In this podcast, Hope Thompson discusses her short story collection Dark Thoughts and Other Stories, which blends noir elements with character-driven narratives. Hope explained her transition from theater and screenwriting to crime fiction, inspired by her role as host of Toronto Noir at the Bar. We examine two stories from the collection: "Dark Thoughts," featuring an advice columnist who receives a threatening letter, and "Locked Room Mystery," a 1930s-set tale about a young man obsessed with a serial killer. Hope shared her writing process, including her fascination with noir and her inspiration from Cornell Woolrich. They also touched on her work on a true crime project about missing persons cases in northern Ontario.
Bio:
Hope Thompson has a background in theatre, screenwriting, and true crime podcasting. Her plays have been produced in Toronto, Vancouver and Los Angeles; she was a story editor on CBC’s Baroness Von Sketch Show and wrote on the pre-school drag variety show The Fabulous Show with Fay & Fluffy. A licensed PI, Hope has also researched and written for true crime podcasts Crimehub and Whereabouts Unknown. In 2019, she wrote and performed her one-woman show, The Talking Grave—a séance with deceased crime writer, Cornell Woolrich. Dark Thoughts & Other Stories is Hope’s first story collection (DarkWinter Press, 2026).