Jon StojanIn August, Daniel Paschal, AKA Magnum Tenebrosum, a mysterious author and shadowy architect of darkness, will release The Abyss of the Mind, the first part of his new series exploring the depths of the human psyche. In this powerful fusion of horror and psychological thriller, Tenebrosum takes readers on a journey through the shadows of humanity, drawing inspiration from his personal experiences with mental health and overcoming feelings of bleakness and confusion.
The Abyss of the Mind follows the story of John, a protagonist stuck in the void of his own mind, as he navigates the challenges of adulthood while grappling with childhood trauma, PTSD, and the shadow—an inner darkness constantly trying to bring him down. While most people know the shadow as a self-sabotaging voice, for John, it manifests in dreams and hallucinations, plaguing his life with an unsettling, lingering feeling of worthlessness.
Whether daydreaming or in his sleep, these visions permeate John’s mind, showing him the darkest parts of himself, ones where gloom and despair intertwine with self-hate and unstoppable doubts. Deeper into the story, Tenebrosum introduces elements of gore and the Lovecraftian macabre, dissecting John’s consciousness as it gradually taps into a mysterious eldritch power. Parallel to that, the protagonist’s visions start materializing—first, for his eyes only, but later, taking a physical form in real life.
Amidst this complex landscape, where the real and the oniric are inseparable, John’s shadow grows in power. As the shadow’s whispers telling him to end his life start echoing in the protagonist’s mind, he slowly moves toward the edge of sanity, unsure of what is and what isn’t anymore. This dim-lit horror is portrayed from John’s perspective, allowing the readers to truly immerse themselves in the darkness of his mind.
In all of his works, Tenebrosum draws inspiration from personal experiences, dreams, and moments of realization that shaped his life and writing style. In The Abyss of the Mind, he harnesses the powerful experiences and lessons he learned while on his mental health journey, basing John’s character around himself. The author’s path to mental health awareness began in his marriage. Misunderstood and discouraged from seeking help by his former wife, who – ironically – was a social worker, he took a step back, promising to improve his life.
Divorce inspired Tenebrosum to seek professional help and start therapy. Less than a year into his sessions, the author was diagnosed with complex PTSD, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and acute depression. “Mental health is a constant struggle; it’s not something that just goes away,” he shares. “It’s all about noticing triggers and managing them in the best way possible.”
After dedicating himself to therapy and opening up in supportive groups, he realized the importance of sparking conversations about mental health, ultimately minimizing the crushing sense of feeling like no one understands. Now, Tenebrosum hopes to empower others through his storytelling, portraying authentic emotions and challenges that most people grapple with and can relate to.
Launching in August, The Abyss of the Mind is poised to open the doors to profound self-discovery and understanding, inspiring readers to face their demons and invite happiness back into their lives. Magnum Tenebrosum shares, “It’s not a manual on how to handle mental health issues; it’s a compelling story about a man who deals with the same problems most of us experience, written to empower and ignite real change.”
With a sequel currently in the works, Tenebrosum hopes to continue his mission of raising mental health awareness, helping people see that within the shades of darkness, there is light.