Welcome to Talking Horror Podcast, where we dive into the stories that haunt us.
Hosted by Rachel Redd, this show features conversations with horror and thriller authors about their books, their writing process, and what draws them into the shadows. From psychological dread to supernatural terror, we explore the dark stories readers can’t get enough of and why they are so important to fiction.
Each week Rachel talks with today’s most exciting horror and thriller authors about the stories that linger long after the lights go out.
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Introducing Talking Horror: Weekly Interviews with Horror and Thriller Authors
Season 1 · Episode 1
Friday, April 3, 2026 • Duration 01:11
Welcome to Talking Horror, the new home for readers, writers, and anyone fascinated by the stories that make us want to sleep with the lights on.
In this series, host Rachel Redd explores the darker parts of being human through the lens of horror and thriller fiction.
Why horror? Because it is one of the most honest forms of storytelling. It isn't just about being scared; it's a conversation about the human experience that can change the way we view ourselves and those around us.
Subscribe now and join us every Tuesday starting April 7th as we interview the authors who are redefining the genre and creating the greatest stories of our time!
What to Expect:
Author Interviews: Deep dives into new books and the creative process.
Genre Insights: Conversations with the voices changing the landscape of horror and thrillers.
A Community for All: Whether you’re a lifelong reader, an aspiring writer, or just getting started, there’s a seat for you at our table.
Clay McLeod Chapman on Addiction, Fear, and Why Horror Hits So Hard
Season 1 · Episode 1
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 • Duration 01:07:08
In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the master of the "emotional highlighter," Clay McLeod Chapman. Known for his gut-wrenching novels like Ghost Eaters and What Kind of Mother, Clay dives deep into why the horror genre is the perfect sandbox for exploring our deepest fears, addictions, and "soft traumas."
We discuss his "bromance" with Nat Cassidy, his origins in the shadows of Edgar Allan Poe’s Richmond, and why he strives to be "water" in a world of square-peg branding. Whether you're a writer looking for advice on finding your voice or a reader looking for your next terrifying obsession, this conversation is for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 – The Nat Cassidy "Bromance" & the Infamous Werewolf Mask
00:37 – Introducing Clay McLeod Chapman
01:50 – Why Horror? The Genre as an "Emotional Highlighter"
03:40 – Using the "Horror Sandbox" to Process Fear and Grief
07:13 – Growing up in the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe in Richmond
11:00 – The Visceral Power of a Good Story
14:26 – Writing Across Mediums: From Theater to Comics to Fiction
18:15 – Navigating Self-Doubt and the "Deficit of Confidence"
21:28 – The "Dollop of Water" Philosophy: Finding Your Place in the Industry
26:40 – Handling Reviews: The Grace of the "Two-Star" Feedback
31:50 – Authors on Social Media: Building a Positive Community
34:21 – Paying it Forward: The Importance of Supporting Fellow Writers
37:55 – Exploring the "Darkness": Grief and Trauma in What Kind of Mother
41:30 – The Immersive Magic of Audiobooks
45:00 – Deep Dive into Ghost Eaters: Addiction as a Haunting
52:15 – The Current State of Horror: Indie Presses and New Voices
1:00:10 – Advice for Aspiring Writers: Being a "Student of the World"
1:05:54 – Closing Thoughts & A Final Question for Nat Cassidy
Neena Viel Raised Her Brother in Her 20s and Turned the Nightmare Into a Horror Novel
Episode 7
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 • Duration 01:10:04
In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the hilariously brilliant Neena Viel. Known for her critically acclaimed and terrifying debut Listen to Your Sister, Neena dives deep into how becoming the guardian of her teenage brother in her early 20s inspired her to craft a horror masterpiece about the realities of parentification and invisible caretaking.
We discuss her childhood terror of Dean Koontz, the catharsis of writing "women behaving badly," and why she has to twerk her way through writer's block. Whether you're an oldest sibling carrying the weight of the world, a fan of morally gray characters, or just looking for your next horror obsession, this conversation is for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 – The Pre-Writing Dance Routine & Twerking Through Writer's Block
00:35 – Introducing Neena Viel & Her Debut, Listen to Your Sister
06:46 – Childhood Reading Habits: From Large Print Romance to Goosebumps
11:04 – Pursuing the Dream: "Grandma Thinks I'm a Lawyer"
12:44 – The Real-Life Inspiration: Raising a Teenager in Your 20s
14:44 – The Corporate Grind, Pandemic Writing, and "Revenge" Drafting
17:52 – Neena’s Writing Process: Pantsing, Candles, and the "Party Box"
26:22 – Navigating the Sophomore Slump & Reader Expectations
34:57 – Exploring Sibling Trauma, Dynamics, and the Hilarious Character Jamie
43:27 – Character Building: Giving Siblings Distinct Voices Using the Senses
46:37 – Balancing Humor with Dark Themes (and the Famous Shower Scene)
49:59 – The Horrors of Parentification & The Invisible Labor of Women Caretakers
Ashley Winstead on Revenge Writing, Cults, and Toxic Ambition
Season 1 · Episode 6
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 • Duration 01:18:35
Ashley Winstead joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore how thriller and horror serve as a powerful mirror for the human condition, from the suffocating weight of hyper-competitiveness to the complex dynamics of control and submission.
In this episode, Ashley and Rachel dive into:
The Power of Words: How being a shy "Navy brat" moving every two years led Ashley to find companionship and an innate love for language within books.
Poetry as a First Love: Why Ashley’s process remains rooted in "painterly" self-expression and the precision of prose, inspired by poets like Richard Siken and Mary Oliver.
The 10-Year Hiatus: The "lore" of how a traumatic car accident and 12 MFA rejections led Ashley to quit writing for a decade while she worked in the music and TV industries.
Academic Thick Skin: How the "grind" of earning a PhD in literature finally gave Ashley the resilience to face the criticism inherent in the publishing world.
The "Revenge" Thriller: How being told her fantasy novel lacked plot motivated Ashley to "revenge write" her debut thriller, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, in a fugue state.
Cults and Control: A deep dive into The Last Housewife and how it explores patriarchal submission and the real-life Sarah Lawrence sex cult.
Faith vs. Fear: Exploring the existential and religious trauma themes in Midnight is the Darkest Hour, where faith often acts as a "bandage" for the wound of uncertainty.
Grief as a Detective: How the loss of her father fueled This Book Will Bury Me and its exploration of how grief makes us susceptible to obsession and true crime sleuthing.
Whether you are a "prose snob," a fan of "unreliable narrators," or an eldest daughter fueled by spite, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the grit behind the glamour of storytelling.
Timestamps:
00:00 — The car accident and 12 rejections.
02:15 — Intro: Welcome Ashley Winstead to Talking Horror.
Diana Rodriguez Wallach on the Horror of the Troubled Teen Industry
Season 1 · Episode 5
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 • Duration 01:17:23
Diana Rodriguez Wallach (award-winning author of The Silenced, Small Town Monsters and Hatchet Girls) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore how horror serves as a powerful mirror for real-world fears, from the dangers of charismatic leaders to the dark side of the troubled teen industry.
In this episode, Diana and Rachel dive into:
The "Psychic" Origin Story: How a chance encounter with a Salem psychic and a vivid dream launched Diana’s career as a YA author.
Horror as a Social Tool: Why "the zombie is never just a zombie" and how horror allows authors to tackle heavy themes without sounding like an after-school special.
The Book Banning Loophole: The surprising reason axe murders are often more "acceptable" in school libraries than stories about identity or romance.
Raising Awareness: Using The Silenced to shed light on the terrifying reality of wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools.
Dual Timelines and Gripping Hooks: Why Diana loves crafting "before and after" narratives to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
The Journalist’s Eye: How Diana’s background as a reporter fuels the intense research and factual history woven into her fiction.
Beyond YA: A sneak peek into Diana's upcoming adult horror short story and her "secret project" moving into adult fiction.
Whether you're a fan of 90s classics like Christopher Pike, a writer looking to sharpen your craft, or a reader who loves stories that "push the boundaries," this conversation is a must-listen.
Timestamps: 00:00 — A life-changing career prediction in Salem. 00:26 — Intro: Welcome Diana Rodriguez Wallach to Talking Horror. 02:15 — Double Nominations: Celebrating The Silenced at the Bram Stoker and Thriller Awards.
03:09 — Why Horror? Growing up on Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. 04:24 — "The zombie is never just a zombie": Using horror to talk about the real world. 05:26 — The Book Banning Issue: Why "bloody axes" get a pass in the Bible Belt. 07:51 — Intentional Storytelling: Raising awareness for the troubled teen industry. 09:44 — The dual timeline obsession: Crafting Hatchet Girls and The Silenced. 12:06 — The Full Story: 9/11, hotel reporting, and the dream that changed everything.15:59 — You can't take the journalist out of the writer: Research and factual history. 17:28 — What’s Next: Adult horror anthologies and secret projects. 19:01 — The "Training" Phase: Why authors find it hard to look back at old work.
Kiersten White Wrote a Bestselling Horror Story That Might Heal Your Religious Trauma
Tuesday, April 28, 2026 • Duration 01:13:18
Kiersten White (New York Times bestselling author of Hide and Mister Magic) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore why horror is the ultimate tool for navigating religious trauma, from the "invisible" God of a high-control childhood to the cathartic power of a cursed children’s show.
In this episode, Kiersten and Rachel dive into:
Religious trauma and the "sucky foundation" of being raised in a high-control Mormon environment.
Dismantling purity culture and the process of "healing the shit out of" trauma through fiction.
Why Mister Magic serves as a "holy grail" for survivors seeking to reclaim their identity from toxic beliefs.
The millennial horror of Hide: sacrificing the next generation for a measly $50,000 and the "unlikability" of human desperation.
Giving Lucy Westenra her groove back: reclaiming Dracula’s most tragic victim through a queer, feminist lens.
The "T-shirt book deal" and the secrets to writing for iconic franchises like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Star Wars.
The real star of the show: Kimberly, the 40-pound, "opportunistic omnivore" tortoise living in Kiersten’s backyard.
Whether you're a "self-proclaimed chicken" who loves scary stories, an author navigating the "murky areas" of different genres, or a survivor looking for the hope and catharsis hidden in the dark, this one is for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 — Intro: Does horror still scare a professional horror writer?
01:47 — Why horror? Taking control of childhood fears.
03:16 — Forbidden stories: Growing up in a high-control religious environment.
08:33 — The "Twilight" effect and accidentally starting a career in YA.
10:50 — Writing for teens vs. adults: Hope vs. "we’re on our own".
13:39 — Re-imaginings: Having a creative conversation with Dracula and Frankenstein.
18:02 — The "Sunnydale" T-shirt deal and pitching a Ben Solo novel.
23:49 — Balancing ADHD, humor, and darkness across different "cookie jars".
29:09 — Hide: Greek myths, reality TV, and the horror of the American system.
Paulette Kennedy on Dark Fiction, Late Blooming, and Why Villains Matter
Season 1 · Episode 4
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 • Duration 59:11
Paulette Kennedy didn't finish a single manuscript until age 44. Her debut novel published at 46. Now Paulette Kennedy is one of gothic suspense's most talked-about voices, and this conversation is exactly why.
In this episode, bestselling author Paulette Kennedy pulls back the curtain on her unexpected path to publication, the pandemic grocery run that sparked The Devil and Mrs. Davenport, and why she believes dark fiction isn't just entertainment, but one of the safest ways to explore what makes us human. We go deep on grief, weaponized religion, "punchable" villains, and how her stunning new novel The Two Deaths of Lillian Carmichael is really a story about transformation and what you do with the time you have left.
Whether you're a lifelong gothic fiction fan or just discovering the genre, this one will stay with you.
Timestamps:
00:00 — Intro: Meet Paulette Kennedy & the "punchable" villain
00:43 — How the Brontës, VC Andrews & Stephen King shaped her voice
03:06 — The book that made her want to write (Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier)
04:04 — ADHD, unfinished manuscripts, and not publishing until 46
06:21 — The real (unglamorous) truth about early writing life
07:50 — Her morning ritual: 5 AM, candles, film scores & flow state
09:23 — Where story ideas come from — and when they don't
11:31 — Plotter vs. Pantser: why she now does both
13:40 — Working with a developmental editor & finding your craft
14:50 — Her hardest book to write (and why it became her bestseller)
17:03 — The pandemic grocery run that became The Devil and Mrs. Davenport
19:32 — Faith vs. religion — and how religion gets weaponized
Saratoga Schaefer on TradWife, Rejection & Why Social Media Is the Real Monster
Season 1 · Episode 2
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 • Duration 01:12:06
Saratoga Schaefer (USA Today bestselling author of Serial Killer Support Group and TradWife) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore why horror is the freest genre for the darkest truths, from the body horror of pregnancy to the real monster already on your phone screen.
In this episode, Saratoga and Rachel dive into:
Seven unpublished books and a decade of rejection before getting the "yes"
Why social media — not a demon in the well — is the true villain in TradWife
The ethics of true crime fandom and why victims shouldn't be footnotes to their own stories
How sobriety, poetry, and a childhood love of murderous nutcrackers shaped a horror career
What queer and non-binary identity brings to horror's most essential questions of power and self
A sneak peek at the upcoming A Thousand Monstrous Forms and The Last Time We Drowned
Whether you're a horror skeptic who loved The Hunger Games, an aspiring author surviving the rejection marathon, or a reader hungry for stories that challenge identity and power, this one is for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 — Why readers shouldn't eat while reading Saratoga's books
00:19 — Introducing Saratoga Schaeffer
01:31 — Horror, genre-blending, and the freedom of the "Dark Side"
03:26 — Breaking the stigma: Horror is for everyone
04:35 — Saratoga's origin story: From murderous nutcrackers to middle-grade horror
08:20 — Poetry, recovery, and inheriting an art form
11:23 — Writing as a safe space for identity and self-confidence
14:16 — Reaching back: Writing the books you needed in the past
17:57 — The "Unicorn" myth: Surviving a decade of rejection
Johanna Van Veen Writes the Sapphic Gothic Horror of Your Dreams
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 • Duration 01:11:44
In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the brilliant Johanna Van Veen. Known for her haunting and intimate gothic novels My Darling, Dreadful Thing and Blood on Her Tongue, Johanna dives deep into how her historical fascinations and the unique dynamic of being a triplet have shaped her deeply unsettling stories.
We discuss her childhood terror of reading the Dutch equivalent of Goosebumps, the catharsis of writing unlikable women and sapphic romances in traditional gothic settings, and the bizarre history of bedazzled catacomb saints. Whether you're a lover of dark folklore, a fan of emotionally complex monster-human relationships, or just looking for your next gothic horror obsession, this conversation is for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Connecting Across Time Zones
12:53 – Being a Triplet & Channeling Sibling Dynamics into Middle-Grade Fiction
15:21 – A Modern Millennial Meet-Cute: Tumblr Fanfiction
17:08 – The Tumultuous Road to Publication & Scrapped First Drafts
30:17 – My Darling, Dreadful Thing: Grief, Mediums, and Comforting Monsters
39:54 – Blood on Her Tongue: Vampires, Unlikable Women, and Forms of Hunger
45:54 – Book History, 17th-Century Gratitude Journals, and Puritans
53:28 – Power Structures & Why Queer Romance Belongs in Gothic Fiction
57:33 – Bone of My Bone: The Thirty Years' War and Bedazzled Skeletons
1:06:25 – Future Releases & Rapid-Fire Gothic Game
Unapologetic Women and Double Standards in Horror with CJ Leede
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 • Duration 01:15:10
In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with CJ Leede, author of Maeve Fly, American Rapture, and the brand-new release Headlights. CJ dives deep into how her background writing dystopian stories in grad school ultimately pushed her to seek pure catharsis and freedom through horror fiction.
We discuss her childhood love for unlimited reading and media, the process of writing an unapologetic female Patrick Bateman, and exploring the dark realities of purity culture and religious trauma. Whether you're a fan of extreme splatterpunk, a romance reader who loves a dark twist, or just looking to dive into an immersive void that processes grief and loss, this conversation is for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Grad School Revelations & Discovering Horror
00:09 – Introducing CJ Leede & Her Unapologetic Characters
03:58 – CJ's Horror Origin Story & Media Freedom as an Only Child
13:59 – Unexpectedly Landing in the "Extreme" and "Splatterpunk" Horror Space
26:30 – The Inspiration Behind Maeve Fly & Finding Catharsis in Anger
32:48 – Balancing Maeve’s Monstrous Actions with Empathy and Relatability
36:12 – The Double Standard of Justified Violence for Women vs. Men in Literature
43:44 – Exploring Purity Culture and Religious Trauma in American Rapture
48:05 – Horror as an Empathy Machine and Safe Space to Face Reality
52:30 – Finding Camaraderie and Support in the Welcoming Horror Community
55:27 – Headlights: Writing a Male Protagonist & Refusing to be Boxed In
1:01:08 – Guarding Peace and Ignoring the Pressure of External Expectations
1:03:51 – Processing Grief, Death, and Hope Through Headlights
1:08:45 – What’s Next: A Sneak Peek at Books Four and Five
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