WIHM 2026: Meet Amber Hathaway

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/