Army Veteran Richard Spegal on Dark Fantasy, Service, and Storytelling
Thu Feb 05 2026
On this episode of The ToosDay Crüe, hosts Jake and Stephen welcome U.S. Army Veteran Richard Spegal, a Pennsylvania National Guard officer, former 82nd Airborne soldier, and acclaimed author of dark fantasy and paranormal fiction.
Richard is the creative force behind worlds like Eternal Nights and the Wolves & Ravens trilogy—stories filled with magic, mystery, moral risk, and the shadows most fiction avoids. Frustrated by adult readers being underserved in fantasy and paranormal genres, Richard set out to write the books he wanted to read—stories that don’t sugarcoat consequences and force characters to confront hard truths.
After choosing family over continued active combat service, Richard now balances military leadership, fatherhood to four daughters, and a writing career rooted in myth, folklore, and lived experience. His storytelling explores identity, sacrifice, and how much truth can survive in darkness.
This conversation dives into service, creativity, fatherhood, faith in imagination, and why fiction matters—especially when it dares to ask the questions we avoid out loud.
🔗 Learn more: https://richardspegal.com/
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On this episode of The ToosDay Crüe, hosts Jake and Stephen welcome U.S. Army Veteran Richard Spegal, a Pennsylvania National Guard officer, former 82nd Airborne soldier, and acclaimed author of dark fantasy and paranormal fiction. Richard is the creative force behind worlds like Eternal Nights and the Wolves & Ravens trilogy—stories filled with magic, mystery, moral risk, and the shadows most fiction avoids. Frustrated by adult readers being underserved in fantasy and paranormal genres, Richard set out to write the books he wanted to read—stories that don’t sugarcoat consequences and force characters to confront hard truths. After choosing family over continued active combat service, Richard now balances military leadership, fatherhood to four daughters, and a writing career rooted in myth, folklore, and lived experience. His storytelling explores identity, sacrifice, and how much truth can survive in darkness. This conversation dives into service, creativity, fatherhood, faith in imagination, and why fiction matters—especially when it dares to ask the questions we avoid out loud. 🔗 Learn more: https://richardspegal.com/ 🎯 Subscribe | Like | Share | 📌 Watch the FULL episode right here: https://www.YouTube.com/@The_MisFitNation 🌐 Connect with us at www.themisfitnation.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices