Talking Horror

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 Zones04:10 – Johanna’s Horror Origin Story: Dutch Goosebumps07:17 – The Family Computer & Learning to Blind Type10:25 – Drowning Fairies & Mermaid Curses: Dutch Folklore Explained12:53 – Being a Triplet & Channeling Sibling Dynamics into Middle-Grade Fiction15:21 – A Modern Millennial Meet-Cute: Tumblr Fanfiction17:08 – The Tumultuous Road to Publication & Scrapped First Drafts30:17 – My Darling, Dreadful Thing: Grief, Mediums, and Comforting Monsters39:54 – Blood on Her Tongue: Vampires, Unlikable Women, and Forms of Hunger45:54 – Book History, 17th-Century Gratitude Journals, and Puritans53:28 – Power Structures & Why Queer Romance Belongs in Gothic Fiction57:33 – Bone of My Bone: The Thirty Years' War and Bedazzled Skeletons1:06:25 – Future Releases & Rapid-Fire Gothic GameConnect with Johanna Van Veen:Website: https://johannavanveen.com/Instagram: @johannavanveen1997Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42245290.Johanna_van_VeenFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

Ashley Winstead joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore how thriller and horror serve as a powerful mirror for the human condition, from the suffocating weight of hyper-competitiveness to the complex dynamics of control and submission.In this episode, Ashley and Rachel dive into:The Power of Words: How being a shy "Navy brat" moving every two years led Ashley to find companionship and an innate love for language within books.Poetry as a First Love: Why Ashley’s process remains rooted in "painterly" self-expression and the precision of prose, inspired by poets like Richard Siken and Mary Oliver.The 10-Year Hiatus: The "lore" of how a traumatic car accident and 12 MFA rejections led Ashley to quit writing for a decade while she worked in the music and TV industries.Academic Thick Skin: How the "grind" of earning a PhD in literature finally gave Ashley the resilience to face the criticism inherent in the publishing world.The "Revenge" Thriller: How being told her fantasy novel lacked plot motivated Ashley to "revenge write" her debut thriller, In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, in a fugue state.Cults and Control: A deep dive into The Last Housewife and how it explores patriarchal submission and the real-life Sarah Lawrence sex cult.Faith vs. Fear: Exploring the existential and religious trauma themes in Midnight is the Darkest Hour, where faith often acts as a "bandage" for the wound of uncertainty.Grief as a Detective: How the loss of her father fueled This Book Will Bury Me and its exploration of how grief makes us susceptible to obsession and true crime sleuthing.Whether you are a "prose snob," a fan of "unreliable narrators," or an eldest daughter fueled by spite, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the grit behind the glamour of storytelling.Timestamps: 00:00 — The car accident and 12 rejections. 02:15 — Intro: Welcome Ashley Winstead to Talking Horror. 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.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleywinsteadbooks/Follow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd

Kiersten White (New York Times bestselling author of Hide and Mister Magic) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore why horror is the ultimate tool for navigating religious trauma, from the "invisible" God of a high-control childhood to the cathartic power of a cursed children’s show.In this episode, Kiersten and Rachel dive into:Religious trauma and the "sucky foundation" of being raised in a high-control Mormon environment.Dismantling purity culture and the process of "healing the shit out of" trauma through fiction.Why Mister Magic serves as a "holy grail" for survivors seeking to reclaim their identity from toxic beliefs.The millennial horror of Hide: sacrificing the next generation for a measly $50,000 and the "unlikability" of human desperation.Giving Lucy Westenra her groove back: reclaiming Dracula’s most tragic victim through a queer, feminist lens.The "T-shirt book deal" and the secrets to writing for iconic franchises like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Star Wars.The real star of the show: Kimberly, the 40-pound, "opportunistic omnivore" tortoise living in Kiersten’s backyard.Whether you're a "self-proclaimed chicken" who loves scary stories, an author navigating the "murky areas" of different genres, or a survivor looking for the hope and catharsis hidden in the dark, this one is for you.Timestamps:00:00 — Intro: Does horror still scare a professional horror writer?01:47 — Why horror? Taking control of childhood fears.03:16 — Forbidden stories: Growing up in a high-control religious environment.08:33 — The "Twilight" effect and accidentally starting a career in YA.10:50 — Writing for teens vs. adults: Hope vs. "we’re on our own".13:39 — Re-imaginings: Having a creative conversation with Dracula and Frankenstein.18:02 — The "Sunnydale" T-shirt deal and pitching a Ben Solo novel.23:49 — Balancing ADHD, humor, and darkness across different "cookie jars".29:09 — Hide: Greek myths, reality TV, and the horror of the American system.36:50 — Religious Trauma: Why Mister Magic is for the people "crying in the DMs".47:25 — Reclaiming Lucy Westenra: Why the men in Dracula are the real villains.54:26 — The Fox and the Devil: Forensic science, world fairs, and joyful queerness.1:08:17 — Meet Kimberly: The dinosaur-sized tortoise in the backyard.1:10:06 — Upcoming projects: Graphic novels and Wild and Wicked.Follow the Guest (Kiersten White):Website: kierstenwhite.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkierstenwhiteFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

Saratoga Schaefer (USA Today bestselling author of Serial Killer Support Group and TradWife) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore why horror is the freest genre for the darkest truths, from the body horror of pregnancy to the real monster already on your phone screen.In this episode, Saratoga and Rachel dive into:Seven unpublished books and a decade of rejection before getting the "yes"Why social media — not a demon in the well — is the true villain in TradWifeThe ethics of true crime fandom and why victims shouldn't be footnotes to their own storiesHow sobriety, poetry, and a childhood love of murderous nutcrackers shaped a horror careerWhat queer and non-binary identity brings to horror's most essential questions of power and selfA sneak peek at the upcoming A Thousand Monstrous Forms and The Last Time We DrownedWhether 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 Schaeffer01:31 — 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 datesFollow Talking Horror Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelreddIf you enjoyed this episode, please Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell to help us grow the horror community!

Welcome to Talking Horror, the new home for readers, writers, and anyone fascinated by the stories that make us want to sleep with the lights on.In this series, host Rachel Redd explores the darker parts of being human through the lens of horror and thriller fiction. Why horror? Because it is one of the most honest forms of storytelling. It isn't just about being scared; it's a conversation about the human experience that can change the way we view ourselves and those around us.Subscribe now and join us every Tuesday starting April 7th as we interview the authors who are redefining the genre and creating the greatest stories of our time!What to Expect:Author Interviews: Deep dives into new books and the creative process.Genre Insights: Conversations with the voices changing the landscape of horror and thrillers.A Community for All: Whether you’re a lifelong reader, an aspiring writer, or just getting started, there’s a seat for you at our table.New episodes drop every Tuesday!#TalkingHorror #HorrorPodcast #ThrillerBooks #RachelRedd #AuthorInterviews #PodcastLaunch #BookTube