The Thorn and His Rose: A Tale of Two Horror Creators
Nestled in the windswept expanse of Mayo, Ireland, where the Atlantic’s whispers weave tales of ancient myths, Kerry Dyer and Brett Dyer have crafted a modern fairy tale that’s as haunting as it is enchanting. They are the creative minds behind Dyerbolical, a digital empire born from the shadows of their earlier ventures Immortalis, Horrotica, and DarkBadb. This company is more than a business; it’s a shared dream where their passion for horror content creation, fiction, reviews, research, and pop culture converges into a mesmerizing tapestry of terror and fascination. Their story is one of serendipity, shared passions, and an unyielding drive to explore the darkest corners of the human psyche, paying homage to goth girls, Egyptian mythology, and sci fi along the way. With a love for cult classics Kerry’s favorite being The Thing (1982) and Brett’s Evil Dead 2 (1987) their creative output is a thrilling blend of the eerie, the mythical, and the futuristic.
A Journey Across the Globe
Kerry Dyer’s life began in England, but her heart found its true home in Mayo, Ireland, a place she describes as “a canvas of raw beauty, where the wind carries whispers of ancient legends.” Her travels have spanned 34 countries and regions, from the sun drenched shores of the Bahamas to the ancient sands of Egypt, a place she’s visited twice and whose mythology deeply influences her work. She’s wandered the cobblestone streets of France, Belgium, and Italy, felt the vibrant pulse of South Africa and Puerto Rico, and immersed herself in the rich cultural tapestries of Israel, Cyprus, and Greece. Each destination has left an indelible mark, fueling her lifelong passion for learning languages, history, and culture a hobby that has become a cornerstone of her creative work. “I’ve always been a collector of experiences,” Kerry says, her voice warm with the weight of a thousand stories. “Every place I’ve been has taught me something new a language, a myth, a new way of seeing the world. It’s all there in my writing, in the worlds I create.”
Brett Dyer’s journey began in the rugged beauty of Zimbabwe, where he was born, before he moved to South Africa. His early years were filled with the adrenaline of rugby and cricket, sports that honed his competitive spirit and taught him the value of teamwork skills that would later prove invaluable in his creative partnership with Kerry. In 2020, Brett made the life altering decision to move to Ireland to be with Kerry, a woman he’d met online and fallen deeply in love with. They married in 2021, and their union has since become the bedrock of their personal and professional lives. “I knew she was the one the moment we started talking,” Brett recalls, his eyes lighting up with the memory. “We were both so passionate about horror, about creating something that could terrify and inspire at the same time. It felt like destiny.”
A Tapestry of Knowledge
Kerry and Brett are polymaths in the truest sense, their academic achievements a testament to their insatiable curiosity and dedication to growth. Kerry boasts over 100 professional qualifications, a staggering array that spans the humanities, sciences, and creative arts, reflecting her belief that knowledge is a gateway to deeper creativity. At The Open University, she earned an MA in Social Sciences with Media, immersing herself in subjects like cultural heritage, oceanography, and ancient Greek mythology fields that later lent atmospheric depth to her horror writing, especially her fascination with Egyptian mythology. Her studies in Media Arts and Science Digital Storytelling at E College, DMI, IBM, equipped her with skills in digital marketing, graphic design, and web development, while her Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Brunel University of London 2005 reflects her early interest in teaching. At the University of Kent Medway Campus, she explored history, laws, and psychology, earning a BA Hons that deepened her understanding of human behavior a recurring theme in her chilling narratives.
Kerry’s education extends far beyond the academic. She’s a linguist, having mastered the 21 languages of Europe through EuroTalk 2024, and a historian at heart, with a fascination for Egyptology and Byzantine iconography that often seeps into her work, particularly in stories that blend horror with ancient myths. Her creative pursuits are equally diverse: she’s studied screenwriting at the University of Cambridge 2024, debate and public speaking at Harvard University 2024, and entrepreneurship at MIT 2024. “Learning is how I grow as a creator,” Kerry explains. “Every new skill, every new perspective it all feeds into the stories I tell, the worlds I build.”
Brett’s academic journey is equally impressive, and his qualifications complement Kerry’s in a way that has continually evolved their creative practice. He holds certifications in digital marketing, analysis, photography, web development, graphic design, and film production, with distinctions in each field that highlight his technical and creative prowess. His transition from an executive chef a career that demanded precision and artistry to a content creator was seamless, driven by his natural aptitude for learning. At ATU Sligo & ATU St Angelas in Ireland, Brett earned a Level 6 Certificate in Social Media Marketing 2024, a skill that has been pivotal in amplifying Dyerbolical’s online presence. He also studied at Mayo College, where he earned a Major Award in Digital Marketing, Media, and Communication Studies 2024, further honing his ability to navigate the digital landscape. His background in photography and film production, paired with his web development skills, ensures that Dyerbolical’s content is as visually stunning as it is terrifying.
Like Kerry, Brett is a linguist, speaking multiple modern languages that have enriched their travels and creative collaborations. “We’re always pushing ourselves to learn more,” Brett says with a grin. “Every new skill we acquire is another tool we can use to tell our stories, to connect with our audience. It’s a cycle of growth that never stops.”
A Love Forged in Horror
The story of Kerry and Brett’s relationship is as captivating as the tales they weave. As detailed in World Authors and Jukebox Time, they met online, their connection ignited by a shared love for horror and writing. “It was like finding a missing piece of myself,” Kerry recalls in the World Authors interview. “We’d talk for hours about our favorite horror films The Thing for me, Evil Dead 2 for Brett the stories we wanted to tell, the worlds we wanted to create.” Their conversations, initially sparked by a mutual admiration for the macabre, quickly deepened into a profound bond. “There was an instant connection,” Brett adds. “We both wanted to create something that would leave a mark, something that would linger in people’s minds like a shadow.” When Brett moved to Ireland in 2020, their partnership became a reality, and they married in 2021, their love becoming the heartbeat of their creative endeavors.
Their collaborative writing is a dance of darkness and beauty, with each project a testament to their shared vision. Ultimate Horrotica Immortalis Tales, published by DarkBadb Publishing in 2022, is a standout work in their portfolio. The book is a sprawling collection of horror stories that weave together the grotesque, the fantastical, and the deeply human, earning comparisons to the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Critics have praised its “visceral feast” of terror, noting how it spans every subgenre of horror with an atmospheric depth that leaves readers both haunted and enchanted. The collection pays homage to their love for goth girls, Egyptian mythology, and sci fi, with tales that feature shadowy femme fatales, ancient curses, and dystopian futures. “Writing with Brett is like dancing,” Kerry says, her voice soft with affection. “We each bring our own rhythm, but together, we create something that moves in perfect harmony.” The book’s success lies in their ability to blend Kerry’s knack for atmospheric world building often inspired by her love for The Thing’s isolating dread with Brett’s lyrical prose, a skill honed through his work as an award winning poet and influenced by the chaotic energy of Evil Dead 2. “I’ve always been drawn to the way words can evoke emotion,” Brett explains. “In horror, you’re not just telling a story you’re making the reader feel the dread, the anticipation, the chill.”
Their writing process is a true collaboration, with every idea, every sentence, discussed and refined together. “We’re always in unison,” Kerry says. “Every decision we make, every piece of content we create it’s a shared vision.” This partnership extends to their individual works as well. Kerry has published multiple best sellers, including Jason Voorhees and her bipolar journal books, which offer a raw, introspective look at mental health through the lens of horror. Brett, meanwhile, has published numerous works of fiction, his award winning poetry adding a haunting beauty to their portfolio. “We inspire each other,” Brett says. “Kerry’s ideas push me to think bigger, and I like to think I bring a bit of poetry to her darkness.”
Among their notable collaborative works is The Thorn and His Rose, a gothic romance horror hybrid that explores the tragic love story of a cursed poet and his muse, set against a backdrop of Egyptian mythology. Published by Dyerbolical, the story is a fan favorite, blending their signature atmospheric dread with poetic lyricism. Another standout is Nevermore, a Hannibal and Dexter inspired tale that delves into the minds of two serial killers whose paths cross in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Published in an ezine, the story showcases their ability to merge psychological horror with pop culture references, paying homage to their love for complex, morally gray characters. Both Kerry and Brett have also contributed to various magazines and ezines, their works often exploring themes of goth subculture, ancient myths, and sci fi dystopias, reflecting the diverse influences that shape their creative output. Several of their works have been self published, a testament to their entrepreneurial spirit and desire to maintain creative control.
Dyerbolical: A Digital Empire of Terror
Dyerbolical is the culmination of Kerry and Brett’s creative evolution, a company that encompasses their earlier ventures and expands into the vibrant world of pop culture. It’s a digital empire built on horror content creation, fiction, reviews, and research, with a growing focus on the intersections of fear and fandom. The couple manages an impressive network of 90 social media accounts across platforms like X, each representing a different facet of Dyerbolical’s website and the horror tropes they explore goth girls, Egyptian mythology, and sci fi being prominent themes. Their website, a sleek and eerie reflection of their brand, mirrors the structure of their accounts, creating a cohesive online experience that draws fans into their world of shadows and wonder.
Brett is the lead influencer for Dyerbolical, his X account @Ashyslasheedb taking the helm as the primary content creator. “Brett has a natural charisma online,” Kerry says with a smile. “He knows how to engage our audience, how to draw them into the stories we tell.” Kerry’s account, @DyerbolicalDB a homage to her best selling work Jason Voorhees supports Brett’s main account, focusing on content strategy and web design. While both are deeply involved in content creation and publication, Brett leads the charge, his knack for crafting compelling posts and visuals setting the tone for their brand. “I love being the face of Dyerbolical online,” Brett says. “But every post, every idea it’s something we’ve created together.”
A peek at @Ashyslasheedb reveals a masterclass in horror content creation, with posts that blend chilling visuals, poetic captions, and thought provoking questions that engage their audience on a visceral level. One recent post features a haunting image of a goth girl standing before an ancient Egyptian obelisk, with a caption that reads, “What secrets does she whisper to the sands?” @DyerbolicalDB, meanwhile, offers a behind the scenes look at their creative process, with Kerry sharing insights into their content strategy and the technical wizardry that keeps their website running smoothly. A recent thread on the account delves into the sci fi influences in their work, with Kerry discussing how The Thing’s themes of paranoia and isolation inspire their storytelling. Their other 88 accounts each focus on specific horror tropes ghosts, slashers, psychological terror, and more mirroring the sections of their website and creating a multi layered digital experience that keeps fans coming back for more.
Kerry’s role as a horror influencer and content creator is central to Dyerbolical’s success. She designs horror images and videos, her background in photography and graphic design evident in the chilling visuals that accompany their work. Her PhD in Film and Fandom from the University of Galway, set to be submitted this summer 2025, focuses on horror film and digital fan practices, a research area that informs their content creation. “Horror isn’t just about scaring people,” Kerry says. “It’s about understanding what makes us afraid, what draws us to the dark. That’s what I explore in my research, and that’s what we bring to Dyerbolical.”
Brett’s contributions are equally vital. His photography and film production skills result in visually stunning content that captures the essence of their stories, while his social media marketing expertise ensures their work reaches a global audience. “We complement each other perfectly,” Brett says. “Kerry’s the strategist she sees the big picture, the story we want to tell. I’m more focused on bringing that story to life, making sure every post, every video, hits just the right note.”
A Life of Adventure and Passion
Beyond their creative work, Kerry and Brett lead a life filled with adventure and shared passions. They’re adrenaline enthusiasts, drawn to the thrill of extreme sports and outdoor activities. Kerry has awards in horse riding, swimming, skiing, badminton, karate, tai chi, yoga, ballet, outdoor education, and drama, her competitive spirit shining through in every endeavor. She’s an avid snorkeler, with a particular love for watersports like parasailing, zip lining, kayaking, and boating. “There’s nothing like the rush of being in the water,” she says, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’s where I feel most alive.”
Brett shares her love for adventure, particularly when it comes to quad bikes and horse riding activities they often enjoy together, sometimes even dabbling in motorbikes to add an extra thrill. Their mutual passion for watersports, horror writing, and horror movies creates a bond that is both playful and profound. “We’re always pushing each other to try new things,” Brett says. “Whether it’s a new sport or a new story, we’re in it together.”
Kerry’s creative talents extend to art, music, singing, and languages, with awards in each field that highlight her versatility. She’s a published photographer, her work earning distinctions for its haunting beauty, and her love for horror design is evident in the images and videos she creates for Dyerbolical. Brett, a former executive chef, brings a disciplined creativity to their work, his background in the culinary arts teaching him the importance of precision and presentation skills that translate seamlessly into their content creation.
A Legacy in the Making
Kerry and Brett Dyer are more than just creators they’re storytellers, adventurers, and scholars whose lives are a testament to the power of passion and partnership. Their journey, from an online meeting to a thriving digital empire, is a modern fairy tale that captivates the imagination. Through Dyerbolical, they continue to explore the darkest corners of horror while celebrating the vibrancy of pop culture, their work resonating with audiences around the world.
As Kerry prepares to submit her PhD this summer, and as Brett continues to lead their digital presence with @Ashyslasheedb, the couple’s influence is only set to grow. They’re a couple who lives on the edge of fear, of adventure, of creativity inviting their audience to join them in the shadows. “We want to inspire people to embrace the unknown,” Kerry says, her voice filled with conviction. “Whether it’s through a story, a film, or a new experience, we want to show that there’s beauty in the dark.”
And so, the thorn and his rose continue their dance, their love and creativity intertwined in a tale that’s as haunting as it is beautiful. For Kerry and Brett Dyer, the story is far from over it’s a saga that promises to terrify, inspire, and captivate for years to come, leaving readers and fans eager to see what chilling wonders they’ll conjure next from the depths of their shared imagination, where goth girls whisper secrets of Egyptian gods, and sci fi horrors lurk in the shadows of the unknown.