“I was filled with the wondrous knowledge that my free will would determine what came next... That day, I went through a horror I’d never felt before, but that was the key element. I felt. I felt every bit of it. I was alive and thirsty for more life. Ready to face what was coming. And I thanked the fear.”
- Ace by Alexander Semenyuk, It Comes in the Dust (Kindle Locations 362–368)
This moment, buried deep in the dusty pages (pun, tee hee!) of It Comes in the Dust,1 is more than just a turning point for the protagonist-it's a powerful declaration of agency, awakening, and survival. It captures the eerie yet redemptive spirit of
’s novel: one that stares fear in the face and chooses to live.Desert towns, strange sandstorms, haunted radios, and secrets buried under silence. If Twin Peaks2 was set in the Southwest and produced by someone who binge-watched The X-Files3 and read Paradise Harbour,4 you’d get close.
👤 Meet Alexander Semenyuk
Alexander is a Ukrainian-American author with over 40 books to his name. His fiction ranges from suspenseful slow burns to cosmic horror and emotional transformation. And honestly? He’s one of the most generous, collaborative creative persons I’ve met.
His latest book, It Comes in the Dust, is a masterclass in atmospheric horror. There’s tension, silence, a protagonist named Ace who’s super relatable, and something ancient (and maybe even cosmic?) is also lurking in the wind.
I knew Alexander Semenyuk a bit in that he was and remains super supportive of my writing especially when I was a newbie Substacker and knew very little and he recommended my Substack! I also got to know his style a bit more through reading his blogs and book, an exchange of emails, then collaborating on Beyond Stories and exchanging Substack notes.
But on this day I actually got to meet the writer, mentor, and the Dale Cooper superfan (coffee-maker cameo and all).
“So it was so funny and interesting to see how even the main character has some traits that I have myself being obsessed with coffee loving cherry pie and stuff like that. So it's very funny and…it just made me wonder psychology wise how much of it did go into my brain in the back…of my mind.”
— Alexander Semenyuk, It Comes in the Dust
📖 What Is It Comes in the Dust?
A lone man in a forgotten town. A series of ominous dust storms. Locals with more questions than answers. Something in the sand that feels alive.
Ace, a man who is running from grief, confusion and maybe even himself, returns to Pinneedle.
What is this town you ask? -a dusty outpost with a past and a radio signal that won’t stop repeating itself. But the horror here doesn’t scream, it lurks and waits. It stretches. It creeps into the ordinary, makes you question time, memory, and even your own senses.
We talked about how this book mirrors Twin Peaks:
The setting as a character: Like Twin Peaks, Pinneedle has layers. Eccentric townspeople, secret histories, and a lingering dread.
Hidden Forces: In Lynch’s world, it’s the Black Lodge. Here, it’s the sandstorm—an ancient, almost sentient force.
Psychological horror over gore: The real fear comes not from jump scares, but from repetition, dread, and isolation. (My favorite stories build this way!)
Other characteristics?
☕ Quirky characters and surreal moments (We see you, Buck and Missy.)
❤️ A surprising budding romance (Hello, Amelia.)
🧠 Deep psychological reflection (“I was alive and thirsty for more life.”)
Alexander even shared that the idea sparked from a train ride across the U.S., from DC to San Diego. His description has inspired me to add that to my bucket list.
“A devil lives in this desert. A real one.”
What This Book Reminded Me Of:
The Langoliers by Stephen King5
A novella about passengers on a red-eye flight who awaken to find most of their fellow travelers have vanished.
The Gryphon (Amazon Prime series)6
A German TV series based on the fantasy novel Der Greif by Wolfgang and Heike Hohlbein, featuring teenagers battling a dark force.
The Oath by Frank Peretti7
An allegorical horror/fantasy novel centered on a small town plagued by mysterious deaths and a dark secret.
Twin Peaks (I already talked about)
Prometheus (Film):8
A science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, depicting a team of explorers seeking the origins of humanity, leading them to a distant world with unforeseen horrors. And it’s a prequel.
The Tomorrow War (Film):9
A military science-fiction action film starring Chris Pratt, where present-day soldiers and civilians are sent into the future to fight a war against a deadly alien species.
🕰️ Timestamp Highlights from the Interview
(00:04:00) – The Twin Peaks Connection
Brie-Anna asks Alexander about Twin Peaks and its influence on It Comes in the Dust. He shares how rewatching the series while writing the book led to subtle tributes like coffee and cherry pie vibes woven into the story.
(00:05:00) – Coffee + Cherry Pie = Dale Cooper Tribute
Alexander admits he may have been influenced by Dale Cooper with his love for coffee and cherry pie.
(00:07:06) – Who is JB Minton?
Alexander describes JB Minton,10 Twin Peaks scholar and author. Alexander praises his work and recommends his in-depth analysis of the series.
(00:11:11) – Method Writing & Paradise Harbour
Alexander discusses his intense writing process: embodying his characters by listening to 1920s jazz, eating what they eat, and drinking black tea late into the night. Total method acting vibes: writing-style.
(00:25:54) – Theories on Judy (Twin Peaks)
Brie-Anna and Alexander unpack theories about Judy, the cosmic entity in Twin Peaks: The Return, and how that inspired some of the eerie horror in It Comes in the Dust.
(00:27:00) – Judy as Cosmic Horror
Alexander shares the idea that Judy is a metaphor for internal darkness and references JB Minton’s theory that Twin Peaks takes place within Cooper’s psyche.
(00:44:24) – Writing Tips for New Authors
Alexander shares three golden rules:
Stay true to yourself.
Don’t worry about critics.
Observe real people to write authentic characters.
(01:13:00) – Mulholland Drive & Metaphorical Storytelling
Brie-Anna and Alexander discuss Mulholland Drive11 and how Lynch’s metaphors shape storytelling. This segues into how ambiguity can be powerful in horror and psychological fiction.
🌪️ Final Thoughts
This book doesn’t just tell you a story, it makes you sit in the silence with it. It challenges what you expect from horror. It whispers instead of screams. And those whispers? They stick.
If you liked Twin Peaks, The Langoliers, or even Fallout, you’ll find yourself right at home—and maybe a little unsettled—in It Comes in the Dust.
🛒 Grab it here: It Comes in the Dust – Amazon Affiliate Link*
👋 Join the Nerd Herd
If this type of deep-dive storytelling and weird-but-wonderful discussion is your thing, subscribe to Business for Nerds.
We’re a community of writers, creators, overthinkers, and deep-feelers building meaningful lives, businesses, and maybe the occasional alternate reality.
Let me know what you thought of It Comes in the Dust! Did you catch the Paradise Harbour cameo? Are the sand storms alive? And is it weird that I want to re-read it just to unpack the Twin Peaks references again?
Leave a comment—let’s nerd out. 🖤
Dr. Brie
Please subscribe to Alexander’s publications:
If you enjoyed this please subscribe to Business for Nerds & consider sending us a tip.
*Affiliate links throughout this post mean I may receive a small commission if you purchase—at no extra cost to you. Think of it as coffee money so I can keep writing late-night Substack reviews under ambient lamp light and electronic music.
PS: 🎧 Creative Fuel for Sci-Fi + Horror Writing
Here’s the soundtrack behind my reviews, reflections, and late-night writing sessions. Think Tron: Legacy meets psychological horror, with a side of metaphysical musings and a touch of dread. This playlist pairs perfectly with writing about mirrored prisons, time loops, dusty towns full of secrets, and cosmic choices that bend reality.
If you're into moody synths, ambient tension, and that slow burn cinematic feel, this is for you.
👉 Listen on Spotify
Built while crafting reviews for Beyond Stories, sipping coffee (black as space), and trying to remember if it was a dream… or a dimension.
Semenyuk, A. (2025). It Comes in the Dust. World Castle Publishing. Affiliate Link
Lynch, D. (Director). (2019). Twin Peaks: Z to A [Blu-ray box set]. Paramount Pictures. Affiliate Link
Carter, C. (Creator). (1993–2018). The X-Files [TV series]. 20th Century Fox Television.
Semenyuk, A. (2021). Paradise Harbour: A Noir Horror Thriller. World Castle Publishing. Affiliate Link
King, S. (1990). The Langoliers. In Four Past Midnight. Simon & Schuster.
A novella about passengers on a red-eye flight who awaken to find most of their fellow travelers have vanished.
Hohlbein, W., & Hohlbein, H. (2023). The Gryphon [TV series]. Amazon Prime Video.
A German fantasy series based on the novel Der Greif, featuring teenagers battling a dark force. Affiliate Link
Peretti, F. E. (1995). The Oath. Word Publishing.
An allegorical horror/fantasy novel centered on a small town plagued by mysterious deaths and a dark secret.
Scott, R. (Director). (2012). Prometheus [Film]. 20th Century Fox.
A science fiction thriller where explorers search for humanity’s origins on a distant world—only to encounter unexpected horror.
McKay, C. (Director). (2021). The Tomorrow War [Film]. Amazon Studios.
A military sci-fi action film starring Chris Pratt, where present-day civilians are drafted into a future war against a deadly alien species. Affiliate Link
Lynch, David, director. Mulholland Drive. Universal Pictures, 2001.
Share this post