Junction). It wasn’t in the original plan, but it became one of the biggest blessings. It taught me that sometimes your purpose shows up sideways, through detours you didn’t choose. Every pivot forced me to adapt, rethink who I was professionally, and stay open to opportunities I never would’ve considered. Now I see those pivots as preparation; shaping me, stretching me, and guiding me toward work that aligns with my values, even if it didn’t match the blueprint I had at 21.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Make space for their giftings and make sure they can make a living doing so. The creative arts are not a waste of time, and more people who are already in the field should be willing to hold doors open for people coming into the industry.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kodechris
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisNeal1013
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-json-neal
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kodechris
  

  @litbyus

  
  https://www.instagram.com/@nealartcollective

Image Credits

Destiny Lennon (https://www.instagram.com/dc.7enn/)