E188: Werewolves with Nat Cassidy

 

Today I welcome Nat Cassidy to the show to chat about werewolves in fiction and folklore. We use his latest novel, WHEN THE WOLF COMES HOME, as a launching pad for this discussion, and we have fun discussing how werewolves work in different genres. We also have some great book recommendations for you, listed below.

You can see the trailer for the movie Wolfen (mentioned in the episode) here.

The indie bookstore that Nat recommends is Astoria Bookshop, where you can order signed copies of his books too! 

We both recommend SUCH SHARP TEETH by Rachel Harrison

Nat’s recs

WOLF'S HOUR by Robert McCammon

NIGHTBITCH by Rachel Yoder

WOLFEN by Whitley Streiber

RABID by Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy

THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JECKYLL & MR HYDE by RL Stevenson

MONGRELS by Stephen Graham Jones

CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF by Stephen King

WEREWOLF OF PARIS by Guy Endore

Agatha’s recs

FABLES series by Bill Willingham

CLUB DEAD (3rd in Southern Vampire Mysteries) by Charlaine Harris

BIG BAD WOOL (2nd in Sheep Detective series) by Leonie Swann

THE WOLVES OF MIDWINTER (2nd in Wolf Gift Chronicles) by Anne Rice

SOULESS (1st in the Parasol Protectorate) by Gail Carriger

E187: Silvia Moreno-Garcia and The Bewitching

 

Today I get to share a dream come true with you! Silvia Moreno-Garcia joined me to chat about THE BEWITCHING, her new novel about witches told over three timelines. We also chat about the publishing industry, her own niche literary interests, and of course we talk about the Gothic genre.

The street of bookstores Silvia recommends in Mexico City is called Donceles Street, and it's still a thriving place for book lovers. Here is a recent article about great vintage bookshops in Mexico City, and it includes a section on the famous Donceles Street bookshops.

E186: CRAFTING FOR SINNERS with Jenny Kiefer

Today I have Jenny Kiefer on the show to discuss CRAFTING FOR SINNERS, her new survival horror novel in which a trapped woman must fight her way out of a craft store owned by a religious cult. We chat about Jenny’s personal experience as a crafter, and how this book reflects current religiously rooted bigotry. We also chat about fighting oppressors using whatever you have available, be it knitting needles or a special skill.

Jenny's recommended indie bookstores includes her own Butcher Cabin Books, where you can order signed copies of her books. She also recommends:

- The Twisted Spine (New York City)

- Bucket of Blood (Chicago)

- Little Ghost Books (Toronto)

- Ghoulish Books (San Antonio)

E185: The Mary Shelley Mysteries with Heather Redmond

 

Today I have Heather Redmond on the show to discuss her Mary Shelley Mystery Series. We chat about why she chose to use the real author and her family as her main characters instead of writing in the world of Frankenstein. We also discuss her previous series, which did the same for Charles Dickens, and we chat about the state of historicals in the mystery genre.

E184: Ghost Brides in Books with Lindsay Barrett

Today I have Lindsay Barrett on the show to discuss “Ghost Brides” in books. We chat about her new book, THE DRAVENHEARST BRIDES, a loose retelling of Daphne Du Maurier’s influential Gothic novel, REBECCA, set on a haunted bourbon distillery estate in Kentucky. We also discuss the universal interest in ghost brides and give some great book recommendations listed below. 

Lindsay's indie bookshop recommendation is Greedy Reads in Baltimore. 

The artist who does Lindsay's book covers is Austin Drake.

Lindsay’s recs

• Where the Dead Brides Gather by Nuzo Onoh
• Inheritance by Nora Roberts
• She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
• The Darkling Bride by Laura Andersen
• The Lover’s Eye by Lauren M Hayworth

Agatha’s recs

• The Hacienda by Isabel Canas
• The Third Wife of Faraday House by BR Myers
• The Bride of Pendoric by Victoria Holt
• Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts
• Peony in Love by Lisa See

E183: Friendly Ghosts in Books with Olivia Blacke

 

E182: Neil McRobert and GOOD BOY

 

Today I want to wish Neil McRobert, from the beloved horror podcast Talking Scared, a very happy birthday! He is a good friend, and I’m truly delighted that he is my guest today. He came on the show to discuss his new novella, GOOD BOY, a part of the Northern Weird project from Wild Hunt Books. We chat about the story, tap into Neil’s romantic side, and discuss the gothic inspirations from both literature and his surrounding landscape. 

Neil's three indie bookshop recommendations are:

• In Bath - Mr. B's Imporium of Reading Delights
• In Manchester - Paramount Books 
• In Newcastle - Barter Books 

E181: Magical Artifacts in Books with Julie Leong

 

Today I chat with Julie Leong about Magical Artifacts. We discuss her new book, THE KEEPER OF MAGICAL THINGS, as a launching point for the work magical artifacts do in fiction, like quests for power or prestige. We have some great recommendations that capture these ideas:

- The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time series)
- Swordheart by T. Kingfisher
- The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld series)
- Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett
- The Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb (the Live Ship Traders series)
- The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke
- Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree
- Bull Moon Rising (Royal Artifacts series) by Ruby Dixon
- Little Shop of Found Things by Paula Brackston
- Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

E180: AMERICA'S MOST GOTHIC with Leanna Renee Hieber

 

Today I chat with Leanna Renee Hieber about her new book, AMERICA’S MOST GOTHIC, that she co-wrote with Andrea Janes. It’s about America’s haunted history through the lens of Gothic tropes. They interviewed me as part of their research, and used my interview with Neil McRobert (from the Talking Scared podcast )on my “What is Gothic?” episode in the book, so you'll recognize things you love about my show as you read. We also talk about our favorite tropes, and the respect we owe to the dead in ghost stories.

In the episode, you hear me discuss two books by an author, Erin O. Wallace, who wrote a follow up book to her first one to correct the widely believed misinformation about her haunted inn in Seguin, Texas. The first book, which does include accurate Seguin history, is Haunted Seguin. The second one, Mysteries of the Magnolia Hotel, is exclusively about the historical true crime that occurred in her inn, the ghosts that haunt it, and the truth she uncovered as she researched in archives. 

E179: When Gilmore Girls meets Ghosts with Jen DeLuca

NEW EPISODE! Today I chat with Jen DeLuca about her new book, GHOST BUSINESS. It’s the second book in her romance series set in Boneyard Key, “the most haunted town in Florida.” I’ve been a fan of Jen DeLuca since her previous series, set in a Renaissance festival. We discuss her unusual settings and the reverence she has for these delightful, kitchy places. We also chat about her Gilmore Girls inspiration, as well the state of the ghost tour industry and how it inspired this book. 

In the episode, I mention a woman in Seguin, Texas who owns a historic inn. She wrote "Haunted Seguin," which has loads of information on the haunted history of the town, including her in. However, the more she dug into archives, old newspapers, etc... she found out the truth about a murder that took place at her inn many years ago. She was able to set the record straight both in her second book, "Mysteries of the Magnolia Hotel" and with official police records. That's right! She properly solved the mystery herself! 

E178: Rachel Harrison and PLAY NICE

 

Today I chat with Rachel Harrison about her exceptional new book, PLAY NICE. We discuss her inspiration for the story, including real life examples of society’s need to scrutinize and demonize women, both real and fictional. We also discuss Gothic elements of the book, and the “book within a book” feature readers will see on the page. I'm so glad I got to have this conversation with her. Rachel had a lot to say about the "demonization" of women, especially those who speak a truth no one wants to hear. Thanks for listening. 

E176: Ghost Hunting and Haunted Dolls with Alice Vernon

Today I welcome professor Alice Vernon to the show to discuss her newest book, GHOSTED: A SOCIAL HISTORY OF GHOST HUNTING, AND WHY WE KEEP LOOKING. It’s an engaging sociological look at Ghost Hunting primarily in British history. We discuss modern ghost hunting television shows, the evolving business approaches to ghost tours, and the escapades of her haunted doll, Bev, which she purchased on Ebay. You can find Alice on Instagram

Alice Vernon with Bev, the haunted doll purchased from Ebay.

E175: Ruby Dixon and BY THE HORNS!

 

Today I welcome Ruby Dixon to the show to discuss her newest book, BY THE HORNS. It’s a fun monster romance with adventure, humor and spice, told with Ruby’s signature attention to craft. We discuss her journey as a writer, the evolution of monster romance and the work these stories do in fiction. She also answers questions from some of my Patreon members. Thank you Sarah Beth and Trevor for such thoughtful questions! 

174: Isabel Canas and THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DIAZ

 

Today I welcome Isabel Canas to the show to discuss her newest book, THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DIAZ. It’s a beautifully lush book with her signature cinematic storytelling. We discuss writing about possession in our current political climate, what possession means in the context of motherhood, and we get to the root of her core story. We also chat about genre blending between horror and romance, which you all know is my favorite combination!

In the episode we discuss THE YEAR OF WONDERS by Geraldine Brooks, which is a historical novel based on a real English village that sequestered itself during a plague outbreak so as not to spread the disease. They knew most would die, but they did not want to spread it. 

We also discussed Isabel's class with the Writers Conservatory on writing Gothic. It's called "The Dark Fantastic: Crafting Unputdownable Fiction, and you can take this class at any time. It's available here.

The short story anthology Isabel discussed is an Owl Crate exclusive called Monsters in Masquerade, which is available here.

Finally, if you want to sign up for Isabel's newsletter, you can do so here!

E173: Sarah Best Durst and THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE

 

Today I welcome Sarah Beth Durst to the show to discuss her newest book, THE ENCHANTED GREENHOUSE. It’s a delightful cozy fantasy novel with sentient plants, a winged cat, and some subtle commentary on who has the right to learn and the importance of libraries in our communities. We also discuss a bit about craft and genre blending, if you’re interested in writing a cozy fantasy yourself. I hope you enjoy it!

172: Sangu Mandanna and A WITCH'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING

 

Today I welcome Sangu Mandanna to the show to discuss her newest book, A WITCH’S GUIDE TO MAGICAL INNKEEPING. It’s a wonderful book full of whimsy, self-reflection, and the most unusual ghosts I’ve ever read. This book wasn’t just a pleasure to read, it was so well written that I asked as much about craft as I did about her cozy fantasy elements. We also discuss the autism representation in her book, so I hope that has as much meaning for you as it did for me. 

E171: Goth Girl Summer with Rachel Harrison and Stephanie Gagnon from Books in the Freezer

 

Today I welcome two of my favorite people back to the show to help me celebrate my birthday (July 4th) Stephanie Gagnon, from Books in the Freezer and Rachel Harrison join me for this special episode full of Goth Girl Summer book recommendations! 

• Hungerstone by Katt Dun
• Lemon by Kwon Yeo-Sun
• The Seas by Samantha Hunt
• The Lighthouse Witches by CJ Cooke
• The Ruins by Scott Smith
• Ghost Summer: Stories by Tananarive Due
• The Sirens by Emilia Hart
• Diavola by Jennifer Thorne
• Haunted Ever After by Jenn DeLuca
• I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
• Ghost Wall by Sarah Moss
• A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enriquez
• Bad Dolls by Rachel Harrison
• Ghost Business by Jenn DeLuca
• Willful Creatures by Aimee Bender (the one we mention with the pumpkin heads story)

E170: Libraries in Books with Jenny Adams and Jocelyn Codner

Today we celebrate Libraries! To do this, I welcomed back Jocelyn Codner and author Jenny Adams whom you all may remember from my Literacy episode last Fall. For the first 20 minutes, we discuss the state of libraries, celebrate a few victories, and share ways you can support your libraries. The rest of the episode is dedicated to book recommendations that feature libraries across genres. I've listed the recommended books below, as well as Jenny Adams' book, with links to my Bookshop. I hope you enjoy the show!

Jenny

The Underground Library - Jennifer Ryan 

Strange the Dreamer - Laini Taylor

The Library of Lost Girls - Kristen Pipps

Overdue - Stephanie Perkins

Jocelyn

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami

Grasshands by Kyle Winkler

The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Agatha

The Librarians by Sherry Thomas

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C. M. Waggoner

The Parliament by Aimee Pokwatka

Funny Story by Emily Henry

E169: Riley Sager and WITH A VENGEANCE

 

Today I welcome Riley Sager back to the show to discuss his new book, WITH A VENGEANCE, a fun midcentury train mystery that was so captivating I couldn’t put it down. We discuss his inspirations for the book, as well as the process. Riley Sager is also on tour right now, so check his website for tour dates in your area. I hope you enjoy the show!

E168: MURDER BALLADS with Katy Horan

 

Today I welcome Katy Horan to the show to discuss her new book, MURDER BALLADS. She painted each powerful illustration in the book and spent years researching these folk songs, which often depict young, beautiful, murdered women floating ethereally down a river. We discuss her process and background and, for my own curiosity, focus on songs by Johnny Cash, PJ Harvey and Nick Cave, and Nirvana’s famous Unplugged performance. Videos for each of these below.

We also mention a nonfiction book she referenced in her research. That link, as well as the link to Katy Horan's book, are also below. 

E167: The Gothic Witch Novels of C.J. Cooke

 

Today I welcome C. J. Cooke to the show to discuss her new book, THE GHOST WOODS, and since I loved this book so much, we discuss books from her backlist too, including THE LIGHTHOUSE WITCHES and THE BOOK OF WITCHING. I’m fascinated by her gothic writing and consistent themes of witches and motherhood. I do want to take a moment to apologize for the way my voice sounds in this episode. I had an issue with my microphone connecting to my new computer, but that issue has been resolved on other recordings. I hope you enjoy the show!

166: Mimi Matthews and RULES FOR RUIN

 

Today I welcome Mimi Matthews to the show to discuss her new book, RULES FOR RUIN. It’s a fantastic historical romance that’s Peaky Blinders meets Great Expectations. I love all of Mimi’s books, but this is my favorite historical romance from her, and it’s one I’ll definitely reread. She gives us revenge, subterfuge, a sexy hero named Gabriel who grew up in the slums of St Giles and rules it with the savvy of Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent and the renown of The Ghost of St. Giles (IYKYK) We also get a weapon wielding heroine named Euphemia who aims to overthrow the patriarchy, setting her boundaries and taking up space in the world. I loved this book, and I hope you enjoy the episode! 

E165: Happy Mermay! Mermaid Books with Desiree M. Niccoli

Today I welcome mermaid aficionado and longtime friend, Desiree M. Niccoli to discuss mermaids across genre fiction. I had her on for a previous MerMay episode a few years ago, soon after the release of her book CALLED TO THE DEEP. Today she created a fun mermaid quiz, which we do at the end of the show, and we discuss the rise in mermaid fiction since our last episode. We also give several book recommendations, listed below and linked to my Bookshop when available

I mentioned in the episode that San Marcos is the "Mermaid Capitol of Texas, and I wanted to link here for more information. 

Photo from City of San Marcos webiste

Titles mentioned or featured on the episode: 

• SKIN OF THE SEA - Natasha Bowen
• THE DEEP - Rivers Solomon
• WITCHFUL THINKING - Celestine Martin
• DAUGHTER OF THE TIDES - Kit Rocha
• THE CAPTIVE MERMAN'S PROMISE - Zoey Castile 
• OCEAN BLEEDS SALTY - Azalea Crowley
• PROVIDENCE GIRLS  - Morgan Dante
• TREACHERY OF WATER - Angela J. Ford
• THE RAKE - Kass O'Shire
• A MAGIC DEEP AND DROWNING - Hester Fox
• UPON A STARLIT TIDE - Kell Woods
• THE SIRENS - Emilia Hart
• THE WOMAN IN THE WAVES - Camille Booker
• A SWEET STING OF SALT - Rose Sutherland

 

E164: Queer Gothic with Paulette Kennedy

 

Today, Paulette Kennedy joins me on the show to discuss Queer Representation in Gothic. Her new book, THE ARTIST OF BLACKBERRY GRANGE is out today, and like all of Paulette’s Gothics, it includes queer characters. We chat about how queerness was once subtext, and how it’s evolved over time, and we give some great book recommendations that reflect this evolution. 

Titles include:
- FINGERSMITH by Sarah Waters
- REBECCA by Daphne Du Maurier
- GAYWYCK by Vincent Virga (out of print)
- HOUSE OF HUNGER by Alexis Henderson
- LAVENDER HOUSE by Lev AC ROSEN
- THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by Oscar Wilde
- GIDEON THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir
- MOTHEATER by Linda H. Codega
- INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Anne Rice
- THE LAST WITCH OF EDINBURGH by Marielle Thompson
- THE MADNESS by Dawn Kurtagich

E162: Historical Fantasy with Leslye Penelope

 

Today I welcome an author I’ve long adored to the show, Leslye Penelope. We discuss Historical Fantasy and define the basic parameters of the subgenre. We discuss her work within that context, and we give some great book recommendations, listed below. I hope you enjoy it!

• The Conductors by Nicole Glover
• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
• Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clare
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
• Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas
• When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill 
• The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo
  
• The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
• The Fervor by Alma Katsu

E161: A Cozy Mystery in Space! Olivia Waite and MURDER BY MEMORY

Today I welcome Olivia Waite to the show to discuss her new book, MURDER BY MEMORY, a cozy sci-fi mystery. Olivia is known for her sapphic historical romances, so this is a new fiction genre for her, but one that suits her voice well. We chat about knitting and how the fiber arts relate to science, her journey through genre, and what’s next in this series.

E160: Cozy Fantasy with Julie Leong

 

Today I welcome Julie Leong to the show to discuss the wildly popular subgenre, Cozy Fantasy. We chat about Julie’s book, THE TELLER OF SMALL FORTUNES, as well as the history of Cozy Fantasy, our earliest experience reading the subgenre, and we offer some wonderful book recommendations, listed below:

• Salt and Broom by Sharon Lynn Fisher
• Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood
• The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields
• The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
• Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
• Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater 
• Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne
• A Natural History of Dragons by Mary Brennan
• The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C. M. Waggoner
• The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
• Redwall by Brian Jacques 

E159: The Gothic Novels of Emily Carpenter

Today I welcome Emily Carpenter to the show to discuss her new book GOTHICTOWN, as well all her previous gothic novels. We chat about her books in context with beloved gothic tropes, characters and settings, like isolation, creepy towns, and the American south.

GOTHICTOWN is on sale March 25th, so get your preorders in now!  

E158: True Crime and the Real Hester Prynne with Kate Winkler Dawson

 

Today I welcome journalist, professor and true crime podcaster, Kate Winkler Dawson, to the show to discuss her new historical true crime book, ALL THE SINNERS BOW: TWO AUTHORS, ONE MURDER, AND THE REAL HESTER PRYNNE. We discuss the 1832 murder of Sarah Maria Cornell and how that murder inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne to write The Scarlett Letter, as well as the research into both the murder and the writing of FALL RIVER, the first American true crime book written about this murder in 1833. 

Kate Winkler Dawson has three True Crime podcasts, one of which is retired and folded into the other. Here are the links to listen: 

E157: Emily Wilde and the Fairies of Heather Fawcett

Today I welcome Heather Fawcett to the show to talk about her Emily Wilde series. These beloved books are about a Cambridge professor who specializes in the study of fairies. This cozy fantasy trilogy has been at the forefront of this subgenre since the first novel, “Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries,” came out a few years ago. The third book, “Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Tales,” was released February 11th and has Emily studying the faery realm as their queen.

Books mentioned in our conversation include two books by Suzanna Clark, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and The Ladies of Grace Adieu. She also mentioned The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.

E156: Cottagecore Movies with Liz Parker

 

Surprise! A NEW BONUS EPISODE! Today I welcome Liz Parker back to the show to talk about Cottagecore Movies. I really needed a break from the world, so I wanted to do an episode that felt like a warm hug. This also came just in time for Liz’s upcoming book, THE OTHER MARCH SISTERS, which she co-wrote with Linda Epstein and Ally Malinenko, from the point of view of the other March sisters in LITTLE WOMEN. It comes out February 25th, so get your preorders in while you enjoy the show!

Movies included in our discussion include:

• Practical Magic
• Cold Mountain
• Howl's Moving Castle
• The Secret Garden
• Chocolat
• Little Women
• Sense and Sensibility
• The Secret of Roan Inish
• My Neighbor Totoro
• Wicked Little Letters
• The Holiday
• Steel Magnolias

E155: Spicy Cozy SciFi and Fantasy Books by Kimberly Lemming

 

Today I welcome Kimberly Lemming to the show to talk about her work, including a new science fiction romcom series that begins with I GOT ABDUCTED BY ALIENS AND NOW I’M TRAPPED IN A ROMCOM. We also discuss her previous cozy fantasy romcom series that began with THAT TIME I GOT DRUNK AND SAVED A DEMON. We chat about maintaining her voice across genre, and what folks are seeking when reaching for these distinctive titles. Please note that there is a sound fluctuation for the first ten minutes of the show, so please excuse that and enjoy the chat because Kimberly Lemming is a smart and fun delight that I know you’ll enjoy. The three authors Kimberly recommended are Lexi Esme, Regine Able, and Ella Maven. I also mention Ruby Dixon's Bull Moon Rising. 

E154: Gothic Fantasy with Hailey Piper

Today I welcome Hailey Piper to the show to discuss Gothic Fantasy. Hailey knows this genre blend well, as the author of several books that do this work, including her new book ALL THE HEARTS YOU EAT, and her upcoming 2025 release, A GAME IN YELLOW. We chat about elements that define this subgenre, our earliest interest in Gothic Fantasy, and we give some recommendations, listed below:

• Midnight Rooms by Donyae Coles
• The King in Yellow by Robert W Chambers
• Plain Bad Heroines by Emily B Danforth
• Yellow Jessamine by Caitlin Starling
• A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock
• Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas
• Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope 
• The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
• House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson 
• Small Favors by Erin Craig 

E153: Grady Hendrix and WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS

Today I welcome Grady Hendrix back to the show to discuss his new book, WITCHCRAFT FOR WAYWARD GIRLS, a story about the homes for pregnant teenage girls that were largely used in the years before Roe v Wade. We chat about everything from the inspiration of this story, to the food, and the human monsters in the book. The story has a lot of depth and I enjoyed breaking down even the small details with Grady, so I hope you enjoy it.

E152: Poe, Ghosts and Mystery with Christa Carmen

 

Today I welcome Christa Carmen, winner of the Bram Stoker award for her debut novel DAUGHTERS OF BLOCK ISLAND. I have her on the show today to discuss her new book, BENEATH THE POET’S HOUSE, a contemporary story that takes place in the home of famous transcendentalist, Sarah Whitman, a romantic interest of Edgar Allan Poe’s. We discuss Poe and how she connected her plot to his work and his life while centering Whitman’s interest in transcendentalism. I hope you enjoy it!

E151: LITERARY WITCHES and a New Year with Taisia Kitaiskaia

Today I welcome Taisia Kitaiskaia to the show for a chat about her book of illustrated poetry and her oracle deck, both titled LITERARY WITCHES. Taisia lives here in Austin, and worked with another Austin artist, Katy Horan, to create a gorgeous collection of poetry and art, as well as an inspiring oracle deck. Though they came out years ago, I hoped Taisia could bring in 2025 with inspiration for us all. She even does an oracle pull for us at the end of the episode, which I found hopeful. I hope you do too.