Explore every episode of the podcast Talking Horror
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil McRobert on Good Boy: How Walking His Dog Sparked a Horror Novella Stephen King Loved | 06 oct. 2026 | 01:11:37 | |
Neil McRobert is the host of the Talking Scared podcast, a PhD in Gothic literature, and the author of the Stephen King blurbed novella Good Boy, with the chapbook House of Butterflies coming in December. Neil shares how a Vulture reading list for True Detective: Night Country led to Good Boy, a Northern Weird folk horror novella about a man, his dog, and a child-eating monster in a small English town. He explains why Good Boy is his answer to Stephen King's It, and what it really says about bigotry and getting stuck in your hometown. He gets honest about imposter syndrome at StokerCon, perfectionism, and why every podcast host should read the damn book. Plus, first details on House of Butterflies, set in a 1964 leaded gasoline refinery, and Bad Home, a violent home invasion novel about economic inequality. Timestamps: 00:01 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Neil McRobert 02:44 – Harryhausen, Norse Serpents and a Lifelong Love of Monsters 04:31 – Dad Telling Him the Plot of Carrie on Holiday in Greece 05:19 – Point Horror and Getting His Mum Called Into School 07:00 – A Working Class Kid Who Wanted to Be a Film Director 08:47 – A PhD in Gothic Studies (and Horror Metafiction) 10:06 – Manny in Switzerland, Llama Farmer, Michelin Star Kitchen 13:10 – Why Writing Is Torture: Perfectionism and Type 2 Fun 15:32 – Imposter Syndrome and Not Feeling "In the Club" 17:52 – Quitting His Job in Lockdown and Emailing Paul Tremblay 21:30 – Fearless on Stage, Terrified of Rabies 24:25 – The Thrill of the Chase: How He Landed Stephen King 27:35 – A Rocky Mountain Horror Camp and Finding Your People 30:57 – Social Media Dopamine and Performative Rage Online 33:59 – The StokerCon Moment That Finally Made Him Write 37:43 – A Vulture Article, Bear Season and the Northern Weird Series 40:58 – 1,500 Words a Day: Writing Good Boy in Three Weeks 41:46 – Ted the Jack Russell and the Tree That Started It All 45:16 – Stephen King's It in a Small English Town 47:24 – Small British Towns, Bigotry and the Real Jim Howarth 50:35 – Doing Good Without Posting About It 52:18 – Growing Up on the Knee of Stephen King 57:33 – Why You Need to Read Dolores Claiborne 58:39 – Spinning Plates: Podcast Scripts and Reading Until 2 a.m. 1:02:53 – "Read the Damn Book": Why Hosts Have to Do the Homework 1:04:31 – The Day Stephen King Sent Him the New Talisman Manuscript 1:07:56 – House of Butterflies: Leaded Gasoline Horror in 1964 New Jersey 1:08:54 – Bad Home: Writing a Cruel Book With Heart 1:14:18 – Neil's Underrated Pick: The Hill in the Dark Grove Grab your copy of Good Boy: https://www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/books/p/goodboy/9781068563102 Connect with Neil McRobert: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkscaredpod/ X: https://x.com/TalkScaredPod Talking Scared Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/talking-scared/id1530064310 Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Isabel Cañas on The House of Gardenias, Mexican Gothic Horror & Why Humans Are the Real Monsters | 29 sept. 2026 | 01:18:36 | |
Isabel Cañas is the USA Today bestselling, Bram Stoker Award nominated author of The Hacienda, Vampires of El Norte, and her YA gothic debut, The House of Gardenias. Isabel shares how an "air quotes too Mexican" rejection on her honeymoon in Mexico City led to The Hacienda, and how she defended her PhD in medieval Islamic history the day before it came out. She reveals the 1850s quote from Rio Grande bandit Juan Cortina about "flocks of vampires" that turned Vampires of El Norte into a story about settler colonialism. She connects The Possession of Alba Díaz to pregnancy, bodily autonomy, and the fall of Roe v. Wade. And she opens up about the real family story, her grandfather's abusive stepmother counting tortillas, that opens The House of Gardenias.
00:01 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Isabel Cañas 06:25 – A Self-Proclaimed Scaredy Cat Reading Dracula Under the Desk 09:12 – The YA Fantasy Books by Women of Color That Cracked Her Brain Open 10:14 – "Too Mexican": Two Novels That Died on Submission 11:34 – A Honeymoon Rejection in Mexico City and the Birth of The Hacienda 14:59 – Writing for Your Id: The Secret Lecture Passed Between Writers 19:44 – Kitchen Table Storytelling and the Grandfather Who Inspired The House of Gardenias 24:33 – The Turkish Grammar Tense Made Just for Gossip 25:48 – Becoming a Published Author and a Doctor in 24 Hours 28:25 – A Medievalist's Research Obsession (and Why the Embroidery Has to Go) 32:56 – Would She Ever Write a Modern Gothic? 36:33 – "Lol, It's Actually Colonialism": Why Humans Are the Real Monsters 43:17 – Vampires of El Norte and the One-Sentence Pitch That Sold It 48:12 – The 1850s Post Office List Where She Found Néstor 53:46 – The Real "Flocks of Vampires" Quote Behind the Book 57:52 – The Possession of Alba Díaz: Pregnancy, Control, and Who Owns a Woman's Body 1:06:56 – The House of Gardenias: A Nightmare, a Grudge, and Her YA Comeback 1:12:51 – Grief, Loss, and the "Flesh and Blood" Editing Passes 1:20:19 – 200,000 Words and What's Coming Next Grab your copy of The House of Gardenias: https://amzn.to/4qvK89l Connect with Isabel Cañas: Website: https://isabelcanas.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabelcanas_/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@isabelcanasauthor Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Noelle Ihli on The Last to Drown: The Real Serial Killer Behind Her Darkest Thriller Yet | 22 sept. 2026 | 01:11:06 | |
Noelle Ihli is the international bestselling, Bram Stoker Award longlisted author of Ask for Andrea, Grey After Dark, and her latest thriller, The Last to Drown. Noelle breaks down how the real case of serial killer Israel Keyes shaped the stalker terrorizing a women's rafting retreat in The Last to Drown, and the true story of an Olympic athlete's abduction behind Grey After Dark. She talks about ghostwriting fiction before her own career, self-publishing her debut The Thicket after fifty rejection letters, and the cover redesign that turned Ask for Andrea into a BookTok phenomenon. Noelle also opens up about the Ted Bundy documentary that inspired the ghosts in Ask for Andrea, and how she protects her creative process from online criticism. Timestamps: 00:00 – Cold Open: "A Little More Empathy for Victims and Survivors" 00:57 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Noelle Ihli 02:59 – A Childhood Drawn to "the Scary, the Spooky" and Watching Censored Horror at "Clean Flicks" 07:28 – Inside the Secret World of Ghostwriting Fiction 16:18 – Why True Crime and the Chowchilla Kidnapping Shape Her Fiction 22:15 – Fifty Rejection Letters Before Self-Publishing The Thicket 25:40 – The Cover Redesign That Turned Ask for Andrea Into a BookTok Avalanche 31:35 – Setting Boundaries With Reviews (and the Shirt With Her Best and Worst Ones) 38:49 – The Ted Bundy Documentary Behind Ask for Andrea's Ghosts 48:08 – The Real Late-Night Car Chase Behind Run on Red 52:01 – The Olympic Athlete Abduction That Inspired Grey After Dark 56:49 – Israel Keyes, the Serial Killer Behind The Last to Drown 1:05:16 – First Look at Her Darkest Book Yet, Coming in 2027 Grab your copy of The Last to Drown: https://amzn.to/45weT4w Connect with Noelle Ihli: Website: https://noellewihli.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noelleihliauthor/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@noelleihliauthor Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Leopoldo Gout on Dyslexia, Scent Memory & Writing Rooted After Losing Everything | 15 sept. 2026 | 01:17:25 | |
Leopoldo Gout is the acclaimed visual artist and author behind the horror novel Pinata, the Ghost Radio series, and out today, his stunning new novel, Rooted. Leopoldo breaks down the true, horrifying history behind Pinata, how Spanish conquistadors forced Aztec children to break piñatas containing their own gods. He talks about the real artifact repatriation lawsuits reclaiming stolen Mexican heritage from Europe that inspired Rooted's archaeologist lead, and his mission to reverse engineer the trope of the evil witch into a protector. Leopoldo also opens up about writing as a dyslexic author, his unusual "photographic scent memory," and the real history behind the word abracadabra. Timestamps: 00:01 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Leopoldo Gout 02:52 – "I Don't See Horror as Spooky, I See It as Beauty" 04:13 – Day of the Dead vs. the James Bond Carnival Version 08:03 – Discovering Horror as Social Commentary Through Night of the Living Dead 14:42 – Losing His Home and Studio to a Fire He Believes Was Arson 20:56 – His "Photographic Scent Memory" and How It Shapes His Prose 37:10 – The True, Horrific History Behind Pinata's Piñatas 41:00 – The Real Lawyer Fighting to Reclaim Mexico's Stolen Artifacts 44:19 – Reverse Engineering the Witch: Rooted's Central Idea 1:05:15 – First Look at His New Anthology Story, Luz e Fer 1:17:22 – "I Don't Believe There's a Genre Called Horror" Grab your copy of Rooted: https://amzn.to/4bUk95u Connect with Leopoldo Gout: Website: https://www.leopoldogout.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leopoldoleopoldo/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leopoldogout Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Nick Roberts on Addiction, Demons & Why Fans Ask "Is He Okay?" | 08 sept. 2026 | 01:07:33 | |
Nick Roberts is the award winning, indie horror author behind the bestselling Exorcist's House trilogy, Mean Spirited, and his debut novel Anathema, and he's one of the most reliably terrifying voices working in horror today. He talks about being a hybrid author, splitting his work between Crystal Lake, Wicked House, his own imprint Spooky WV, and now Zando's new horror line Evil Twin. Nick breaks down structuring The Exorcist's House: Genesis like The Godfather Part II, and building suspense the way Stephen King does in 1408. He opens up about writing addiction and recovery into Anathema and Mean Spirited, and the dog named Conehead who ended up hijacking the latter. Plus, a first look at his possession anthology Haunted Minds with a foreword by Stephen Graham Jones, his next novel Can You Help Me With an Exorcism?, and his story in the Shining anthology Views from the Overlook. Timestamps: 00:48 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Nick Roberts 02:33 – The "Is Nick Roberts Okay?" Reaction Readers Have to His Books 04:26 – Falling in Love with Horror Through Library Book Covers and Goosebumps 07:01 – Did Horror Ever Scare Him? Renting Pulp Fiction and Discovering the Craft 09:26 – The Writer-Director Dream That Fell Apart Before Film School 11:00 – Teaching English While Sneaking In Horror Film Electives 16:36 – Why Every Nick Roberts Book Starts as a Movie in His Head 17:37 – Being a Hybrid Author: Balancing Crystal Lake, Wicked House, and Self-Publishing 23:18 – From Anathema's COVID Release to Quitting Teaching for Full-Time Writing 30:44 – Why He Pantses Instead of Plots (and the Stephen Graham Jones Line That Inspired Him) 32:10 – The Stephen Graham Jones Outline He Wrote Just to Throw in the Trash 34:16 – Winning the Horror Authors Guild Debut Novel Award for Anathema 37:16 – Writing Recovery and Addiction Into Anathema and Mean Spirited 43:34 – Building Scares Like Stephen King's 1408 48:45 – Structuring The Exorcist's House: Genesis Like The Godfather Part II 54:01 – Falling In Love With a Character Before Something Horrible Happens 56:16 – Writing From the Killer's POV in My Corpse Has a Heartbeat 59:34 – First Look at the Haunted Minds Possession Anthology With Stephen Graham Jones 1:05:15 – A Tease of His Work in Progress, Appalachian Chainsaw Grab your copy of The Exorcist's House: https://amzn.to/4zoEcmB Connect with Nick Roberts: Website: https://www.nickrobertsauthor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spookywv/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spookywv Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Rachel Harrison on Kiss Slay Replay, Killing the Final Girl Trope & Writing Funny Horror | 01 sept. 2026 | 01:08:06 | |
Rachel Harrison is the New York Times bestselling author of The Return, Such Sharp Teeth, and Play Nice, back this week with her brand new release, Kiss Slay Replay. She talks about subverting the classic final girl trope in her new wedding-weekend time loop novel, and why she pushes back on being boxed in as a "feminist horror" author. Rachel opens up about landing her literary agent through a Twitter pitch contest called PitDark, and releasing her debut, The Return, during the first week of COVID lockdown. She also breaks down the shower epiphany about lady werewolf mythology that became Such Sharp Teeth, and the Blink-182 song that sparked Kiss Slay Replay's time loop. Plus, a first look at her next book and her nerves about her first ever European tour. Timestamps: 00:01 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Rachel Harrison 01:47 – Horror as a "Will They or Won't They" Rom-Com: Her Path Into the Genre 06:09 – From a Screenwriting Major to a PA Job on The Newlywed Game 09:58 – The Persistence Advice She Swears By 10:42 – The Return, a Bram Stoker Nomination, and Chasing Traditional Publishing 11:42 – The Twitter Pitch Contest, PitDark, That Landed Her Literary Agent 14:02 – Debuting a Novel in the First Week of COVID Lockdown 18:02 – Creep Away Camp, Barbie Girl Karaoke, and a Duet With Nat Cassidy 20:08 – Why Humor Is Baked Into Every Rachel Harrison Book 21:32 – Her Two Kinds of Protagonists: Sad Sacks and Women Who Have Their Shit Together 24:21 – Character Never Comes First: How She Actually Builds a Story 25:48 – The Applebee's Line That Unlocked Black Sheep's Vesper 32:58 – On Bristling at Being Labeled a "Feminist Horror" Author 40:45 – Prioritizing Art Over Content Before It's All AI Slop 44:43 – The Shower Epiphany Behind Such Sharp Teeth's Werewolf Body Horror 51:13 – Growing Up in Enormous Families and Building Play Nice's Three Sisters 57:54 – The Blink-182 Song That Sparked Kiss Slay Replay's Time Loop 1:02:52 – Subverting the Final Girl Trope With a Protagonist Who's Just Fucked 1:04:45 – Why Horror and Joy Aren't Opposites for Her 1:08:05 – First Look at Her Next Book: The "Emo, Sepia-Toned" One 1:10:28 – Gearing Up for Her First-Ever European Tour Connect with Rachel Harrison: Website: https://www.rachel-harrison.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelharrisonsghost/ Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Caleb Stephens on Becoming the Internet's "Dad Thriller Guy" | 25 août 2026 | 01:12:56 | |
Caleb Stephens joins Talking Horror to talk The Girls in the Cabin, If You Lie, and You'll Never Know, and how he went from a decade as a corporate accountant to becoming the internet's self-proclaimed "dad thriller guy." Rachel Redd sits down with the award winning and Colorado Book Award finalist author for a wide-ranging conversation on writing thrillers with horror baked in, surviving traditional publishing rejection, and building a career one breadcrumb at a time. Timestamps: 00:01 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Caleb Stephens 01:41 – Rachel's 2 AM Reading Marathon and the Twist She Didn't See Coming 07:04 – From Alan Dean Foster to Stephen King: A Childhood Built on Fantasy and Horror 10:32 – Ten Years as a Corporate Accountant Before Taking the Leap 12:48 – Five Years, One Unpublishable Novel, and a Verdict From the Guy Who Wrote Jumanji 14:41 – Short Stories, Craft Books, and a Writer's Digest Honorable Mention 21:38 – The Fool's Cap Method and Why Gillian Flynn Can Pants a Whole Thriller 29:58 – The Girls in the Cabin's Two Year Agent Rollercoaster 32:27 – Getting Picked Up by the UK's Largest Indie Publisher and Discovering BookTok 34:02 – Why Feeders Flopped and He Became "The Dad Thriller Guy" 38:30 – Making Colorado's Deadly Weather a Character in The Girls in the Cabin 43:48 – Rewriting a Book Seven Times and Turning the Dad Into a Bigger Jerk 46:31 – Missing a Publishing Deadline and Self-Publishing If You Lie Out of Fear 48:26 – Writing Through Sciatica and a Full Manuscript Rewrite 53:39 – Building a Gone Girl Tribute Twist Into You'll Never Know 1:02:34 – First Look at Don't Hesitate: A Dad and Son Hunting Trip Gone Wrong 1:05:02 – Why Grief Keeps Showing Up in Every Book He Writes 1:07:45 – The Paperback Pre-Order Problem No One Talks About 1:10:21 – Book Recommendations: S.A. Cosby, John Boyne, and More Grab your copy of The Girls in the Cabin: [LINK] Connect with Caleb Stephens: Website: https://www.calebstephensauthor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calebstephensauthor/?hl=en Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Adam Cesare on Selling Books Out of His Car Before Frendo Made Him a Bestseller | 18 août 2026 | 01:19:27 | |
Adam Cesare joins Talking Horror to talk Lights, Camera, Frendo, the fourth book in his Clown in a Cornfield series, and how fifteen years of self-publishing, folded presses, and selling books out of the trunk of his car built the readership that eventually made him a Bram Stoker Award winner. Rachel Redd sits down with the USA Today bestselling author of Video Night, Mercy House, and Influencer for a conversation about franchise iconography, vampire obsession, and why he loves his sequels more than his original books. Adam opens up about the small video rental section that scared him as a kid, and how a legendary horror editor's small press, his own self-publishing hustle, and a Big Five pickup fifteen years later all led to Mercy House getting "orphaned" pre-launch and later rewritten from scratch. He also confesses he genuinely likes the Clown in a Cornfield sequels better than the original, Bram Stoker win included. Plus his near-academic obsession with Frendo's mask and a first look at Bloodsick, his 14 POV vampire epic coming in January. 00:01 Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Adam Cesare 03:41 The Origin Story: A Supermarket Video Rental Aisle on Long Island 05:55 Running Out of Two Different Wes Craven Movies as a Kid 07:56 Stephen King on Cassette Tape and an Early Obsession With Spawn 13:53 Writing Video Night in College Before He Could Legally Drink 17:05 Chasing Down an Editor and Landing at a Small Horror Press 19:58 From Self-Published Oddity to a Big Five Book 22:56 The Used Car Salesman Theory of Surviving Publishing 28:37 If You Can't Love It, Quit: His Advice for Writers 34:15 Video Night: A Melancholic Alien Invasion Love Letter 40:22 Mercy House and Getting Orphaned by Random House Hydra 44:06 Rewriting Mercy House From Scratch Eleven Years Later 51:08 Confessing He Loves the Sequels More Than the Original 54:43 Lights, Camera, Frendo: Book Four Is Finally Out 59:04 The Auteurist Theory Behind a Long-Running Slasher Franchise 1:03:01 Why He Obsesses Over Every Detail of Frendo's Mask 1:08:37 A First Look at Bloodsick, His 14 POV Vampire Epic 1:15:45 Why Horror Is Living Through a Genuine Golden Era Grab your copy of Lights, Camera, Frendo: https://amzn.to/4wKDUUW Connect with Adam Cesare: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamcesare/?hl=en Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| TJ Payne on How American Pie Accidentally Made Him a Horror Novelist | 11 août 2026 | 01:04:20 | |
TJ Payne joins Talking Horror to talk Intercepts, the self-published thriller that just landed him a two-book deal with Crown at Penguin Random House, and the strange road that took him from Hollywood romantic comedy screenwriter to acclaimed horror novelist. Rachel Redd sits down with the author of In My Father's Basement, Intercepts, and The Venue, and a TV writer on Netflix's The Burrows and Little House on the Prairie, for a conversation about self-publishing, Hollywood bureaucracy, and why the nicest people always seem to write the darkest books. Grab your copy of Intercepts: https://amzn.to/4vA1IKb Timestamps: 00:01 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting TJ Payne 02:13 – From Romantic Comedy Screenwriter to Reluctant Horror Writer 04:42 – Jaws, Aliens, and How American Pie Sparked a Screenwriting Dream 08:32 – Stanford, a Film Program That Wasn't, and a Korean War Screenplay 09:52 – Driving Down the I-5 to Hollywood and Seven Years Fetching Coffee 17:11 – Ghostwriting Other People's Dreams and Hitting a Breaking Point 19:37 – The Self-Publishing Itch That Became In My Father's Basement 39:26 – Waking Up to a Stranger Who Read His Debut Overnight 41:11 – Writing Intercepts and the Slow-Burn Word of Mouth That Followed 43:14 – The Cold Email From a Literary Agent That Led to Crown 47:25 – Turning Hollywood Bureaucracy Into a Terrifying Government Facility 48:49 – The Absent Father Story Hiding Inside a Sci-Fi Thriller 55:31 – Table 19, Weddings, and the Slasher Comedy Born From The Venue 1:01:30 – A New Two-Book Deal and His First Novel in Six Years 1:04:06 – Deep-Diving 1980s Satanic Panic Books for Research Connect with TJ Payne: Website: https://tjpayneauthor.wixsite.com/tjpayne Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tj.payne.author Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Keith Rosson: The Punk Rock, Legally Blind Art School Dropout Who Writes Jaw Dropping Horror | 04 août 2026 | 01:01:21 | |
Keith Rosson joins Talking Horror to talk Coffin Moon, his gritty 1970s vampire western, and the wild road that took him from legally blind art school dropout to acclaimed horror novelist. Rachel Redd sits down with the author of Fever House, The Devil by Name, and Smoke City for a conversation about grief, addiction, found family, and the recklessness it takes to survive ten books in ten years. Keith opens up about discovering at age ten that he'd been legally blind his whole life, and how that diagnosis turned into a twenty five year career illustrating punk album covers and band merch. He talks about dropping out of art school twice, getting 97 rejections from literary agents before his debut sold, and writing Fever House during COVID lockdown while fostering and adopting two toddlers during the George Floyd protests in Portland. He breaks down the phone call from Random House editor Caitlin McKenna that changed his career, why he set Coffin Moon in the 1970s so his vampires could still warp in mirrors and cameras, and how he trimmed his cast down to just a handful of characters after Fever House's sprawling ensemble. Plus his unflinching take on killing off main characters, the question his editor asks to keep violence from feeling gratuitous, and a first look at his upcoming novel Crone, based on a real unsolved disappearance that's haunted him for decades. Grab your copy of Coffin Moon: https://amzn.to/4gLNCBV Timestamps: 00:01 – Welcome to Talking Horror & Meeting Keith Rosson 03:34 – How a Stephen King Paperback at Age Ten Started It All 06:06 – Legally Blind: The Diagnosis That Shaped His Art 08:08 – Designing for Punk Bands and the Cover He's Proudest Of 12:06 – Art School Dropout Twice Removed 14:20 – From Punk Zines to 97 Rejections Before His First Yes 26:31 – Fever House: Writing Through Lockdown While Fostering Two Toddlers 31:05 – The Call From Random House That Changed Everything 36:06 – Why He's Not Afraid to Kill a Main Character 37:19 – Earning the Violence: What Makes Brutality Land 40:31 – Coffin Moon: Turning Vampires Into a 1970s Western Revenge Story 48:33 – Trimming the Cast: Why Coffin Moon Went Smaller 5 0:55 – The Redemption Question Running Through All His Books 56:11 – Crone: A Missing Daughter, a Biker Gang, and a Real Unsolved Case 59:09 – His Advice After Ten Books in Ten Years Connect with Keith Rosson: Website: https://www.keithrosson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rossonkeith/ Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Luke Dumas on Writing Horror That Feels Human | 28 juil. 2026 | 01:09:43 | |
In this episode, Rachel Redd sits down with Luke Dumas, the author of A History of Fear, The Paleontologist, and Nothing Tastes as Good for a wide-ranging conversation on obsession, grief, identity, and writing horror that feels deeply human. Timestamps: Grab your copy of Nothing Tastes as Good: https://amzn.to/4fnO7PY Connect with Luke Dumas: https://www.instagram.com/thenewdumas/?hl=en Follow Talking Horror Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Chuck Tingle on the Pink Mask, Fabulous Bodies & Why Love Beats the Cosmic Void | 21 juil. 2026 | 01:16:26 | |
Chuck Tingle joins Talking Horror to talk Fabulous Bodies, the pink mask, and why love is the ultimate weapon against the cosmic void. In this episode, Rachel Redd sits down with the USA Today bestselling author of Camp Damascus, Bury Your Gays, and Lucky Day for a wide-ranging conversation on horror, empathy, and creating without fear. Chuck opens up about the surprising life-or-death story behind the pink mask and how it eased his chronic pain, why he never writes to market and has hit the jackpot twice by following his soul, and how believing humanity is innately good lets him write villains you actually understand. Plus the Collateral-meets-monster idea that sparked Fabulous Bodies, why he builds novels like screenplays as a self-taught outsider artist, and a gratitude practice built on succulents and Cheetos. Timestamps: Grab your copy of Fabulous Bodies: https://amzn.to/4fNjB2z Connect with Chuck Tingle: Follow Talking Horror Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Brian McAuley on Turning Rejected Screenplays into Bestselling Horror Novels | 14 juil. 2026 | 01:08:05 | |
Join Rachel Redd as she chats with Brian McAuley, a USA Today bestselling author whose slasher novels blend cinematic tension, deep emotional trauma, and genuine heart. Brian shares his journey from screenwriter to novelist, his horror origin story, and how his years in Hollywood shaped the characters and settings in his books. Key Topics:
Timestamps: Resources & Links:
Connect with Brian:
Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Megan Lally on Twists, Trauma, and Why YA Thrillers Hit So Hard | 07 juil. 2026 | 01:07:31 | |
Join Rachel Redd as she chats with Megan Lally, a New York Times bestselling author whose books delve into dark human psychology, intense survival stories, and unexpected plot twists. Megan shares her journey from reluctant reader to thriller author, her creative process, and how personal experiences inspire her gripping narratives. TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd | |||
| Christina Henry on Writing 19 Horror Novels by Hand, Bad Reviews & the Book That Changed Her Career | 30 juin 2026 | 01:01:19 | |
In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with national bestselling author Christina Henry, writer of nearly 20 books spanning urban fantasy, dark fairy tale retellings, and modern horror, including Near the Bone, The House That Horror Built, and The Place Where They Buried Your Heart. Her upcoming novel Pinfeathers drops this November. Grab your copy of The Place Where They Buried Your Heart: https://amzn.to/4vbTAQG Christina opens up about writing her first novel longhand in a notebook at age 12, why she still writes every single book by hand, and the discovery-based process that lets her pants her way through nearly two decades of publishing without ever plotting. We dig into her Gen X horror origin story (Ouija boards, slumber party slashers, and a Freddy Krueger fear that genuinely haunted her) and what eventually shifted horror from scary to fascinating. Christina also gets into why she fought hard not to be typecast as "the retellings girl," how a Guillermo del Toro interview sparked The House That Horror Built, the single image of a house where three boys went in and two came out that became The Place Where They Buried Your Heart, and the tiny black needle appearing under a baby's arm that started Pinfeathers. Plus: the best piece of advice she ever got about bad reviews, what it was like to get a three-book deal while her toddler climbed a slide at Gymboree, and why she's patiently waiting for the right zombie novel idea to arrive. Timestamps: Grab your copy of The Place Where They Buried Your Heart: https://amzn.to/4vbTAQG Connect with Christina Henry: Follow Talking Horror Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Hannah Whitten turned Postpartum Depression into a NYT Bestseller | 23 juin 2026 | 01:06:15 | |
In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten, known for the Wilderwood duology (For the Wolf, For the Throne), the Nightshade Crown trilogy (The Foxglove King), and her brand new adult horror debut, Reliquary. Hannah opens up about how she started writing For the Wolf in the grip of postpartum depression, rewrote it from the ground up at least four times, and spent five years getting it from a spell-checked first draft to a TikTok sensation. Grab your copy of Reliquary: https://amzn.to/3Q2bTbZ We dig into her childhood as a "spooky little kid" sneaking Goosebumps into her school desk, why Buffy the Vampire Slayer is "in the bedrock of her soul," the religious-trauma threads running through her work, and the Ready or Not-inspired spark behind Reliquary. Whether you're a fan of lush gothic atmosphere, slow-burn dread, a love triangle where everybody wins, or a theater kid who loves a dark twist, this conversation is for you. Timestamps: Connect with Hannah Whitten: Follow Talking Horror Podcast: If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Nat Cassidy: Stephen King Wrote My Foreword & Why Theater Makes Better Horror | 16 juin 2026 | 01:31:20 | |
In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with Nat Cassidy, USA Today bestselling author of Mary, When the Wolf Comes Home, and the brand-new short story collection I Know a Place, Rest Stop, and Other Dark Detours. Nat dives deep into how his background as a New York playwright and theater actor ultimately shaped his approach to pacing, dialogue, and creating deep, immersive tension on the page. We discuss his childhood memories of browsing graphic VHS covers at Blockbuster, the intentional choices behind writing a premenopausal female protagonist in Mary, and what it was like to receive a dream-come-true foreword from Stephen King. Whether you're a fan of slow-burn body horror, action-packed thrillers, or a theater kid who loves a dark twist, this conversation is for you. Timestamps: 00:00 – Podcasting Interventions & Questioning Authors 00:38 – Introducing Nat Cassidy & The Messiness of Being Alive 03:14 – Childhood Monsoons, Macabre Textbooks, and a Mother’s Horror Legacy 07:18 – The Magic of 80s Video Stores & Unexpected Scares in Kids' Movies 16:02 – Discovering Shakespeare's Macbeth & The Hyperactive Child Actor 1 9:49 – Writing Stephen King Knockoffs Set in Maine 22:39 – How Playwriting Teaches Authors to Capture and Keep an Audience 2 8:37 – Designing Tension in a Sunken Submarine with a Low Budget 35:09 – Writing Mary: Tackling Invisibility and Hormonal Thresholds 42:31 – Sensitivity Readers, Toxic Patriarchy, and the NIH Reading List 53:54 – When the Wolf Comes Home: Moving from Slow-Burn to Terminator 2 Action 1:00:08 – Receiving the Ultimate Blessing: The Stephen King Foreword 1:11:36 – I Know a Place: Public Restrooms, Squids, and Live Violin Performances 1:19:18 – The Album Experience: Why You Must Read Short Stories in Order 1:21:20 – The Ultimate Literary Bromance: Appreciating Clay McLeod Chapman 1:26:36 – Why Horror People are the Best and Most Welcoming People in Fiction Grab a copy of "I Know a Place": https://amzn.to/43VW6ih Connect with Nat Cassidy: Website: https://www.natcassidy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natcassidy/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/natcassidy Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Unapologetic Women and Double Standards in Horror with CJ Leede | 09 juin 2026 | 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 1:12:19 – CJ’s Favorite Books to Reread for Inspiration Books mentioned: Headlights: https://amzn.to/43WViJK American Rapture: https://amzn.to/3QfoCrA Maeve Fly: https://amzn.to/4dZb3pq Connect with CJ Leede: Website: https://cjleede.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjleede TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cjleede Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Evil Video Games and Feminine Rage with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne | 02 juin 2026 | 00:58:22 | |
In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne, author of The Mean Ones, Such Lovely Skin, and the upcoming dark fantasy What Feeds Below. Tatiana dives deep into how her background writing deeply personal essays about family trauma and living with her mother's ex-boyfriend ultimately pushed her to seek pure escapism through horror fiction. We discuss her childhood exposure to Resident Evil and Stephen King , the catharsis of surviving toxic male gaming lobbies , and balancing the mentally taxing world of publishing with the physical discipline of Olympic weightlifting. Whether you're a cozy gamer , a powerlifter , or just looking to dive into an immersive void filled with diabolical mushrooms, this conversation is for you. Timestamps: 00:00 – Horror as a Comfort Genre & Writing for Fun 00:36 – Introducing Tatiana Schlote-Bonne & Her Bizarre, Unsettling Worlds 02:41 – Childhood Tastes: Goosebumps, Dean Koontz, and Resident Evil 04:31 – Chasing Scares & Desensitization in Horror Movies 08:50 – From High School Family Trauma to the Iowa Non-Fiction Writing Program 16:31 – The Pivot from Memoir to Fiction During the Pandemic 19:31 – The Parallels of Writing Horror and Olympic Powerlifting 21:35 – Navigating Toxic Masculinity in Call of Duty Lobbies 27:30 – Cozy Gaming, Brain Rot, and Video Game Inspirations 32:22 – Such Lovely Skin: Demonic Video Games and Horrific Secrets 38:46 – The Mean Ones: Cults, People Pleasing, and 2000s Mean Girls 46:02 – What Feeds Below: Anime Inspiration, Diabolical Mushrooms, and Body Horror 52:23 – Adapting Voice for Protagonists & The Agony of the Publishing Industry 55:06 – Author Confessions Rapid Fire: Ghost Rom-Coms and the Dread of Starting Connect with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne:
Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Johanna Van Veen Writes the Sapphic Gothic Horror of Your Dreams | 26 mai 2026 | 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 04:10 – Johanna’s Horror Origin Story: Dutch Goosebumps 07:17 – The Family Computer & Learning to Blind Type 10:25 – Drowning Fairies & Mermaid Curses: Dutch Folklore Explained 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 Connect with Johanna Van Veen: Website: https://johannavanveen.com/ Instagram: @johannavanveen1997 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42245290.Johanna_van_Veen Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Neena Viel Raised Her Brother in Her 20s and Turned the Nightmare Into a Horror Novel | 19 mai 2026 | 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 01:48 – Neena’s Horror Origin Story: Dean Koontz’s Phantoms & Resident Evil 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 57:56 – A Sneak Peek at I’ll Watch Your Baby: Morally Gray Women Behaving Badly 1:01:47 – Book 3 Preview: The Trail Provides, A Hiking Horror Satire 1:06:05 – Author Recommendations: Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, and Debuts Connect with Neena Viel: Website: https://www.neenaviel.com/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49276349.Neena_Viel (Note: As Neena mentions in the episode, she isn't on platforms like Instagram and TikTok!) Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Ashley Winstead on Revenge Writing, Cults, and Toxic Ambition | 12 mai 2026 | 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.
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. 03:09 — Growing up shy: Books as an escape for a Navy kid. 05:14 — First Love: Why poetry and Richard Siken are Ashley’s "Bibles". 13:54 — The 10-year break: Music industry, Hollywood, and the PhD grind. 22:17 — Genre Hopping: From YA Fantasy to "Revenge Writing" a thriller. 32:26 — In My Dreams I Hold a Knife: Toxic ambition and 10-year reunions. 42:16 — The Last Housewife: Exploring "tradwives," submission, and cults. 55:43 — Midnight is the Darkest Hour: Religious trauma and faith as a mask for fear. 1:03:54 — This Book Will Bury Me: Processing grief through true crime obsession. 1:14:23 — Coming Soon: A sneak peek at Hot Girl Murder Club. Follow Ashley Winstead: Website: ashleywinstead.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleywinsteadbooks/ Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ | |||
| Diana Rodriguez Wallach on the Horror of the Troubled Teen Industry | 05 mai 2026 | 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. 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: 03:09 — Why Horror? Growing up on Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. Follow Diana Rodriguez Wallach: Website: dianarodriguezwallach.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianawallachauthor/ Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ | |||
| Kiersten White Wrote a Bestselling Horror Story That Might Heal Your Religious Trauma | 28 avr. 2026 | 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:
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:
Follow the Guest (Kiersten White):
Follow Talking Horror Podcast:
If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Paulette Kennedy on Dark Fiction, Late Blooming, and Why Villains Matter | 21 avr. 2026 | 00:59:11 | |
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 21:30 — Writing grief from the inside: "I've lost pretty much everyone" 24:02 — Feeling like a midlister despite massive success 28:33 — Why writing faster made her writing better 30:15 — The Two Deaths of Lillian Carmichael: toxic families & sibling rivalry 33:29 — Crafting villains readers love to hate 35:33 — Why dark fiction matters more than people think 36:17 — Balancing emotional depth with thriller momentum 37:41 — Why she keeps choosing historical fiction (and how she picks the era) 40:05 — A full year of research: archives, maps, diaries & location visits 42:20 — Writing race, LGBTQ+ oppression & abuse in historical contexts 45:19 — The Death tarot card, transformation, and "what am I doing with my time?" 48:01 — The magic of readers finding themselves in your pages 48:48 — Why readers are drawn to the dark side 50:05 — When to make your antagonist supernatural vs. human 52:16 — What's next: future genres & upcoming projects 📚 Connect with Paulette Kennedy: 🌐 Website: 📸 Instagram: Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Saratoga Schaefer on TradWife, Rejection & Why Social Media Is the Real Monster | 14 avr. 2026 | 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:
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 19:41 — Behind the scenes of Serial Killer Support Group: Revisions and character deaths 22:55 — Knowing when to bend: Boundaries in the publishing industry 46:30 — TradWife: Social horror, body horror, and the monster on your screen 1:04:15 — Sneak peek at A Thousand Monstrous Forms 1:11:05 — Closing thoughts and cover reveal dates Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Clay McLeod Chapman on Addiction, Fear, and Why Horror Hits So Hard | 07 avr. 2026 | 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 04:55 – Clay’s Origin Story: Poe, Campfire Tales, and "Soft Traumas" 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 Connect with Clay McLeod Chapman: Website: claymcleodchapman.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claymcleod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@claymcleodchapman Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkhorrorpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd If you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community! | |||
| Introducing Talking Horror: Weekly Interviews with Horror and Thriller Authors | 03 avr. 2026 | 00:01:11 | |
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:
New episodes drop every Tuesday! #TalkingHorror #HorrorPodcast #ThrillerBooks #RachelRedd #AuthorInterviews #PodcastLaunch #BookTube | |||