From 1996 through 2012, Kihn was a morning radio disc jockey for San Francisco Bay Area classic rock radio station KUFX. Kihn's literary career also began in 1996 with the release of his first novel, "Horror Show", published by Tor/Forge Books. "Horror Show" was nominated for the prestigious Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. It was followed by "Shade of Pale" (1997), "Big Rock Beat" (1998), and "Mojo Hand" (1999). Kihn also published many short stories during this period, some appearing in the "Hot Blood" series of erotic horror fiction. Kihn was contributing editor to "Carved in Rock", a compilation of short fiction by musicians including Pete Townshend, Joan Jett, Ray Davies, and Kinky Friedman.