S7 Ep 10 - The Last Spirits of Manhattan

S7 Ep 10 - The Last Spirits of Manhattan

From True Fiction Project by Reenita Hora

March 31, 2026 · 19 min · Season 7 · Episode 10

About this episode

Debut novelist John McDermott discusses his book inspired by a true event involving Alfred Hitchcock and family ghost stories.

What happens when Alfred Hitchcock, Manhattan ghost stories, and a family legend collide? In this episode, debut novelist John McDermott reveals how he crafted The Last Spirits of Manhattan from a true event where Hitchcock rented his ancestor's decaying house for a celebrity-studded party. McDermott shares insights into the fiction writing process, navigating permissions for historical fiction featuring real figures, and why he added actual family ghosts to crash Hitchcock's 1956 soiree. From his publishing journey with Simon and Schuster to teaching undergraduates at Stephen F. Austin State University, McDermott offers invaluable lessons on creative writing and perseverance. Tune in to hear the chilling opening of The Last Spirits of Manhattan where Snug, a ghost trapped in the coal room, stirs as a new venture begins. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to balance historical fiction writing accuracy with poetic license when featuring real celebrities like Alfred Hitchcock, Henry Fonda, and Charles Addams as characters in your supernatural fiction. The importance of literary research in crafting authentic period pieces, including navigating copyright permissions, advertising…

People in this episode

Host: Reenita Hora

Guest: John McDermott

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Simon and Schuster, Stephen F. Austin State University

Books & works: The Last Spirits of Manhattan

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