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

E217: Horse Books for Horse Reasons! with Anna Rose Reads and Lorin from Paperback Bish

 

Today I welcome Anna from Anna Rose Reads, and Lorin from Paperback Bish in an episode full of equine delights. It’s our long awaited Horse episode where we chat about horses in fiction, from childhood stories to genre books like romance and horror. You’ll be able to tell from all our laughter that we had a great time and I hope you learn a few things about horse symbolism and get a few book recs along the way. I’d intended to post this episode a few weeks from now, but with everything happening right now, I felt the need to move this up. Anna and Lorin have been diligent in their research of reputable groups trying to combat the horrifying wild horse round ups, and they suggest:

• The Wild Horse Refuge
• American Wild Horse Conservation
• Skydog Ranch
• Rocky Mountain Mustang Refuge
• In Defense of Animals

Anna also suggested a documentary: Blue Zeus

I mention in the episode that NPR's Fresh Air recently replayed an older episode to honor Monty Roberts, who changed horse training to a humane method that listened/responded to the horse. You can listen to that here or wherever you get your podcasts. His book is called The Man Who Listens to Horses.

Lorin’s Book Recs

• Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
• The Unicorn Hunters by Katherin Arden
• Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
• the Phantom Rider series by Janni Lee Simner (out of print)

Anna’s Book Recs

• Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
• The Unmothers by Leslie J. Anderson
• A Collapse of Horses by Brian Evenson
• DK Encyclopedia of Horses

Agatha’s Book Recs

• Bethany’s Sin by Robert R. McCammon (link to ebook - print is not available)
• The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews (her whole Belles of London series)
• The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley
• Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart
• Feast of Dead Man's Hollow by Desiree M. Niccoli

Photos below include: Anna with her Spirit poster (about 5 years old), Lorin with a cute pony (about 10 years old), Me (Agatha) on my rocking horse (just turned 2 years old)

E216: Sisters in Gothic with Del Sandeen

 

Today Del Sandeen returns to the show to chat about one of my favorite themes, “Sisters in Gothic.” Del’s’ new book, THESE WALLS REMEMBER, is the perfect tie-in to this topic, and it was really interesting that I found someone else who is an only child that shared my interest and enthusiasm for sisters as a character type in Gothic and Horror. There is a lot of range in the books we recommend, so I hope you enjoy it!

Del’s Book Recs

• Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
• Beloved by Toni Morrison
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Agatha’s Book Recs

• Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
• The Sirens by Emilia Hart
• Spite House by Johnny Compton
• The Hounding by Xenobe Purvis
• Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
• Honorable mention - I’ll Come Back for You (The Beck Sister Hauntings #1) by Charish Reid