Talking Horror

Neena Viel Raised Her Brother in Her 20s and Turned the Nightmare Into a Horror Novel

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/ [https://www.neenaviel.com/] Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49276349.Neena_Viel [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/ [https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd [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

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.com [http://ashleywinstead.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleywinsteadbooks/ [https://www.instagram.com/ashleywinsteadbooks/] Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ [https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd [https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd]

Diana Rodriguez Wallach on the Horror of the Troubled Teen Industry

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. Horror as a Social Tool: Why "the zombie is never just a zombie" and how horror allows authors to tackle heavy themes without sounding like an after-school special. The Book Banning Loophole: The surprising reason axe murders are often more "acceptable" in school libraries than stories about identity or romance. Raising Awareness: Using The Silenced to shed light on the terrifying reality of wilderness programs and therapeutic boarding schools. Dual Timelines and Gripping Hooks: Why Diana loves crafting "before and after" narratives to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The Journalist’s Eye: How Diana’s background as a reporter fuels the intense research and factual history woven into her fiction. Beyond YA: A sneak peek into Diana's upcoming adult horror short story and her "secret project" moving into adult fiction. 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: 00:00 — A life-changing career prediction in Salem. 00:26 — Intro: Welcome Diana Rodriguez Wallach to Talking Horror. 02:15 — Double Nominations: Celebrating The Silenced at the Bram Stoker and Thriller Awards. 03:09 — Why Horror? Growing up on Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine. 04:24 — "The zombie is never just a zombie": Using horror to talk about the real world. 05:26 — The Book Banning Issue: Why "bloody axes" get a pass in the Bible Belt. 07:51 — Intentional Storytelling: Raising awareness for the troubled teen industry. 09:44 — The dual timeline obsession: Crafting Hatchet Girls and The Silenced. 12:06 — The Full Story: 9/11, hotel reporting, and the dream that changed everything. 15:59 — You can't take the journalist out of the writer: Research and factual history. 17:28 — What’s Next: Adult horror anthologies and secret projects. 19:01 — The "Training" Phase: Why authors find it hard to look back at old work. Follow Diana Rodriguez Wallach: Website: dianarodriguezwallach.com [http://dianarodriguezwallach.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianawallachauthor/ [https://www.instagram.com/dianawallachauthor/] Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ [https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd [https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd]

Kiersten White Wrote a Bestselling Horror Story That Might Heal Your Religious Trauma

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.com [http://kierstenwhite.com] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkierstenwhite [https://www.instagram.com/authorkierstenwhite] Follow Talking Horror Podcast: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ [https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/] * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd [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!

Paulette Kennedy on Dark Fiction, Late Blooming, and Why Villains Matter

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: paulettekennedy.com [http://paulettekennedy.com] 📸 Instagram: @pkennedywrites [https://www.instagram.com/pkennedywrites/] Follow Talking Horror Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/ [https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd [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!