In this episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw explores the dark symbiosis between creator and critic in a literary world driven by digital influence and desperate attention.

"Buried Leads" follows Olivia Brooks, the brutally honest BookTuber behind "Brooks No Bullshit," whose 2.4 million subscribers have made her one of literature's most powerful gatekeepers. When she reluctantly agrees to meet aspiring author Clara Bennett about her psychological thriller manuscript, Olivia finds herself drugged, bound to a chair, and forced to read Clara's book—a disturbing meta-narrative that mirrors their own situation with terrifying precision.

Themes & Topics

• The toxic relationship between creators and critics in the digital age

• The desperate pursuit of validation and recognition

• How influence can become a dangerous form of power

• The commodification of trauma as content

• Meta-narrative and self-fulfilling prophecy

• The ethics of separating art from artist

Listener Discretion

This episode contains depictions of kidnapping, drugging, and psychological manipulation that some listeners may find disturbing.

About the Author

Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction examining the darker aspects of our modern media landscape. His stories reveal how digital platforms have transformed creative industries and the psychological toll of influence economies.

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Keywords

Literary thriller, BookTube, online influence, creator economy, meta-fiction, psychological thriller, kidnapping, publishing industry, content creation, Jon Cronshaw, digital culture, psychological horror, influencer culture