Marcus Kliewer releases audio-only horror collection 'Please Remain Seated'

Marcus Kliewer has published a new audio original titled "Please Remain Seated." The collection is available now from Simon & Schuster. It consists of three short stories designed specifically for the auditory format. The release marks a distinct departure from his previous print novels.

Each story in the collection centers on a different mode of transportation. The first, "Please Remain Seated," takes place on an eerily empty commercial flight. The second, "Backroads," follows a character on a deserted back road. The third, "Anomaly," is set in the darkest depths of the ocean. According to the publisher, the stories include sound effects and music to keep listeners unsettled.

Kliewer stated that he wrote the pieces for people who enjoy listening to spooky stories while on the move. He noted that the format allows for a specific type of engagement that text alone cannot provide. "I specifically wrote them for people who love to listen to spooky stories while on the move," Kliewer said.

The cast for the audiobook includes Sosie Bacon, known for her role in "Smile." Jeremy Bobb, who appeared in "The Outsider," narrates one of the segments. Kyle Beltran, an actor from "American Horror Story," voices the final story. The publisher described the project as delivering cinematic experiences through sound.

Kliewer built his career by posting short stories on Reddit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those early works evolved into his debut novel, "We Used to Live Here." That book launched an interconnected world fans call the "Old House Universe." His follow-up novel, "The Caretaker," continues this saga. Two of the stories in the new audiobook, "Backroads" and "Anomaly," take place within this existing universe.

The titular story, however, exists in its own SCP-inspired universe. Kliewer suggested a potential narrative link between the two worlds. "Though maybe 'Please Remain Seated' exists as a fictional movie or comic book within the Old House Universe," he said. He described the Old House Universe as an ever-expanding world where stories function as both standalone pieces and parts of a larger lore.

The author has compared his approach to the multiverse created by Stephen King in the "Dark Tower" series. Kliewer said he wants readers to be able to enjoy a single book on its own or to explore the background conspiracies. "I love the idea of everything being interconnected but also working as stand-alone stories," he explained.

Kliewer has more projects in development. Netflix purchased the rights to "We Used to Live Here" before the book was published. "The Caretaker" is currently in development as a film. The project will star Sydney Sweeney, who is known for her role in "Euphoria." The author is also working on a third full-length novel.

Kliewer noted that the new novel is challenging to write. "It's actually creeping me out as I write it, which basically never happens," he said. He attributes his interest in horror to the ability to explore scary topics in a safe environment. He also enjoys scaring people who want to be scared.

The author credited his time doing maintenance landscaping with shaping his craft. He listened to audiobooks for nearly eight hours a day during that period. He believes that hearing a narrator perform a story elevates the material. "I'm always so impressed by the actor's ability to elevate something I've written and make it sound even more intense than I imagined," he said.