small towns, dark secrets, monsters everywhere

Slow burn horror fantasy

A man with glasses and a beard leaning against a tree, arms crossed, outside.

Tim Kulp

or T. Kulp

Tim Kulp (as T. Kulp) writes stories that blend the eerie with the everyday, revealing the hidden darkness in small-town life. Inspired by authors like Poe, Lovecraft, Tolkien, and King, his work explores the unsettling side of the familiar—where the mundane meets the macabre.

With a love for cosmic, gothic, and folk horror, Tim crafts stories filled with dark secrets, strange happenings, and the kind of creeping dread that stays with you long after you’ve turned the page. His fiction invites readers into worlds where every shadow holds a story and every quiet town has something lurking beneath the surface.

A longtime Dungeons & Dragons fan, he enjoys weaving tales both on paper and around the gaming table. He lives just outside Baltimore, MD, with his wife, kids, a friendly dog, and a cat that may or may not be plotting something sinister.

Find out more and explore his stories at timkulp.com.

What are people saying?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Creepy hair raising tales." -- Reader Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Creepy hair raising tales." -- Reader Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This was a great adventure. With surprises at every turn... The characters and storyline will grab you and keep you wanting more." -- Reader Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This was a great adventure. With surprises at every turn... The characters and storyline will grab you and keep you wanting more." -- Reader Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "an exciting new voice in horror" -- Reader Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "an exciting new voice in horror" -- Reader Review

Inspirations

Growing up in a small town, I heard so many tales of monsters, ghosts, and other dark forces. Here are some images, sounds, stories, that inspired me from early beginnings to right now. Consider this a mood board. If this stuff resonates with you, then I think you’ll like my art and writing.

A foggy graveyard with numerous tombstones and a tall monument in the center. Bare trees and a building are visible in the background.
“Do you not see? The King in Yellow is more than a mere book; he is a symbol, a force, a madness that consumes all who come into contact with it.”
— The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers
A well-worn, stuffed teddy bear with frayed fabric, an eye patch, and a soft white ear, sitting on a reflective surface in a bright room.
Red die with white numbers, showing the numbers 4, 0, and 7, on a black background.
Cover of the book 'Something Wicked This Way Comes' by Ray Bradbury, with a red background and bold, black and white text.
Sunset over a hillside neighborhood with modern houses, trees, and rolling hills in the background.
“Lo!
Death has reared himself a throne
In a strange city lying alone
Far down within the dim West,
Where the good and the bad and the worst and the best
Have gone to their eternal rest.”
— The City in the Sea by Edgar Allan Poe
sketch of haunting face
“Each book is a mind alive, a life revealed, a world awaiting exploration, but living people are all those things, as well—and more, because their stories haven’t yet been completely told.”
— Innocence by Dean Koontz

Quick Facts

Who is T. Kulp

T. Kulp is Tim Kulp’s horror pen name. Under the name T. Kulp, Tim writes horror stories rooted in cosmic, folk, and dark fantasy styles.

What Genre Does T. Kulp write?

Cosmic horror focusing on insignificance and the dangers of forbidden knowledge inspired by authors like H.P. Lovecraft, John Langan, and Jeff Vandermeer.

Folk horror focusing on small towns with dark secrets inspired by authors like Shirley Jackson, A.M. Shine, and Adam Nevill.

Dark Fantasy focusing on the monstrous sides of magic, heroes, and epic villains inspired by authors like Clive Barker, Robert E. Howard, and Stephen King.

Writing Promise

I don’t want to make too many promises because wherever my stories take me is where I go, but often my stories are slow dread with low gore - not including magical reconfigurations of bodies. On a scale from Darcy Coates (cozy horror) to Clive Barker (body horror), I’d put myself closer to Clive Barker without going for the gross out factor. I’d rather you be looking over your shoulder than holding your stomach.

Location

I’m based near Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. My stories often take place in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West Virginia - places that I’ve spent a lot of time. Now, more and more, Nashville, Tennessee is showing up in my tales. That’s been interesting.

Best Known Series

The Lazarus Spiral Series which on the surface is about haunted toys but really is about obsession and holding on so tight to the past you choke out your future.

Best Story to Read First

For the Lazarus Spiral Series, start with Life Changing Yard Sale.

For a stand alone, start with The Hunger.

For a collection to sample a bunch of my writing, start with BLOTS.

Where to Buy?

Amazon

My Store is Making Adventure Fun and has more goodies for my worlds in it. Enjoy!

Press Kit

For any media queries, please reach out via the contact form.

See the Stories

Close-up of a human eye with a vibrant green iris, black eyelashes, and a reflection on the cornea. The image has a black and white background with a digital network pattern overlay.

See the Art