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Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.
I’m Hope Madden, horror obsessed lunatic. For the last dozen years, I’ve co-hosted a podcast and live event called Fright Club. We record a top-5 style podcast (best heartbreaks in horror, best feminist high school horror, that kind of thing) at a film center on Ohio State Campus, and then we screen one of the films on the list. That came first, then in 2022, my first horror novella, Roost, came out from Off Limits Press. The same year my first horror short story was published in an anthology, and since then I’ve had close to a dozen short stories and a second novella, Killer Pictures, published. And in 2022 I also wrote and directed my first feature film, Obstacle Corpse, which is streaming now on Tubi, Prime and other platforms. I’ve also made nine short horror films. What drew you to the horror genre? I was afraid of everything as a little kid, and I think horror helped me control that fear. It’s a bit like a child re-reading the same children’s book again and again because knowing every word gives them a sense of control in an overwhelming world. Reading and watching horror made me feel better prepared for every scary thing. If you could recommend one creation of horror that everyone should consume, whether that be a book, podcast, movie, art, etc., what would you recommend? It seems obvious, but Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the original novel, for countless reasons. It’s a masterpiece, it’s an endlessly engaging and amazing read, it’s a revolution of science fiction and horror. But for me, also, I eventually came to see it as an account written by a teenage girl who’d given up her family and her life to be recreated by a grown man, in his libertine image; a man who looked no further than creation, and later realized that he had no real interest in her, his creation. In the context of her life and marriage, this aching masterpiece is also the most resonant, timeless, honest depiction of the harm men do that you’ll ever read. Plus, it’s a great story. What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community and what are some areas the community can still improve? I think filmmakers like Jane Schoenbrun and writers like Hailey Piper are helping us redefine community and empowerment in horror, because their work is so undeniable and so genuinely new, fresh and necessary that the genre could not help but take notice. Just as a reader and moviegoer, I am overjoyed at seeing and reading stories from perspectives and based in experiences that nobody else has ever offered in 200 years of cinema and eons of literature. And though I think, especially in literature, the horror genre has been at the forefront of presenting “unlikeable” women as protagonists, we could do better. This is my favorite, favorite thing to read and write. When I think of rejection notifications and less-than-stellar reviews I’ve received, they have almost always lamented the unlikeable main character. I love women who don’t care if you like them. I want to see more of them everywhere. When folks look back at the Women in Horror movement of today’s day and age, what do you think the defining characteristic will be? Rage. What advice would you give to the next generation of women coming into the horror genre? Collaborate a lot and work across platforms. Turn your short story into a podcast script, turn your feature screenplay into a novella, write them simultaneously—the strengths in format and style one medium demands actually brings something to your work in another medium, and the more success you have with one medium the likelier you are to find success for the same project in another medium. Where can folks find you these days? Podcasts and short films are on all the socials at @maddwolfcolumbus and my own writing is at hopemadden.com.
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 Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.
I've been reading, playing, and watching horror media since when I was probably too young to be doing so. While I still won't go into basements by myself and definitely will not play with Ouija boards, I have found a love for the genre that can border on being all consuming at times. When I'm not engaging in some sort of horror medium, I enjoy hiking (the steeper the trail the better), gardening (bugs are a whole other horror), or doing my day job as a 911 dispatcher. I wrote a book about women in horror movies which explores whether or not the genre is misogynistic, and how women have shaped horror since the beginning. Lately, I have been focusing on more fiction writing, but I will talk with just about anyone about horror, the different nuances of the genre, and how it reflects our everyday lives. What drew you to the horror genre? Horror really centers women in a way that you don't always see in other genres. I also just like being afraid in a "safe" way. At the end of the movie, book, or game, you can go back to living a regular life free of evil clowns and malevolent spirits. Plus, the genre isn't afraid to just do its own thing, which can make it a lot more fun than other genres. If you could recommend one creation of horror that everyone should consume, whether that be a book, podcast, movie, art, etc., what would you recommend? This might be a cliche, but Alien, one hundred percent. You have a mysterious monster, a well developed cast, and an amazing Final Girl in the shape of Ellen Ripley. It carries several other tropes, such as not believing the woman character, a hidden traitor, and corporate greed as an enemy, and handles them really well. Considering it has only two main areas (the human ship and the alien ship), it has very detailed world building that has led to so much more content. I could go on about this movie forever. What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community and what are some areas the community can still improve? Some days I'm so proud of the community because it feels like we are one of the more accepting communities out of the genres. Then there are days when I need to remind myself that it's okay to let people have their (wrong) opinions not based in fact. Who are some women in horror you think more people should discover? I don't know about discovering, but I'm hoping to see more from Coralie Fargeat and Nia DaCosta. What advice would you give to the next generation of women coming into the horror genre? Don't be afraid to UNAPOLOGETICALLY be yourself. Don't worry about what everyone else likes or doesn't like. There are going to be other people who enjoy what you do just as much. Try out different subgenres, because you never know what kind of new obsession you might find. Take up space and make your voice heard. Where can folks find you these days? You can find me primarily on Instagram at @ModernMonstress. I also have a Threads and TikTok account under that name, but I'm not on those as much as I am Instagram. Bio: Kim grew up in the wilds of New York City, only to find greater happiness in the wilds of the Pennsylvania mountains. Being a full time writer will probably always be a dream, but at least it's a good one. She's about to publish her fifth book, an underwater body horror, and is super excited about it. In the meantime, she spends as much time outdoors as possible, and crawling around on the floor in the dark to scare her partner, Kyle. She's also a shark nerd, and thinks she'd survive giving a Great White a nose boop. Links: Website  Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.
I am Tiffany Jean Solod, also known as TJ, a lifelong storyteller shaped by a childhood spent moving across cultures and continents due to my father’s U.S. Army career. Living in places like Panama, Germany, and across the American South exposed me early to folklore, mythology, and the darker edges of storytelling that never quite fit into neat, happy endings. My academic background is in English Literature and Education, including a Bachelor’s degree with a focus on Children’s Literature and a Master’s in Secondary English Education, and I spent more than thirteen years teaching literature and writing at the middle school, high school, and college levels. I was first published in 2023 with Rise of the Wicked: Creation, followed by Rise of the Wicked: Sacrifice in 2024, beginning a trilogy that reimagines classic monsters through a modern, science driven lens. My work blends horror and science fiction with ethical questions, emotional realism, and character driven dread, often exploring what happens when humanity itself becomes the monster. Through both my novels and my short fiction collections, I aim to honor the roots of horror while pushing it forward, especially by centering flawed characters, moral ambiguity, and the quiet horrors that linger long after the last page. What drew you to the horror genre? My earliest introduction to horror came through folklore and regional legends tied to the places I lived as a child, particularly during my time in Germany, where fairy tales were cautionary, brutal, and deeply unsettling rather than sanitized. As a young reader, I devoured R.L. Stine, which opened the door to darker stories, and that door fully swung open when my father handed me Watchers by Dean Koontz. Soon after, I was reading Koontz, Stephen King, and anything else I could get my hands on. The moment horror truly took hold was when I first read Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. Studying Mary Shelley and other Romantic and Victorian writers showed me that horror has always been a space for philosophy, grief, morality, and societal critique. To this day, I am most drawn to supernatural horror and classic monsters, though I still appreciate a well executed slasher. Horror, for me, is where fear and empathy meet. If you could recommend one creation of horror that everyone should consume, whether that be a book, podcast, movie, art, etc., what would you recommend? I will always champion the classics. With a background in English Literature, I studied the origins and evolution of monsters, and Frankenstein remains foundational not just for horror, but for speculative fiction as a whole. Another personal favorite is Coleridge’s Christabel, which captures uncanny dread, moral ambiguity, and feminine power in ways that still feel unsettling today. These works remind us that horror has always been intellectual, emotional, and deeply human. What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community and what are some areas the community can still improve? The increased visibility of women in horror has been a powerful and long overdue shift. More women are writing, publishing, directing, and reshaping the genre across all mediums. That said, there is still room for growth when it comes to recognition. Horror as we know it began with a woman (Shelley), and acknowledging that legacy, both historically and in modern spaces, is essential. When folks look back at the Women in Horror movement of today’s day and age, what do you think the defining characteristic will be? I think it will be defined by liberation. Women breaking free from imposed boundaries, refusing to write small or safe stories, and reclaiming a genre that was never meant to exclude us in the first place. There is a sense of authorship and ownership happening now that feels both revolutionary and inevitable. What are some areas of horror you think are under-explored? Dark fairy tales that operate on an epic scale. Stories that combine myth, horror, and sweeping narratives while retaining emotional intimacy and genuine terror. There is so much untapped potential there. I am actively planning a story in that realm, and plan to give it my full attention when I finish my Rise of the Wicked trilogy. What do you find scary within the horror genre? Possession stories genuinely terrify me, perhaps because they strip away autonomy and identity. Also, clowns. I do not like clowns at all. What advice would you give to the next generation of women coming into the horror genre? Do not wait for permission. Write the stories that unsettle you, even if they do not fit market trends or expectations. Study the roots of the genre, but do not be afraid to dismantle and rebuild them. Horror thrives on honesty, and your perspective is not a weakness, it is the point. Where can folks find you these days? Physically, I am in the Charlotte, North Carolina region. Mentally, that is a terrifying concept. Are you sure you want to know? Spiritually, you will likely find me haunting a coffee shop or bookstore. For updates, news, and to purchase my books, you can visit my website. For a quick guide to purchase links: books2read.com/TJSolod Bio: Tiffany Jean Solod (Williams), was born in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and had a diverse upbringing due to her father's US Army career, living in various locations like Panama, North Carolina, Germany, and Pennsylvania. When her father retired in 1994, her mother, an educator, settled the family in Sanford, North Carolina. After graduating from Lee County Senior High in 2002, TJ initially studied music at Campbell University but left and later transferred to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), graduating in 2011 with a BA in English with a minor focus on Children's Literature and Childhood studies. Later she returned to UNCC and received a Master's degree in Secondary English Education in 2016. TJ taught for over 13 years in public education. Mostly in English Literature at the high school level, but also taught Middle School ELA as well as college adjunct courses in writing, and college transfer success. She transitioned to a new role working for a local community college building integrated education training in October of 2024. TJ has been a writer her entire life, but was first published in 2023 with her first novel, Rise of the Wicked: Creation and went on to publish the sequel in 2024. Her primary genre of writing is Fiction and she prefers to write in the sub-genres of Horror and SciFi, but she also dabbles in other areas as well. TJ currently lives in the Charlotte NC area with her husband and three children, as well as two dogs and two cats. She loves music, whiskey, wine, good food (especially sushi and tacos), firepit nights, movies, walking and yoga. She also prefers to curl up with a good book and a cup of hot tea and recommends everyone tries it.  Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.
I’m a Latinix Girlie Pop Horror Artist and Author! I’m primarily an artist, my style is a comic book style with a manga inspiration. But I entered the author space, after telling my therapist that I wanted to complete this goal. To finally finish a book and put out my ideas into the world. I bring a genre bending horror, which I call girlie pop horror. Reminiscent of the bright colours of Lisa Frankenstein , the calling out of feminist bipoc horror and a love letter to my favourite inspirations. What drew you to the horror genre? In a really hysterical way, my procrastination. So in my creative writing class, my professor told us not to forget about our final assignment. A short story. And of course, I did. But I remembered a short story I wrote in High School, and while I was a wimp at horror, I loved supernatural spooky manga like Inuyasha. So I began working on it, and the praise from my classmates was insane. And as I scared myself while working on it, I realized how much I loved this genre. Cue my best friend getting obsessed with horror and sharing it with me and now I love it! If you could recommend one creation of horror that everyone should consume, whether that be a book, podcast, movie, art, etc., what would you recommend? I absolutely recommend that everyone watch DC’s 2019 Swamp Thing. It was directed by James Wan, of Insidious, The Conjuring, etc. It was greenlit by HBO at the time. And had an allstar cast of Andy Bean, Crystal Reed, Derek Mears, Kevin Duran and more!!! This was DC’s first stab at Swamp Thing, a DC comics occult series, since the 1980’s movie. While I knew about Swamp Thing from his cameos in JLD (Justice League Dark) and other DC comics. This absolutely drove me insane, because growing up GDT’s practical effects and the love of creatures? This is my Roman Empire. The practical effects, the fact that so much of what you see is insane puppets and makeup! And the Beauty and the Beast aspects, makes me absolutely sob. Anything with those aspects makes my heart melt. Not to mention the amazing chemistry between Andy and Crystal. The botanical horror?? I wasn’t sure about that type of horror at first but this made me fall in love. What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community and what are some areas the community can still improve? A positive change I’ve seen in the horror space is the amount of female led and queer horror films and shows! I absolutely have loved seeing more bipoc leads, people who look like me and less bury your gays! Unfortunately, many of these shows get axed or not given their flowers at all, due to networks or studios not doing any promotion. Plus dropping people for speaking up, like Melissa Barrera being fired from Scream 7 for speaking up about Palestine. (Hence why I am boycotting the film and official merch) What do you find scary within the horror genre? What I find scary is the fact that so many real life monsters are within the industry, like Neil Gaiman or Luc Besson. Monsters who will never be fully held accountable for their actions. And that people will still support. Who are some women in horror you think more people should discover? Women in Horror that I absolutely think more people should discover is Isabel Canas. Mexican American author, she writes hauntingly beautiful gothic horror that makes you cry. I discovered her when her debut, La Hacienda came out and I pretty much began sobbing. The way she writes about colonization, the culture of mine that I’m learning by myself and the beautiful love stories between the horror is so so beautifully written. What advice would you give to the next generation of women coming into the horror genre? Advice I would give is to be your own cheerleader. You have to absolutely believe in yourself, friends and people in your life will cheer you on. But you need to keep cheering yourself on. You have to keep that motivation, no one else can make you keep that belief that your story is worth telling. Hype yourself up, you are making a one of a kind story. You may be writing themes or storylines similar to what's out there but only YOU are writing it. Believe in yourself first and foremost. Don’t let anyone dissuade you, whether you’re doing something weird AF or something genre bending, whatever it is, you deserve to tell your story. Where can folks find you these days? Folks can find me at: @wildefeywrites on Instagram for my writing x updates or @feyscharms on Instagram for my artworks , crafts that I sell and other shenanigans! Bio: L.V Hernandez is an artist, indie author, and that Pink Horror Girly Pop It Girl. Her self-proclaimed trope is loving angry Mexican-American girls and the himbos that adore and support them. She loves the color pink, “good for her” horror, and her fur baby Jiji. When she isn’t scrambling on deadlines (ones she planned herself), she’s usually working on a new crafting project, reading, or drawing pretty girls with dark circles under their eyes and stunning outfits.  Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.
My name is Sara Fitzgerald. I am new to horror, but I love it, and I’m off to a good start. I won First Place in the horror category in the Eagle Mountain Contest in 2025. I have two pieces in Darkness 102: Advanced Lessons Were Learned. I also have a horror short story in Twisted Tales and another short story coming out this fall in Collective Madness. I’m not quite sure it’s a true horror novel, but I have a terrifying serial killer in the book, Consumed, under my pen name, Vivian Cline. What drew you to the horror genre? I have always loved horror movies, one of the main things I have in common with my husband. About a year and a half ago, I was feeling stuck with my writing, basically bored. I saw that a nearby university had a horror writing course through continuing education. I liked the instructor, Johnny Worthen, and it was in October, which I thought was fun and scary. That was the start of my horror writing. What do you find scary within the horror genre? What I find truly scary is body horror, for example, the movie The Ugly Stepsister. The kind of horror I love is monsters. For example, I loved the new Frankenstein movie on Netflix. Who are some women in horror you think more people should discover? Elizabeth Suggs. Not only is she a brilliant and talented horror writer, but she is also the publisher of Collective Tales Publishing. She creates anthologies with her partner, Jonathan Reddoch, that are truly horrifying. Plus, she is committed to showcasing diverse voices. Where can folks find you these days? The best way to keep track of me is on my Instagram page, @sarafitzgeraldbooks. If you are interested in my scary serial killer book, my pen name is Vivian Cline, and my novel is Consumed. Instagram page @vivianclineauthor. Here are some links to my work; Darkness 102: Advanced Lessons Were Learned Twisted Tales Consumed by Vivian Cline Bio: Sara Fitzgerald is an award-winning, multi-published author. Sara has won numerous awards. Recently, she won the prestigious Gold Quill Award from the League of Utah Writers in 2025 for her novella Making a Mess of Things and the Silver Quill Award in 2024 for her novella A Kiss for Kate. She won first place in the horror category in the Eagle Mountain Writing Contest in 2025. Sara makes her home in Salt Lake City with her husband, daughter, and their zany American Eskimo dog, Glitter. She loves writing, watercolor painting, and spending time with her family.  Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.
I am a writer who blends horror with elements of humor, thriller, romance and other genres. My agent and I are currently on submission with two manuscripts, and I am working on another horror novel as we approach publishers. My work features protagonists, mostly female, who tackle the horrors we face on a daily basis, such as greedy corporations, misogyny, ecosystem collapse and societal pressures to conform. I like to think my stories challenge many of the toxic influences that abound in our present world. What drew you to the horror genre? I was drawn to horror by my grandmother, who was quite literally a second mother to me. She was born on Halloween and tucked me in at night by reading me Edgar Allan Poe. On weekends, we’d rent scary movies and when I got older, we swapped horror novels. Horror is something that’s deeply nostalgic and comforting to me. It’s a genre that can build courage, point the finger at true evils, provide an escape, show you what not to do, and it can surprise, scare, thrill and make you laugh. Because my grandma introduced me to horror, it feels very adjacent to comfort and caretaking. If you could recommend one creation of horror that everyone should consume, whether that be a book, podcast, movie, art, etc., what would you recommend? Model Home, by Rivers Solomon, is a beautifully written novel that I cannot recommend more highly. This author explores generational trauma, gender, grief, race and messy family relationships in a way that feels deeply human. Their work is lyrical, aching and hits hard enough to leave the reader bruised. I love how this novel applies literary writing to horror and moves us into the dimensions of human suffering that are rarely explored with this level of nuance, humility and depth. What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community and what are some areas the community can still improve? I love seeing more diversity with regard to gender, sexuality, race and mental health representation in novels. For the most part, I’m also seeing more depth given to character development within the horror genre. Nothing turns me off to a novel quicker than flimsy characters without any backstory driving their decision-making, actions and reflections. However, I still see female characters whose identity seems adjacent to men and whose actions and thoughts feel hollow, or even absent, compared to the male cast. The situation is improving and there are many authors of all genders who write from the female perspective in a truly fantastic way. But…not all writers are doing it well and there’s room for improvement. Some recently published and massively popular novels still fall into this trap even today. I’d love to see readers rise up and demand more. That sort of thing is just not acceptable. What do you find scary within the horror genre? Nothing scares me more than possession…the idea of an entity controlling your personhood. That’s a total loss—obliteration of your free will and agency. Nothing scarier than that. Runners up are cults, a truly diabolical haunted house and creepy dolls! Who are some women in horror you think more people should discover? Women in horror to discover. Well, I’m a huge fan of some very well-known authors such as Rachel Harrison, Agustina Bazterrica and T. Kingfisher. But I’d love it if K-Ming Chang got a little more attention (author of Organ Meats) and also Olga Ravn (author of The Wax Child). I’m also a huge fan of Jessica Federle, who widely publishes speculative poetry and short stories. She’s also an editor and agented writer who is on submission with her novel-length work. I’m just waiting for the day one of Federle’s novels makes it to market. Lastly, a self-published horror author I adore after reading her debut is Magda O’Toole. Where can folks find you these days? My website has links to my poetry (many of which have horror themes), as well as information regarding my novel-length projects: www.lorrieness.com I’m also active on Instagram @lorrie.a.ness Bio: Lorrie Ness is a writer working in a rural corner of Virginia. She writes poetry and novels and has been published in a wide array of journals. Flowstone Press published two of her poetry collections: Anatomy of a Wound, and Heritage & Other Pseudonyms.  Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.
I'm a horror and dark fiction writer from central Maine. I write across various subgenres, but most of the stories I've published to date involve cults or ghosts. My debut novel, Little White Flowers, came out last summer and the sequel, Hallowed Deadly Seeds, comes out on June 30th of this year. I've also had several short stories published in indie horror anthologies. What drew you to the horror genre? I've loved horror for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I was really into ghost stories and legends, and I would torment my siblings and friends with my own spooky tales. I also saw the made-for-TV miniseries adaptation of The Shining at age six and loved it, and that movie had a huge impact on my early writings. When folks look back at the Women in Horror movement of today’s day and age, what do you think the defining characteristic will be? I think one of the defining elements of today's Women in Horror movement is the centering of women's voices and experiences. Of course, modern women writers aren't the first to do this, but I feel like we're seeing a much greater volume of these stories being produced. Right now, pink horror is having a moment, and even a lot of stories by women that don't necessarily fall under the pink horror umbrella are tackling the societal pressures that come with womanhood. Authors are also looking at how other factors like disability status, class, race, etc., intersect with gender to create situations ripe for horror. It's led to the creation of some incredible stories and is providing a path forward for the writers of tomorrow. What do you find scary within the horror genre? What scares me in horror more than anything is seeing characters I love in peril. The horror itself, be it ghosts, zombies, cults, what have you, doesn't matter as much. Come up with characters I adore and put them in a bad situation, and I'll be on the edge of my seat. Who are some women in horror you think more people should discover? One of my favorite women in indie horror is Bethany Russo. If you haven't read her work before, I recommend starting with Fever Dreams. It's a collection of four short stories, and they're all brilliantly written. E.H Regan is another fave, and you should check out her collection Remnants. If you haven't read Haley Newlin yet, you absolutely should. I haven't read her newest release yet (it's at the top of my TBR), but Not Another Sarah Halls is one of my all-time favorite books, and Take Your Turn, Teddy is also excellent. What advice would you give to the next generation of women coming into the horror genre? We have this unfortunate societal idea that horror is largely a man's domain. This has shifted a bit in recent years, but the truth is, women have been writing horror basically since the genre's inception. We just haven't gotten as much recognition. And I think this lack of recognition can be very isolating and can make people question whether they should even be here. So I would say, know that you do belong here and that your words matter. Don't be afraid to be loud, to take up space. Find other women who are writing cool books, and let's lift each other up. It's much harder for history to forget us if we write the narrative. Where can folks find you these days? You can find me on Instagram, Threads, and YouTube @amber_hathaway_writes and on Bluesky @amber-hathaway.bsky.social. I'm most active on Instagram, but I do try to share all my major updates to all of my social platforms. Additionally, I send out a monthly newsletter with all the key highlights and upcoming releases and events. You can find the sign up on my website: https://www.amberhathaway.com/contact Bio: Amber Hathaway (she/her) is an autistic horror and dark fiction writer. She is the author of the Little White Flowers series, and her short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies. She holds a PhD in Physics from the University of Maine, among other degrees. When not writing or reading, she enjoys a wide range of hobbies and interests, including crafting, cosplaying, and Pokemon GO. She lives in central Maine with her equally eccentric partner, Brian Toner. Website link: https://www.amberhathaway.com/ Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre.
I’m a horror and dark fantasy author. I also do a lot of voice stuff, usually my own content. What drew you to the horror genre? I’ve always been drawn to dark and creepy things. I can’t really say why—it just appeals to me. There’s something magical about it. What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community and what are some areas the community can still improve? I’m seeing a lot of women express their rage through horror and I’m loving it. As for improvement—it’s a genre that deals with a lot of violence and things that make people uncomfortable, so while pushing boundaries is kind of the point sometimes, I do see a few using that as an excuse to behave in a predatory way. What advice would you give to the next generation of women coming into the horror genre? Create what you want to create. Don’t think about what people want to see and don’t worry about the genre or sub-genre label you fit in until you’re done and need to market it. Create without these things limiting you and shoving you into a box you’re not meant to be in. Where can folks find you these days? I have a few short stories on Kindle, quite a few things on Patreon (most of which is free), various voice stuff on TikTok and Instagram, and random ramblings on Threads. All of my links are here: https://linktr.ee/voxintheether  Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you contribute to the horror genre. I write transgressive and body horror short stories and novels, most of which comment on reproductive freedom or respond in some way to current events. I also dev-edit and line-edit other authors' work. What drew you to the horror genre? When I was little, we took long road trips to visit my grandparents, and my mom helped us pass the time by telling us ghost stories she made up on the spot. I graduated from her stories to R. L. Stine and Alvin Schwartz, then to Stephen King, and today I read almost exclusively in the horror genre. It's an antidote to my anxiety about the world because it prepares me for all kinds of real-world situations and the horrors of man's own making every day. What positive changes have you seen happening in the horror community and what are some areas the community can still improve? I'm glad to see horror as a genre growing in popularity, and to see more women's voices at the forefront. Monika Kim's The Eyes Are the Best Part and Virginia Feito's Victorian Psycho were two recent faves. There's still room for democratization in publishing, with 10% of all authors making 90% of the money. What are some areas of horror you think are under-explored? Perimenopausal and menopausal horror—though Sobelo Books has an upcoming anthology on this theme specifically! Who are some women in horror you think more people should discover? Kathe Koja (The Cipher), Lucy Rose (The Lamb), Mona Awad (Bunny), Shannon Riley (Pocketknife Kitty). What advice would you give to the next generation of women coming into the horror genre? Go big. They can't stop us all. Where can folks find you these days? Author website: https://www.jesshagemann.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jh.author/ Bio: Jess Hagemann’s recent work has appeared or is forthcoming in Beneath the Bluebonnets: Tales of Terror from Texas Women, Three Seasons of Winter, and Last Girls Club, among others. Her debut novel Headcheese (2018) won an IPPY Award in Horror. Paste Magazine named her sophomore novel Mother-Eating, which marries Marie Antoinette and cults, one of the “Most-Anticipated Horror Books of 2025.” Jess received her MFA from the Jack Kerouac School, and has been awarded a teaching fellowship at McNeese State University as well as a writing residency at Dear Butte. She lives in Austin. More at www.jesshagemann.com. Headshot credit: Alicia Leigh Photography Cover image by James Hutton Illustration Cover text design by Zach Chapman   This is a poem Haiku, at least, of a sort. Every moment is mine Haiku, but not in nature A trap for any reader I am not quite natural Keeping you; Entrancing you Understand all of it yet? What if I just spell it out? I am ancient, I am cruel Lyrical nonsense, looping Lyrical nonsense, clawing Giving all your time to none. Old debts owed to the old gods. Old gods drawn to mortal flame. Now you just wait, yes, you wait. Unsure of when you’ll get five. Never. And then perhaps not. Time crawls all while your eyes scan. I devour. I gorge all. Listen to your own voice scream. It sustains me, misery. Breathing becoming rhythm Read. Read on, mortal. Read on. Eternity isn’t long. All life moved on without you. The others didn’t notice. How’s it feel to know that truth? Everyone else is living. Making memories and joy. Yearning and clawing for more. Leaving you right here, with me. Alone. Reading this nonsense. Siloed. Reading this nonsense. Take your mind back, worm.  Dan Asher Baron (writing as P.W. Interrobang) is the poet laureate of his household and a lifelong exaggerator. He is a father, a husband, a sinner, and an ADHD haver, doing his best to hold all four titles at once without dropping anything too important. He believes in strong coffee, second drafts, and the quiet heroism of showing up tired and trying anyway.
He has been published in Dread Mondays by Whisper House Press and in Beowulfs of the Webs by Bo Mandoe Publishing, and continues to write wherever time and life allow. When he is not writing, he is usually thinking about writing, forgetting to write, or explaining why he has not written yet. He lives with his family, his cats, and a rotating cast of unfinished ideas. IG: danasherbaron_author |
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