She Wore Black

Today I chat with Raquel Vasquez Gilliland about her new book, THE WITCH OF WILD THINGS. This is a bonus episode, so it’s short, but it packs a punch, and I’m so happy I got to include her in my Month of Witches. You can find THE WITCH OF WILD THINGS in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack....

Today I chat with Lana Harper about her Thistle Grove series of witchy romances that have a range of magic and authentic human emotions. We talk about everything from rage and necromancy to the beauty of queer love on the page and the fun of spooky fantasy. You can find all of Lana’s books in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. T...

Today I chat with Celestine Martin about her whimsical witch romance, “Kiss and Spell,” a book that revels in charm, taking readers to a place of delightful escapism. You can find “Kiss and Spell,” in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. If you want another way to help out my podcast, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and...

Today I chat with Alyssa Palombo about her Sleepy Hollow retelling, “The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel,” a book that’s become a Halloween reading tradition for many gothic fans. You can find “ The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassell ,” in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. If you want another way to help out my She Wore Black Pod...

Today I chat with May Cobb about her new novel, “A Likable Woman,” a novel filled with secrets, salacious characters, and the dread of coming home to a small Texas town while seeking answers. You can find “A Likeable Woman,” and May’s other books, in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack . I...

Today I chat with Rachel Harrison about her new novel, “Black Sheep,” about a woman who left her home and the religious cult in which she was raised, and finds her way back to attend a wedding. You’ll have to read it to figure out which is the scariest part of this scenario. So many options! It’s smart, layered, and will keep you at the edge of your seat for all the right reasons. You can find “Bl...

Today I chat with Grady Hendrix about vintage gothic romances, also known as “Women Running from Houses.” I wanted to talk to Grady specifically because he wrote about them in his nonfiction book about vintage horror novels from the 1970s and 80s, called “Paperbacks from Hell.” If you subscribe to his newsletter of the same name, you know he’s written about them there too. You can find “Paperbacks...

Welcome to the She Wore Black Podcast. I’m Agatha Andrews. Today I chat with Kate Khavari about her fun historical mystery series that involves a female botanist in 1920s England, poisonous plants, murders, mayhem, and a bit of romance. You can find Kate’s books in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/s...

Today, Sarah Wendell, from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, returns to chat about ROMANTASY, a new term for a long beloved subgenre that merges fantasy and romance. We have several book recommendations and compare old book covers with new trends. I’ll have list of the books discussed in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. If you want...

Today I chat with Marielle Thompson about her gothic novel, WHERE IVY DARES TO GROW. We talk about the trope of “gothic madness” and her dissociative disorder at the center of the novel, as well as time travel romance, sex and the character work it’s doing in her story, and she has some book recommendations for us. If you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwid...

Today I chat with Daniel Kraus, author of the new smash hit of a horror novel, WHALEFALL. We talk about craft, the ocean as haunted house, animals in horror, and “Shape of Water,” another favorite story of his. If you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide, you can buy WHALEFALL through my online bookshop, at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack . If you want anoth...

Today I have the live recording from a Latino Horror panel event this summer that featured Richard Santos, the editor of the anthology “A Night of Screams: Latino Horror Stories.” Also on the panel were two contributing writers, Flor Salcedo and Leticia Urieta. You’ll hear audience questions in the second half of the show, so please excuse the noise of the mic passing back and forth. If you want t...

Today I finally get to share my episode with Isabel Canas that we recorded in February, about her second novel, “Vampires of El Norte.” It’s an atmospheric and sexy story of a curandera, a vaquero, and a few monsters in 19th century Mexico. I’m thrilled both the book and the episode are now out in the world. If you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide, you...

Today I have Monique Patterson, the Vice President and Editorial Director of Bramble Romance, the new romance imprint from Tor Books. We chat about what she is looking to add to her stellar lineup of books, the debut titles in fall and winter, and the exciting goals Monique has for Bramble. If you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide, you can buy books thro...

Today I have romance novelist, Diana Biller, on to discuss our love of the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt. These books are gritty historical romance novels with Batman appeal, and they continue to inspire legions of fans and writers fifteen years after publication. If you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide, you can buy books through my online booksh...

Today I have Amanda, the frequent co-host on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, to talk about Cozy Gaming. I first started playing video games when I heard her and Sarah talking about video games on Smart Bitches, so it felt right to have her on now that I’m a few years into this fun and relaxing cozy gaming journey. We had a great time, and I would love to know what cozy games you like to play or start...

Today I continue my special birthday episodes, this time with one of my favorite authors, Simone St. James. We chat about her audio novella, “Ghost 19,” as well as answer listener questions and deep dive into her writing process. You’ll also hear about her next novel, which is already available for pre-order through my online bookshop, which helps support both the podcast as well as independent bo...

Today I have a special birthday episode with Max Booth. We were both born on the 4th of July, and this year marks milestones for us both, as he turns 30 years old, and I turn 50. We chat about where we started, and what we still want to accomplish. The range of these things includes everything from grave robbing and burial wishes, to the Texas horror scene and self-publishing. We also talk about G...

Today I have Katie Cotugno on the show to chat about her YA mystery novel, “Liar’s Beach.” It’s a twist on Agatha Christie’s “The Mysterious Affair at Styles,” with prep school kids on Martha’s Vineyard, and plenty of secrets . You can order “Liar’s Beach” through my online bookshop, which helps support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/shew...

Today I have Alison Goodman on the show to chat about her regency adventure and mystery novel, “The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies.” We discuss how she flips gothic tropes to tell a new kind of story, how she writes agency into this book about middle aged women in a time with they had so little of it, and how she portrayed diversity in a historical London setting. This book was such a g...

Today I have Katrina Monroe on the show to chat about her new horror novel, “The Graveyard of Lost Children.” I do chat with her more about the horror of real life at various stages of pregnancy and motherhood than we do about the fictional horror elements of her novel, but we do get into the changeling a bit too. You can order Katrina’s books through my online bookshop, which helps support both t...

Today I have Cynthia Pelayo on the show to chat about her new gothic noir crime novel, “The Shoemaker’s Magician.” We talk about the comfort of old horror movies, the profound effect theaters have on our psyche, and autism representation in novels. You can order Cynthia’s books through my online bookshop, which helps support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at...

Today I have Kyrie McCauley on the show to talk about her new YA sapphic gothic romance novel, “All the Dead Lie Down.” We talk about beloved gothic romance tropes, as well as necromancy, the gruesome curiosity of kids, and the state of publishing a queer YA novel in a book banning environment. If you want to support these sorts of stories, you can order Kyrie’s book though my online bookshop, whi...

Today I have Desiree M. Niccoli back on the show to celebrate MerMay, a month dedicated to art and books exploring mermaid myths around the world. I’ve made a list in my online bookshop of mermaid books discussed on this episode, as well as a few others. Ordering books through my store helps support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeb...

Today I have Jennifer Herrera on to talk about her new book, “The Hunter,” a crime novel in which a detective fired from the NYPD returns to her idyllic hometown to uncover the secrets behind several local deaths. Were they murders or a self-sacrifice to an ancient mystical calling beneath the town’s caves? You can find “The Hunter” in my online bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as...