E225: Bigfoot, UFOs, and Ghosts with Mallory Marlowe

 

Today I have Mallory Marlowe on the show to chat about her unique take on paranormal romance. She writes about Bigfoot, UFOs, and ghosts, but in a delightful voice that’s entirely her own. We have tons of fun in this short episode chatting about her work, as well as haunted dolls and ghost tours. I can’t wait to have her back on the show!

The three bookstores Mallory recommended are:

• Beguilded Books in Seattle, Washington
• Wild Geese Bookshop in Franklin, Indiana
• Lovestruck Books in Cambridge, Massachusettes

Link to the adorable merch by Wandering Reader Designs for Mallory's books is here.

E: 224: Art in Gothic with Madison Tyler Nelson

 

Today I have Madison Tyler Nelson on the show to chat about Art in Gothic. Her new book, PORTRAIT OF A HAUNTING is an exciting debut that uses painting and bodily fluids and mothers to tell an unforgettable Gothic story. She was the perfect guest to chat about art in Gothic books, and I love that range of titles we chat about here. 

Madison’s Book Recs

• Malice House by Megan Sheperd
• Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi Demeester
• The God of Endings by Jaqueline Holland
• Paint it Black by Janet Fitch
• A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young

Agatha’s Book Recs

• The Artist of Blackberry Grange by Paulette Kennedy
• The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
• A Dangerous Bargain by Erin Cotter
• All Her Beautiful Deaths by A. Rushby - Victorian Death photography
• Mansion in Miniature by Elizabeth St. Clair

E222: Horror and Romance in Film with Emma Cole

 

Today I welcome Emma Cole to the show to chat about movies that blend horror and romance, which is also the topic of her new nonfiction book, LOVE NEVER DIES: ROMANCE IN HORROR MOVIES. We talk about a range of films, from Hitchcock to the Lost Boys, and my favorite era…the 90s resurgence of luxurious Gothic in film, including Dracula, Interview with a Vampire, and Sleepy Hollow. It was a lot of fun to read this book, then watch some of these movies! A project I hope you all indulge in. 

E121: Isabel Canas and THE HOUSE OF GARDENIAS

 

Today I welcome back Isabel Canas to the show to chat about her new book, THE HOUSE OF GARDENIAS. It’s a Gothic YA novel that is as riveting and haunting as her other books. It was great to chat with her about writing for this audience while maintaining everything we’ve come to love from her as a writer. I highly recommend it for fans of her work! 

If you want to take her class on writing the Gothic, you can do so here. I took this class and it's wonderful!

If you want to see her tour info is below:

E220: Theater Gothic with Erin Craig

 

Today Erin Craig returns to the show to chat about “Theater in Gothic.” Erin’s new book, OUR STRANGE DUET, is a retelling of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Erin does make a point of noting that this is not a retelling of the novel. Rather, it’s a tie-in to the 40th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s musical, so our theme is tied to both the theatrical story and the theatrical production. I hope you enjoy our book recommendations! 

Erin’s Book Recs

• The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
• The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell
• The Prestige by Christopher Priest
• Come Knocking by Mike Bockoven
• The Night Crossing by Robert Masello

Agatha’s Book Recs

• Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice
• The Red Sacriment by Sara Hinkley
• She Haunts Me Still by De Elizabeth
• If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
• Shadowplay by Joseph O’Conner

E219: Rachel Harrison and KISS SLAY REPLAY

 

Today Rachel Harrison returns to the show to chat about her new book, KISS SLAY REPLAY, a horror timeloop novel with Rachel’s signature wit, wisdom, and creativity. We chat about the range of horrors in the novel, from monsters to facing each new day with normal responsibilities. We also chat about brides, dead brides, weddings with paintings of dead brides, and the good, the bad and the ugly of weddings. We talk about writing too, and I hope it’s helpful.

I mentioned Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, a wonderful book about writing that I'll link below Rachel's book.

Bookstores Rachel recommends

• Vintage Bookstore and Winebar - Austin, TX
• All She Wrote Books - Somerville, MA 
• An Unlikely Story - Plainville, MA
• Exile in Bookville - Chicago, IL
• The Twisted Spine - Brooklyn, NY

E218: Hazel Beck and SOME KIND OF HAUNTED

 

Today I welcome Megan Crane and Nicole Helm to the show, the writing duo known as Hazel Beck. It’s a short episode, but we pack a lot in, including their origin story and Witchlore series, leaning into “cozy horror” for their new book, SOME KIND OF HAUNTED, and their twist on twins and fiber arts to bring about that cozy and horror combination for effective genre blending. 

Their bookstore recommendations include:

Main Street Books - St. Charles, Missouri

Rebel Heart Bookshop - Jacksonville, Oregon

Neighborhood Reads - Washington, Missouri

HEA Book Boutique - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Swamp Fox Bookstore - Marion Iowa

Next Chapter Booksellers - St. Paul, Minnisota

The Story Collective - St. Joseph, Missouri

Sidekick Coffee and Books - Iowa City, Iowa