Talking Horror

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with national bestselling author Christina Henry, writer of nearly 20 books spanning urban fantasy, dark fairy tale retellings, and modern horror, including Near the Bone, The House That Horror Built, and The Place Where They Buried Your Heart. Her upcoming novel Pinfeathers drops this November.Grab your copy of The Place Where They Buried Your Heart: https://amzn.to/4vbTAQGChristina opens up about writing her first novel longhand in a notebook at age 12, why she still writes every single book by hand, and the discovery-based process that lets her pants her way through nearly two decades of publishing without ever plotting. We dig into her Gen X horror origin story (Ouija boards, slumber party slashers, and a Freddy Krueger fear that genuinely haunted her) and what eventually shifted horror from scary to fascinating. Christina also gets into why she fought hard not to be typecast as "the retellings girl," how a Guillermo del Toro interview sparked The House That Horror Built, the single image of a house where three boys went in and two came out that became The Place Where They Buried Your Heart, and the tiny black needle appearing under a baby's arm that started Pinfeathers. Plus: the best piece of advice she ever got about bad reviews, what it was like to get a three-book deal while her toddler climbed a slide at Gymboree, and why she's patiently waiting for the right zombie novel idea to arrive.Timestamps:00:01 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Christina Henry04:21 – Starting in Urban Fantasy: Black Wings05:17 – A Gen X Girl's Horror Origin Story11:59 – Writing Every Book by Hand: The Process Explained14:45 – Pantsing 19 Novels: How Her Brain Works on Simmer18:14 – The Road to Publication: Writing Black Wings During Nap Time22:18 – Three Editors, Same Publisher: 16 Years with Ace/Berkley25:32 – The Urban Fantasy Boom and Bust26:24 – Writing Alice and Changing Her Own Career27:23 – Jumping Genres and Writing for Herself29:02 – Don't Do It If You Don't Love It30:20 – Why Bad Reviews Aren't Really About Your Book36:04 – From Retellings to Horror: Not Wanting to Be Typecast42:23 – The Real Horror: Vulnerability and Poverty44:15 – Building Dread Without Jump Scares46:31 – When the House Is the Villain47:25 – The Place Where They Buried Your Heart: Moving from Forest to Buildings54:27 – Pinfeathers: Coming November55:15 – A Baby, a Pin Feather, and Body Horror58:47 – Juggling Multiple Books at Once59:46 – What Comes After Pinfeathers: Dark Humor ReturnsGrab your copy of The Place Where They Buried Your Heart: https://amzn.to/4vbTAQGConnect with Christina Henry:Website: https://www.christinahenry.net/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorchristinahenry/Follow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten, known for the Wilderwood duology (For the Wolf, For the Throne), the Nightshade Crown trilogy (The Foxglove King), and her brand new adult horror debut, Reliquary. Hannah opens up about how she started writing For the Wolf in the grip of postpartum depression, rewrote it from the ground up at least four times, and spent five years getting it from a spell-checked first draft to a TikTok sensation.Grab your copy of Reliquary: https://amzn.to/3Q2bTbZWe dig into her childhood as a "spooky little kid" sneaking Goosebumps into her school desk, why Buffy the Vampire Slayer is "in the bedrock of her soul," the religious-trauma threads running through her work, and the Ready or Not-inspired spark behind Reliquary. Whether you're a fan of lush gothic atmosphere, slow-burn dread, a love triangle where everybody wins, or a theater kid who loves a dark twist, this conversation is for you.Timestamps:00:00 – Buffy in the Bedrock: Where the Whimsy Comes From00:37 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Hannah Whitten02:18 – A Spooky Evangelical Kid Sneaking Goosebumps Into Her Desk05:31 – Best House on the Block: Halloween & Vintage Goosebumps07:57 – Writing Since She Could Hold a Pen09:27 – Postpartum Depression & the Birth of For the Wolf12:44 – Meeting Erin Craig, Edit Letters & Rewriting the Book Four Times15:46 – From YA to Adult: The Five-Year Road to Publication18:56 – Advice for Writers: Finish It & Be Your Own Audience23:13 – Building the Wilderwood Duology25:01 – Becoming a TikTok Sensation (Without Being on TikTok)27:09 – Trolls, Doom Scrolling & the Spider-in-the-House Rule30:48 – Melting Fairy Tales & Balancing Whimsy With Horror35:09 – Monsters, Grief, Religious Trauma & Female Power39:01 – Going Darker: The Nightshade Crown & a Love Triangle Where Everyone Wins43:23 – Lore the Performer & the Theater Kid Confession46:13 – Soft Power vs. Hard Power in Romantasy48:14 – Writing Her First Horror: The Ready or Not Spark & a Secret 55K Draft52:43 – Meet Claire: Her Most Challenging Protagonist53:54 – "She's Drew Barrymore in Scream" & the Art of the Slow Burn57:10 – Anxiety, ADHD & OCD on the Page59:04 – A New Era? Second Horror & Hawthorne and Oak1:01:15 – Book Recs: The Starving Saints & Coffin Moon1:02:39 – Dark Fantasy This or That1:05:02 – Goodbyes & Reliquary Out August 11thConnect with Hannah Whitten:Website: https://hannahfwhitten.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hwhittenwrites/Follow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with Nat Cassidy, USA Today bestselling author of Mary, When the Wolf Comes Home, and the brand-new short story collection I Know a Place, Rest Stop, and Other Dark Detours. Nat dives deep into how his background as a New York playwright and theater actor ultimately shaped his approach to pacing, dialogue, and creating deep, immersive tension on the page.We discuss his childhood memories of browsing graphic VHS covers at Blockbuster, the intentional choices behind writing a premenopausal female protagonist in Mary, and what it was like to receive a dream-come-true foreword from Stephen King. Whether you're a fan of slow-burn body horror, action-packed thrillers, or a theater kid who loves a dark twist, this conversation is for you.Timestamps: 00:00 – Podcasting Interventions & Questioning Authors 00:38 – Introducing Nat Cassidy & The Messiness of Being Alive 03:14 – Childhood Monsoons, Macabre Textbooks, and a Mother’s Horror Legacy 07:18 – The Magic of 80s Video Stores & Unexpected Scares in Kids' Movies 16:02 – Discovering Shakespeare's Macbeth & The Hyperactive Child Actor 19:49 – Writing Stephen King Knockoffs Set in Maine 22:39 – How Playwriting Teaches Authors to Capture and Keep an Audience 28:37 – Designing Tension in a Sunken Submarine with a Low Budget 35:09 – Writing Mary: Tackling Invisibility and Hormonal Thresholds 42:31 – Sensitivity Readers, Toxic Patriarchy, and the NIH Reading List 53:54 – When the Wolf Comes Home: Moving from Slow-Burn to Terminator 2 Action 1:00:08 – Receiving the Ultimate Blessing: The Stephen King Foreword 1:11:36 – I Know a Place: Public Restrooms, Squids, and Live Violin Performances 1:19:18 – The Album Experience: Why You Must Read Short Stories in Order 1:21:20 – The Ultimate Literary Bromance: Appreciating Clay McLeod Chapman 1:26:36 – Why Horror People are the Best and Most Welcoming People in FictionGrab a copy of "I Know a Place": https://amzn.to/43VW6ihConnect with Nat Cassidy:Website: https://www.natcassidy.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natcassidy/Twitter/X: https://x.com/natcassidyFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with CJ Leede, author of Maeve Fly, American Rapture, and the brand-new release Headlights. CJ dives deep into how her background writing dystopian stories in grad school ultimately pushed her to seek pure catharsis and freedom through horror fiction.We discuss her childhood love for unlimited reading and media, the process of writing an unapologetic female Patrick Bateman, and exploring the dark realities of purity culture and religious trauma. Whether you're a fan of extreme splatterpunk, a romance reader who loves a dark twist, or just looking to dive into an immersive void that processes grief and loss, this conversation is for you.Timestamps:00:00 – Grad School Revelations & Discovering Horror 00:09 – Introducing CJ Leede & Her Unapologetic Characters 03:58 – CJ's Horror Origin Story & Media Freedom as an Only Child 13:59 – Unexpectedly Landing in the "Extreme" and "Splatterpunk" Horror Space 26:30 – The Inspiration Behind Maeve Fly & Finding Catharsis in Anger 32:48 – Balancing Maeve’s Monstrous Actions with Empathy and Relatability 36:12 – The Double Standard of Justified Violence for Women vs. Men in Literature 43:44 – Exploring Purity Culture and Religious Trauma in American Rapture48:05 – Horror as an Empathy Machine and Safe Space to Face Reality 52:30 – Finding Camaraderie and Support in the Welcoming Horror Community 55:27 – Headlights: Writing a Male Protagonist & Refusing to be Boxed In 1:01:08 – Guarding Peace and Ignoring the Pressure of External Expectations 1:03:51 – Processing Grief, Death, and Hope Through Headlights1:08:45 – What’s Next: A Sneak Peek at Books Four and Five 1:12:19 – CJ’s Favorite Books to Reread for Inspiration Books mentioned:Headlights: https://amzn.to/43WViJKAmerican Rapture: https://amzn.to/3QfoCrAMaeve Fly: https://amzn.to/4dZb3pqConnect with CJ Leede:Website: https://cjleede.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjleedeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cjleedeFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, author of The Mean Ones, Such Lovely Skin, and the upcoming dark fantasy What Feeds Below. Tatiana dives deep into how her background writing deeply personal essays about family trauma and living with her mother's ex-boyfriend ultimately pushed her to seek pure escapism through horror fiction.We discuss her childhood exposure to Resident Evil and Stephen King , the catharsis of surviving toxic male gaming lobbies , and balancing the mentally taxing world of publishing with the physical discipline of Olympic weightlifting. Whether you're a cozy gamer , a powerlifter , or just looking to dive into an immersive void filled with diabolical mushrooms, this conversation is for you.Timestamps:00:00 – Horror as a Comfort Genre & Writing for Fun00:36 – Introducing Tatiana Schlote-Bonne & Her Bizarre, Unsettling Worlds02:41 – Childhood Tastes: Goosebumps, Dean Koontz, and Resident Evil04:31 – Chasing Scares & Desensitization in Horror Movies08:50 – From High School Family Trauma to the Iowa Non-Fiction Writing Program16:31 – The Pivot from Memoir to Fiction During the Pandemic19:31 – The Parallels of Writing Horror and Olympic Powerlifting21:35 – Navigating Toxic Masculinity in Call of Duty Lobbies27:30 – Cozy Gaming, Brain Rot, and Video Game Inspirations32:22 – Such Lovely Skin: Demonic Video Games and Horrific Secrets38:46 – The Mean Ones: Cults, People Pleasing, and 2000s Mean Girls46:02 – What Feeds Below: Anime Inspiration, Diabolical Mushrooms, and Body Horror52:23 – Adapting Voice for Protagonists & The Agony of the Publishing Industry55:06 – Author Confessions Rapid Fire: Ghost Rom-Coms and the Dread of StartingConnect with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne:tatiana-schlote-bonne.comInstagram: @thebuffwriterTikTok: @the_buff_writerFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the brilliant Johanna Van Veen. Known for her haunting and intimate gothic novels My Darling, Dreadful Thing and Blood on Her Tongue, Johanna dives deep into how her historical fascinations and the unique dynamic of being a triplet have shaped her deeply unsettling stories.We discuss her childhood terror of reading the Dutch equivalent of Goosebumps, the catharsis of writing unlikable women and sapphic romances in traditional gothic settings, and the bizarre history of bedazzled catacomb saints. Whether you're a lover of dark folklore, a fan of emotionally complex monster-human relationships, or just looking for your next gothic horror obsession, this conversation is for you.Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Connecting Across Time Zones04:10 – Johanna’s Horror Origin Story: Dutch Goosebumps07:17 – The Family Computer & Learning to Blind Type10:25 – Drowning Fairies & Mermaid Curses: Dutch Folklore Explained12:53 – Being a Triplet & Channeling Sibling Dynamics into Middle-Grade Fiction15:21 – A Modern Millennial Meet-Cute: Tumblr Fanfiction17:08 – The Tumultuous Road to Publication & Scrapped First Drafts30:17 – My Darling, Dreadful Thing: Grief, Mediums, and Comforting Monsters39:54 – Blood on Her Tongue: Vampires, Unlikable Women, and Forms of Hunger45:54 – Book History, 17th-Century Gratitude Journals, and Puritans53:28 – Power Structures & Why Queer Romance Belongs in Gothic Fiction57:33 – Bone of My Bone: The Thirty Years' War and Bedazzled Skeletons1:06:25 – Future Releases & Rapid-Fire Gothic GameConnect with Johanna Van Veen:Website: https://johannavanveen.com/Instagram: @johannavanveen1997Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42245290.Johanna_van_VeenFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the hilariously brilliant Neena Viel. Known for her critically acclaimed and terrifying debut Listen to Your Sister, Neena dives deep into how becoming the guardian of her teenage brother in her early 20s inspired her to craft a horror masterpiece about the realities of parentification and invisible caretaking.We discuss her childhood terror of Dean Koontz, the catharsis of writing "women behaving badly," and why she has to twerk her way through writer's block. Whether you're an oldest sibling carrying the weight of the world, a fan of morally gray characters, or just looking for your next horror obsession, this conversation is for you.Timestamps:00:00 – The Pre-Writing Dance Routine & Twerking Through Writer's Block00:35 – Introducing Neena Viel & Her Debut, Listen to Your Sister01:48 – Neena’s Horror Origin Story: Dean Koontz’s Phantoms & Resident Evil06:46 – Childhood Reading Habits: From Large Print Romance to Goosebumps11:04 – Pursuing the Dream: "Grandma Thinks I'm a Lawyer"12:44 – The Real-Life Inspiration: Raising a Teenager in Your 20s14:44 – The Corporate Grind, Pandemic Writing, and "Revenge" Drafting17:52 – Neena’s Writing Process: Pantsing, Candles, and the "Party Box"26:22 – Navigating the Sophomore Slump & Reader Expectations34:57 – Exploring Sibling Trauma, Dynamics, and the Hilarious Character Jamie43:27 – Character Building: Giving Siblings Distinct Voices Using the Senses46:37 – Balancing Humor with Dark Themes (and the Famous Shower Scene)49:59 – The Horrors of Parentification & The Invisible Labor of Women Caretakers57:56 – A Sneak Peek at I’ll Watch Your Baby: Morally Gray Women Behaving Badly1:01:47 – Book 3 Preview: The Trail Provides, A Hiking Horror Satire1:06:05 – Author Recommendations: Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, and DebutsConnect with Neena Viel:Website: https://www.neenaviel.com/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49276349.Neena_Viel (Note: As Neena mentions in the episode, she isn't on platforms like Instagram and TikTok!)Follow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

Ashley Winstead joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore how thriller and horror serve as a powerful mirror for the human condition, from the suffocating weight of hyper-competitiveness to the complex dynamics of control and submission.In this episode, Ashley and Rachel dive into:The Power of Words: How being a shy "Navy brat" moving every two years led Ashley to find companionship and an innate love for language within books.Poetry as a First Love: Why Ashley’s process remains rooted in "painterly" self-expression and the precision of prose, inspired by poets like Richard Siken and Mary Oliver.The 10-Year Hiatus: The "lore" of how a traumatic car accident and 12 MFA rejections led Ashley to quit writing for a decade while she worked in the music and TV industries.Academic Thick Skin: How the "grind" of earning a PhD in literature finally gave Ashley the resilience to face the criticism inherent in the publishing world.The "Revenge" Thriller: How being told her fantasy novel lacked plot motivated Ashley to "revenge write" her debut thriller, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, in a fugue state.Cults and Control: A deep dive into The Last Housewife and how it explores patriarchal submission and the real-life Sarah Lawrence sex cult.Faith vs. Fear: Exploring the existential and religious trauma themes in Midnight is the Darkest Hour, where faith often acts as a "bandage" for the wound of uncertainty.Grief as a Detective: How the loss of her father fueled This Book Will Bury Me and its exploration of how grief makes us susceptible to obsession and true crime sleuthing.Whether you are a "prose snob," a fan of "unreliable narrators," or an eldest daughter fueled by spite, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the grit behind the glamour of storytelling.Timestamps: 00:00 — The car accident and 12 rejections. 02:15 — Intro: Welcome Ashley Winstead to Talking Horror. 03:09 — Growing up shy: Books as an escape for a Navy kid. 05:14 — First Love: Why poetry and Richard Siken are Ashley’s "Bibles". 13:54 — The 10-year break: Music industry, Hollywood, and the PhD grind. 22:17 — Genre Hopping: From YA Fantasy to "Revenge Writing" a thriller. 32:26 — In My Dreams I Hold a Knife: Toxic ambition and 10-year reunions. 42:16 — The Last Housewife: Exploring "tradwives," submission, and cults. 55:43 — Midnight is the Darkest Hour: Religious trauma and faith as a mask for fear. 1:03:54 — This Book Will Bury Me: Processing grief through true crime obsession. 1:14:23 — Coming Soon: A sneak peek at Hot Girl Murder Club.Follow Ashley Winstead:Website: ashleywinstead.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleywinsteadbooks/Follow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd

Diana Rodriguez Wallach (award-winning author of The Silenced, Small Town Monsters and Hatchet Girls) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore how horror serves as a powerful mirror for real-world fears, from the dangers of charismatic leaders to the dark side of the troubled teen industry.In this episode, Diana and Rachel dive into:The "Psychic" Origin Story: How a chance encounter with a Salem psychic and a vivid dream launched Diana’s career as a YA author. Horror as a Social Tool: Why "the zombie is never just a zombie" and how horror allows authors to tackle heavy themes without sounding like an after-school special. The Book Banning Loophole: The surprising reason axe murders are often more "acceptable" in school libraries than stories about identity or romance. Raising Awareness: Using The Silenced to shed light on the terrifying reality of wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools. Dual Timelines and Gripping Hooks: Why Diana loves crafting "before and after" narratives to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The Journalist’s Eye: How Diana’s background as a reporter fuels the intense research and factual history woven into her fiction. Beyond YA: A sneak peek into Diana's upcoming adult horror short story and her "secret project" moving into adult fiction. Whether you're a fan of 90s classics like Christopher Pike, a writer looking to sharpen your craft, or a reader who loves stories that "push the boundaries," this conversation is a must-listen.Timestamps:00:00 — A life-changing career prediction in Salem. 00:26 — Intro: Welcome Diana Rodriguez Wallach to Talking Horror. 02:15 — Double Nominations: Celebrating The Silenced at the Bram Stoker and Thriller Awards.03:09 — Why Horror? Growing up on Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. 04:24 — "The zombie is never just a zombie": Using horror to talk about the real world. 05:26 — The Book Banning Issue: Why "bloody axes" get a pass in the Bible Belt. 07:51 — Intentional Storytelling: Raising awareness for the troubled teen industry. 09:44 — The dual timeline obsession: Crafting Hatchet Girls and The Silenced. 12:06 — The Full Story: 9/11, hotel reporting, and the dream that changed everything.15:59 — You can't take the journalist out of the writer: Research and factual history. 17:28 — What’s Next: Adult horror anthologies and secret projects. 19:01 — The "Training" Phase: Why authors find it hard to look back at old work. Follow Diana Rodriguez Wallach:Website: dianarodriguezwallach.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianawallachauthor/Follow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd

Kiersten White (New York Times bestselling author of Hide and Mister Magic) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore why horror is the ultimate tool for navigating religious trauma, from the "invisible" God of a high-control childhood to the cathartic power of a cursed children’s show.In this episode, Kiersten and Rachel dive into:Religious trauma and the "sucky foundation" of being raised in a high-control Mormon environment.Dismantling purity culture and the process of "healing the shit out of" trauma through fiction.Why Mister Magic serves as a "holy grail" for survivors seeking to reclaim their identity from toxic beliefs.The millennial horror of Hide: sacrificing the next generation for a measly $50,000 and the "unlikability" of human desperation.Giving Lucy Westenra her groove back: reclaiming Dracula’s most tragic victim through a queer, feminist lens.The "T-shirt book deal" and the secrets to writing for iconic franchises like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Star Wars.The real star of the show: Kimberly, the 40-pound, "opportunistic omnivore" tortoise living in Kiersten’s backyard.Whether you're a "self-proclaimed chicken" who loves scary stories, an author navigating the "murky areas" of different genres, or a survivor looking for the hope and catharsis hidden in the dark, this one is for you.Timestamps:00:00 — Intro: Does horror still scare a professional horror writer?01:47 — Why horror? Taking control of childhood fears.03:16 — Forbidden stories: Growing up in a high-control religious environment.08:33 — The "Twilight" effect and accidentally starting a career in YA.10:50 — Writing for teens vs. adults: Hope vs. "we’re on our own".13:39 — Re-imaginings: Having a creative conversation with Dracula and Frankenstein.18:02 — The "Sunnydale" T-shirt deal and pitching a Ben Solo novel.23:49 — Balancing ADHD, humor, and darkness across different "cookie jars".29:09 — Hide: Greek myths, reality TV, and the horror of the American system.36:50 — Religious Trauma: Why Mister Magic is for the people "crying in the DMs".47:25 — Reclaiming Lucy Westenra: Why the men in Dracula are the real villains.54:26 — The Fox and the Devil: Forensic science, world fairs, and joyful queerness.1:08:17 — Meet Kimberly: The dinosaur-sized tortoise in the backyard.1:10:06 — Upcoming projects: Graphic novels and Wild and Wicked.Follow the Guest (Kiersten White):Website: kierstenwhite.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkierstenwhiteFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

Paulette Kennedy didn't finish a single manuscript until age 44. Her debut novel published at 46. Now Paulette Kennedy is one of gothic suspense's most talked-about voices, and this conversation is exactly why.In this episode, bestselling author Paulette Kennedy pulls back the curtain on her unexpected path to publication, the pandemic grocery run that sparked The Devil and Mrs. Davenport, and why she believes dark fiction isn't just entertainment, but one of the safest ways to explore what makes us human. We go deep on grief, weaponized religion, "punchable" villains, and how her stunning new novel The Two Deaths of Lillian Carmichael is really a story about transformation and what you do with the time you have left.Whether you're a lifelong gothic fiction fan or just discovering the genre, this one will stay with you.Timestamps:00:00 — Intro: Meet Paulette Kennedy & the "punchable" villain00:43 — How the Brontës, VC Andrews & Stephen King shaped her voice03:06 — The book that made her want to write (Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier)04:04 — ADHD, unfinished manuscripts, and not publishing until 4606:21 — The real (unglamorous) truth about early writing life07:50 — Her morning ritual: 5 AM, candles, film scores & flow state09:23 — Where story ideas come from — and when they don't11:31 — Plotter vs. Pantser: why she now does both13:40 — Working with a developmental editor & finding your craft14:50 — Her hardest book to write (and why it became her bestseller)17:03 — The pandemic grocery run that became The Devil and Mrs. Davenport19:32 — Faith vs. religion — and how religion gets weaponized21:30 — Writing grief from the inside: "I've lost pretty much everyone"24:02 — Feeling like a midlister despite massive success28:33 — Why writing faster made her writing better30:15 — The Two Deaths of Lillian Carmichael: toxic families & sibling rivalry33:29 — Crafting villains readers love to hate35:33 — Why dark fiction matters more than people think36:17 — Balancing emotional depth with thriller momentum37:41 — Why she keeps choosing historical fiction (and how she picks the era)40:05 — A full year of research: archives, maps, diaries & location visits42:20 — Writing race, LGBTQ+ oppression & abuse in historical contexts45:19 — The Death tarot card, transformation, and "what am I doing with my time?"48:01 — The magic of readers finding themselves in your pages48:48 — Why readers are drawn to the dark side50:05 — When to make your antagonist supernatural vs. human52:16 — What's next: future genres & upcoming projects📚 Connect with Paulette Kennedy: 🌐 Website:paulettekennedy.com 📸 Instagram: @pkennedywritesFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

Saratoga Schaefer (USA Today bestselling author of Serial Killer Support Group and TradWife) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore why horror is the freest genre for the darkest truths, from the body horror of pregnancy to the real monster already on your phone screen.In this episode, Saratoga and Rachel dive into:Seven unpublished books and a decade of rejection before getting the "yes"Why social media — not a demon in the well — is the true villain in TradWifeThe ethics of true crime fandom and why victims shouldn't be footnotes to their own storiesHow sobriety, poetry, and a childhood love of murderous nutcrackers shaped a horror careerWhat queer and non-binary identity brings to horror's most essential questions of power and selfA sneak peek at the upcoming A Thousand Monstrous Forms and The Last Time We DrownedWhether you're a horror skeptic who loved The Hunger Games, an aspiring author surviving the rejection marathon, or a reader hungry for stories that challenge identity and power, this one is for you.Timestamps:00:00 — Why readers shouldn't eat while reading Saratoga's books 00:19 — Introducing Saratoga Schaeffer01:31 — Horror, genre-blending, and the freedom of the "Dark Side" 03:26 — Breaking the stigma: Horror is for everyone 04:35 — Saratoga's origin story: From murderous nutcrackers to middle-grade horror 08:20 — Poetry, recovery, and inheriting an art form 11:23 — Writing as a safe space for identity and self-confidence 14:16 — Reaching back: Writing the books you needed in the past 17:57 — The "Unicorn" myth: Surviving a decade of rejection 19:41 — Behind the scenes of Serial Killer Support Group: Revisions and character deaths 22:55 — Knowing when to bend: Boundaries in the publishing industry 46:30 — TradWife: Social horror, body horror, and the monster on your screen 1:04:15 — Sneak peek at A Thousand Monstrous Forms 1:11:05 — Closing thoughts and cover reveal datesFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the master of the "emotional highlighter," Clay McLeod Chapman. Known for his gut-wrenching novels like Ghost Eaters and What Kind of Mother, Clay dives deep into why the horror genre is the perfect sandbox for exploring our deepest fears, addictions, and "soft traumas."We discuss his "bromance" with Nat Cassidy, his origins in the shadows of Edgar Allan Poe’s Richmond, and why he strives to be "water" in a world of square-peg branding. Whether you're a writer looking for advice on finding your voice or a reader looking for your next terrifying obsession, this conversation is for you.Timestamps:00:00 – The Nat Cassidy "Bromance" & the Infamous Werewolf Mask00:37 – Introducing Clay McLeod Chapman01:50 – Why Horror? The Genre as an "Emotional Highlighter"03:40 – Using the "Horror Sandbox" to Process Fear and Grief04:55 – Clay’s Origin Story: Poe, Campfire Tales, and "Soft Traumas"07:13 – Growing up in the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe in Richmond11:00 – The Visceral Power of a Good Story14:26 – Writing Across Mediums: From Theater to Comics to Fiction18:15 – Navigating Self-Doubt and the "Deficit of Confidence"21:28 – The "Dollop of Water" Philosophy: Finding Your Place in the Industry26:40 – Handling Reviews: The Grace of the "Two-Star" Feedback31:50 – Authors on Social Media: Building a Positive Community34:21 – Paying it Forward: The Importance of Supporting Fellow Writers37:55 – Exploring the "Darkness": Grief and Trauma in What Kind of Mother41:30 – The Immersive Magic of Audiobooks45:00 – Deep Dive into Ghost Eaters: Addiction as a Haunting52:15 – The Current State of Horror: Indie Presses and New Voices1:00:10 – Advice for Aspiring Writers: Being a "Student of the World"1:05:54 – Closing Thoughts & A Final Question for Nat CassidyConnect with Clay McLeod Chapman:Website: claymcleodchapman.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/claymcleod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@claymcleodchapmanFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkhorrorpod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

Welcome to Talking Horror, the new home for readers, writers, and anyone fascinated by the stories that make us want to sleep with the lights on.In this series, host Rachel Redd explores the darker parts of being human through the lens of horror and thriller fiction. Why horror? Because it is one of the most honest forms of storytelling. It isn't just about being scared; it's a conversation about the human experience that can change the way we view ourselves and those around us.Subscribe now and join us every Tuesday starting April 7th as we interview the authors who are redefining the genre and creating the greatest stories of our time!What to Expect:Author Interviews: Deep dives into new books and the creative process.Genre Insights: Conversations with the voices changing the landscape of horror and thrillers.A Community for All: Whether you’re a lifelong reader, an aspiring writer, or just getting started, there’s a seat for you at our table.New episodes drop every Tuesday!#TalkingHorror #HorrorPodcast #ThrillerBooks #RachelRedd #AuthorInterviews #PodcastLaunch #BookTube