She Wore Black

Today I invited Celestine Martin to join me in a discussion about COTTAGECORE. We discuss the aesthetic and focus on what cottage retreats and the lifestyle mean to both characters and stories. We also have some book recommendations that I will include in both my website and in a list in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.

Today I have E.K. Sathue on the show to chat about her new book, YOUTHJUICE. We discuss the toxicity of beauty culture, including the wealth privilege that accompanies it. We look at various inspirations for this novel, from the historical figure of Elizabeth Bathory to social media influencers. We also chat about the gruesome body horror she leans into as a writer. I have YOUTHJUICE in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.

Today I welcome back Sarah Wendell from the beloved Smart Bitches, Trashy Books blog and podcast. We talk about CRONELIT, in other words, why books that center women of a certain age are having a moment. We also discuss books that address aging within a youth obsessed culture. We offer plenty of recommendations and examples, which I will have in a shopping list in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. At the time of this recording I didn’t realize an upcoming book I’ll feature on the show, THE UNDERMINING OF TWYLA AND FRANK (by Megan Bannen) centers a widowed woman with grown children finding love with her long-time best friend in weird western zombie fantasy book. It’s glorious. Stay tuned for interview with Megan Bannen on that story. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.

Today I have Crystal J. Bell on to chat about her YA Gothic novel, THE LAMPLIGHTER, about woman in a coastal village where sinister things lurk in the woods, the fog, the ships, and the people of the town. It’s a book that revels in gothic atmosphere while centering new story elements. I have THE LAMPLIGHTER in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.

Today I have debut author, Sydney Shields, and I’m releasing this episode early because she was such a delight and her book, THE HONEY WITCH, hit every note that many of us need right now. I simply couldn’t wait to share this conversation with all of you. I have THE HONEY WITCH in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.

Today I have Katherine Arden on the show to discuss THE WARM HANDS OF GHOSTS, her lastest book that explores historical horror set during World War I. We discuss ghosts and memory, common ground with fantasy and horror, and her thoughts on the early 20th century and steampunk. I have Katherine’s books in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.

Today, Gwendolyn Kiste returns to the show to discuss THE HAUNTING OF VELKWOOD, her lastest book about childhood friends that return to their haunted neighborhood decades after escaping it. We discuss the brutality of youth, the gothic and stasis, as well as horror through the lens of older women. I have Gwendolyn’s books in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.

Today, Nalini Singh joins me to talk about ARCHANGEL’S LINEAGE, her lastest book in her Guild Hunter series. We discuss genre merging, the immortal appeal of angels as characters, her writing schedule, and what’s next in her Psy-Changeling series. I have ARCHANGEL’S LINEAGE in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.

Today, Chanel Cleeton joins me to talk about HOUSE ON BISCAYNE BAY, her new book that explores gothic through a Cuban-Floridian lens. We discuss the difference between writing this novel after her previous and popular historical fiction books that also center Cuban characters and history, and we have fun discussing how she created gothic atmosphere with opulence and peacocks. I have HOUSE ON BISCAYNE BAY in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.

Today, Rose Sutherland joins me to talk about A SWEET STING OF SALT, her new book that’s a historical fiction retelling of The Selkie Wife fairy tale. We discuss the origin story for this novel, her nuanced use of language, and creating queer stories with happy endings. I have A SWEET STING OF SALT in my Bookshop if you want to support both the podcast as well as independent bookstores nationwide at bookshop.org/shop/sheworeblack. If you want another way to help out my show, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and leave me a review wherever you get your podcasts. You can also join my Patreon community, buy merch, or make a Ko-fi donation through the links available on my on my website at sheworeblackpodcast.com. Thanks for joining me today.