Tim Mulligan Unveils Snitchland: A Darkly Thrilling Graphic Novel Set in a Town's Radioactive Shadow

With his latest release, Snitchland: The Graphic Novel, author and playwright Tim Mulligan delivers a hauntingly original story that merges ghostly thrills with real-world horror. Set in the shadow of Richland, Washington's notorious Hanford nuclear site, Mulligan's newest work pulls readers into a gripping narrative of whistleblowers, family struggles, and supernatural vengeance. Combining stunning visuals with sharp storytelling, Snitchland expands the Witchland Trilogy, offering an unflinching look at the price of uncovering buried truths in a toxic environment.

Please tell us about your journey of deciding to become an author.

Tim: I'd been wanting to tell stories about my hometown for decades now, and now found the right forum/platform to do so. When COVID hit, and I found myself quarantining, I used this time to start writing these stories. Witchland started as a play that I wrote. Once that took off, and I saw how audiences were so positively reacting to it, I decided to make it a trilogy, and created two follow ups in the World of Witchland series, Snitchland and Twitchland. And then to reach a wider audience, I decided to try my hand at adapting each to a graphic novel format.

What vital message do you hope readers will take away from the Witchland Trilogy?

Tim: I really wanted to create a scary, funny, strange world for people to enter - based on my own immediate family, and also based on a real place and real experiences. In doing so, it seems I'm educating people about this unique part of the US, and history, that many had no clue about - and while I didn't set out to shine a light on the nuclear clean up site, it seems that has been a particularly interesting component for readers.

Humor plays a role in your trilogy despite its dark themes. Why was it important to include that element?

Tim: I am a huge fan of the horror genre - books, movies, TV shows, all things Halloween - and to me the best scary stories are ones that have a great story at the center - and also have humor woven in. I think that's really important. And what's better than squirming in your seat, maybe watching with your hands over your eyes, but laughing as well…

In creating a ghost story rooted in reality, how do you hope to provoke discussions about the ongoing dangers of nuclear waste management?

Tim: With the first story, Witchland, I really wanted to tie it in to the history of the Hanford Nuclear site - including the many people who have gotten sick there over the years, namely the Downwinders plaintiffs, of which there were thousands. And tie in some local folklore about a resident witch, who has her own dark history and connection to Hanford. With the follow up, Snitchland, I really wanted to shift the story to the modern reality of Hanford, and all of the hundreds of reported whistleblowers who come forth with safety concerns about the working conditions, particularly in such a dangerous and radioactive environment, and turn it into a ghost story, where we see the ghosts of many who have met their demise there. It's no secret about the toxicity levels there - there are 56 million gallons of toxic waste buried in the ground there - and of course there are safety concerns. So that was my goal with Snitchland - to try my hand at crafting a ghost story, based on whistleblowers in this particular area.

Why do you think the story of Richland and the Hanford nuclear site hasn't gained wider recognition in pop culture?

Tim: I think this is a great question. One that everyone who either sees the play, or reads the books, asks. It's really never made its way into pop culture, and in my opinion it's a great location for this series, with the history as well as the current clean up situation. There was a mention of Hanford in Oppenheimer, and a documentary last year was released about it. But I feel that for Snitchland, the time is right, especially this year, the 50 year anniversary of Karen Silkwood's unfortunate demise.

What has been the most rewarding part of your journey as an author so far?

Tim: For me, at this later stage of my life, it's really unleashed a creativity I thought was there, but never really tapped into. Though I still maintain a full time career in business, I now spend my evenings and weekends working on these creative endeavors, which is super rewarding.

Can you give us a sneak peek of what's to come in Twitchland?

Tim: Twitchland, I hope is going to blow people away. Of course it's the same core group of characters, in the same town, but this year contending with different aspects of living in the shadows of the radiation and toxicity - and I've created my own form of "vampire", though not really a vampire. I'm going for non-stop action, thrills, and shocks. Full on fun.

Do you see the Witchland Trilogy being adapted into other formats, like film or theater, given your background in playwriting?

Tim: That would be great. The main play, Witchland, has had a great run of productions in different cities, including an Off-Broadway New York run earlier this year. I've had some discussions about adapting to other formats. But for now, I'm just plugging away at future stories.

What's next for you? Any new projects on the horizon?

Tim: The third graphic novel, Twitchland, will release in the first half of 2025. I have a few play, Point Loma, that is getting a New York run in the summer of 2025, and Witchland is hitting some cities next year as well.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors, especially those looking to write a series?

Tim: My advice would be to be tenacious, and not give up. Also, for those who've wanted to do something like this but it just escaped them, I'm living proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks. I wrote my first play at 54, and am now my first series of graphic novels at age 56. Just make it happen, and make it work.

About the Author

Tim Mulligan wrote the Witchland Trilogy, based on his own experiences growing up in the real Witchland. In addition to the Witchland World plays and graphic novel adaptations, Mulligan wrote the plays Point Loma and Bitchland, as well as the bestselling Perfect 10 cookbooks. An avid fan of theater, movies, books, TV and pretty much all things pop culture, especially in the horror genre, Mulligan and his partner, Sean, have homes in Palm Springs, San Diego and Los Angeles.

For more information, please visit www.witchlandplay.com, or connect with the author on Instagram and Facebook at witchlandplay.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Snitchland-Graphic-Novel-Tim-Mulligan/dp/B0DHLQBJ65