She Wore Black

Today, I’ve invited author, Rachel Harrison, to talk about her book, “Such Sharp Teeth,” but I love all her work so we really chat about all of it. This is one of my most cherished conversations because we talk so honestly about how her work reflects the female experience. We dive deep into what that looks like through her stories, revealing the complexity behind her charm. I want to issue a conte...

Today, I’ve invited author, Diana Biller, to talk about the craft of writing gothic romance. Her book, The Widow of Rose House, became an instant hit with gothic romance fans because she combined beloved tropes with new ideas. All of her work is smart, sexy, funny and enchanting, and I learned a lot from our conversation. We do talk about writing sex, so you may want earbuds if you’re listening ne...

Today I bring you a bonus episode about a wonderful nonfiction book, “A Haunted History of Invisible Women: True Stories of America’s Ghosts.” It’s one of the best books I’ve read about ghosts in American history and regional myth, with thoughtful analysis that centers women as both subject and storytellers. I did this as part of a series of “live” podcast episodes I was invited to do at Lark and...

Today I chat with Sara Crocoll Smith about Edgar Allan Poe. She just won the Saturday Visitor Award from the Poe Museum for the first in her “Love Letters To Poe” anthology series, “A Toast to Edgar Allan Poe.” I will put purchase links in the show notes, as well as links to other Poe resources discussed in the episode. Thanks for joining us today.

Today I chat with Briana Una McGuckin about her kink-positive gothic suspense novel, “On Good Authority.” If you are listening to this in proximity of children and are not yet ready to answer questions about kink, I suggest you listen with ear buds. Though not explicit, this conversation is honest and it was wonderful to chat with someone who wrote about it so beautifully. You can order “On Good A...

Today I chat Kris Waldherr. We discuss her novel, “Unnatural Creatures,” a retelling of Frankenstein from the point of view of the women in the story. We also chat a bit about her journey and success with self-publishing after decades working for the biggest publishing houses. You can order “Unnatural Creatures” using my bookshop.org link to support the show, as well as independent bookstores nati...

Today I bring you a special episode, a recording from my live podcast event with RJ Joseph and Johnny Compton at Lark and Owl Booksellers in Georgetown, Texas. We discuss “Ghost Stories from Black Voices,” including their own work as well as what inspired them. I didn’t include their readings from their work for the sake of time, but that’s also one of the special things you get when you come to a...

Today I chat with suspense author Rachel Hawkins, known in the romance community as Erin Sterling. We talk about both her suspense and her witchy rom-coms, as well as her inspiration from gothic classics. You can order any of her books using my bookshop.org link to support the show, as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. You can also help out the sh...

Today I chat with middle grade and young adult author, Kalynn Bayron. We talk about her upcoming middle grade vampire novel, “The Vanquishers,” and her new young adult novel “This Wicked Fate,” the second book in her witchy “This Poison Heart” series. Both of these books celebrate Black and queer characters, and we chat about the joy that comes with seeing them in stories that are fun and involve...

Today I get to talk to an author you’ve heard me discuss numerous times on the podcast, Simone St. James. She’s an icon for me so it was really special to be able to discuss her collective works with her. We talk about everything from writing sex to building dread, and I know I certainly learned a lot. You can order any of her books using my bookshop.org link to support the show, as well as indepe...

Today, I’m a little beside myself. It was my absolute dream to talk to Kelly Barnhill and it was such a treat to finally have that dream realized. I’ve been a fan of her short fiction and middle grade writing for years, and she indulged me in a lengthy conversation about one short story in particular, “Mrs. Sorensen and the Sasquatch.” We also discuss her new novel, “When Women Were Dragons,” as w...

Today, I’ve invited author, Tiffany Meuret, to talk about her book, “Little Bird,” an unusual story that has a talking skeleton and plants with a mind of their own. We discuss cozy horror, gardens as metaphor, and the world of publishing with small presses. You can order your copy of “Little Bird” using my bookshop.org link to support the show, as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s...

Today, I’ve invited author, Ruben Degollado, to talk about his book, “The Family Izquierdo,” a multigenerational story that follows a family that lives on the Texas/Mexican border. We discuss authentic representation, mental health, curses, brujos, curanderas, Selena and menacing grackles. This book captured the nuance of the people and places of south Texas beautifully. You can order your copy of...

Today, I’ve invited author, Gwendolyn Kiste, to talk about her book, “Reluctant Immortals,” her novel that blends Jane Eyre and Dracula for a hippie, feminist story about reclaiming autonomy from the men who stole it. This was such a creative, moving and fun read that I can't recommend enough. You can order your copy of “Reluctant Immortals” using my bookshop.org link to support the show, as well...

Today, I’ve invited author, April Yates to talk about her book, “Ashthorne,” a sapphic gothic romance set in a remote English manor that has hidden secrets. We talk about the recently discovered caves in England that inspired her story, as well as a desire for positive representations of gay love in gothic romances. You can order your copy of “Ashthorne” using my bookshop.org link to support the s...

Today, I’ve invited author, Antonia Rachel Ward to talk about her new novella, “Marionette.” I want to issue content warnings for both this book and the episode, which are sexually explicit. The book has violence, mutilation and dubious sexual consent. We don’t discuss these things in detail, but we discuss the content as the horror she intended. Once you understand her intentions, everything in t...

Today, I’ve invited Neil McRobert, from the Talking Scared podcast, to talk about Stephen King. I’ve spent decades loving King’s book “On Writing,” and have always held a special place in my heart for “Stand By Me,” based on the King novella, “The Body,” but I’ve not read anything else. I also know that some of my listeners love gothic but are afraid to try other horror, so Neil is here with recom...

Today, I’ve invited author, Stacie Murphy to talk about her Guilded Age paranormal mystery novels, “A Deadly Fortune” and “The Unquiet Dead.” We talk about haunted histories, researching historical fiction and the current relevancy of historical topics. You can order your Stacie Murphy’s books using my bookshop.org link to support the show, as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at b...

Today I’m bringing you a recording of my live podcast event with V. Castro and LP Hernandez at Lark and Owl Booksellers in Georgetown, TX. We had a great time as they answered questions from both me and the audience, and did short readings from their works. Lark and Owl does have signed copies of their books if you wish to order from them, which I hope you do since it’s important to support bookst...

I need to begin with a content warning for domestic violence, a central topic in today’s book. I’m bringing you a two-part episode to discuss “Iris in the Dark,” a new book by Elissa Grossell Dickey. The first part of the episode is with the author of this eerie suspense novel that has a touch of romance, an important element for me as I navigated the difficult topic of domestic violence in our ma...

Today, I’ve invited author, Paulette Kennedy, back to the show to talk about my favorite gothic trope, “Haunted Houses.” You all know Paulette’s book “Parting the Veil,” which is also a wonderful haunted house book that I encourage all fans of gothic fiction to read. You can order your copy of “Parting the Veil” using my bookshop.org link to support the show, as well as independent bookstores nati...

Today, I’ve invited author, Wendy Dalrymple, back to the show to talk about her novella, “The Ghost and Mr. Moore,” her gothic romance set in the historical town of St. Augustine, Florida. You can order your copy of “The Ghost and Mr. Moore” using my bookshop.org link to support the show, as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. You can also help out...

Today, I’ve invited friend and contributing editor at Book Riot, PN Hinton, back on the show to talk about Spooky Summer books. This episode is a birthday treat for us both, so I hope you enjoy it. I’ll link to the recommended books in my online bookshop if you want support the show, as well as independent bookstores nationwide. That’s at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. You can also help out the s...

Today, I’ve invited Emma Stonex to talk about “The Lamplighters,” her mystery novel set on a lonely lighthouse in England in the 1970s. We discuss spooky history, the allure of the dangerous sea, and her experience writing salacious bonk buster books before tackling this gothic mystery. You can order your copy of “The Lamplighters” using my bookshop.org link to support the show, as well as indepen...

Today, I’ve invited beloved YA author, Erin Craig, to discuss favorite tropes that are found in both Gothic and Fairy Tales. Many of you know Erin from her beautiful gothic retellings of fairy tales, "House of Salt and Sorrows," and "Small Favors," so she was the ideal person to have on for this chat, plus she was so much fun! We talk about how these genres merge and discuss several books that I w...