Gun violence, racism, domestic abuse and climate change become real-life horrors in author Joe Hill's latest "Strange Weather," a collection of four novellas.

Hill is redefining the horror genre by exploring terror lurking just below the surface of everyday life. Terror can be something as ordinary as nature, according to Hill.

Hill is a #1 New York Times best-selling author. His work includes "The Fireman," "NOS4A2," "Heart-Shaped Box," "Horns" (which was made into a feature film starring Daniel Radcliffe) and the award-winning short story collection "20th Century Ghosts." Hill has won the Bram Stoker Award and British Fantasy Award for Best Collection, and the Eisner Award for Best Writer comic book series, "Locke & Key."

On top of all of his accomplishments, Hill is the son of literary legend Stephen King. He has spoken out about living in his father's shadow and his decision to write under the pseudonym "Joe Hill."

When Hill joined Salon's Mary Elizabeth Williams on "Salon Talks," he shared thoughts on art versus the artist, the metaphor of authors referring to books as their "babies," and his responsibility to write about stories that address difficult but important issues in today's politically divided times.