For 10 years, San Francisco-based Morbid Curiosity magazine was devoted to first-person nonfiction essays. Helmed by editor and publisher Loren Rhoads, Morbid Curiosity explored "the unsavory, unwise, unorthodox, and unusual: all the dark elements that make life truly worth living."

In September 2009, Scribner

Scribner

-Media:* Charles Scribner's Sons, also known as Scribner, New York City publisher* Scribner's Magazine, pictorial published from 1887–1939 by Charles Scribner's Sons, then merged with the Commentator which continued until 1942...

 published a collection of some of the editor's favorite pieces, called "Morbid Curiosity Cures the Blues".

History

The cult magazine debuted in May 1997, but took a while to settle into a purely first-person vein. Early issues included straight nonfiction (a history of auto-erotic strangulation) and interviews (particularly with ceramics artist MJ Bole). Eventually, editor Rhoads realized that what interested her most were survivor narratives:

"There is an undiluted power in reporting what you experienced and testifying about how it changed you. Those are the stories that I like best: the authors' records of When Life Changed. They provide mirrors so that we -- voyeurs and survivors in our own rights -- can examine our own lives." -- Loren Rhoads, introduction to Morbid Curiosity #10

Contributors

Contributors to the magazine included Michael Arnzen

Michael Arnzen

Michael A. Arnzen is a horror author and writer of the Bram Stoker Award-winning novel, Grave Markings . He won his second Bram Stoker Award for his newsletter and his third for his poetry collection, Freakcidents....

, M. Christian

M. Christian

M. Christian is an author and anthologist working in a variety of genres including horror, science fiction, erotica and crime. Much of his work combines sexual themes with the horror or science fiction genre.-Selected bibliography:Among his works are:...

, Aaron Cometbus

Aaron Cometbus

Aaron Elliott , better known as Aaron Cometbus, is an American drummer, lyricist, self-described "punk anthropologist," novelist, and author of punk rock zine Cometbus.-Personal life:...

, Ray Garton

Ray Garton

Ray Garton is an American author, well known for his work in horror fiction. He has written over sixty books, and in 2006 was presented with the World Horror Convention Grand Master Award.-Novels:...

, T.M. Gray, Michael Hemmingson

Michael Hemmingson

Michael Hemmingson is a novelist, short story writer, literary critic, cultural anthropologist, qualitative researcher, playwright, and screenwriter.-Publishing History:...

, Brian Hodge

Brian Hodge

Brian Hodge is a prolific writer in a number of genres and sub-genres, as well as an avid connoisseur of music. He currently lives in Boulder, Colorado, where he is working on his latest novel.Brian Hodge's novels are often dark in nature. Themes like self...

, Charlee Jacob

Charlee Jacob

Charlee Jacob is an American author specializing in horror fiction, dark fantasy, and poetry. Her writing career began in 1981 with the publication of several poems under the name Charlee Carter Broach...

, Brian Keene

Brian Keene

Brian Keene is an American author, primarily of horror, crime fiction, and comic books. He has won two Bram Stoker Awards.- Background :Keene was born in 1967. He grew up in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and many of his books take place in these locales. After graduating high school, he...

, Jasmine Sailing

Jasmine Sailing

Jasmine Sailing is an author, events organizer, performer, music journalist, and editor-publisher of the magazine CyberPsychos AOD. She also organized the Death Equinox conventions in Denver, CO, where she resides...

, Julia Solis

Julia Solis

Julia Solis is a writer and photographer who investigates ruined urban spaces. She is the founder of two arts organizations: Dark Passage and Ars Subterranea , . She has written a book entitled New York Underground and received fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts...

, Jill Tracy

Jill Tracy

Jill Tracy is a singer, pianist, writer, composer, and performance artist based in San Francisco.Known for her dark, evocative, cinematic style, Jill Tracy states that some of her biggest childhood influences were film score composers such as Bernard Herrmann, and classic suspense tales, including...

, Don Webb, David Niall Wilson

David Niall Wilson

David Niall Wilson is an American writer primarily known for his works of horror, science fiction, and fantasy fiction.-Background:...

.

Press and Notices

In 2005, Morbid Curiosity was a finalist for the Horror Writers Association's Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Non-Fiction.

Morbid Curiosity obituary in the Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/19/AR2006061901543.html

Interview with Morbid Curiosity’s editor Loren Rhoads
http://www.sfstation.com/dance-around-in-your-bones-a488

Morbid Curiosity Open Mics

A Morbid Curiosity Open Mic was held at the Death Equinox

Death Equinox

Death Equinox was a series of four conventions held in Denver, Colorado in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Sponsored by CyberPsychos AOD, and organized by Jasmine Sailing, they focused on alternative culture and art. An usual aspect was that they combined both the transgressive aspects of writing...

'99 convention. Editor Loren Rhoads hosted it, and contributors to the magazine told "improvised true stories about past morbid curiosity episodes in their lives".

External links

Editor Loren Rhoads’ web site

• http://www.lorenrhoads.com

Morbid Curiosity Cures the Blues book

• http://www.charnel.com/morbidcuriosity/morbid.html