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

📸 Instagram:

@pkennedywrites

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelredd

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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 TradWife
• The ethics of true crime fandom and why victims shouldn't be footnotes to their own stories
• How sobriety, poetry, and a childhood love of murderous nutcrackers shaped a horror career
• What queer and non-binary identity brings to horror's most essential questions of power and self
• A sneak peek at the upcoming A Thousand Monstrous Forms and The Last Time We Drowned

Whether 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 Schaeffer

01:31 — 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 dates

Follow Talking Horror Podcast:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelreddreads/

TikTok: 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!

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the master of the "emotional highlighter," Clay McLeod Chapman. Known for his gut-wrenching novels like Ghost Eaters and What Kind of Mother, Clay dives deep into why the horror genre is the perfect sandbox for exploring our deepest fears, addictions, and "soft traumas."

We discuss his "bromance" with Nat Cassidy, his origins in the shadows of Edgar Allan Poe’s Richmond, and why he strives to be "water" in a world of square-peg branding. Whether you're a writer looking for advice on finding your voice or a reader looking for your next terrifying obsession, this conversation is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 – The Nat Cassidy "Bromance" & the Infamous Werewolf Mask

00:37 – Introducing Clay McLeod Chapman

01:50 – Why Horror? The Genre as an "Emotional Highlighter"

03:40 – Using the "Horror Sandbox" to Process Fear and Grief

04:55 – Clay’s Origin Story: Poe, Campfire Tales, and "Soft Traumas"

07:13 – Growing up in the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe in Richmond

11:00 – The Visceral Power of a Good Story

14:26 – Writing Across Mediums: From Theater to Comics to Fiction

18:15 – Navigating Self-Doubt and the "Deficit of Confidence"

21:28 – The "Dollop of Water" Philosophy: Finding Your Place in the Industry

26:40 – Handling Reviews: The Grace of the "Two-Star" Feedback

31:50 – Authors on Social Media: Building a Positive Community

34:21 – Paying it Forward: The Importance of Supporting Fellow Writers

37:55 – Exploring the "Darkness": Grief and Trauma in What Kind of Mother

41:30 – The Immersive Magic of Audiobooks

45:00 – Deep Dive into Ghost Eaters: Addiction as a Haunting

52:15 – The Current State of Horror: Indie Presses and New Voices

1:00:10 – Advice for Aspiring Writers: Being a "Student of the World"

1:05:54 – Closing Thoughts & A Final Question for Nat Cassidy

Connect with Clay McLeod Chapman:

Website: claymcleodchapman.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claymcleod/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@claymcleodchapman

Follow Talking Horror Podcast:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkhorrorpod/

TikTok: 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!

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!

• 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!

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